Tanika and Ashton

Tanika and Ashton

Good afternoon Tuesday! I love Tuesdays! I love THIS Tuesday most of all with a delightful backyard wedding from Michelle Fiona Photography. Michelle sent today’s celebration of Tanika and Ashton over with the most glorious details!

Ashton proposed to Tanika while walking along their favourite beach, Ashton has magically put a message in a bottle which Tanika bent down to pick up from the water – at that moment, Ashton got down on one knee and proposed! Ashton has never revealed how he got the message in the bottle to show up at the perfect moment!

Ashton proposed to Tanika during a romantic walk along their favourite beach. A bottle came up out of the waves, bobbing against the rocks and Tanika reached down to pick it up. In it, was  a message of love from Ash, and before she had finished reading it, he was down on one knee proposing! He will never reveal how he got the bottle to wash up at the exact time, and there have been many theories, from trained dolphins to friends underwater in snorkelling gear. Whatever way it happened, who cares! It was so romantic… and got the desired result!!

Tanika’s father tended the garden before the wedding day. Fences were lined with little arrangements including cinnamon sticks and cherry blossom stems.

Tanika and Ashton married on Tanika’s family property outside Jamberoo in New South Wales, Hundreds of white daisies were bought from the florist and piled into white cans that lined the aisle- these later moved indoors for the reception.

Tanika wore a lace gown from Cheboom Bridal.

Ashton wore a charcoal suit from Man To Man with a lilac shirt. His tie was handmade by local dressmaker, Tanya Rodgers.

The ceremony started outside as the heavens open, the 280 guests ran to the marquee to finish the vows. Always Flowers created Tanika’s pale yellow and white daisy,white tiger lilies and yellow geranium bouquet.

The red mustang was not only a touch of colour on their stormy wedding day but was a surprise organised by Ashton for their wedding photos!

Tanika’s bridesmaids wore off-white v-neck gowns while her stepsisters (acting as flower girls) wore ballerina style gowns and carried a single rose down the aisle.

The reception was filled with paper lanterns, tissue paper flowers and tea light candles, Centrepieces were brown paper packages tied up with string, old glasses jars filled with flowers, old china saucers, vintage earrings, glass ornaments, vintage stamp and letters, lace, twine and shells collected from the couple’s trips together.

The couple’s three tier wedding caramel mud cake from Michel’s Patisserie was topped with “love birds” Tanika found at a bargain shop and made outfits for them with fabric she found in her mother’s stash. Tanika and Ashton made fabric pouches filled with sparklers for their guests and included a letter to their guests filled with lovely words and fun things to do during the reception. For each guest, Tanika and Ashton filled a bottle with sand from the beach where Ashton proposed. The letter in their pouch explained the meaning behind the bottle and asked the guests to add to “sand of love” with their own stories or romance!

Congratulations on your marriage Tanika and Ashton! Thankful for allowing us to share your wedding day on Polka Dot Bride! Thank you also to Michelle of Michelle Fiona Photography for sharing today’s gorgeous photographs with us!

Photos by Michelle Fiona Photography.