Alicia & Sam

Set amongst the sweeping plains of their sixth generation farming property in Tasmania, Alicia and Sam tied the knot in front of close family and friends. The rustic setting provided a relaxed and comfortable vibe for guests to enjoy as Event Avenue thought out every detail. Some camped on the property and others came only for the party, however everyone was excited as the budding love birds devoted their love to each other! Alex Giles Photography was chosen to come along for the ride and capture the highlight reel of their beautiful Tasmanian wedding! Alicia tells us about how Sam proposed…

Sam and I were only together for seven months before he secretly planned a surprise trip to New Zealand and proposed to me. We were in Queenstown, New Zealand for ten days. On the third day he had us driven from the hotel room to the airport where a helicopter was waiting for us. I was clueless, I kept pinching myself in disbelief wondering where Sam had been my whole life. We took off over the snow covered mountains and landed at a glacier.

Still clueless as to what was happening we got out and explored the amazing location. There was a small creek running through the mountains and Sam was kneeling down looking at something in the water, he called me over, pulled a ring out and asked me to marry him and of course I said YES! ….. and six months later we were married.

Sam put a lot of thought into his big surprise, he even went to the trouble of getting my engagement ring handmade by James Ashley – a jeweller in Launceston Tasmania. They spent hours together designing something I’d love and boy did I love it!

I have always been in love with long sleeve wedding dresses so it was a MUST for my big day. Little White Boutique in Launceston made it a lovely experience choosing my gown. Simple and elegant with little details sums up my dress. Made With Love Bridal was the designer and it was made in a crepe material which made it warm, which was a must for those cool Tassie nights.

It had custom made and beautiful long flowy sleeves, with cuff and button detail. It had a low back also with button detail and a sweetheart neckline and long flowy train. I felt so amazing in it! Sam and his Best Man and best friend were suited up by Routleys Launceston, Adding their own RM Williams boots and belts.

Sam spent the night before the wedding at the farm at our house and I spent it with my best friend and brides-man Dann. Dann and I stayed at Cressy house Estate. I chose to stay there as it’s a newly renovated homestead, with the most breathtaking gardens which made it perfect for photos! Sam and I also stayed the night of the wedding and we received the most lovely service.

Sam and I live together at Woodside Park, 4000 acres of farmland in beautiful Tasmania so it was an easy decision for us to have our dream wedding on the farm. Sam is the sixth generation to run the family farm so it has a special place in our hearts. Not to mention its surrounded by rugged mountains and lush green rolling hills.

We chose to set the wedding up on a hill that overlooks the entire farm. The ceremony was under a big old gumtree. Wooden welcome sign handmade by Silver Belle Designs, wine barrels covered in flowers at the aisle entrance, hay bales for the guests to be seated on, green foliage and proteas lining the aisle. Our theme was obviously rustic/farm but with a little added elegance.

As Sam and I had not been together for long before we decided to tie the knot, our friends and family had not had the opportunity to meet each other. So our wedding was also a day where everyone was going to come together and meet one another for the first time! Because of this, we wanted our special day to be relaxing, easy going and carefree.

Our celebrant Annie Saunders made it just what we asked for, a short but meaningful ceremony where we exchanged our very own personal vows while our family, friends, two sausage dogs “Lulu & Freddie” and chocolate Labrador “Poppy” watched and waited for the kiss so they could cover us in dried flower confetti by Everland Favours.

Since getting engaged I started to visit every market I could to find little treasures and ideas that would help make my wedding special. I found antique crystal cake stands to display each cake on the dessert table, I found old vintage suitcases to display my wedding favours and to hold blankets for my guests if they got cold through the night.

Even our wishing well was made out of an old suitcase! Sam and I also got a little crafty and built little wooden signs to guide the guests up through the farm to the wedding and a large wooden frame to go in hand with our polaroid photo guest book.

My bouquet was an arrangement of native flowers and deep red and pink roses all tied together with a dusty pink silk ribbon, which added that little something special. All the flowers have dried so beautifully from the wedding. I have them scattered all around our house, they are such a pretty reminder of our special day.

My best friend Dann lives in Melbourne and owns a hair salon, Baxter Melbourne. We have been friends for 15 years and I had always said that if I ever get married, he is going to be my brides-man! It’s just a bonus that he can also do my wedding hair.

He spent the whole day making me feel like a queen. We started our morning with breakfast at the local bakery, then continued onto getting my makeup done at Mesa Hair by Lucy. It was so relaxing and stress free! Lucy exceeded my expectations! Pure body Launceston helped get my skin perfect for my big day by pampering me with facials the week before and Kendall, the owner of Model Lash Studio gave me lush lashes.

We then continued onto convict cutters – a hair salon where Dann styled my hair. This is where Dann and I worked together for 7 years and where we originally met. We were greeted with champagne decorated with fairy floss, just for that extra something special. After a few laughs we drove back to the accommodation to dress and where my parents met us for photos with the photographer.

Alex Giles was our photographer he made our day so easy and went out of his way to get the perfect photo. As the sun was setting we experienced the most beautiful coloured sunset, Oranges and pinks surrounded the marquee on the hill.

We took so long to find the perfect marquee. We looked everywhere for something that would blend into its surroundings. We didn’t want a big white marquee as we thought it would stick out too much and look un-natural. Then we found Events Avenue.

Gabbi the wedding stylist and planner and her team knew straight away what I wanted our big day to be like and made our dream wedding become a reality. It was so amazing turning up on my big day to everything set up so beautifully. Event Avenue also did all the floral decorations, my bouquet and the boys button holes.

Sam and I both had family from all around Australia and even friends from overseas attend the wedding, so we gave our guests the choice if they wanted to camp the night. Some family turned up a few days prior the wedding and helped set up for the big day.

The amount of help from friends and family was so overwhelming! It’s amazing what you can achieve when you all come together to create something beautiful. The day after the wedding we had a BBQ brunch for guests who camped or wanted to come back the following day to catch up and exchange stories and laughs from the night before.

Our marquee was laced with hanging foliage and festoon lighting that continued outside over the giant wooden dance floor. Rustic wooden tables, leather couches and antique velvet arm chairs and fire pits. Native flowers and deep red roses in jars decorated the tables.

We decided to have a cocktail wedding so all the guests could mingle throughout the evening and get to know one another. We had the Kombi Keg for the Beer and a self-serve wine table. Little picnic co. created a beautiful grazing table for the guests for after the ceremony and Ignite gourmet Pizza made the guests pizzas throughout the night.

The wedding cake was made by Delicious Little Things. A beautiful three tier chocolate mud cake, decorated with roses and native flowers and on top of all that my lovely mum, aunts and cousin created a spectacular dessert table covered with delicious little treats for our guests and scattered in-between the desserts were homemade personalised love heart cookies by Bespoke Patisserie. I can definitely say that it was the most favoured table of all!

I think music is a big thing when you’re throwing an event so I did a lot of research before choosing who/what we were going to do for music on our wedding day. My mum and I were shopping one day and there was a young girl singing and playing guitar in the mall. Mum turned to me and said you should have her sing at your wedding! So, I approached her and that was that.

I had Medhanit Barratt sing at my ceremony and half way through my reception. She had the most amazing voice and having her sing at my ceremony made it so much more special. She even learnt the song I wanted to walk down the aisle to which was “Ocean eyes” by Billie Eilish. Later on in the night we had a band play, they were called Well Strung – a local Launceston band. I wanted someone who sung all the oldies because EVERYONE loves old school. Seeing that dance floor filled with people and knowing everyone was having a ball was a great feeling.

 

Sam and I started our relationship on a big adventure in New Zealand so we are looking forward to returning for 9 days at the start of our honeymoon. We can’t wait to explore the beautiful place again following 5 days in Tahiti on Moorea Island. We are very excited and cannot wait for our honeymoon and to see what other adventures await in our future together.

 

Ms Zebra Says: We are so happy for both of you – and love your gorgeous wedding on that incredible property. Congratulations and we wish you all the happiness and love in the future!