Katie & Stephen

I really think bold colours are so beautiful at weddings- they evoke this feeling of celebration, that a party is set to happen! Katie and Stephen married their Sydney Harbour wedding with the most beautiful shade of orange and their wedding day turned out to be an incredible celebration of love and life.

Katie tells their love story. “Stephen and I caught a glimpse of one and other in our large Industrial building in London’s West Kensington. 300 people thick, we barely saw or knew of each other until one late Friday evening in March 2008, when we clocked each other about to board the same District line tube on the Earls Court platform. Stephen made his way down the platform, boarded the same carriage, sat opposite me and there marked the beginning of what would become a lifelong romance. There were challenges, Stephen’s working holiday visa was to expire 6 months after we met (September 08), and he was forced to return to South Africa. Long distance love prevailed however and Stephen acquired a new visa enabling him to return to London (June 09) 9 months later.

On September 30, 2010 Stephen serenaded me at a restaurant in Notting Hill with a self written song of which he adapted the lyrics to ask me to marry him and so the proposal was official. To ensure the International nature of the relationship continued, we decided to get married in Sydney, Australia – my home town and the date was set; April 27, 2011.”

Photos today are by Bradley Patrick of SugarLove Weddings. I love the soft dreaminess Bradley has captured  combined with the fun of the bold colours. Oh what a beautiful day! The wedding day film was shot by MTW Production.

Katie and Stephen married at Bradley’s Head overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge. “Bradley’s Head was the ceremony venue. It was chosen for its location and thus appeal to International guests and because Stephen and I had a picnic there during Stephen’s first visit to Australia a year prior, so it was sentimental to us. My now husband Stephen who is never early was almost two hours early for the ceremony, pacing in the rain under an umbrella.”

Katie wore a David Fielden gown she bought in the UK paired with Jimmy Choo shoes.

The floral arrangements were styled by Brides in Bloom. The bridesmaids wore vivid orange gowns by Butter By Nadia from Bridesmaids Only.

What a beautiful day Mr Weather Man put on the for couple! Katie recalls “The day started out windswept and unsettled (any bride’s nightmare), but for the crucial hour that we stood at the makeshift alter, time stood still, the sun shone and a rainbow punctuated our I Do’s.”

There was a special performance at the ceremony. Katie recalls “My Mum, her two brothers and her three friends sang the ‘The Marriage’ by Eric Whitacre live at the ceremony which had most in tears.”

 

As the ceremony ended,  a magical ray of light appeared in the sky. Katie explains “The rainbow was exquisite, it was a true gift from God, no-one could have paid for such a perfect end to a magical ceremony.”

Of their photographer, Katie says “Bradley was a true professional. His style was unobtrusive and he captured all of the moments in a truly insightful and observed manner. He was a pleasure to work with and made all feel comfortable on the day.”

The groom wore a suit from Marks & Spencer.

Quayside Charters ferried the bridal party around the harbour on a speedboat.

Katie recalls “The sun shone for 3 hours – from the moment I stepped out of the car at the ceremony until the moment I arrived by boat at Watson’s Bay wharf. The lighting and landscape of the sky enabled some of the best photos imaginable.”

Katie and Stephen celebrated with guests at Dunbar House, Katie remarks “Dunbar House was one of the few venues that catered for numbers under 100, had been newly renovated and had breathtaking views over the heads of the Harbour. The combination of venues on both the northern and eastern sides of the Harbour gave a true overview of the wonderment that is Sydney.”

Katie played wedding planner, sourcing all suppliers, meeting with them over Christmas 2010 when I was on holiday in Sydney, Australia and coordinated all elements to come together for the day.

Good friend of the couple, Stephanie Maynard created a three tier orange and white wedding cake.

One of Katie’s favourite memories was “The groom’s speech at the reception had most in tears with his rendition of John Denver’s ‘Annie’s Song’ set to a slideshow of our shared moments together.”

Leo Burnett London created the stationery for Katie & Stephen.

Katie says “Following one dance lesson days before we flew out to Australia, we learnt to do the crab, the waltz, and a dip or two, so we attempted to playout those steps on the evening to Frank Sinatra’s ‘The Way You Look Tonight’”. Impression DJs kept the guests on the dance floor.

Congratulations Katie and Stephen! Thank you for sharing your beautiful wedding day with us! Thank you also to SugarLove Weddings for sharing today’s celebration!