Real Wedding – Sarah & Jim, Sunbury VIC
Sarah and Jim’s wedding theme is luxe garden party, infused with their unique stylistic sensibility and underpinned with understated romance. The perfectly picturesque Emu Bottom Homestead, surrounded by stunning natural beauty, is a dreamy backdrop, giving an elegant yet relaxed regional feel.
Sarah wears a chic gown from Bluebell Bridal with a removable overskirt, effortlessly encapsulating a classic yet modern style. Jim opted for a dark green suit paired with chestnut RM Williams boots, adding a touch of rustic sophistication. The talented Georgia Verrells captured every special moment with her signature unobtrusive style – known for her ability to catch candid moments of joy and connection, Georgia’s images from the day are both evocative and timeless.
Adding to the celebration’s uplifting vibe, the Baker Boys Band ensure the dance floor is alive with energy, bringing their renowned party vibes that has everyone celebrating into the night. With a seamless blend of personal touches, heartfelt moments, and incredible entertainment, Sarah and Jim’s wedding is a true reflection of their decade-long love story.
Read on to discover more about this unforgettable day.
The meeting.
Our relationship was the epitome of a slow burn—or a masterclass in timing. Jim was good friends with my brother-in-law and sister in their late teens and early 20s, so we’d crossed paths at various events but never paid much attention to each other.
Things sparked at my sister’s engagement party but then fizzled out until we reconnected at a friend’s 30th birthday later that year—another fizzle.
Finally, in 2019, at my brother-in-law’s 30th, we really got talking. Jim’s best mate Nick decided I was the one for Jim, and not long after, Jim asked me out for a drink at Hardiman’s Hotel. Late 2019, and the rest is history.
The one.
During a COVID walk around the Maribyrnong River, we started discussing buying a house together. Pretty early in the relationship, but we were on the same page about everything. That’s when I thought, “Yep, this is it.”
The proposal.
It was a typical Tuesday, October 18. Jim walked me to the station with our dog, Annie, asking suspiciously specific questions about my return home. I thought he was just planning tacos.
After work, I sensed something was up and, sure enough, found Jim on one knee in the living room with a beautiful bunch of orange roses. He asked me to marry him, and Annie looked on approvingly. Simple, quick, and perfect. We celebrated with champagne and dumplings at home.
Planning process.
Having attended many weddings, we knew what worked and what didn’t. We locked in key vendors quickly and fell in love with Emu Bottom Homestead at first sight.
I crafted a luxe garden party theme with a lot of DIY projects, including clay name place settings made with help from our mums. It was a wonderful bonding experience and made the lead-up extra special.
Style inspiration.
Our theme was Luxe Garden Party, reflecting our love for a regional feel without being too rustic. The venue and every detail had to mirror us as a couple.
For inspiration I found real weddings most helpful. I loved seeing how other couples mixed elements and styles together, especially in the finer details.
The ceremony.
We were married on the lawn at Emu Bottom Homestead under a eucalyptus tree. Our celebrant, Lisa Brown, brought a relaxed yet meaningful tone. The vows were the highlight—hearing my husband, who hates public speaking, deliver such beautiful vows was incredibly special.
The outfits.
My dress was a blend of classic and modern. Jim, having several black suits from previous weddings, opted for a dark green suit paired with chestnut RM Williams boots. It was perfect.
Favourite moments.
There are too many to list! But our decision to do a first look and have a drink at Naughton’s Hotel in Parkville stands out. It gave us a moment to pause and enjoy the day before the ceremony, with a stunning backdrop for photos. It also meant we could spend some time with our niece, nephew, and goddaughter, who were not invited to the adult-only wedding.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage signifies the ongoing journey of our relationship. It’s about building our teamwork and reinforcing our shared values as we navigate life together.
Wedding soundtrack.
We walked down the aisle to Simply the Best by Noah Reid.
Message to My Girl by Split Ends and (You) Got What I Need by Freddie Scott played while we signed our marriage certificate.
Just the Way You Are by Milky played as we walked back up the aisle.
We didn’t do a first dance, but we played Land of 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett to start the dance floor – and gosh, it certainly did.
Funny stories (or near disasters).
We were lucky with smooth planning and a perfect 27-degree day. The funniest moment was my dress acting as a bug catcher just before walking down the aisle, with my parents frantically shooing away insects.
Planning surprises.
That we chose the first venue we inspected!
Words of wisdom.
Know your limits – financially and creatively. It is important to start your planning journey with a clear budget in mind. This will quickly determine which suppliers you can approach and will help you to understand the scale of the day.
I saved some money by making several items for the day, including the clay name tags and our wedding sign frame. I also designed all of the wedding stationery. These were all things within our skill set as a couple. I almost tried to make our wedding cake, which would have been a disaster. Outsource when necessary.
Get a digital Polaroid camera! I love when I can snap a polaroid at a wedding, but I always felt guilty when i popped it in my handbag at the end of the night. This solved that problem because our guests could take their fun pics home, and then we could download all of them off the SD card. Win-Win.
Love Jim and Sarah’s inspirational yet attainable style? Molly and Ash’s vibrant Euroa celebration gives similar aesthetic vibes, with a touch of country elegance.
SARAH & JIM’S VENDORS
Ceremony & reception venue: Emu Bottom Homestead, Sunbury. The team here were very professional and provide a fantastic product.
Celebrant: Lisa Brown. We had seen Lisa marry a few of our friends, so picking her was an obvious choice. She lived up to every single one of our expectations and was fantastic to deal with.
Photography: Georgia Verrells. She is the best of the best, and fully lives up to the reputation. I have marvelled at her work for other weddings and feel so proud to be on the receiving end of her work. Georgia was brilliant on the day. Chief nerve calmer, timekeeper and vibe bringer – I could not recommend her more.
Florist: My lovely friend Lauren did our flowers. You can find her at Lolo and Flowers. Lauren took my brief and then delivered 200%. The whole process with Lauren was so collaborative, so when it came to the day, I knew she was going to nail it. Beyond my wildest dreams.
Hair: Eloise Hogan via Tonic Agency
Make-up: Steph Ke via Tonic Agency. Steph was brilliant on the day and helped me navigate some challenges as they popped up throughout the day. She was such a calming influence and also completely nailed my make-up. Everyone was so happy with their looks on the day, Steph nailed it.
The dress: Popovski via Bluebell Bridal. The dress was everything I could have wanted. It felt like the perfect mix of classic and modern, and I loved that I could remove the overskirt.
Shoes: Loeffler Randall
Rings: Wayne Lynch. Wayne is a Mater Jeweller working out of North Melbourne, and is exceptional at what he does. He has made several pieces of jewellery for my extended family, including my sister’s wedding ring, so it was really special to get my ring from Wayne.
Earrings: Lua Studios
Suits & bow ties / ties: YSG Tailors
Cake / Cake topper: Jim’s cousin Kate made our cake.
Stationery / Signage: I designed the stationary, but our wedding side came from Papermarc.
Entertainment: Baker Boys Band. SO MUCH FUN! We were thrilled that we could get Baker Boys Band for our wedding. They truely are the best in the business for a reason. We booked them and they never had to give it another thought, we simply knew they would bring the perfect party vibes on the night – and they certainly delivered.
Honeymoon: Thailand and Singapore
