Joey and Graham

A soft, romantic, almost English style country garden wedding today all the way from Wangaratta in Victoria! I love the soft romantic feeling of this morning’s celebration and I think you just might fall for it too!

Joey tells their story. “Graham and I met through church and had known each other for six years before we started dating. Graham would call into the family farm where I lived to have cuppas and talk cars and motorbikes with my dad and brothers. After a number of years as friends, we went on a road trip around half of Australia. The spark was ignited and with a strong foundation of friendship, we got hitched a year later.”


The special touches were even evident in the jewelery Joey wore on the day. “Graham wore a plain gold wedding band. I wore earrings given to me by my Aunty and wore my two engagement rings. On my left hand, the diamond engagement ring Graham and I had made which a plain gold band accompanied. On my right hand, I wore the engagement ring Graham proposed with. He made this ring himself over five years ago before he knew me as a reminder that the right girl was out there and that she was worth waiting for. He stored it in his work toolbox which he took with him to worksites all around Australia. Before Graham and I started dating, we went on a road trip as friends around half of Australia. While camping at Alice Springs, we picked our first flower together, a native everlasting daisy. Unbeknown to me, Graham kept the flower and altered the ring he made so that the flower nestled in the centre of the ring. The bridesmaids wore pearls.”

Ngg Studios are the photographers behind today’s wedding! They flew from Brisbane to Victoria to capture it! I adore the soft, dreamy captures that NGG creates- pure emotion with blissful grace.

Joey wore pretty pink shoes. “My dusty pink shoes were custom made by Bespoke Bigday, as I wanted a low heel that was still pretty.” She wore a gown from Maggie Sottero and sewed a piece of fabric from her grandmother’s and Mum’s wedding dress onto the lining.

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Joey carried a bouquet by Melissa at Blooms on Bridge Benalla. Graham added to the bouquet with a pink camellia he pulled from his lapel and gave to Joey in a romantic gesture.

Joey and Graham married at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Wangaratta. Joey says ” I had always wanted to walk down the aisle to a pipe organ and was in a girls choir at the Holy Trinity Cathedral when I was younger. As committed Christians, it was very important to Graham and I to have a Christ centred service. Our pastor did the message and we were married by the Dean of the Cathedral.

We walked down the aisle to the pipe organ playing Purcell’s ‘Trumpet Tune’. As a surprise to Graham, I had organised a family friend to accompany the organ playing his trumpet – sounded fantastic!”

The getaway car was not just any vehicle as Joey shares, “Friends drew an image of Graham and me next to the bridal car, a Daimler Sovereign 1971. My Dad restored this car when I was a young girl and as I grew up watching it being used for weddings, I wanted it to be the bridal car when it was my turn to be the bride! This image was used for invitations, the order of service and place cards. On the back of the order of service, a monogram was printed- ‘Graham and Joanna’ intertwined with a rose which was also drawn by our friend.”

Post ceremony, Joey and Graham held an afternoon reception for their ceremony guests. “The refreshments were held at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre which was conveniently located across the road from the church and also had the capacity to cater for the 300 plus friends and family who attended our wedding ceremony.”


After bridal party photos, a smaller reception was held in the evening at Gracebrook Vineyards in the King Valley. Joey says “Graham and I both loved the rustic elegance of the restored 1800 stables at Gracebrook Vinyeards. With fabulous staff, sweeping views of the mountains and a cosy atmosphere inside, it was a wonderful venue for a winter wedding reception.”

Joey says “After looking at endless cakes, I designed a three tier ivory cake which was made by Jeanie’s Cakes in Wangaratta. The bottom two tiers were a fresh zesty lemon cake and the top tier was fruit cake. Each tier had piped icing detail and thin merlot ribbon was wrapped around the bottom. The same roses used in the bridesmaid’s bouquets (tones of ivory, merlot and mauve) were used to decorate each tier.”

Thank you Joey and Graham for sharing your wedding day on Polka Dot Bride! Congratulations! Thank you to ngg Studios for sharing today’s photographs!

Photos by Ngg Studios