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Sophia and Andrew

Andrew proposed on my birthday! It was a cold Monday night in August and after a lovely dinner and bottle of our favourite wine, Andrew suggested we go for one more drink before heading home. He suggested we go to the bar where we first met at a mutual friend’s birthday. We were the only people left and they were just about to close up. We started to get ready to leave and I walked up the stairs –  the very same stairs that Andrew first saw me on. I turned around and there he was on one knee, holding a gorgeous ring, asking me to be his wife. All I remember is bursting into tears and saying “are you kidding.. YES!” as he picked me up and kissed me. It was very Hollywood and I wouldn’t have changed a thing!

Andrew and I got married in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales at Montrose Berry Farm; we spent the months leading up to the wedding doing loads of fun DIY jobs, which all came together beautifully on the day, thanks to many hands and a ‘blank slate’ venue. We planned the wedding together as we both wanted the day to reflect our combined tastes and interests. Your wedding should be about you both as a couple, not just one person.

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I decided to go dress shopping with my Mum. I didn’t want it to be a big ‘all-in thing’ so I just kept it intimate and knew that if anyone was going to tell me the truth about what looked good (or bad!) it would be my Mum. I also wanted to keep my dress a surprise for my hubby, girlfriends and guests. We went to a few boutiques but it wasn’t until I found myself in Savvy Brides that I felt happy and enjoyed the experience. It was there I found a Steven Khalil gown with my name on it.

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I wasn’t going to wear a veil, but then, I’m sure like many women before me, I realised it’s not a complete wedding dress until you put it on with a veil. It was the first time I officially felt like a bride. I ended up wearing my Mum’s veil from her wedding. It was really special to have something that belonged to Mum with me.

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My gorgeous bridesmaids wore Pia Gladys Perey dresses in emerald green; they all looked so beautiful!

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Andrew and his groomsmen wore three-piece suits with crisp white shirts and contrasting blue ties; I loved their waistcoats – they really completed their outfits.

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Starting with our stationery designed by Dear Little Darling, our wedding followed a botanical theme. It was everything we hoped for and more.

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We found that finding a florist was one of the harder things to tick off our list. It was also something that was looking to be surprisingly costly! We hit the jack pot though and went with a fantastically vibrant, creative florist – Tanya Shaw from Oh Flora. She was amazing, accommodating and took the time to work with us to understand what we wanted. The flowers looked incredible on the day, including my floral crown which was so pretty.

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With sunlight streaming through, our ceremony took place in a corner of the garden under large, willowy trees; it was beautiful, romantic, heart-felt and included both tears and laughter!

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After the ceremony, guests were escorted to an enchanting outdoor area which we had set up with games, seating, music and drinks. It was a great way to serve the entrée (standing canapés) as our guests really got a chance to mingle before taking their seats for dinner. Weddings are about love and laughter and it was so nice to see everyone getting along and making new friends.

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Meanwhile, with our photographer, The White Tree, we were off with our bridal party to take some piccies and have a well-deserved drink!

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Before we re-joined our guests, we stole a moment just the two of us to go into our reception venue – a stunning barn we had spent the day before decorating with our friends and family –  to share a kiss and just take it all in as husband and wife. This was one of my favourite memories of the day; our botanical theme had come together perfectly!

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After the cocktails and canapés our guests were seated (by way of our pot plant seating chart!) and the fun really kicked in. We had shared platters, prepared by Chef In Your Kitchen, along three long tables. The whole day was about mixing and socialising so why stop for the reception?!

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For the reception, we really wanted our guests to have a fabulous night with some great food, drinks and an awesome band. The White Tree also rocked the dance floor and everyone from our youngest to oldest guests boogied all night. I have a great memory of an impromptu conga line that had almost the whole wedding on board. We wouldn’t have changed a thing!

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The speeches were brilliant and at times down right hysterical. I wasn’t sure if I was going to speak but I should have known myself better than that; maybe it was the fact I’ve always been a chatter box, or that I’m a lawyer, or that I just had so much to say that I couldn’t let the day go by without speaking (or more likely all of the above!) It was so wonderful to be able to declare my love again and express my gratitude to all our friends and family for their part in our story.

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Naturally, Andrew followed my speech up strongly and reduced me to tears (again!) He then smoothly walked over, took my hand and before I knew it, the first dance was in full swing –  including the archetypal ‘dip kiss’. The rest of the night was a glorious blur.

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Weddings never go off without a hitch and nothing is ever “perfect” (whatever that is), but I can honestly say that our day felt perfect in every way, and that’s even better.

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Ms Chinoiserie Says: What a truly happy and beautiful wedding Sophia and Andrew; such a wonderful day to remember! I love all your DIY details, particularly the pot plant seating chart!

About Sophia: Hi I’m Sophia, former Events Manager turned Lawyer. I’m madly in love with my husband and our two fluffy Cavoodles, Parsley and Chester. I loved combining the skills and talents of great suppliers and also DIY-ing for our big day.