Libby and Harley

I cannot get the song “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” out of my head today, which is possibly because of the sweet tulip motif Libby and Harley included throughout their Spring wedding! I like the bright colours they used throughout their day – that delicious orange is such a nice burst of colour.

Libby and Harley decided a country wedding was for them. “We knew when we began to organize our wedding that we wanted to get married outside of the city. We thought it was a great idea to take everyone away for the day to somewhere pretty where they could escape the business of life. We looked at a few places around Canberra and instantly fell in love with Bungendore. It is such a beautiful little town. It was only after we booked the church and reception venue that we found out that Bungendore was the place where Harley’s grandparents first met and fell in love. This was particularly significant as they were not alive to share the day with us.”

Libby and Harley met in high school.  Libby says “We met back in year 12, however there was no romance then. It was only years after that at a mutual friend’s party that we finally started talking and cupid’s arrow hit us both!”

Photos this morning are by Amanda Thorson who always captures such beautiful images – so full of joy and so intimate.

Libby’s wedding gown was from Brides In Love. Tulips were used throughout the wedding and started with the invitations, created by a friend.  “Sadly I am not very creative, but my friends are! A good friend designed the invitations for me and the tulip motif which I used on almost anything I could!” Libby recalls.

Libby and Harley were married at St Phillips Anglican church in Bungendore.

Libby’s bridesmaids wore orange gowns from Noueve Rich, Queanbeyan. Libby says “I thought that my favourite colour (orange) might be too bright for my bridesmaids to wear however it suited them all perfectly. How delighted I was to find my favouite flower (tulips) in the exact same colour for their bouquets!” The bouquets were styled by Capital Flowers.

Libby’s great uncle was the minister for the service. ” There is something so joyful about having a member of your family marry you.”

Music played an important role in the day. Simone says “In 2008 Harley and I went to Japan and elements of this trip were reflected in our special day. We walked out of the church to “Lovers in Japan” by Coldplay and the bridesmaids held Japanese parasols during the photos.”

Vintage cars were a highlight for Libby. “I am a huge fan of the movie ‘Grease’, therefore it was very important that we have vintage cars. I could not have been more delighted when a friend of my mothers introduced us to her friend who owned the most incredible 50’s cars! What a way to arrive!!”

The wedding cake came to Harley in a dream. “Harley had a dream about our wedding cake and it was one of the only things he had his heart set on. It had to be a castle. We took the idea to Cakes Of Your Dreams and they were able to design a cake instantly from our description. It was magnificent and tasted delicious.” The couple held their reception at Carrington Inn, Bungendore.

The couple had a romantic first dance. “Our first dance was ‘Unchained Melody’ by the Righteous Brothers. I collect vintage records and it is one of my all time favourite love songs.”

One of Libby’s favourite memories was “The video montage I made for the reception which incorporated photos of Harley and I growing up and in a way thanked all the exceptional people that made us into the people we are today.”

Congratulations Libby & Harley on your marriage! Thank you for sharing it with us on Polka Dot Bride! Thank you also to Amanda of Thorson Photography for sharing today’s photographs!

Photographs by Amanda Thorson