It was a hot summer’s night when Kate and Bob tied the knot. The pair who opted for a day that was “romantic Boho – although I can’t quite be sure if it fits into any particular style” laughs Kate, who along with Bob, thought the sentimental, personal value of marrying on Bob’s parent’s country property outweighed any other venue.

The couple ringing in the new year the very best way we could possibly think of, Stone & Wool Photography by their side, alongside their every favourite people (including Bob’s daughter who had her own very special role in the ceremony) and surrounded by Kate’s own handmade touches.

That laid back vibe is just what you would have come to expect from Kate and Bob, who didn’t even have a “proposal”, but more of a “mutual chat over wine” when they decided to get engaged. Says Kate “We don’t really have a proposal story. It was something that we had spoken about with each other during one of our many long, loved-up conversations over a glass of chardonnay. We surprised our close family and friends with the engagement announcement at our housewarming party.”

Bob wore an amazing pink blazer. Kate telling “Bob wore a white dress shirt, pink linen-blend blazer, brown chinos and chocolate suede boots. He chose the blazer and I chose the beautiful floral print silk pocket square from Calibre.”

Kate hands the description of the beautiful gown over to Bob! “It was sleeveless and lace, with little wing things going over the shoulders. There was a subtle kind of almost floral-like pattern on the torso. She wore dangling, gold earrings with pearls on the ends. She wore a long veil that went down her back and met with the dress. Kate looked absolutely stunning and one of the printed photos of her from the photographer is my bookmark.” Kate added special heirloom pieces to her look too. “I had a gold, diamond and ruby brooch that belonged to my Great Grandmother. It was made from the gold from a goldfield in Central Queensland where her father worked. I wore it on my bouquet for the day. It has been worn by all the women in my family on their wedding days.”

Kate and Bob were married at Bob’s parent’s home. “We chose to have it at a family home not only because of the beautiful, natural setting but because we have had some really lovely times there and wanted to add our wedding to those special memories.”

This was a day that was all about handmade elements, right down to the floral arrangements which Kate put together herself. “I went to the Brisbane Flower Markets the day before with my mum and two of my nieces. We chose a selection of what was there that day and put them together ourselves. I wanted to include native Australian flowers and it was important for me to have gum leaves in the bouquet because it was a nod to my country upbringing and my ‘home among the gumtrees’. Plus they smelled amazing.”

Kate and Bob each walked down the aisle with a parent. “We chose the song “River” by Leon Bridges” explains Kate. “Bob was walked down the aisle by his Mum and I was walked down the aisle by my Dad.”

Says Kate “It was important for us to include an Acknowledgement of Country at the beginning of the ceremony – to remind us and our guests that we were getting married on what has been Aboriginal land for millions of years and make sure we are mindful of their connection to country. We were married on the land of the Yuggera, Turrbal and Noonucal Peoples.”

Kate and Bob hired Bob’s aunt Rosemary Johnson to officiate their ceremony. “There were lots of tears and lots of laughing! We only wanted to include things that felt really meaningful and the ceremony was something we spoke about a lot in planning. We wanted the guests to feel a part of it as much as they could be. Bob’s Aunty Rosie (Rosemary Johnson) is a celebrant and of course, we wanted her to marry us. She was amazing, and it really elevated the love vibes. All of our guests thought she was amazing too!

My Mum did a reading titled, “On Marriage” by Kahlil Gibran. It talks about the balance between intimacy and independence which was something we had often spoken about is important to us as a couple.”

“I made special vows to Bob’s daughter Evie which was very important to me,” remembers Kate. “I promised to love her and care for her and I thanked her for letting me into her life.”

“Bob’s Dad couldn’t be there on the day as he was stuck in Thailand due to COVID, so we FaceTimed him on the day after the ceremony which was a special moment to still have him be a part of it – it made for a great photo too!”

The couple opted for a small wedding party. “We had four in our party – Bob’s brother and sister, my best friend from boarding school and my eldest niece. It was really special to have family supporting us throughout the whole day.

Choosing the bridesmaids’ dresses was probably one of the most stressful things for me, and the thing that changed a thousand times! So in the end, I sent them a few colours I liked the look of and passed on the decision to them! They looked beautiful in what they chose – a mix of mustard, blue, burgundy. All in different cuts depending on what they felt comfortable in. They looked absolutely stunning!”

Kate and Bob cannot speak highly enough of their choice of photographer noting “Where do we start! Matt was the jackpot for us. We first met Matt from Stone & Wool Photography at the Brisbane Boho Bridal Expo in 2019. He was the first photographer we’d even spoken too but we had a gut feeling about him even after a brief chat. He followed up with us a couple of weeks later and we went for a beer. It sounds cliche but he really did go above and beyond, and his positivity and encouragement on the day were very appreciated. He was always so flexible and happy to go with the flow too. We were overwhelmed with the stunning shots he got from the day, and how perfectly they seemed to capture ‘us’. He was a genuine, down to earth bloke who just seemed stoked to be a part of our big day.”

Kate’s advice to you? “Work out what that purpose for your gathering is and stick to those values through the planning process.”

The newlyweds first dance was to classic Aretha Franklin and her tune “You Send Me”. Kate explains “We were originally going to use the Sam Cooke version which we both love but discovered the Aretha version one night while having a wine and listening to music. We decided not to do a choreographed dance but kind of did practice if you include our late-night dancing around the kitchen.”

Kate and Bob worked with Red Door Studios to capture this beautiful film of their day.

Congratulations to you both Kate and Bob! Thank you for sharing your wonderful wedding day stories with us. Thank you also to the ever lovely Stone & Wool Photography for sharing today’s celebration!