Celeste and Alten’s Australian Winter Wedding

I once read a photographer saying they hated winter weddings and it should be illegal to marry in Winter. After witnessing today’s celebration, I am really not sure why! Beautiful stark landscapes, hot water bottles, knitted gloves and boots, really what could be more cosy for a celebration of love?

Celeste tells the story of their love. “It was love at first sight. We saw each other across a crowded room and he immediately came over to talk to me. I was in my first year at university and he was in his fourth.  Six years later we met at the end of the aisle and exchanged our vows on a perfect winter’s day.”

Photos today are by Solas Wedding Photography who have captured the bitter winter cold so beautifully in these photos- every single one feels warm and snuggly!

Celeste and Alten held their wedding at Summerlees Estate, Sutton Forrest. Celeste remarks “Summerlees is absolutely breathtaking. It is the perfect balance between rustic and elegant, and unique amongst wedding venues. There are 8 acres of age-old gardens to use for your ceremony. We were lucky to have a perfect, sunny winter’s day and chose to have our ceremony in front of white, rustic farm gates flanked by homemade bunting.”

The stationery was a collaborative effort with The Distillery , Celeste explains, “I designed all the stationery and had some printed with The Distillery in Sydney, and the rest were printed on my printer at home.  Then we assembled them into special packages for each guest.”

Celeste remarks, “The outfits for the bridesmaids and groomsmen were assembled over a period of 6 months. They needed to be warm and happy and a traditional bridesmaid gown wasn’t going to do the trick. Gloves, scarves, coats and boots, (in blush and neutral tones for the girls and grey and tan for the boys) were essential.”

Celeste chose a gown from Aire Barcelona.

Petal & Pod styled the bridal party flowers.

Celeste remembers, “Since it was a winter wedding, we had white blankets on the chairs at the ceremony on which we stitched labels with the words “Live, Love, Laugh” and “Just Married”. We made the bunting at the ceremony (all 20 meters of it) from scraps of fabric I’ve collected over the years as well as some new fabric I bought just for the day.”

For the processional, Celeste chose something classic. She recalls “After the surprise of being driven up to the aisle in a powder blue mustang, I walked down the aisle to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. I loved the contrast between the tradition and formality of the wedding march and the unruly beauty of the setting.”

Celeste notes, “It was a day full of whimsy, dancing and laughter, and then they lived happily ever after. ”

Winter weddings need warmth and this one had my favourite kind – hot water bottles! Celeste remembers “We wouldn’t have survived without “his” and “hers” hot water bottles, which were stashed behind some bushes before the ceremony and carried us through the photo shoot. Jodi get’s a special thanks for these!”

“Megan and James from Solas Photography were amazing, not only did they brave the cold (and possible frostbite) as we ran around the garden for the photo shoot after the ceremony, but James took our last photo (a long-exposure with sparklers) at midnight.”

The reception continued inside the ballroom at Summerlees. Celeste explains, “The ballroom is covered in ivy and painted all white with chandeliers, wooden floors and a fireplace.  The setting is straight out of a fairy tale.  Patty, the owner, has filled it with beautiful antiques and vintage finds and is happy for you to use these at your wedding. “

“The reception flowers were arranged in a collection of old bottles and jars on each table. We went to the flower markets at 6am on the Friday before the wedding to buy mixed native flowers, poppies, sweet peas, blushing brides, brown Juliette roses, pink and white roses, baby’s breath, miller’s foliage, black berries, and anemones. Then we spent the afternoon arranging them into the bottles with the help of the bridesmaids and best man. I also made the “just married” bunting on the head table using burlap and white paint.”

For their first dance, Celeste remembers “We danced to Nat King Cole’s L.O.V.E. and didn’t miss a single step (or trip and fall over).”

Congratulations Celeste and Alten! Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us! Thank you also to Solas Wedding Photograph for sharing today’s images!