Claira and Adam

Country weddings never fail to make me fall in love – there is a sense of uncomplicated beauty to them, a spirit that only the Australian countryside can really provide. Today’s wedding is no different- when an unexpected visitor showed up in Echuca, the couple and their guests pulled together to create the most wonderful of wedding days. “Up until 11am on the wedding day we had a gorgeous huge silk lined marquee set up on a close friend’s farm gardens, with catering planned on site.

Yet due to the Cyclone Yasi remnants making its way down south to meet us, we had rain all week leading up and then 3 inches of rain the day before.

Standing in the marquee on the Saturday morning with all the tables set and laid out, we where ankle deep in water, and it was not going to work. However luck was on our side, the caterers own a restaurant/function room which wasn’t booked. We had an army of friends come and collect what was needed from the marquee, menu’s, place cards, deco, cool room, centerpeices etc and take them to the emergency reception set up in town.”

Today’s photographs are by  the lovely Lauren Drage. I love how Lauren Drage captured the moments and atmosphere of the day and adjusted to suit the calamity that turned the outdoor wedding to a beautiful indoor event.



The decorations from the farm were brought to town and led guests to the new ceremony venue,

Claira wore a strapless lace Baccini & Hill gown and paired it with black peeptoes. She remarks “I felt like a princess all day. and it matched my personality perfectly”. The floral arrangements were styled by Flowers by Vair.

The ceremony took an unexpected twist and was held at Charlotte’s Cottage. Claira explains “We had booked this 3 bedroom cottage for the girls for the Friday night and to get ready on the Saturday morning, then for the whole bridal party Saturday night. Due to the weather we ended up having to move the ceremony indoors and all we had access to was the cottage. The owners happily agreed and it looked stunning.”

Claira walked down the aisle to David Gray – ‘Sail Away With Me’.

In a sentence describing their wedding, Claira says “It was nothing that we had been planning for the last 12 months, yet we couldn’t had planned it better.”

Claira’s bridesmaids wore black floor length gowns from Wayne Cooper.


The wedding reception was moved to the caterer’s restaurant Radcliffes.  The cake was made by a family friend.





Claira did plenty of DIY projects for the wedding including the glass jar centrepieces, invitations, menus and place cards and memory cards for each of the tables “little luggage tags I printed on – “remember the time when…….” & “we laughed so hard when” they where on the tables for the guests to share memories.”

The change in plans made the wedding even more special for the newlyweds. Claira explains “As every plan we had ever made was out the window, everyone seemed to band together and help out where they could. It was a real team effort and it made the day seem so much closer together with all the guests. ”

As a treat, there was extra fun for the guests. “We hired a vintage photo booth which was unlimited for the night. Our gift to the guests. Guests where in and out all night and it was a great way to catch some special moments.”

One of Claira and Adam’s favourite moments of the day was after the wedding. “When our taxi deliverd us back from the reception to the cottage a little after 12, we stayed up till 2am reading everyone’s ‘ remember when cards’ they had wrote for us. It was a really sweet finish reading everyone’s close memories of us. It made us feel much loved and priviledged we had such great friends & family.”


Of their first dance, Claira says ” It was up on a low stage, surrounded by vines & leaves, we slow danced and spun to David Gray’s – ‘This Year’s Love’. Threeza Crowd provided the music for the event, keeping guests on the dance floor.

Congratulations Claira and Adam! Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us on Polka Dot Bride! Thank you also to Lauren Drage for sharing today’s photos!