Hannah and James’ Winter Mountain Wedding

Hannah & James

Winter weddings are one of my favourite things ever and when you put a winter wedding in the magic surrounds of a mountain range? Well that’s going to be pretty special! This sweet winter mountain wedding is full of whimsical, fun and romantic touches that represent Hannah & James. The newlyweds chose Sayher Heffernan to capture it all.

Hannah tells the story of how they came to be. “We met in our first year living in a university residential college called International House. Our first meeting wasn’t very eventful – I (Hannah) just remember James as a regular guy wearing a bright yellow GAP hoodie. It took us 9 – 10 months later to realize we liked each other but did nothing about it. Instead we decided to wait it out to see if we were both going through puppy love or whether we were in it for the real deal. Two years later, James mustered up his courage to first secretly ask my mum’s permission if he could go out with me (which wasn’t a norm for my mum but she truly appreciated it and felt honoured and included nonetheless). A few months from then, he asked me out. After 5 years of journeying together through our lowest and highest, he popped the “forever” question. How could I (Hannah) say no?”

The bride chose the ‘Christine’ dress by Jack Sullivan and her bridesmaids dressed in bright yellow frocks that were custom made.

The Details Co styled the event, Hannah remembering, “We loved The Details Co  walking with us since day one on proposal day up to the very big day and big shout out to all who made every single detail – both big and small- super special.” The bridal party traveled in a flower adorned Kombi van from Kombi Australia.

PeepDesigns created the stationery for the day, including a banner that welcomed guests to the ceremony site with the words “Forever And Always”.

Hannah and James chose Poets Lane for their mountain wedding, Hannah noting “Poets Lane has two different ceremony areas on site – a chapel and a garden gazebo. The whole venue (ceremony & reception) is solely the bride and groom’s for the day so in case weather conditions do not go according to plan – the wedding can be moved indoors. We wanted an outdoor garden wedding and so decided on the garden gazebo. The garden is filled with beautiful lush greens – featuring Dandenong Ranges natural landscape. It also has a massive oak tree standing beside a wooden bridge which leads into the reception hall. The oak tree is a standout piece amongst the greenery. Along side the oak tree, the bridge and the greenery was a fairy-lit leafy archway which the bride walks through and down the aisle during the procession.”

Hannah walked down the aisle to Lady Antebellum – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

Of their photographer, Hannah tells, “We wanted someone we knew we could really feel comfortable and get along with from the moment we first met him. He has a fun and easy-going personality and is very approachable. The day we visited the wedding venue together, Sayher had already scouted out for locations to do our bridal shoot. He was highly recommended by a friend of ours for his journalistic photography, style and quality.”

The celebrations continued inside the main dining hall warmed with roaring fires. Hannah tells, “The large and cosy dining hall accommodates up to 170 guests, overlooking the enchanted garden and the bridge where the ceremony was held. The interior was warm in colours – creamy/white soft tones all around the room. To add to the warmth, there were fireplaces that were lit during cold days/nights. For canapes and pre-dinner drinks – we had an overflowing amount of delicious finger food and drinks. Following that was a three course meal – all of which were amazing especially the dessert buffet that WOW-ed the guests. Seriously, amazing place – fantastic first-class staff and service!”

Guests received one of two infused salts ( lemon salt & porcini salt) in a wooden stand made by The Make Lab (who also created wooden table numbers). On the stands was etched “Thank you for being the flavour of our lives”.

Of the first dance, Hannah remembers, “There was a father-daughter dance – nothing choreographed, just impromptu dance filled with laughter. It was very meaningful for our dad. Halfway through the song “I’ll take care of you” by Steven Curtis Chapman, my dad was about to pass me on to James (groom), but James took my dad’s hand instead of mine and started swaying away with him – eventually James came back for me.”

Congratulations on your marriage Hannah and James! Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us! Thank you also to Sayher Heffernan for sharing today’s photographs!