Three bridesmaids, three different dresses
There was no missing the colour at Isabel and James’ beautiful Flowerdale Estate celebration. Isabel had a clear vision for her florals, and the result was an abundance of bright pops of colour that looked right at home against the natural beauty of the estate.
And then there was Isabel’s dress. We absolutely adored the simplicity of her slip gown, elevated with a delicate sheath wrap that was gently tied at the back. Elegant, effortless and with just the right amount of detail.
The boys kept things classic and incredibly smart, looking crisp in black suits and bow ties, while the bridesmaids brought another beautiful layer of colour in their array of gowns.
And while the rain threatened to make an appearance throughout the day, it ultimately gave Isabel and James something pretty special instead – rainbows. With the green paddocks as their backdrop and the talented Nikki McCrone behind the camera, they embraced those fleeting moments and made the absolute most of them, resulting in some seriously epic photographs.
A beautiful setting, bursts of colour, a little bit of rain and a whole lot of love – Isabel and James’ day was pretty special.
Style inspiration.
We wanted our wedding day to feel considered but relaxed. We bought in pops of colour through the floral arrangements and bridesmaids’ dresses but weren’t overly prescriptive with other styling – we were lucky that our venue, Flowerdale Estate, has so much natural beauty that we could really lean into to set the scene.
Planning process.
I loved the planning process, even though it was stressful at times! We had a lot of time to get organised, so I made sure I booked in all the big stuff really early, and then I didn’t feel rushed to work through the details.
The team at Flowerdale Estate were amazing; they were a wealth of knowledge and were so supportive the whole way through the planning process, which really made a difference. There were no big surprises, but we did struggle a little bit with the variety of quotes that came back from some vendors – understanding and comparing the inclusions (and exclusions) was a little bit overwhelming. We were lucky to have great support around us to help navigate the process and ask the right questions.
The ceremony.
I loved every part! What I remember most though, is the feeling of hearing our song start to play, and then seeing James waiting for me at the end of the aisle – it really took my breath away in that moment.
For James, it was also the wave of emotion seeing Isabel walk down the aisle and at that moment no one else mattered.
It was an unforgettable moment where all the anticipation, nerves and excitement really did melt away, and it was just the two of us up there.
Our celebrant, Yolande, also did a wonderful job of making the ceremony feel important but relaxed – we were able to have a laugh and feel really comfortable standing in front of a crowd – which does not come naturally to either of us.
The outfits.
I fell in love with a Lola Varma dress that I had seen on Pinterest, and was thrilled when I realised they were a local designer and all the dresses were made in Melbourne. When I went for my first appointment, there were actually a couple of dresses I was really torn between. Wanting to do my due diligence, I did go to quite a few other stores and designers, but nothing compared to Lola Varma. When I went back for my second appointment, Courtney showed me a dress that was coming out in their new collection that combined all my favourite elements. From the moment I tried it on it was no contest. I just knew that was my dress.
James and his groomsmen hired their suits from Trevor West in South Yarra, who were incredibly easy to work with, and very accommodating given the boys were scattered interstate and in regional Victoria in the lead up to the wedding.
Favourite detail.
All of our floral arrangements were done by local rose farmer, and close family friend, Ken Wallis of Seasonal Concepts. A year out from the wedding Ken and I started talking about style, colours and vibes, but really, I put absolute trust in Ken pulling together the vision. I had shown him pictures of the bridesmaids’ dresses, and colour schemes and structures that I liked, but left all the detail up to him. So, it was an incredibly special moment when I saw our bouquets for the first time on the morning of the wedding, and our venue styling just after the ceremony – it was everything I’d dreamed of and more!
Another detail that I loved was our wedding cake. My little sister made and decorated it herself the day before the wedding. We had so much fun together making practice cakes in the lead up, and it was the most perfect, delicious cake on the day!
Favourite moments.
We honestly couldn’t pick just one favourite moment from the day; the whole thing was perfect!
Every part felt so special – getting ready in the morning with our bridal parties, the ceremony, celebrating with all our favourite people – it really was the best day of our lives. Having a few moments to ourselves throughout the night was also a really special way to connect and soak it all in together.
It’s not too often in life you have all the people that mean the most to you in one room, and we just felt so surrounded by love and joy all day.
It is true what they say, though; it goes by so fast!
Wedding soundtrack.
The song I walked down the aisle to, This Old Love by Lior, still makes me emotional when I listen to it today.
We walked into the reception dancing to You Make My Dreams Come True by Daryl Hall and John Oates, which was a lot of fun and was a great vibe to start the reception with.
Our first dance was to Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli, and we had everyone join us on the dance floor at the crescendo of the song. One of the best moments though was our last song for the night. One of James’ hidden talents is that he knows every word to We Didn’t Start the Fire, so his friends teed up the DJ to play it as the last song. We had so much fun, and it was such a funny moment to end the night on.
Funny stories (or near disasters).
Not quite a near disaster, but the weather forecast was not looking great in the week before the wedding. We’d had a torrential storm the weekend before, and they were predicting similar conditions – not ideal for an outdoor ceremony. Luckily for us, Flowerdale Estate has a wet weather plan so they can move the ceremony indoors at the last minute if required, however we didn’t need to in the end thank god!
We also had superstar photographer Nikki McCrone who managed the timeline for us all day, so even when things shifted around slightly due to light showers, Nikki had it all under control and James and I didn’t have to worry about a thing
Regrets.
Not a single regret. We had the best day of our lives, and even when little things didn’t run perfectly, it didn’t dampen our day at all. We were just so happy to be there.
Words of wisdom.
Your team of vendors is so important, not just in the lead-up and getting everything organised, but having a team of professionals you trust on the day will make it so much easier to let go and enjoy yourselves when it matters most. Go with your gut and choose the people that feel right for your vision.
Isabel and James’ Vendors
Ceremony and reception venue: Flowerdale Estate, Strath Creek
Celebrant: Yolande Szery – Better Together Celebrations
Photography: Nikki McCrone
Videography: Tom Swinburn
Florist: Ken Wallis – Seasonal Concepts
Hair: Amanda Audrey
Make-up: Madeline Goldsmith Tonic Agency
The dress: Lola Varma
Shoes: Milano
Rings: Custom-made
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Scanlan & Theodore, Suboo and Shona Joy
Suits and accessories: Trevor West
Catering and bar: Flowerdale Estate
Entertainment: Luke M, acoustic and DJ – Unplugged Entertainment
