Real Wedding – Rebecca & Cameron, Gisborne South VIC

Understated, effortless style and sweet, grounded romance were the resounding themes of Cam and Bec’s wonder-filled winter wedding. We love a couple who embrace the elements, and the result for these two darlings is a day overflowing with breathtakingly beautiful moments and fabulous fun.

Choosing to hold the celebrations on Bec’s parent’s property imbued the day with a sense of family and a rustic style, made modern with contemporary accents; sleek ivory boots for the girls, chic grey jackets for the guys and Bec’s on-point gown by designer Lilia Cass. A sleek silhouette, sweet back detailing, and a perfectly puffed chiffon blouse ticked all the boxes. Adding a pastel pink coat to the ensemble added a sense of carefree style, which we absolutely applaud.

The design decor embraced the natural elements of the venue, adding warmth and emphasis through soft paper lanterns, candlelight and juxtapositions of contrasting furnishings.

Photographer superstar Sarah Godenzi created an aesthetic ambience of golden-drenched magic throughout the newlywed’s portrait session. Scroll on to see this visual poetry in full.

The meeting.

AFL Grand Final Day 2013, at a friend’s place in Richmond.

The ‘one’.

Cam: About a month into the relationship, I knew something was different. I had a one-way ticket booked for Europe, which I had been looking forward to for a year or more. However, I ended up cancelling that ticket to see where the relationship went. I have yet to rebook that flight to this day, but I am very much looking forward to when we can both travel there as a family.

Bec: When you know, you know. I think it was our first or second date at a bar in the city. The conversation was so easy; we talked all night, and of course, he made me laugh!

The proposal.

With the help of our then two-year-old daughter and our dog Ace. We asked Bec to kneel down on the floor as we had a surprise. When she opened her eyes, Billie and I were on one knee, and I asked the question. Not more than three minutes later, Billie decided she wanted to do something else, and we were brought back to our own reality, perfectly imperfect.

Planning process.

Cam: Bec did it all, besides the property maintenance in the lead-up and clearing out the shed, hanging up lights and setting up tables a couple of days prior. It didn’t feel too rushed overall. Having Covid lockdown push our original dates back about six months may have been a good thing.

Style inspiration. 

Bec: I knew I wanted something low-key, nothing too grand or over the top. I always imagined getting married on my parent’s property, and it seemed like the right choice with the constant changing of restrictions. The style was a little rustic; we let the landscape speak for itself and made use of natural materials as much as possible.

I loved looking at real weddings online, particularly those on private property in rural areas. A girlfriend of mine suggested a few Facebook groups, which also helped when it came to sourcing candles and decor. Quite early in the planning process, I loved using digital resources like Ivory tribe, particularly Instagram posts, which I could save for later.

The ceremony.

The ceremony was short and sweet. We shared our vows privately prior to the ceremony in a handwritten letter. We both opened it in the morning, which was a really special way to start the day. There was something very magical about having all your loved ones there to celebrate you and your partner. Our ceremony was really a celebration of our relationship and, of course, our little girl, Billie. Despite the gale-force winds, it was perfect!

The look. 

Bec: I tried on a few dresses around Melbourne but didn’t find the one until I saw the stunning designs by Lilia Cass. I wanted to be comfortable but also wear something a little less traditional. Given the colder climate where we were getting married, the blouse was the perfect choice. The aim was to remove it after the ceremony; however, it was so cold I ended up swapping it for a pastel pink coat. Lilia also made and designed my daughter’s dress; it was absolutely gorgeous.

As I just had the one bridesmaid, Steph chose her own dress, which tied in perfectly with the landscape and neutral palette. We both wore ivory boots with a block heel; they were so comfortable and super practical.

Cam and his best man opted for a classic look. Overall the colours worked really well without being too matchy-matchy.

Favourite moments.

Cam: Walking down towards reception after our photos, everyone cheering as we walked through; seeing how happy everyone was and having them all together in that moment was amazing.

Bec: I can’t go passed walking down the aisle. Just as I walked out, I saw our daughter Billie in front of me, giving Cam a big hug.

Seeing all our loved ones and the styling and set up for the first time was so special and a nice surprise.

Meaning of marriage.

It legalises your commitment to someone you have already spiritually opened your heart to and loved long before the big day.

Wedding soundtrack.

Aisle: Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi

Recessional: You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall and Oats, You’re My Best Friend by Queen.

Funny stories or near disasters.

A near disaster was when the concierge/driver who was to collect Cam’s parents didn’t show up. Luckily, they were staying not far away and had to drive themselves in at the last minute or risk missing the ceremony.

Planning surprises.

How much time is involved in preparing and planning, and how amazing our friends and family were in the lead-up. Special mention to a particular friend who drove all over Melbourne and helped set up the night before; you know who you are!

Words of wisdom.

If it’s a DIY wedding, there is no such thing as planning and organising too far in advance. If you think something will take a certain amount of time, add 50% to that timeline, and it’s probably a lot more realistic.

Also, if you are using a barn/shed that needs clearing out and cleaning, do it sooner than the week prior (insert sweaty, smiley face emoji)!

If you’re loving the grounded elegance of Bec & Cam’s dream day, check out more country-style weddings with rustic romance vibes, here.

BEC & CAM’S VENDORS

Ceremony & reception location: Private property in Gisborne South, Victoria.

Celebrant: Russel Harrup. An old friend of Cameron’s, he made us feel so relaxed and made the formalities really easy. Thanks, Russ!

Photography: Sarah Godenzi. As a photographer myself, I am so fussy, and Sarah is soooo talented; she captured our wedding so perfectly.

Videography: Angelica James Photography. Angelica is a very talented photographer and stepped in last minute to capture some raw film of the ceremony for us.

Florist: Flowers by Gee, based in the Macedon Ranges. They did a beautiful job at putting together our bouquets and ceremonial flowers.

Hair and make-up: Kate McCleary. Kate is such a pleasure to be around and is a magician when it comes to creating that natural glow.

The dress: Lilia Cass Ceremonial 

Shoes: Ivory boots by Mi Piaci

Rings: Sarah and Sebastian

Bridesmaid dress: Dissh Boutique

Suits: Men’s Suit Warehouse

Catering: Gather Round Events. We hired their Pizza truck and their Privy. They were spectacular in every aspect. Certainly, the talk of the night was pizza. We had a vegan wedding and sourced all of our delicious vegan cheese from Helen at Food To Make You Smile.

Bar: We hired the Here or There bar caravan. They were so professional and happily accommodated on the night to ensure everyone’s hands were holding hot drinks to stay warm.

Cake: Fork Yeah Baking – Laura made the most delish vegan cake I have ever had!

Stationery / Signage: I did the graphic design and had them professionally printed.

Décor: Southern Lights Candle Co – candles and candle holders, Ikea – tea light candles and fluted candle holders, vases, curtains and fairy lights. I sourced vintage glass decor from second-hand stores as well.

Hire: We used Country Style Events to hire chairs, tables and extra seating for the event.  Theresa was fabulous to work with and made hiring furniture a breeze.

Honeymoon: Still waiting on that one!