Seventy years of family history, one garden party wedding
When your wedding day is set on a private family property, you’ve already got something pretty special. But for Emily and Oisin, it wasn’t just about the beautiful backdrop. Every decision centred around creating a day that felt like them.
With a vision of a garden party with a touch of country charm, the couple let the property shine. From a lakeside ceremony framed by cascading blooms to cocktails beneath a magnificent Moreton Bay Fig and an outdoor reception glowing under festoon lights, every moment felt effortless, welcoming and wonderfully personal.
Then there was the fashion. Emily’s custom gown was a true standout, inspired by Dior and featuring delicate botanical floral appliqué cascading across the skirt. Elegant yet playful, it was the perfect reflection of her vision. Oisin looked equally stylish in a custom black suit, while their beautiful bridesmaid brought a joyful pop of colour in a tiered yellow floral dress.
Captured beautifully by Samantha Elizabeth Photography, Emily and Oisin’s day is a reminder that the most memorable weddings are the ones that feel like home.
The meeting.
We met during Covid, right in the middle of peak lockdown. After living in Melbourne for a few years, Oisin moved back home to Queenscliff so he could work at the local golf course. It was from here that we matched on Hinge.
At the time, Geelong was still under a strict 5km radius, so our first few dates took place over Zoom. It wasn’t the typical start to a relationship, but it gave us the chance to really get to know each other before we could finally meet in person.
The one.
Neither of us can pinpoint a single “aha” moment where we knew. Instead, it was something that grew naturally over time.
The way we communicate, support each other and fit into each other’s lives has always felt incredibly effortless. Eventually, we realised that life was simply better with the other person in it, and we loved creating memories together.
The proposal.
Oisin had been planning the proposal for over a year. He designed the engagement ring with Larsen Jewellery under the guise of “work meetings” and spent plenty of time searching for the perfect location.
The day itself didn’t quite go according to plan, with unexpected bad weather threatening everything. Oisin had considered postponing the proposal but decided to go ahead regardless. With rain approaching and the high tide putting our original picnic location at risk, he quickly found another beach and managed to get down on one knee just in time, although not before we were surrounded by a very enthusiastic group of seagulls.
Planning process.
The lead-up to our wedding was surprisingly smooth, and neither of us found the process too overwhelming. When we first got engaged, we took the advice of friends and spent a month simply enjoying being engaged before diving into planning.
Once we started organising the day, we focused on ticking off our priorities one at a time rather than feeling like everything needed to be done immediately. The final stages were definitely the most challenging, particularly without a wedding planner, so we relied heavily on the advice and experience of our incredible vendors and friends.
Because the wedding was held on private property, we were able to organise certain elements, such as the overhead lighting in the reception space well ahead of time. Unfortunately, the wet weather in the days leading up meant that a lot of set up still needed to happen on the morning of the wedding. Thankfully, Mum’s friends were amazing and jumped in to help bring everything together.
Style inspiration.
Although our vision was a relaxed garden party with a touch of country charm, the inspiration for the day came from who we are as a couple, the things we love, and Wharparilla itself. The property has been in my family for 70 years and, while it is undeniably beautiful, it’s the memories held here that made it truly special – not just from my childhood but throughout our relationship.
We never felt the need to over style the property, as we wanted it to speak for itself. Instead, we focused on highlighting some of our favourite parts of Wharparilla. The ceremony took place beside the lake and the dove cote that my Dad, siblings and I built as children. Cocktail hour sat below the Morton Bay Fig tree that I spent countless hours climbing as a child whilst overlooking the river. The reception was held in front of the Stables, in what we knew as the carpark where we spent Christmases playing backyard cricket with our family. Every detail was connected to the property and the memories we have there. More than anything, we wanted every decision to feel like an extension of who we are as a couple.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was the most sentimental part of the day and was everything we had imagined.
It was held at the front of the property, tucked away among the trees and gardens. Although it sits close to the main road, the space feels incredibly private and peaceful. Beside the lake and fountain sits the dove cote that I mentioned, it was here that we signed our marriage paperwork.
We were lucky enough to have our friend Carter, a professional cellist, provide the music throughout the ceremony. We included some classic songs that we both love, however we were most excited for our recessional song Vance Joy’s Riptide, which was written about Queenscliff’s old Riptide Motel. Queenscliff is where Oisin grew up and where he proposed.
Finding the right celebrant was also incredibly important to us. We wanted someone warm, genuine and most importantly, a storyteller. We found Kate Adkins through Instagram and instantly knew she was the right fit. She took the time to truly understand our story and delivered it in a way that felt authentic to us while adding her own touch.
While all those details meant so much, the most special part was having our loved ones there. Guests travelled from England, Ireland and Scotland, and we were fortunate enough to have all four of my grandparents, along with our closest family and friends celebrate with us.
The outfits.
Emily – From the beginning, I had a vision for my dress, made up of different elements I had saved over time. Dior was a huge inspiration. I have always loved the simplicity, elegance and timelessness of their designs, along with the floral details they often incorporate.
I created an AI image using these references as a way of bringing my ideas to life and helping others understand the vision I had in my head. I knew it probably wouldn’t be something I could find off the rack, but I still went dress shopping to make sure there wasn’t another option that felt right.
Although there were some beautiful contenders, everyone agreed that the original vision was the one. Not long after, Mum found Lainie Brookman Couture online, and with her incredible talent, she brought my vision to life.
Oisin – I always wanted a timeless classic look that I can look at in years to come and not feel like my suit was completely dated or ‘of that era only’. On the other hand, we had a black-tie dress code, but I wanted to stand out from the other men at the wedding. When looking back at years gone by and my own grandpa’s wedding I decided on a double-breasted dinner jacket. It gave me a classic silhouette while setting me apart from the more traditional single-breasted black tuxedo.
Six months prior to the wedding we were travelling to Bali for a holiday, and I thought I would see what options were available for a custom suit. We came across Tidy Tailor who were incredible to work with – efficient, accommodating and cost effective for what we bought. In the end I was very happy with the custom designed and tailored suit which not only fit well but suited my brief of classic but personable.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage is two things to us; it’s about celebrating us as a couple but it’s also about a lifelong commitment. It’s our promise to each other that no matter how tough a day may be, we’re a team and there to support one another through thick and thin. Sharing life’s journey with someone special is something we hold in the highest regard, and we feel incredibly lucky to have found that in each other.
Wedding soundtrack.
Emily’s Entrance Song: Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
Ceremony Recessional song: Riptide – Vance Joy
Reception Entry: Gimme Gimme – Abba
First Dance Song: Just the Two of us – Bill Withers and Grover Washington, Jr.
Funny stories (or near disasters).
There were a few small hiccups – things getting lost in transport and the extreme rain in the days leading up – however, they seem insignificant now looking back. One moment that makes us laugh is our exit down the aisle. We’d planned and practised a dip kiss, like so many people talk about. However, in the excitement of the confetti being thrown, a chair also got thrown into the aisle by mistake. We nearly fell over, but it made for a good laugh, both for us and our guests.
Words of wisdom.
Although Pinterest and other weddings are a great source of inspiration, make sure every decision you make centres around you. The limoncello spritzes at our wedding were made using lemons from our garden in Geelong, everyone’s place setting had a photo from our childhood with them in it, and the “chandelier” in the Stables we made ourselves using chicken wire and fairy lights. The small details aren’t necessarily the most expensive, but they are personal, and we’ve found them to be the most memorable, going by people’s feedback. At the end of the day, don’t overcomplicate things. Focus on a few elements that matter most to you. People won’t notice what you didn’t have time to do.
Oisín and Emily’s Vendors
Ceremony location: Wharparilla Homestead, Echuca VIC
Reception location: The Stables at Wharparilla Homestead, Echuca VIC
Celebrant: Kate Adkins – we found Kate through Instagram after seeing a reel from a previous wedding she had officiated. Even in a short clip, we could immediately see her warmth and ability to tell a story. Finding the right celebrant was incredibly important to us, and Kate was everything we were looking for, genuine, thoughtful and engaging. Throughout the day, everyone who spoke with Kate commented on how warm and friendly she was. She took the time to understand our story and shared it in a way that felt authentic to us.
Photography: Samantha Elizabeth – we were introduced to Sammie through another photographer who was already booked in Bendigo, and we are so grateful that everything worked out the way it did. From the very beginning, she was such a huge help, not only capturing our day but helping us plan the timeline and understand how everything would flow. Sammie has such a fun and bubbly personality, which immediately made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. We have received so many compliments, not only about our photos but about Sammie herself. She has an incredible ability to connect with people, and work with a crowd whilst capturing the moments.
Videography: We decided not to have a professional videographer and instead passed around Camcorders throughout the day to capture candid moments. Our aunt was also kind enough to film our ceremony and speeches on a higher-quality camera, which gave us some beautiful memories to look back on.
Florist: Taylor Made Blooms – we found Ellie online, although it turned out she had created the florals for my cousin’s wedding at Wharparilla the year before. I love anything to do with florals however we were having trouble working out exactly what direction to take. With a vision board and a brief Ellie somehow put together two bouquets and two urns of flowers that exceeded our expectations.
Hair: Hayley Teskera – I had known of Hayley through association for years and always knew she was incredibly talented. I had been growing my hair out in case I wanted to wear it long on the day, I’d always loved Hilary Duffs wedding hair I was just too nervous to commit to commit to the cut. As soon as I shared my vision with Hayley, she immediately understood what I was trying to achieve and was so supportive. I’m so glad she encouraged me to stick to my gut, everyone who had told me not to do it agreed that it was the right decision in the end.
Make-up: Gemma Simmons Makeup Artist – I had struggled to find a makeup artist in Echuca who felt like the right fit, so I widened my search to Bendigo. After reaching out to Gemma, I immediately loved her warm personality and the natural style of her work. As someone who doesn’t usually wear much makeup, it was really important to find an artist who understood a “less is more” approach, not only for me but also for my Mum and mother-in-law. Gemma made us all feel comfortable and confident, and I loved how natural and beautiful the final result felt.
The dress: Lainie Brookman Couture – Lainie’s knowledge, craftsmanship and attention to detail were incredible. Every appointment was exciting, and it was so special to see how invested and excited she was about bringing my vision to life. Lainie was always so bubbly and supportive, and she made the entire process such a memorable part of the wedding journey.
Headwear: Anna Campbell – Posie Crown
Shoes: Siren Shoes
Rings: Oisin – Duffs and Emily – Larsen Jewellery
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Lace & Beads UK
Suits: Tidy Tailor
Bow ties / ties: Eddy Elias
Catering: Two Tarts Catering – we’ve been fortunate enough to have Lorelle and Steph’s food on a number of occasions and they were the one vendor that was a nonnegotiable to us, if they weren’t available then we were honestly prepared to change the date. Their food is incredible, every guest left well-fed and we received so many compliments throughout the night. They created exactly the experience we hoped for, and we would highly recommend them to anyone.
Cake / Cake topper: We made this ourselves.
Stationery / Signage: Vistaprint
Entertainment: Radio City / Casual Carter / Groove Merchant – music was another non-negotiable for us as it can really elevate any part of the day. We were lucky enough to have several contacts, two of whom were also guests at our wedding and were more than happy to be a part of the day. The music was certainly a highlight for us.
Transport: Devlin’s Buses. Online
Hire: Rich River Party Hire – Emily was incredibly helpful throughout the process. Knowing that we lived in Geelong, she was so accommodating whenever we travelled to Echuca for planning visits and went above and beyond to help us bring our vision to life. Her support and willingness to work with us made organising all the finer details so much easier.
