Real Weddings – Lauren & Matt, Maffra VIC
Knowledge of endless choices plagued event planner and stylist Lauren when it finally came time to marry her love of ten years, Matt, at Mewburn Park.
Ultimately, the couple decided to center the overall design and flow of the day around the type of atmosphere they wanted to create, which was relaxed but elevated – much like the venue’s 400-acre surroundings.
Timber provincial furniture, soft draping and linen touches punctuated by an abundance of green and white florals provided luxurious texture in abundance. Pops of a timeless terracotta tone woven into the reception space gave a thoughtful nod to the autumn trees lining the private property.
Some decisions were effortless in the meant-to-be kind of way, like Lauren falling in love with the very first dress she tried on at Kyha.
Hannah Gilbert Photography used the endless photo opportunities of Mewburn Park to capture a warm and wonderful wedding album reflective of the love and joy experienced on the day.
The couple’s top planning tip? Factor self-care into your wedding budget. Things like a house cleaner the week of the wedding, some meals and a massage can do wonders for the mental load in those final days and help to put you in a mindful, present state for the big day.
The meeting.
A mutual friend of ours suggested to me that Matt and I would be a great match. We hadn’t met each other before and so I decided to do some searching on Facebook to see who he was and I added him as a friend. Shortly after we began a conversation he asked me out and we had our first date in January of 2014.
The ‘one’.
I don’t think it was one moment specifically but rather just knowing how much we enjoyed spending time with each other. He was a good cook, had lovely manners and forgave my ‘blonde moments’ where we could just laugh it off. I think when you find those qualities in your partner where you balance each other, where you are great team, then you know they’re a keeper.
The proposal.
Matt proposed on Mother’s Day 2023 as we were in our PJs unwrapping presents on the sofa. Matt had given me jewellery before and had always said ‘it’s not what you think’ as I unwrapped it, so I thought it was another one of those moments. That was until he said ‘you know what this is right?’. I froze, not sure exactly how to answer and looked up and he was on one knee. I was in shock and saw our son Xavier was also down on one knee and before I could take in what was happening, Xavier (2 yrs old at the time) took the ring out of the box and ran off with it. We had to chase him around the house to get it back. Somewhere in amongst the chaos I said YES! To this day, Xavier says it was him that gave Mummy the ring. It was honestly a perfect proposal. At home with my little family.
Planning process.
Being a stylist and planner myself, everyone thought I’d have our wedding day completely mapped out, but the truth was: I had no idea so I really drew on our own home for styling inspiration (light, green gardens, timber and stone textures) and centered the overall design and flow of the day around the type of atmosphere we wanted to create which was relaxed but a little special and elevated. We had a garden ceremony with lots of beautiful white and green flowers. And our marquee cocktail reception featured timber provincial furniture, linen textures, soft draping and a large floral bar backdrop. The creative in me definitely paid attention to the styling and layout of wedding receptions. Plus we introduced a terracotta/ cinnamon tone to the reception to marry in to the autumn trees surrounding the property.
The ceremony.
I really felt it was such a reflection of us. We stood in Mewburn’s lush green gardens infront of a white farm fence, surrounded by the most stunning floral arrangements. It was our blend of country living with my love for an abundance of flowers. We couldn’t decide on witnesses so we decided to draw names out of Xavier’s John Deere hat. It gave everyone a laugh, and again, was just the perfect blend of laid-back personalities with a love for elevated touches.
The outfit.
I researched online to see what styles I was drawn to and quickly found something one-shouldered caught my eye over and over. A lot of my clients had worn the likes of Kyha, Marquise and others so I researched online who would have something one-shouldered and I booked my first appointment with Kyha. It was an incredible experience and I’m very fortunate that the first dress I tried on was the one. It was so comfortable and was a hands-down YES. Matt is in real estate so he wears a suit to work all week and wanted something to differentiate him between work and our wedding. He opted for a navy pant with linen jacket and white shirt. He didn’t want anything too formal but something he still felt dressed-up in without being in the office.
Favourite moments.
Getting ready in the morning with the girls was so relaxing and peaceful. We all said we could have stayed there all day! But I loved the time with just Matt and I getting our photos together… we rarely get photos together as one of us is holding the camera and the other our son.
Meaning of marriage.
I always knew we’d be together but I think especially since starting our family, it feels really nice to share the same surname as our son and it’s brought us closer together.
Wedding soundtrack.
Processional: Parallel Line – Keith Urban
Entry: What I Like About You – The Romantics (One of Xav’s favorite songs)
Planning surprises.
I definitely thought because I had done this for hundreds of couples before, that I had it covered. But especially in that last week I really wish I had a planner/ coordinator to take care of comms and finalize timelines etc for me because that was quite stressful on top of organising final details and still being a parent, running a business and having Easter the weekend prior as well. I can see the value in delegating to allow you the space in your calendar (and mind) even if you feel capable of doing the task. You can do it all, just not all at once.
Words of wisdom.
Factor in self-care into your wedding budget. We included a house cleaner the week of the wedding, meals and massages. They definitely helped! And choose vendors who’s work you not only love, but who you gel really well with. Your vendor team and how they operate together behind the scenes of a wedding day will directly impact what you and your guests experience front of house. Overall, be easy on yourself. Chances are you’ve never planned an event to this scale before so you only know what you know. If you don’t have the answers, that’s ok, lean on your vendor team and don’t be afraid to ask for support. From deciding on flower types to your run sheet to your nail colour – there is a lot of deciding to do – if you have a great vendor team, they’ll help remove any uncertainty from the onset.
For more autumn inspiration, check out Hannah and Dan’s real wedding.
LAUREN & MATT’S SUPPLIERS
I am fortunate to have a little intel having worked in the wedding industry for 12 years so I really lent on my connections and existing knowledge. We had an amazing lineup of vendors who on the day took care of everything and I was able to be fully present and 100% trust them to deliver (which they all absolutely did!)
Ceremony & reception venue: Mewburn Park Homestead
Celebrant: Gina Brakey of East Gippsland Celebrant
Photography: Hannah Gilbert Photography
Styling: Etc. Event Styling
Florist: Benita Tscharke
Hair: The Peacock and the Hair
Make-up: Luxxe Skin and Beauty
The dress & veil: Kyha
Shoes: Bared
Rings: Michael Hill
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Billy J
Suits: Connor
Catering: Created by Bels (Grazing during canapes) Neilsons Kitchen for reception
Desserts: We had a baking day and my family and I baked old favorites we grew up loving and had a dessert table. It featured Jelly slice, Hedgehog, Rum balls, Honey joys, Woolies choc mud cake (matt’s favourite) + more.
Cake: In amongst our dessert table we had a Pear and Walnut Dacquoise from our local café The Long Paddock Lindenow.
Stationery: DIY
Entertainment: Dj Nige
Décor: Etc. Event Styling, Otto & Chaise, Bluebird Vintage.
Honeymoon: Hamilton Island
