Katie & Alex

Forget long white wedding dresses, traditional wedding cakes and even traditional wedding bouquets, today’s celebration of Katie & Alex is anything but traditional and everything casual, relaxed and beautiful.

Katie and Alex did however have a bit of a traditional love story- they met at work! Katie recalls “We met at a small supermarket. Alex worked in produce and I was a checkout chick. We were friends for six months before Alex worked up the courage to ask me out.”

Photographs today are by Scott Ebsary. I love Scott’s romantic, relaxed photographs!

Katie’s hair and makeup was styled by Amy Chan Hair & Makeup Artistry.

Katie adored the retreat she stayed in the night before the wedding – Scotland Island Lodge B&B . She recalls “Mary and I stayed there the night before and got ready there, then Alex & I had our honeymoon there. It was the best place we have ever stayed; the room, food and scenery was amazing. The hosts Rosemary & Colin are so lovely. Alex and I were sitting and relaxing in the garden in the afternoon sun after a day of adventures around the island and Colin brought us Champagne and toasted our marriage.”

Katie wore a short pink Alannah Hill lace gown and carried a bouquet of paper flowers made by Paper Couture. Katie’s bridesmaid wore a Crossroads gown with Novo shoes.

Katie recalls one of the funnier moments of the day. “My maid of honour Mary, photographer Scott and I were waiting at the wharf for the ferry – Mary and I had stayed overnight and got ready on Scotland Island. The ferry was due in 5 minutes when I realised I had forgotten my wallet (I didn’t have a bag). Mary and Scott didn’t have enough money for the ferry and it looked like we might miss the hourly ferry. Scott went into action hero mode and he bolted back up the steep steep hill to the B&B, grabbed my wallet, ran back down the hill and we made the ferry.”

Katie walked down the “aisle” to an acoustic cover of “Lovesong” by The Cure. She says “It was amazing! One of our favourite songs.”

Katie and Alex were married at Bayview Yacht Racing Association and chose the dock for their ceremony. Katie remarks “BYRA is  a cute, little sailing club on the water’s edge located at Bayview on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with fabulous Pittwater views. The building is of traditional style with high vaulted ceilings and a new hardwood deck overlooking Pittwater built by the very lovely and friendly volunteers. The brilliant plus about hiring the hall from them apart from the very reasonable cost is that the money you pay for the venue hire goes back into this lovely local club!”

 The couple were married by Robyn Pattison. Katie recalls “The best part of the day was the ceremony. Robyn gave such a fantastic ceremony she had everyone laughing and crying (happy tears of course!) It really reconfirmed what the day was all about and was such a great way to start the celebrations.”

Katie says “he ceremony was very special, Robyn’s “homework” made us realise why our marriage was so special in the not so obvious ways. Plus it was great to share our story with our family and friends.”

Transport was provided by “Amelia K the Church Point Ferry followed by Vanessa the lovely 1976 Kombi. ”

Of their photographer, Katie says “Being a photographer myself the photography was such an important part of the wedding for me. A photo can really capture a moment and bring back memories, once the wedding is over the photos are all that is left of the day. I was so excited when I discovered Scott’s work. Stunning  compositions and completely real and candid – none of that boring staged stuff, I wanted a real and beautiful documentation of the day and Scott captured it better than what I had hoped. Not only that he is a really lovely guy, I have worked for wedding photographers that yell and annoy the happy couple but Scott was great, we hardly noticed he was there.”

The reception continued back at the Bayview Yacht Racing Association in the sweet blue building.

Glenda Davis of Written by Hand  did all of the calligraphy on the stationery as well as the chalkboard sign out the front of the venue. Inside, paper lanterns in hues of blue and yellow and string balls were hung from the ceiling in massed groups.

In lieu of a wedding cake, the couple had a cupcake tower. Katie explains, ” The cupcakes were made by me and Alex helped ice them. They went down really well, every time we visit someone from Alex’s family they expect me to bring a batch!”

Flowers were placed in recycled jam jars and bunting strung between the lanterns on the ceiling.

Katie hired a BBQ chef (who took care of all the food) from All Complete Catering & Hire Services, Katie recalls ” We had yummy sausages from Naturally Organic Meat & Poultry (sweet chilli & thai basil chicken were gone pretty quick), salads from Salad Servers, chopped onions by Mum, Addictive tub of Halomi Cheese from Oriental & Continental Foods, relish from River Flats Estate, bread from the local bakery.”

For their first dance? Katie recalls “We didn’t get around to dancing – too much time yapping!”

Congratulations Katie & Alex! Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us! Thank you also to Scott Ebsary for sharing today’s wedding photographs (and Robyn Pattison for the submission!)