Belinda and Magnus

Today’s wedding is full of simple beauty, the love? it shines through and it’s radiance echos through every photo. This is a completely DIY wedding, Bel and Magnus did everything themselves, from having the wedding at home, to making bouquets and Bel doing her own makeup!

The newlyweds met through Magnus’ photography site and for their first date went late night canoeing under the stars. Magnus proposed on a lookout at the end of one of their favorite bush walks, a place that would become the location for their wedding ceremony.

I’m doubly excited to have a photographer make his Polka Dot Bride debut today – Michael Gray who captured these images in a beautiful soulful way. His words too, when he sent me this wedding were full of passion and obvious love for the couple and you know……. a photographer that truly feels a connection with his couples is my favourite kind.

Bel wore her mother’s wedding gown from 1982 and her sister’s wedding veil. Liz Flaherty, a good friend of Bel’s styled her hair while Bel did her own makeup. Her bridesmaid (and sister) Richelle wore a gown from Forever New.

Bel’s galah Jack joined the wedding ceremony and watched.

Bel and Magnus were married at Longpoint Lookout in Tallong exactly a year after Magnus proposed. Bel’s pa drove to the lookout and Bel’s father walked her down the aisle to “All I Want Is You” by U2. The ceremony was filled with music performed by Jarred Spring, Elyse Flaherty and Rebecca Breeds.

Swedish born Magnus designed the invitations, that featured an antique bride and groom stamp from his mother’s childhood collection from Sweden.

In lieu of traditional flowers, Bel created bouquets of cut wheat and felt flowers. Wheat was used in the boutonnieres of the males in the bridal party, including Bel’s dad. For the reception, Bel changed into a vintage lace gown she found at the St Vincent De Paul secondhand store in Ulladulla (for $8).

Magnus and Bel held their reception at “Binnalong”. a farm they bought together in October 2009. A roast gourmet roast lunch was catered by Maugers Meats and Bel and her family (who spent the night before the wedding preparing food).

Tables were filled with antique tea cups and saucers filled with flowers and heart shaped lollipops. Bel also provided a selection of tea for guests to choose from which they drank from the centrepiece teacups as the afternoon progressed. Hearts on twine hung from trees around the garden and guests were invited to mingle and celebrate with croquet, bocce and even football.

The wedding cake was made by Bel’s grandmother. It was a traditional rich fruitcake, decorated in velvet roses and lichen covered twigs.

For their first dance, Bel & Magnus had mowed a “dancing circle” in the wheat and danced to  “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” by John Denver. As the sun went down, lanterns were lit and guests gathered around a bonfire with fresh oysters, prawns and champagne and cooled off in the farm’s lagoon.

Congratulations Belinda and Magnus on your wedding! Thank you for sharing your beautiful Australian wedding day with us today on Polka Dot Bride! Thank you also to Michael Gray for sharing his gorgeous images with us today!