Michelle and John

It is the deep colours, the grey skies and the pure cosy vibes that make me fall in love with Winter weddings time and time again. When Michelle and John tied the knot in their modern Abbotsford Convent Winter wedding, it had all the hallmarks of the season. Captured beautifully by Michael Briggs Photography, the bride and groom wanted a day that was relaxed,

Michelle and John fill us in with the story of how they met. “We met at work. Michelle had just started and was looking for a housemate to move in with her and her friend. John was looking for somewhere to live, and once he found out there was room for nine bikes, he moved in! It took us months but eventually, we figured out that there was something more than friends between us. That was five years ago, so he was definitely a good choice of housemate!
We went camping on New Year’s Eve and were sitting on the beach looking at the stars when John proposed using a glow-in-the-dark ring! We got to see the new year tick over and enjoy the moment together with no one else around, which was lovely. My friend was asleep in her tent at the time, and she was very excited when we told her the news on New Year’s Day.”

The bride chose a stunning gown from Karen Willis Holmes which featured a v-neckline and white sequin detail. She remarks “I tried on only a few dresses, and this one just fit straight away. I wanted a dress that was comfortable enough for dancing and eating, and this dress ticked those boxes. It’s also not traditionally “bride-y” which I loved – something a bit modern!”

Michelle and John met for photos before their ceremony, Michelle noting “We loved getting to make decisions together, and all the little things we did together, like making the seating chart. It was a great bonding experience, as was the whole day really.”

Michelle loves the pre-ceremony photos, telling “My favourite photo is of one of the bridal party taking shots before the ceremony. We are walking along the bike path just laughing and having fun – it’s a great natural shot.”

Of their photographer, the newlywed’s remark “Briggsy is a legend! He was so full of energy from the moment he walked in the door, which definitely relaxed me! He was great at getting all the candid shots but was still able to direct us perfectly when required. We didn’t want a bunch of posed photos, rather wanted to document the day as it happened. We couldn’t speak more highly of him – he was fun, easy to work with and all the photos are fantastic! There’s literally not a shot we don’t like.”

Michelle walked down the aisle with her parents to “Bloom” by The Paper Kites.

Georgia Mills officiated the ceremony, Michelle telling “We wanted a short and sweet ceremony without too much formality. Georgia was the most amazing celebrant, she managed to make it light-hearted and sincere at the same time. My sister made a reading of a poem she wrote herself. She’s very creative, and couldn’t find a reading she liked, so she came up with one. It was called “Puffin Love” and was a story of how John and I met.”

The ceremony was the best part of the day for the bride, who remembers “Our favourite moment was our vows. We were really nervous about them and procrastinated writing them, and they were actually awesome! It was just so lovely to say nice things to each other in front of everyone we love, and I will definitely remember John choking up, forever!”

Michelle and John were married at Abbotsford Convent with Bursaria Fine Foods. They explain “We chose the Abbotsford Convent as we really wanted a venue where we could have the ceremony and reception in the one place. The grounds are beautiful for photos, and we felt the Rosina Room worked particularly well for a winter wedding. It’s gorgeous, with a high ceiling and long tables, but always felt warm and inviting. Also having the courtyard for pre-wedding drinks worked brilliantly.”

There were a fun few unexpected moments, tell the newlyweds. “Between the ceremony and the reception, we snuck outside for a few quick photos and found a dog without an owner! We were trying to take photos and the dog dropped a stick in front of us and wanted us to throw it! It was hilarious – we tried to throw the stick out of the photos but the dog took that as an invitation to play!”

The bride notes “We used my grandfather’s army box as the wishing well for cards. He passed away in 2015 so it was nice to have something of him there. He loved John and would have loved the wedding.“

The bride created a few of the special wedding details, explaining “We made the invitations online, and the place cards and seating chart together. I also made the wedding cake! We needed a gluten-free wedding cake, and I love baking. It would have been great not to have to remake some of the cakes (I made a booboo in the recipe), but it turned out great! John also helped ice it on the morning of the wedding.”

Bursaria Fine Foods catered a feast for the guests, the bride noting “It was such a great venue and such great food!”

The reception was decorated with hanging greenery and flowers styled by Flora Legion “Jane from Flora Legion did the flowers and she was fabulous. We didn’t give her much direction, just picked a colour scheme and told her to work her magic, which she did!” says Michelle.

Michelle tells “The atmosphere all day was amazing – clearly, everyone had a great time!”

The first dance was an unexpected choice, making for a jam-packed dance floor but, with the help of Mercury DJ Hire, says the bride “we danced to With Me by Sum41. Obviously not a traditional choice! The lyrics are so romantic and it always reminded me of John. We planned a quick dance at the start of the song then everyone came and joined us. It worked brilliantly, and the dance floor was completely full.”

Congratulations on your marriage Michelle and John! Thank you for sharing your beautiful day with us! Thank you also to Michael Briggs Photography for sharing today’s stunning wedding.