Anna & Chris

When two people from the wedding industry get together, fall in love and announce their wedding, you know it is going to be a truly incredible occasion. Chris (affectionately known by most as ‘CJ’) is a longtime serving event director at Melbourne’s premiere catering and events company, The Big Group. Anna is a Melbourne-based floral stylist and the founder of Anna Loughnan Flowers, specialising in floral designs for events, large and small, including countless weddings. They got married on Anna’s parents’ property on Lake Road, Connewarre on Saturday 25th November 2017. All of the special moments were captured by the talented Jean Bremner Photography.

How did this love story begin… “We met at Prince Alfred Hotel in Richmond back in 2001 and have been friends ever since.”

Anna and Chris simply wanted to create “a fun party surrounded by family & close friends.”

The wedding was held at Anna’s parents’ home at Lake Road, Connewarre on Saturday 25th November 2017.

Anna wore a stunning Amaline Vitale gown paired with Lucy Folk earrings. The bride’s ‘something borrowed’ was her grandmother’s tiara and one of her bridesmaids lent her the veil.

The bride’s fabulous shoes with floral embellishments and a chunky (comfortable!) heel are from Miss Louise in Collins St, Melbourne.

The bridesmaids – Libbet Loughnan (sister), Lou Gannon (uni friend) and Georgina Shannon (old school friend) – stood by the bride’s side in outfits from Flannel.

CJ wore a Remy tuxedo with patent leather shoes. His groomsmen – Rob Cooper (met at 3 y.o kinder) and Nick Elstoft & Campbell Kennedy (old school friends) – looked equally stylish in Trevor West tuxedos.

The bride Anna, a successful floral stylist and founder of her company Anna Loughnan Flowers, was responsible for the breathtaking styling and floral arrangements you see below. She says she used “whatever was in season and could last a warm week. Luckily peonies were in abundance.”

Anna’s father walked her down the aisle to Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles, a song they selected together.

The ceremony had a “relaxed vibe” and “a little bit of drizzle” but that certainly didn’t wipe the big smiles off the bride and groom’s faces. The pair were married by one of their best mates, Lucy Gilfillan Celebrant.

The ceremony readings included an excerpt from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, lyrics from All You Need Is Love by The Beatles, and the poem Love by Roy Croft.

Following the outdoor ceremony was a marquee wedding reception, also held on Anna’s parents’ Connewarre property. CJ and Anna “really wanted a peg and pole marquee and were lucky to use Harry The Hirer’s brand new ‘The Fairhaven’ marquee.”

Chris’ highlight of the day was “our entrance to the marquee – being announced as Mr. & Mrs. Jenkins.”

The first dance “wasn’t planned.” CJ and Anna said “after we cut the cake, the DJ played Beautiful Girl (INXS) and had our first dance and then were joined by the bridal party and family.”

One of the co-founders of Melbourne’s premier entertainment group, Nick from Rutherford Entertainment, spun the tunes for the night and the two-tiered cake was made by Smith & Co Foods. The cake was topped with sugar flowers by Janeen Hodder and cut by the newlyweds with a family heirloom- a shear from the farm.

There is an abundance of natural warmth and pure joy captured in these photos. Jean of Jean Bremner Photography is a friend of Anna’s, they used to work together at The Alfred. Anna recalls “We met for dinner in San Francisco last year and by chance Jean had returned home two weeks prior to the wedding.” Some things are just meant to be…

Any parting words of wedding wisdom for couples who are set to tie the knot? “Just enjoy the day.”

Ms Zigzag says: There’s nothing more beautiful than two genuinely great people being in love! We wish CJ and Anna nothing but the best. Thank you to the newlyweds and Jean Bremner Photography for sharing this beautiful wedding with us! Such a treat.