On a warm spring day in the beautiful Hunter Valley, Daniel and Grace vowed their love for each other with a gorgeous pastel wedding. With the Spicers Guesthouse as their backdrop, this couple began their life as husband and wife, surrounded by the ones they love the most. They celebrated their wedding on their fifth anniversary, marking the date with the next chapter in their story. Tim from Hello Sweetheart captured the day perfectly, and after photographing all of their friend’s weddings, it was no surprise they loved him!

Like many modern love stories, their story began with a Super Like from Daniel on Tinder – planting the first seed of their blossoming romance. After bonding over their shared love of The Office, those seeds bloomed into a thriving garden, creating their own modern-day fairytale. “We are a Tinderella story. I guess you could say it was love at first swipe! We met on Tinder in August 2018, and soon after our first date, we knew it was something special. There wasn’t a day that went by without us speaking!”

Daniel proposed at Eagle View Escape, nestled within the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. He sent some of his closest friends ahead of the couple to set up a hotel room before they arrived – think blushing rose petals, balloons, the works! “I actually hadn’t a clue that he was going to propose, so it was a huge surprise for me,” Grace explained. “The funny part of our proposal story is that the half of the room that was set up was blocked by a wall when you entered, so it actually took me a good 2-3 mins to notice what was going on. Poor Daniel was down on one knee for what he says felt like a century.”

On one side of the property, the groomsmen were preparing for their memorable ‘getting ready’ photoshoot; setting the bar high for future groomsmen photos! They began their shoot in matching blue tracksuits, each customised with their embroidered initials. Their vision? Think boy band cover art, awkward prom shots, vintage family photos, and much more!

Once they had finished their creative session, the wedding party began getting dressed for the day. Dan himself had been part of many wedding parties, so he knew he wanted to wear something comfortable, so he took his groomsmen to Connor! They chose black chinos, silver blazers, and black shoes. The groomsmen wore black bowties to finish their attire, while Dan wore a black tie.

At the other end of the property, the dressing cottage was full of the laughter and love of Grace and her wedding party. As excitement and anticipation filled the air, they got ready for the big day ahead. Grace’s wedding party included two Maids of Honour, a bridesmaid, and a bridesman. The Maids of Honour and the bridesmaid wore sage satin dresses from Billy J, and the bridesman wore an olive suit from Politix with a blush floral tie.

Grace herself wore a timeless lace gown from Clara Rosa, which hugged her in all the right places and featured a classic square neckline and gorgeous train. “I went to Brides of Beecroft in Sydney and tried on several dresses in all different styles. The dress I chose was actually the first one I tried on, and the rest just did not compare. I tried it on again at the end and cried because I knew it was the one! I went into dress shopping, not knowing what I wanted. The only thing I knew was that it had to have a square neckline. I had such a good experience, and I’m so glad I went in with no expectations, as it meant I got to try so many different styles!”

Spicers Guesthouse was the perfect backdrop for the day – and was a sentimental location as it was the first place Grace and Dan went away together. “During that trip, we said if we ever got married, it would have to be there. So it is sentimental to us. We also love that everything was all at the one venue: ceremony, reception, and accommodation. We didn’t have to leave the site, which also came in handy for the quests. Our day was 32 degrees, so lots of people went to their rooms and changed after the ceremony for the reception!”

Not wanting to be bogged down with details, Grace handed over the reins of her flowers to a close friend who is also a florist. “I told her my colour palette and left it to the professional as I didn’t want anything specific. Sure, I have favourites, but I think all flowers are beautiful, so I wasn’t fussy as long as they were the colours I wanted.”

She came back with beautiful bouquets and this incredible wedding arbour, featuring two elegant pillars adorned with a mixture of vibrant and pastel spring florals. It was the perfect backdrop for a ceremony filled with endless love, infectious laughter, and overwhelming joy.

She walked down the aisle with both her father and brother as the notes to “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele floated through the air. Dan may have shed a tear (or two!), overwhelmed by the love he felt watching his fiancée walk towards him.

For the ceremony, they wanted a celebrant who would take the pressure off them and help mellow out their nerves. And that’s exactly what they got with Monty King! “We loved our celebrant’s humour, and he is such a character he did just that.” There were no included readings, just their vows filled with heartfelt stories and nods to their love of The Office.

While guests moved to the reception space, the wedding party took off with photographer Tim from Hello Sweetheart. “Tim is a legend! He has done almost every wedding in our friend group, so he feels like part of the group. Which was amazing because I am quite camera shy, and he just makes you feel so comfortable. He also knows how to get a genuine laugh or reaction out of you, which makes for perfect photos.”

Wanting to start the reception with a bang, the wedding party had a few tricks up their sleeves – thanks to the groomsmen and bridesman. As the party entered from the back of the room, they made their way through tables and guests, letting off confetti poppers. Popper after popper went off until they reached the front of the room – where they had their grand finale! Just as guests settled after all the commotion, the wedding party surprised everyone with silver streamers – adding a touch of sparkle to the already hyped atmosphere.

With the guests already energised, the room was filled with cheers and applause as the newlyweds entered. The space itself was the definition of pastel elegance, featuring communal tables covered in blush table runners, vintage decor and spring florals. Fairy lights covered the ceilings, and the large windows allowed guests to view the stunning sunset while they ate. Grace didn’t really want to plan out all the details, so she teamed up with an amazing planner from Hunter Events, who took care of everything – turning out this beautiful fairytale wedding.

The reception was filled with amazing food, plenty of entertainment from their band, Party Latte, and tear-jerking speeches! When it was time to cut their cake from Melrose Cakes, Grace and Dan wanted to include a special couple in a heartwarming acknowledgement. “However, it was also my aunty and uncles’ wedding anniversary, so we included them in our cake-cutting and knew that was always something we wanted to do!”

Their first dance was originally meant to be choreographed, but in the moment, they decided to sway and enjoy each other’s company. They swayed to “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga from the remake of A Star Is Born. Once they had finished the formal parts of the night, Grace switched into her reception dress, a chic mini from Meski, to dance the night away.

Congratulations, Grace and Dan! May you continue to fill your fairytale story with love, laughter, and tender moments. Thanks to Hello Sweetheart for capturing this beautiful event and to Hunter Events for bringing this pastel wedding to life!