Erica and Jono’s Tasmanian Garden Wedding

Erica and Jono

Erica and Jono decided they wanted a ceremony with everybody they loved – so they opened their hearts and invitation to their community, to witness their marriage ceremony in a beautiful Tasmanian garden wedding. Afterwards, they invited their nearest and dinner to celebrate over a feast at a local restaurant. What a wonderful way they chose to celebrate with every person they loved and that loved them. All captured magically by Clint and Beth Photography.

Of how they met, Erica tells, “We met in high school but didn’t really come to know each other until a few years later at a youth group. From there, affection blossomed and it wasn’t long before they were an item.”

Getting ready with her closest friends was one of the best parts of the day for Erica, who remembers, “For me, the getting ready with my bridesmaids and mum was one of the many highlights of the day. During our hair and makeup I got the chance to spoil my bridesmaids and gift them with personalised Samantha Wills jewellery and Plum Pretty Sugar robes as well as hand written letters to each of them. This was a sweet moment and we had to stop ourselves from shedding a tear and ruining our eye makeup. The jewellery then served as a momentous detail throughout the day which guests kept asking to inspect intently.”

Erica chose a sheer backed gown from Karen Willis Holmes which she accessorized with jewels from Samantha Wills. Her bridesmaids wore soft pink gowns custom designed by Jacqui Johncock.

Erica and Jono held their garden ceremony at The Tailrace Centre. Erica telling, “We always wanted to have a huge open invite ceremony to be able to celebrate with all our friendship circles from family to our mates to our entire church community. So choosing The Tailrace Centre (our local church) for our outdoor ceremony was an easy choice. After the ceremony guests mingled with punch and light canapés. The chefs were super flexible with catering especially since we weren’t able to get formal rsvp’s, and the bar staff were so sweet who set up punch dispensers for us with mason jars and paper straws. For us this was a very momentous choice of venue and helped capture a little piece of our hearts.”

Erica walked down the aisle to “Real Love” by Regina Spektor.

The centrepiece for the ceremony was handmade! Erica remarks, “My parents bought a large steel arbor for the wedding which my bridesmaids helped to decorate with artificial flowers leading up to the wedding. I remember this being a slightly awkward process as we were experimenting and not even convinced we would definitely use it. The project was finally executed the day before the wedding with my beautiful bridesmaid Kate who touched it up with fresh ivy from her garden and my dad who assembled the chandelier which was sourced from a local lighting shop. It made for an enchanting alter and backdrop for our ceremony – although pretty sure all eyes were on us.”

Of their photographers, Erica tells,  “Clint and Beth were so much fun!! It was a super hot day and the idea of photos for a couple of hours was daunting but they made it so breezy and super relaxed. It meant we got to simply have fun with our bridal party. Jono HATES having his photo taken and is quite open about being photo shy but I think the shots that C&B captured is testament to how professional they are,, yet relaxed and fun! ”

Fleurs created rose floral arrangements for the wedding day.

Erica and Jono chose Stillwater Restaurant  for their wedding reception, inviting only their closest family and friends. Erica tells, “For our reception venue we opted for a much smaller intimate gathering with 65 of our closest family and friends at local restaurant, Stillwater which specialise in contemporary Tasmanian cuisine – a very fitting choice given the foodies we are.

Architecturally Stillwater is a beautiful old mill situated at the bottom of the Launceston’s attraction ‘the Cataract gorge’, a space of which we felt little need to decorate. The simple candlelight, fresh flowers and kraft paper name tags made for an elegant yet understated ambience. The food and service was second to none and we didn’t have to worry about a thing! Stillwater did everything from print our menus to arranging our seating tags, and even had their in house pastry chef make our wedding cake which made for yet another stress free facet of our day. I quite clearly remember being seated and watching the staff escort our guests to their seats – so formal yet so relaxed.”

“Guests enjoyed entrees of Freshly shucked ‘Lease 65’ Moulting Bay oysters (East Coast, Tasmania) Natural with lemon cheeks. Roaring 40’s blue cheese and walnut soufflé, honey mousse, cider apples, pickled walnuts and celery. Slow cooked Mount Gnomon Pork belly, pear anise purée and black pudding. A main course of Crispy skin Macquarie Harbour ocean trout, braised baby fennel, beetroot purée, smoked eel crumb, beetroot paper and saffron foam. Cape Grim eye fillet of beef, Paris mash, smoked tommy toe tomatoes, confit scapes and creamed mustard leaf. Slow cooked Flinders Island salt grass lamb rump, pickled globe artichoke, herb and fennel pollen emulsion and beets Sides Boiled new season potatoes, mint, grey sea salt and house butter Steamed broccolini, buttermilk vinaigrette Sautéed mixed mushrooms, garlic stem and parsley Yorktown organics mixed leaves, pecorino, dried olives and merlot vinaigrette and desserts of Banana and toffee parfait, dulce de leche, ginger snap biscuit and coconut tapioca. Brambleberry pannacotta, bittersweet Valrhona Manjari chocolate soil and pistachio vacherin. Tonka bean and Belgian white chocolate marquise, vanilla butter roasted melon, macadamia nut and shredded wheat crumble.”

There may or may not have been a rap during the speeches, Erica remembering, “We loved the speeches, among which the best one from Jono’s brother Michael (best man) which involved him and the groomsmen rapping a rendition of “99 problems…but a bride ain’t one”. This had our friends and family in tears of laughter.”

Of the first dance, under the stars, Erica remembers, “We shared our first dance out in the candle-lit courtyard at Stillwater to All of Me – John Legend. If we could sum it up in three words it would be ‘sweet’, ‘un-rehearsed’ yet ‘authentic’.”

Congratulations on your marriage Erica and Jono. Thank you for sharing your day with us! Thank you to Clint and Beth Photography  for sharing today’s celebration!