Real Wedding – Jennifer & Liam, Yarra Valley VIC
Liam and Jenny met on a mixed netball court in December 2019 (Jenny likes to think it was fate, whereas the odds were good for Liam!), where a mutual friend played cupid and sparked a connection that moved quickly from Richmond share house to beachside lockdown to a Great Ocean Road proposal that involved more sprinting than swooning.
When it came time to celebrate their union, the couple chose the most meaningful backdrop imaginable: Liam’s family farm in Healesville, where his 99-year-old nan served as ring bearer and 38-degree heat couldn’t dampen the joy of having loved ones travel from the UK to witness their vows beneath a grand old gum tree.
Personal touches defined every element, from hand-painted tambourines crafted during paint-and-sip nights to a DIY kissing booth. A custom Holly Butler gown, PJ Johnson suits in earthy tones, and ‘lemon drop’ bridesmaids completed the rustic chic aesthetic, allowing the breathtaking Yarra Valley landscape to speak for itself.
Scroll on to discover how love, family, and a generous dose of DIY determination created a celebration as authentic and joyful as the couple themselves, captured with indomitable artistry by the legendary Tess Follett.
The meeting.
Liam and I met in December 2019 at a mixed netball game (I like to think it was fate – he probably just liked his odds!). After meeting on the court, our friend Jill played cupid and introduced us both. From there, things moved quickly. We spent a few whirlwind weeks together, and the connection just felt right, so I packed up my things and moved into his share house in Richmond before spending three years together in lockdown at the beach.
The one.
The night before I left for a trip to Queensland, Liam surprised me with the sequel to the book I’d been reading. It was a small but thoughtful gesture. When I hugged him to say thank you, I felt completely at ease. And in that moment, a quiet thought crossed my mind: I’m going to marry him.
The proposal.
We took a weekend trip down the Great Ocean Road in a campervan staying in ‘free camping spots’ along the coast. On the morning of the proposal, Liam led me down Gibson’s Steps to the beach. Just as he got down on one knee, a huge wave rolled in. What followed was less of a romantic embrace and more of a sprint to the back rocks to avoid getting drenched. It was unexpected, a little chaotic, and absolutely perfect.
Planning process.
Being from the UK, we sent our save-the-dates to our UK guests a year and a half in advance, giving everyone plenty of time to plan. From the start, we knew we wanted a wedding that felt personal and meaningful, and we were incredibly fortunate to have the support of Liam’s family to make it happen.
Liam’s nan—who turns 100 this month—kindly offered her family farm as our venue, which made the day even more special. On top of that, his family’s connections and Healesville community meant that everyone pulled together to help bring our vision to life.
Of course, planning wasn’t without its challenges; there were many overwhelming and stressful moments. But with the help of our families and some incredible vendors (see below), we pulled it off. Personal touches were important to me, from handwritten cards to a personalised wishing well and a bespoke first dance.
Looking back, we put so much time, energy, and thought into every detail, but that’s just who we are. We wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Style inspiration.
From the beginning, we wanted our wedding to feel connected to the stunning surroundings of the farm. We kept things simple and let the landscape do the talking; an outdoor ceremony in front of a large old gum tree, followed by a marquee reception with beautiful views of the Yarra Valley.
For the styling, we went with a rustic chic vibe, incorporating plenty of DIY elements to make it feel personal. One of my favourite projects was hand-painting mini tambourines for the reception. I turned it into a ‘paint and sip’ night with my girlfriends, and together, we decorated 40 tambourines.
I found real weddings especially helpful for inspiration, particularly those set on country farms, because they showcased how other couples brought their vision to life in a similar setting. I also loved seeing what was possible when it came to DIY structures.
For example, while researching, I came across a couple who had built a ‘kissing booth’ using old wooden pallets. I loved the idea and immediately started hunting for free pallets of my own. After a few evenings of sanding and repainting, we had the perfect kissing booth for our friends and family to enjoy. It was a fun, personal touch that added to the atmosphere of our day.
The ceremony.
It was incredibly meaningful for Liam to get married on his family property, especially with his nan there to witness it. At 99 years old, it was a hot 38-degree day, which wasn’t the most comfortable or safe for her to be sitting out in, but she was there for every moment. We were honoured to ask her to be our ring bearer, and having her play such a special role made the day even more memorable.
Equally special was having my family fly in from the UK to be part of the celebration. Walking down the aisle, arm in arm with my dad, and looking out at my mum and all my loved ones who had travelled across the world to be there is a moment I will treasure forever.
Liam’s mum arranged a string quartet of four incredibly talented women who played live music for us and all our guests. With kangaroos grazing in the distance, we also asked Liam’s young cousins, Alice (5) and May (3), to be our flower girls. They did such a beautiful job and added an extra touch of joy to the ceremony.
The outfits.
For my wedding, I wore a custom bridal dress and over-skirt by the incredibly talented Holly Butler. I discovered Holly online and instantly fell in love with her designs. My three fittings were some of my favourite moments in the lead-up to the day, it felt like I was playing dress-up with a friend. Holly always made me feel at ease, and I was in awe of her skills.
Liam and his groomsmen wore custom PJ Johnson custom suits in different shades of earthy tones.
My bridesmaids wore a mix of dresses from Shona Joy and Billy J, all in a light lemon shade. I called the bridesmaids my ‘lemon drops’ on the day, and they all looked so beautiful.
Favourite moments.
I would usually say our ceremony was my favourite moment, but it was so hot that day, I was worried my guests would be uncomfortable in the heat. So, if I had to pick another, it would be sitting with Liam during our dinner service, listening to the speeches from our loved ones. I will always cherish the memory of my dad delivering the ‘Father of the Bride’ speech, my MOH, Betty and the roast I received from our Best Man – one minute I was wiping away tears, and the next, we were laughing uncontrollably.
We organised a Head Table, which gave us the perfect chance to pause, take it all in, and look out at all our friends and family. As we closed the speeches, Liam and I stood in front of everyone and said, “Today is not only about us, but about connection – between family and friends.” It was so special.
Meaning of marriage.
Looking after your best friend and sharing the ups and downs of life together.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: live string quartet (classical and British tracks)
Reception entry: You make my dreams come true by Daryl Hall
First dance: Your Song by Elton John
Father/ Daughter dance: Against all Odds by Phil Collins
Funny stories (or near disasters).
There’s a great shot of my bridal party piling onto Liam and me; however, when they did this, my skirt clip ripped off in the process, leaving half my skirt hanging off. Thankfully, my bridesmaids had made an ‘emergency kit’ that included a mini sewing kit. My sister-in-law Claire came to the rescue and sewed my dress back together again.
Planning surprises.
Neither Liam nor I were fully prepared for the work involved in planning a private property wedding. There’s so much more to think about than just the ceremony and reception; it’s the logistics, the setup, suppliers, furniture and everything in between.
I also didn’t anticipate the ‘bump out’ after the wedding. I was so focused on making sure the day itself was perfect that I didn’t realise just how much effort would go into cleaning up afterwards. Thankfully, again, our families really stepped up and supported us throughout the process.
Words of wisdom.
Looking back, I’d try to stress less and take the pressure off yourself. DELEGATE. The day is undeniably amazing and beautiful, but it’s important to remember that it isn’t the only day you’ll share with your partner. Your family and friends will be just as happy to spend time with you, no matter what.
If you can manage to relax in the lead-up, you’ll truly get so much more out of the day. Particularly for private property weddings, I think you need a good week a or week and a half to be ‘on site’ and do last-minute beauty preparation. Liam was working on the venue up until 30 minutes before the ceremony, so if your partner is a bit of a ‘workhorse’, I would say try to book in some time for your fiancé to be away and have some headspace before the ceremony too.
Best of luck to all future brides (and grooms) reading this. Your day will be incredible, and through photos and footage, you’ll be able to relive it for the rest of your lives. Enjoy and trust the process. You’ve got this!
Considering a marquee wedding? Here are some of our favourite Victorian wedding venues that offer stunning outdoor spaces.
JENNY & LIAM’S VENDORS
Ceremony location: Candlebark Farm. Liam’s Nan’s family farm, underneath a very special tree
Reception venue: Candlebark Farm, in a shady spot with a marquee
Celebrant: Nat Sproal. From the very beginning, we felt completely at ease with Nat. As an emotional person, I needed someone who could calm my nerves while also creating a fun and engaging ceremony. With so many guests flying in from the UK, it was important to me to showcase just how amazing Australian ceremonies can be, and Nat did exactly that. She was incredibly organised throughout, even supporting us with our vows and post-signing music to create a fun, energetic vibe!
Photography: Tess Follet. Tess Follett was my one non-negotiable supplier for the wedding after seeing her incredible work firsthand at a close friend’s wedding. Tess was on it from the start, gently guiding us throughout the day where needed. She made it fun, lighthearted and gave brilliant direction. So many of our family members commented on how wonderful she was. She even drove up specially to Healesville to do a site visit for us, offering her expert advice on where our ceremony location should be. I’m beyond grateful to Tess for capturing our day so beautifully, including so many special moments we might have missed in the whirlwind. We will cherish these photos for the rest of our lives and couldn’t be happier with our choice of photographer and the suite of images we now have to keep.
Videography: Nic Roberts Media. I’ve worked with Nic on a couple of photoshoots for 2XU and was always impressed by his work. Not only is he incredibly talented, but he’s also such a lovely person to work with. We’re beyond excited to see the final video, especially the ceremony and speeches!
Styling: We owe a massive thank you to our family friend, Sherridan. She took a huge amount of pressure off by handling all the mini details for our reception with her creative talent and flair. On the day, Sherridan went above and beyond by styling our marquee with beautiful flowers and foliage, using Australian natives that perfectly tied in with our table flowers and floral skirt. Her attention to detail made everything feel cohesive and incredibly special.
Florist: Flowers of Yarra Glen. We had an abundance of beautiful flowers for our day. It was important to us to go ‘local’ and therefore we turned to Flowers of Yarra Glen for our bouquets and floral ceremony skirt. Allie was great to communicate with and our bouquets were the freshest, most beautiful flowers.
At the same time, a family member, Sophie, had been growing flowers (cosmos, zinnia, dahlia, cornflower and amaranth) at Candlebark Farm, on the family property, for our wedding. Sophie dressed the wedding signage, made flower girl crowns and decorated our marquee and tables with beautiful flowers that were grown on the property.
There were plenty of flowers left over on the property, and with the remaining, Sophie set up the Healesville Flower Project, which spreads love throughout the Healesville community by sharing flowers with locals. You can DM the Instagram page a letter and the address of a local you appreciate, and Sophie will hand deliver this to them.
Hair: Alexandra Whiteoak. Alex was extremely talented and spent a few hours with me during our trial, making sure that I was 100% happy with the style. We looked at a few different options for the ‘bun’, and I immediately loved the textured bun look. My hair held all day (even in 38 degrees), and Alex was super friendly and lovely to deal with throughout.
Make-up: Cassandra Lusi. Cass played a huge role in helping me achieve my dream wedding makeup look—a dewy, fresh, “barely there” style that would withstand the heat. From the start, it felt like I was working with a friend, and the whole process was so comfortable and reassuring.
Cass went above and beyond, even including a ‘touch-up’ kit, which was a lifesaver given the heat. I also have sensitive eyes, and Cass took the time to offer expert advice and find alternative products that wouldn’t irritate them. On the day, I felt beautiful, and my makeup lasted all the way into the early hours of the following morning
The dress & veil: My custom bridal dress, overskirt and veil were by Holly Butler. Holly is by far the most talented custom wedding dress designer in Melbourne, and I could not be happier with my dream wedding dress.
Shoes: Dune, London
Rings: Engagement Rings Melbourne. We ordered our rings from Janai, a Melbourne-based jeweller in the city, and had a great experience. Jemima was so lovely to work with, and the jeweller is super smart. She took great care to ensure we were completely happy before moving forward with the purchase. Liam didn’t buy the engagement ring from Janai, but Jemima was more than happy to assist in finding a wedding band to match.
Bridesmaids’ dresses: The bridesmaids wore Shona Joy and Billy J.
Suits: PJ Johnson – P. Johnson
Catering: Liam’s wonderful family! A special shoutout to Lyndall, Bronwyn, and Susannah for the incredible grazing board, canapés, and sit-down meal. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about how fresh and delicious everything was. Lyndall put so much thought and effort into designing a locally sourced, carefully curated menu, and with the help of the local community, she brought it to life beautifully. We were also lucky to have a few family friends contribute to our dessert table, making it even more special
Bar: Not Just The Bartender. We worked with a fantastic local supplier to help run our bar. While we provided all the alcohol for the event, Colleen and her team took care of everything else. She was incredibly organised, even making two site visits to the farm to ensure everything was perfect ahead of the big day. The execution was seamless, and our guests were absolutely delighted with the service.
Favours: I printed personalised photos of guests using Popic
Cake / Cake topper: Brunetti
Stationery / Signage: We did this ourselves with help from friends and family
Entertainment: Acoustic Wedding Music. Lark Band – These guys were incredible! From the start, communication with Travis was seamless, and our guests couldn’t stop raving about the music at our wedding. We booked an acoustic performer (Rhyss) for our pre-reception canapés, followed by a five-piece band for the reception. Joel on the sax was especially good at getting the party started. We were really impressed!
We were incredibly lucky to have Liam’s cousin Dom (DJ Ankle Injuries) on the decks from 11 pm onwards. The benefit of the private property wedding is that we could party all night long!
Furniture Hire: Our family are launching a sustainable furniture hire business called Gather Together, using locally sourced reclaimed timber.
For our wedding, they handcrafted eight beautiful benches for the ceremony, which will now be available for other couples in the local area to hire. They also designed and built stunning timber tables for our marquee, crafted from the highest quality reclaimed wood. For environmentally conscious brides, these pieces are the perfect addition.
Sophie, Ben, Jeremy, and Iain, the talented team behind Gather Together, are not only incredibly skilled but also the loveliest people you’ll meet. They take the time to understand your vision and ensure every detail is just right
We hired our chairs, market umbrellas, lounge sets and cutlery from Elderberry Events.
Honeymoon: We took six weeks off and travelled to Latin America, stopping in Colombia, Argentina, Patagonia and Chile
