Latisha and Brock

A wedding filled with country splendor seems the perfect way to end off this busy week on Polka Dot Bride! Twirling, fairy lights and beautifully iced cupcakes is my kind of Friday afternoon and I think it might be our newlywed’s relaxed style that has become infectious too!

With a laid back country wedding, the couple could not have met anywhere else but at their local. Latisha recalls ” We met at the local Tavern in Emerald (where we live) through mutual friends. I felt like I’d known him my whole life as we worked out that we both grew up in Clermont (a small town nearby) and knew all the same people but had never met before!”

Orin Lucke of Blink Photography took the gorgeous photos of today’s wedding., I love how Orin embraced the landscape and relaxed country nature of the celebration and infused it into each photograph.

Latisha and Brock were married on Latisha’s family property “Kelvin Downs” in Springsure (about 765km north of Brisbane in Queensland). Latisha says “It’s an organically run cattle property that my Dad, Mick, and his wife Deb own. It’s a magical place!“

A Perfect Bloom, Emerald ((07) 4982 3477) created the floral arrangements while Shannon Simpson styled the girl’s makeup for the wedding day. Latisha remarks “Our makeup artist, Shannon Simpson is an amazingly talented local of Emerald who has done makeup on the likes of Danni Minogue, Miranda Otto and Australia’s Next Top Model contestants! She’s fun, down to earth and brilliant at what she does!”

Latisha wore a halterneck gown from Bella Donna while her bridesmaids found their dresses in different shops. Latisha recalls “We used shops including Ally, Imagination and the Melbourne markets. The total price for all 4 bridesmaids dresses was $100 (no kidding)! In fact my sister Maria, she got her entire outfit (shoes & dress) for $27! Bargain shoppers from way back”

The ceremony was held on the property and Latisha was transported with her mother in a Hilux ute. She recalls “As usual, I was running late, and Brock was starting to get worried. He wanted to call me to make sure I was still coming, but the boys reassured him that I would be there – and I was, eventually, I was half an hour late My brother drove Mum and I to the wedding in our Hilux and a friend drove the bridesmaids in their car.”

Latisha walked down the aisle to ‘You Say It Best When You Say Nothing At All’ by Allison Krauss.

Latisha says “Having written our own vows, declaring them to each other on the day was definitely a memorable moment.”

When on a farm, the best transport is the obvious one! Latisha recalls “The best form of transport on the day would have to have been the trailer that we towed behind the four wheeler motorbike! The entire bridal party squeezed onto it to go off and get photos down the paddock. Total hit!!”

The reception has some pluses being on the family farm – the use of Latisha’a father’s shed! Latisha explains “We used the historic shearing shed at “Kelvin Downs” which is normally reserved for housing my Dad’s tools! We cleared it out in preparation for the big day. We (and when I say ‘we’ I mean just about everyone we know helped out) then decorated with heaps of fairy lights and big clusters of tissue paper pom poms and heaps of candles.”

The tables were decorated with flowers grown on the property by Latisha’s grandmother in her garden.

Latisha and Brock, together with their families pitched in to create the beautiful look of the wedding. Latisha remarks “Did we DIY!!?? I think just about everything was DIY! I loved being so creative and involved. We made the tissue paper pom poms from scratch, the wooden table numbers, decorated the glass jars for the table flowers and best of all the flowers we had on all the tables as centrepieces were grown by my grandmother, June, from seed in her garden at “Kelvin Downs”. She also made the flower girls (my nieces) dresses. We were so fortunate to have such wonderful family and friends who all helped out!”

The couple hired caterers HowBarZar. Latisha says “Russell & Sandra Smith assisted by Paul & Barb Maloney. They have this big truck and trailer set up where they do all the catering and the trailer is set us as a fully functional cocktail bar and coffee lounge. They were fantastic and everyone commented on how great the food and drinks service was!”

Latisha and Brock had a cupcake wedding cake which was a family affair. Latisha recalls ” Everyone had a hand in making this at some point, but my sister Renay made the beautiful stand and oversaw all the cupcake decorating. Yummy white chocolate and chocolate cup cakes with butter cream icing were a total hit with all our guests. I think I ate about 7 of them!”

The first dance was special regardless of the steps, Latisha says “We had the song “Love You Till The End” by the Pogues which is off the PS: I Love You soundtrack. We had planned on learning a dance but ran out of time, but on the night it didn’t matter, I was just so happy to be there with Brock. After our dance though it was GO time for partying!”

There were a few funny moments during the reception. “My sister Maria cracked me up when she confessed she’d accidently dropped her epilepsy pills in the punch at the reception! Luckily, they were totally harmless!”

Norma Ormand of Emerald provided the music for the day, including a few to get the guests to perform their best dances. Latisha explains “All our friends love to have a dance, and they didn’t disappoint at our wedding. Best dance of the night by far was our good friend Emma’s rooster dance! Absolute crack up entertainment!”

Congratulations on your wedding Latisha and Brock! Thank you for sharing it with us today! Thank you also to Orin Lucke of Blink Photography for sharing today’s photographs!