Danielle and Dean's Rustic Autumn Winery Wedding

Danielle and Dean

Dean and I met at work; we worked in the same department for about two months before I moved to a different department and that is when Dean gained the confidence to let me know how he felt about me. I was definitely not on the market for a relationship but that’s what they say, it happens when you least expect it!! After a few months of Dean chasing me, we began dating. Shortly after, we moved in together and took a few trips away, including a trip back to Dean’s home country of New Zealand. The biggest trip we took though was a P & O cruise to the South Pacific, where unknown to me, Dean planned to take our relationship to another level! After dinner one night Dean asked me to meet him at a certain part of the boat in ten minutes. I joked to friends on the cruise that Dean was going to throw me overboard! Much to my surprise Dean pulled out a beautiful ring and asked me to marry him. I was so shocked and grabbed onto Dean and didn’t let him stay on one knee for too long!

After 18 months of planning and finalizing all the arrangements to have family arrive from interstate and overseas, our wedding day was finally here.

Dean and I both woke up surprisingly calm on the day. Dean got ready for the day at our house with his groomsmen, mum and sister. Dean and the groomsmen and pageboy wore black suits from Spurling at Myer with bow-ties which matched the bridesmaids’ dresses.

I got ready at one of my bridesmaid’s houses; it was so much fun to have a drink with my bridesmaids and parents and relax before hand!

I wore a gorgeous Anna Campbell dress, ‘Yasmin’; I loved the beading and the detailing!

My bridesmaids and maid of honor wore beautiful long sleeve lace dresses from Forever New whilst the flower girls wore tutu dresses from the Collette Dinnigan For the Australian Ballet collection available at Target.

Dean and I decided the perfect place for us to become husband and wife was Witchmount Estate. Our ceremony took place on the grass and although we had a lot of input and ideas, we let our wedding planner and stylist Penny Williams from Boda Events and Design take over. Things that we included were a drink station with a hand-made green and silver heart garland, an aisle runner which matched the table runners at the reception, love letters signs, a wooden sign welcoming guests to the wedding and wine barrels with twine wrapped around them.

Our heartfelt, relaxed ceremony was conducted by Kim Walsh.

Dean and I chose to incorporate Dean’s Dad and my Mum who are no longer with us by lighting a memorial candle for them. We also surprised Dean’s Mum and my Step-Mum by asking them to be our witnesses for the marriage certificate.

After the ceremony, we took advantage of the beautiful grounds and had our photographs taken by Alex Pavlou Photography in the wine cellar and surrounding vineyards.

Our rustic reception was styled with hand-made D & D letters made out of wine corks, burlap and lace table runners and flower centrepieces which matched the bridal party flowers and the rustic theme perfectly.