Real weddings: Sarah and Justin
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Justin and Sarah’s wedding at Oatlands House in NSW, a restored 1800’s Manor, had a stunning French provincial theme to match the historic venue.
Getting ready
My bridesmaids, parents and I had a suite at The Hills Lodge in Castle Hill where we spent the morning getting ready and enjoying a champagne breakfast. Justin and his groomsmen went out for brunch before suiting up back at their apartment.
The dress
My gown was by Maggie Sottero and was purchased from Abbey Bridal. It is ivory French lace over satin with a stunning sheer lace button up back.
My dress was the very first dress I tried on! The minute the sales assistant put a veil on my head with the dress, and both mum and I teared up I knew it was the one.
The ceremony
Our ceremony was in the Rose Gardens at Oatlands House with our reception in their Rose Suite overlooking the garden. Even though we are both from Canberra, we had lots of guests travelling from all over Australia so the location was a great central point for people to fly in for the big day.
I spotted the venue (a restored 1800’s Georgian Manor) in a magazine a couple of years before we even got engaged and told Justin then that if we ever got married that’s where it would be!
For our ceremony, we wrote our own vows and had a Love Lock ceremony where we locked two padlocks together to symbolise our union and tied the keys to a giant balloon which we then released.
The reception
For our reception we based the styling on a vintage and French provincial feel to compliment the venue.
We had loads of fresh blooms and candles on the tables and gave our guests little jars filled with macarons as favours.
Once the formalities were out of the way everyone let loose and had a ball on the dancefloor! Justin even performed his own version of the ‘Pony’ dance from Magic Mike for the garter toss – everyone roared with laughter!
Our first dance was my favourite part of the day! We had secretly spent a few months in the lead up to the wedding having lessons with Kate from Subsdance Canberra putting together a rumba. It was so much fun surprising our guests with our routine, they absolutely loved it!
The little details
Ceremony and reception venue: Oatlands House
Celebrant: Jess from Milestone and Co
Photographer: Studio Something
Dress: Abbey Bridal
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Sheike
Groom and groomsmen’s suits: John Hanna
Bride’s hair: Kathryn Ilijoski – 121 Hair
Bridesmaids’ hair: Kathryn Ilijoski – 121 Hair
Makeup: The bride’s cousin
Reception stylist: Chanele Rose Flowers and Styling
Flowers: Chanele Rose Flowers and Styling
Cars: We used a friend’s white Mercedes
Caterer: Oatlands House
Cake: All Things Sweet by Carissa
DJ: Oatlands House
Stationary: White Willow Paper (Etsy)
First dance song: Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
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