Real Wedding – Aaron & Casey, Koorawatha Falls NSW
After their wedding was postponed for a second time due to Covid restrictions, Aaron and Casey decided to lean in to their original dream – an intimate wedding filled with details that resonated with their relationship and personal history. The elopement they created was a heart-filled, stunningly simply ceremony, paying respect to Aaron’s Wiradjuri culture.
We love the important elements Aaron and Casey incorporated, from a Welcome to Country by the traditional custodians of the land to personalised artworks incorporated into their outfits by local Aboriginal artists. Casey’s gorgeously handprinted kicks were a truly inspired inclusion!
For these two laid back lovers, magic their incredible promises to one another, with the epic echo of the falls behind them, was electric, effervescent and emotion-filled. Every perfectly precious moment was captured with honest beauty by Who Shot the Photographer.
Dipping into such a special day feels like a true treat, so settle in and join us for a super special scroll.
The meeting.
We met on Twitter. In May 2015, Casey slid into my DMs after I’d tweeted about blanket forts. We share a love of languages (me – Wiradjuri, her – German), football/soccer and tattoos.
The ‘one’.
I realised that I had felt genuinely happy since the day we met.
The proposal.
It was at the windswept and bitterly cold National Arboretum Canberra in July 2018. I wasn’t sure Casey would wait around for a photograph as I nestled my iPhone into a scarf wrapped around a tree and set the timer. I’m glad she did because when the timer reached six, I dropped to one knee and asked her to marry me.
Planning process.
Our elopement was very simple and very last minute. We started by approaching the suppliers we loved (our photographer James and our celebrant Annie) to ascertain their availability and sourced our other requirements locally (florist and hair and makeup).
A little over three weeks after our initial enquiries, we were married (our Notice of Intent to Marry had already been lodged).
Style inspiration.
When we decided to investigate an elopement after our wedding was postponed for the second time, we knew exactly what we wanted. We had always spoken about having an intimate wedding that tied in Aaron’s culture and how special it would be to get married in a culturally significant place. We didn’t go with this option in the beginning, but when the opportunity presented itself after the second postponement, we knew exactly what we wanted – an intimate wedding with culture.
The ceremony.
Koorawatha Falls is a significant Aboriginal site. It was important to us to recognise Wiradjuri Country and Wiradjuri Elders, past and present.
Favourite moments.
Exchanging vows with the roar of Koorawatha Falls keeping our words private.
Meaning of marriage.
A natural extension of our existing relationship.
Wedding soundtrack.
Roaring waterfall, rain, and slipping over in mud.
Funny stories or near disasters.
Casey and I originally intended to marry on 4th April 2020 in Eumundi, QLD, but COVID-19 and border closures forced us to postpone our wedding date. The postponed date of 24th September 2020 was rapidly approaching, and we feared that border closures would once again thwart our wedding plans.
Planning surprises.
I was surprised by how quickly and easily our elopement came together. There was a little over three weeks between our initial enquiries to our wedding day. Engaging with passionate professionals, Aisle Meets Annie and Who Shot The Photographer, certainly made this possible.
Words of wisdom.
If your celebrant doesn’t already include an Acknowledgement of Country as part of the ceremony, ask for one. It is a small but powerful act.
Thinking of incorporating an Acknowledgement of Country into your dream day? Check out our explainer of why this is so important, and how you could do so, here.
AARON & CASEY’S VENDORS
Ceremony and reception location: Koorawatha Falls
Celebrant: Aisle Meets Annie
Photography: Who Shot The Photographer
Florist: Native Botanical, Young NSW
Hair and make-up: Envy Allure, Young NSW
The dress: Ferrari Formalwear
Veil: Tania Maras
Shoes: Converse, handpainted by Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Enid Clarke
Rings: Michael Hill
Ties: Peggy and Finn
Other: Dinawan’s Connection provided Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony
