Ceremony: Happs Winery, Dunsborough || Reception: Wyndham Resort Dunsborough

“We wanted a classic, timeless theme with a romantic feel, so we opted for whites, blush pinks, with a touch of silver.”

The Proposal

The day Chris proposed started out like any other day. I am a big fan of an understated proposal and Chris knew if he planned anything too elaborate that I would be onto him. We were building our home and the bricks had just been completed. We went to see the progress and while I had my back turned, Chris got down on one knee, in our soon to be ensuite and asked me to marry him. He was holding the most amazing ring that he had picked out months before. I never saw it coming. I was in so much shock I asked if he was serious, then I cried a bit before saying yes. He still jokes about how long I kept him in suspense before answering!

The Venue

We had quite a few site visits before deciding on Happs Winery for the ceremony and Wyndham Resort for the reception. My sister told me about a boutique winery (Happs) she had visited once and that we should have a look. We were shown around the grounds and instantly feel in love. The surrounding bush, the vineyard, wine barrels and grassed amphitheater were exactly what we had been looking for. It was beautifully maintained, intimate and only a 5 minute drive to our reception venue. We chose Wyndham Resort for our reception as it had a spacious ballroom (we had 140 guests) with Ocean views and guests could stay the night on site.

The Wedding Theme

We wanted a classic, timeless theme with a romantic feel, so we opted for whites, blush pinks, with a touch of silver and roses. Our aim was to be able to look back at our photos and still love our choices in years to come. The vibe we were looking for was a relaxed one and for our reception to be one big party.

Favourite Wedding Moment

I don’t even know where to begin, there were so many! Walking down the aisle arm linked with my Dad’s and seeing the smile on my husband’s face as I walked towards him. My sister’s hilarious poem about how my husband and I met that had everyone in stitches. When my pop (who had recently lost my Nana) hugged me and said she would be proudly watching over us and how desperately my Nana wanted to be there. When my husband picked me up and whirled me around the dance floor. Sitting at the bridal table, looking around the reception and seeing all the love in the room. It truly was the best day of our lives.

Wedding Planning Advice

We have two pieces of advice for couples planning a wedding. The first sounds silly but for people like us who never dreamt or thought about their wedding until the day we got engaged, it is important to remember to have a clear vision of what you want your wedding day to be like before you begin booking your venue, date and vendors. This will save you time and money in the long run. The second would be to not get too caught up with the small things. At the time it may seem like the most important detail in the world but at the end of the day, the most important part of the wedding is why you are having it- to marry the love of your life surrounded by your closest friends and family. Wedding planning, although stressful, should be enjoyable.

Our Outstanding Vendors

All our vendors did an amazing job and exceeded our expectations but we would like to make special mention of our photographer Dave from Dave & Charlotte Photography. As soon as we met Dave we knew he was exactly what we were looking for. He took classic, timeless images and his relaxed aura put us at ease straight away. Not only did he capture every moment from our special day but he also helped out by organising the slow to get ready groomsmen!