Laura & Luke
I love a country wedding and when a country wedding is on a childhood property- a place where the bride or groom made so many memories growing up, becomes a wedding venue, I think it’s the most special of all. Laura and Luke did exactly that, choosing photographer Hannah Photography to capture their day.
Laura tells their story. “Luke and I first met 10 years ago at the local rugby league grand final day. I was selling tickets as the representative for his opposing team. Luke jokes he stole both the premiership and their main girl from them that day.”
Luke gifted his wife to be a very special gift on the morning of the wedding, she tells, “I opened a gift from Luke in the morning with my bridesmaids and he had gotten a new chain for the locket he proposed with as the other had broken and had an old photo of my much loved Grandad, who’s farm we were getting married on, shrunk and put into my locket so as he would be with me as I walked down the aisle. It was very special.”
Laura wore a Rue de Seine gown from The Babushka Ballerina, remembering, “I had tried on many others and I liked lots of them but when I tried this one on everyone, including me decided on the spot that I had to have it.”
Laura walked down the aisle to Paul McCartney – Calico Skies, noting “Because we both love old music and this was quite out of the ordinary and not as serious as most ceremony songs you hear. We wanted it to create a happy atmosphere rather than a serious one.”
“We married at my family cane farm on the river. The ceremony was on the river bank at my grandmother’s house. The guests walked across to my childhood home where the reception was set up on the river bank at my mother’s house.”
“My great Aunty Gwen also surprised me by buying me replicas of my favourite toys from my childhood that I had lost whilst traveling and put them in a bag made from my mother’s wedding dress. That was the only time I cried all day!”
Of their photographer, Laura remarks, “Hannah was faultless. She was easy going but got the job done quickly, she listened to exactly what we wanted and delivered and she took the most incredible photos, of course. Hannah also took the time to get around to most of our guests and take a photo of them with their partner/friends so we will always remember exactly who was there in 50 years time! Hannah’s excitement when she got the perfect shot and her happy and relaxed way was infectious which put us all at ease and made the day that little less stressful.”
The reception was set at long tables on the banks of the river. “My mum made 130 linen napkins for the table, my grandma made 130 bottles of guava jelly and 130 individual sticky date puddings for dessert. We painted all the signs and Luke made the bar from some old timber he found in Grandad’s shed. One of our groomsmen made the dance floor out of old pallets.”
“We made sure we had live music and fresh prawns. They were our two must haves for the day.”
Of the first dance, Laura remembers, “We chose Doctor Hook “You make my pants want to get up and dance”. Luke and I always put that song on at parties and danced to it as a bit of a joke so it seemed fitting and a bit funny to have it as our first dance.”
Congratulations on your marriage Laura and Luke! Thank you for taking the time to share your stories with us! Thank you also to Hannah Photography for sharing today’s wedding!
fantastic wedding photos