Real Wedding – Caitlyn & Daniel, Kyneton VIC
From an initial meeting at a 16th birthday celebration to a kiss shared at a deb after party, Caitlyn and Daniel are proof that sometimes your first love is also your forever love.
The rustic European decadence of Cadella Park was the couple’s first choice to host their vision for a whimsical, spring, garden themed soiree.
When the Victorian weather made their outdoor ceremony impossible, the venue’s versatile spaces and experienced staff came to the fore to deliver a plan B that not only allowed their pastel pallet to pop but enhanced the sense of intimacy.
Caitlyn wore a feminine, form-fitting Jane Hill gown with detachable skirt and sleeves that revealed an equally chic but more dancefloor-friendly second look once the sun set.
Georgia Verrells’ sublime storytelling style of photography perfectly captured the significance, anticipation and overflowing joy of the occasion.
The meeting.
Daniel and I met in high school in March 2012 when we were doing our deb. We caught each other’s eye and shared a kiss at our deb after party, the rest is history. Although, you could say the first time officially was when he crashed my 16th birthday party!
The ‘one’.
Caitlyn: Daniel protects me; he always tries to make me laugh (mostly with his dance moves), he encourages me to do the things I love and guides me to be the best I can be without judgment. I feel safe, appreciated and wanted.
Daniel: Caitlyn is so caring for everybody around her, is willing to do anything for anyone, keeps me on my toes and motivates me to be a better version of myself. She always has my back and is keen to join in and do weird dancing and singing sessions at home. She is thoughtful and does things for people that really come from the heart and from a spot of care.
The proposal.
Daniel and I were in Milos, Greece, at a secluded beach on the island. I went in for a swim and afterwards laid on my towel. There was something hard underneath me, but I thought it was just a rock. Daniel was laughing at me, and I wasn’t sure why, finally the ‘rock’ was annoying me enough to check, I flipped my towel over to find the ring box! Daniel then got on one knee and proposed. I thought after 11 years I would know when it was happening, but he really took me by surprise!
Planning process.
While I was still in Europe, not even a few weeks after getting engaged, I was reaching out to Matt Finch (celebrant) and Georgia Verrells (photographer) as I knew I needed them at my wedding. They were a part of Daniel’s brother’s wedding, and we absolutely loved their work. We were engaged in September, and by November, we had our wedding date booked in at Cadella Park for the following year. I found Cadella Park on Georgia’s Instagram page in the October, and we fell in love! It was the only venue we saw in person, and we knew it was the one as soon as we stepped foot on the grounds.
Cadella Park was an absolute dream to work with; I honestly cannot talk more highly. The team are incredible and really remove a lot of your stresses both leading up to the wedding and on the day. They take care of the catering, flowers and styling, to name a few and really made my vision come to life.
A few months before our wedding, we had a night in Kyneton where we visited Prunella Events, met the team and tried all the food and drink options. It was such a fun night and made us so excited for our wedding and for what was to come.
With a lot of planning taken care of by Cadella Park, it was a matter of finding my dress, shoes, hair, makeup, music, bridesmaid dresses and videographer. With the majority, I knew who and what I wanted and was lucky enough to secure them. I cannot fault any of my vendors; they made our wedding experience incredible.
Style inspiration.
With our wedding being in Spring, I really loved the idea of whimsical spring garden vibes – white, lemon, peach, pale pink, touch of blue and lilac and fresh green. My bridesmaids were in lemon, and with the beautiful greenery at Cadella Park, it all tied together so nicely. We are both outdoorsy, love the country and camping and found Cadella Park really fit our brief but with an elegance to it. We had a black-tie dress code because who doesn’t want to get dressed up for a wedding! I definitely pulled my inspiration from real weddings; I was often scrolling through Ivory Tribe for vendors where you find yourself down the never-ending rabbit hole. Having the articles/Instagram post where it linked all the vendors helped us understand how it all came together.
The ceremony.
Our wedding day was forecasted for some pretty heavy rain. I was adamant that the rain was going to clear for the ceremony; my vision was to get married down the driveway under the beautiful trees. Unfortunately, the rain did not stop, so it was a last-minute decision for everything to be moved into the barn. This was our Plan B, but the ceremony ended up being more than we could ever have hoped for. Our ceremony turned into a beautiful, intimate ceremony, with many commenting on how special it made them feel to be so close and a part of the moment.
The outfits.
My mum and I went wedding dress shopping exactly a year before our big day. I picked four wedding dress shops and found my dress at Jane Hill Bridal, my last stop of the day, and the very last dress I tried on! I chose the Huntleigh and loved the way it fit to my body – we knew it was the one instantly. I added a couple of details and alterations (the sleeves in particular). The skirt and sleeves were detachable, so it acted as a ‘second’ look for the night. The Jimmy Choo’s were chosen years before the dress, so we needed to make sure they were on display!
Daniel and his groomsmen went to Formal Red in Richmond, where they got fitted and sized for their tuxes. They enjoyed the experience; the team were very friendly and accommodating.
Favourite moments.
There are so many to choose from; getting ready with our bridesmaids and groomsmen, the intimate ceremony, the photos with Georgia and John the videographer, the saxophone on the dancefloor with Deus Sax and the five minutes Daniel and I spent on the Cadella Park grounds after dinner, just us, soaking it all in.
Meaning of marriage.
Supporting each other with whatever life throws at us, always having each other’s back, guiding each other to be the best version of ourselves and to pursue one’s dreams.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle – Truly Madly Deeply – Sidney
Reception – I Got U – Duke Dumont, Jax Jones
First Dance – Forever You and Me – The Tesky Brothers
Funny stories/near disasters.
I think the rain – we were all on edge, and we had to make some very last-minute decisions. My vendors were amazing and handled everything so professionally, which helped provide some calm in a very stressful situation.
Planning surprises.
There are so many things to think about and plan right down to the smallest detail. No matter how much you plan, not everything is going to go the way you thought, so you need to be adaptable. But the people that get around you and are ready to help and provide advice are something truly special.
Words of wisdom.
This is your special day; you do you! Don’t forget the reason why you’re getting married and have just fun with it, whatever the day throws at you. It is honestly such an experience planning a wedding, and you learn so much about yourself and your partner.
For more stunning country-style wedding inspiration, check out Emily & Jason’s ‘I do’s.
CAITLYN & DANIEL’S SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony & reception venue plus styling, catering, bar & cake: Cadella Park
Celebrant: Matt Finch
Photography: Georgia Verrells
Videography: John Kurt
Florist: Prunella Flowers and Events
Hair: Kaleigh Codrea Hair Studio
Make-up: Jonathon Thorpe
The dress: Jane Hill
Veil: Madame Tulle
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Rings: Parker Diamonds
Earrings: The Traveller Series
Bridesmaid’s dresses: IDS
Suits & ties: Formal Red
Stationery / Signage: Milzdesign
Entertainment: Deus Sax
Transport: Organ Coaches
Honeymoon: Fiji
