It may not have been love at first sight for Jack and Desiree – but it sure was an instant connection! This beautiful couple had their alfresco wedding in sunny coastal New South Wales. Surrounded by their closest friends and family, this intimate affair was the perfect celebration of their marriage. Captured by the talented Mick from Happy Heart Films and Katie from Captured by Kate, it’s a night they’ll never forget!

Jack and Desiree met at work through one of their mutual friends. When Des found out her lunch buddy had other plans, she invited herself along – and little did she know that the other person at that lunch would be her future husband! “As soon as I sat down, I knew Jack was something special (and I think the feeling was mutual) – we connected immediately and had lots in common. From there, our friendship grew and evolved into our love story.”

In early 2023, Jack and Desiree had planned a road trip around Scotland where, unbeknownst to her, Jack had finalised the details of his proposal! “A proposal was not on my radar at all!” She shared. “Jack had booked a house in an isolated area on the Isle of Skye, surrounded by beautiful mountains and overlooking a loch, and he asked me to marry him! It was such an incredible surprise.”

Wanting to wear something that was traditional but with a twist, Jack wore this gorgeous navy suit with a light grey pinstripe linen waistcoat. “Jack wanted a traditional navy suit but with an element of difference and the waistcoat along with the bowtie really helped to bring it all together,” Desiree explained.

Since they had a small wedding, they decided to only have two people each in their wedding parties. Jack’s wedding party wore the same suit as him but without the jackets. Desiree’s wedding party wore these stunning navy dresses that stood out against their alfresco theme.

The first place Desiree looked for her wedding gown was Grace Loves Lace – and it was a one-stop shop for her! “As soon as I tried on the Aura, I knew it was the one! I wanted a dress that was simple yet elegant.” 

These incredible florals were created by the talented team at Wild Rose Florist in Moruya! “They came through with the most beautiful bouquets.”

The venue for this beautiful alfresco wedding was Figtree Park in Central Tilba. “Jack had grown up travelling down the Far South Coast, and since we’d been together, we’d been down the coast many times, and I loved it. We wanted a venue that would feel intimate for a small wedding, and where we would be surrounded by nature.”

Desiree walked down the aisle with her lovely mum, as TOTUM performed an acoustic rendition of “Simply The Best” by Tina Turner. “We had Jo and Dave (also known as TOTUM) sing/play at the ceremony as well as the cocktail hour and they were such a joy to listen to!”

Working with their celebrant, Ceremonies By Tania, Desiree and Jack decided they wanted a ceremony that was relaxed, simple and focused around their vows. “For that reason, we opted not to have any readings and worked closely with our celebrant to make sure that our ceremony really reflected us.”

Finding the perfect photographer is no easy feat, and for Jack and Desiree, the process was overwhelming. “When I started looking at photographers for the wedding, I’d looked at a heap of amazing photographers and their portfolios, but Jack and I struggled to find one whose style we both liked. And neither of us are super comfortable in front of a camera so we wanted to find a photographer that we vibed with who could put us at ease.”

Luckily for the pair, they came across Captured by Kate and instantly fell in love with her work! “We were genuinely floored once we got the photographs back – we honestly couldn’t have imagined how beautiful the images would come out! She captured us, our wedding and the landscape beautifully, and she made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera.”

With so many beautiful photos from their alfresco wedding, it was hard for Desiree to pick just one. But after consideration this is what she had to say: “I’d say it’s the one of us laughing as we were walking through the field. I just remember that we were just chatting as Katie and Mick, our photographer and videographer, were doing their thing – we were on Cloud 9!”

The top five things that made their alfresco wedding so special were:

“1. Deciding to have a small wedding with only 50 of our closest family and friends there was so special. We wanted our wedding to be intimate and relaxed, and it was just that.

2. Instead of the traditional bridal party table, we opted for a couples table, which allowed us to be with each other and enjoy the speeches together.

3. Having a high tea in the morning with my bridesmaids, my mum, Jack’s mum and his nan. It was such a special time for me to spend with the important women in my life and a really nice opportunity for us to all sit down and be present.

4. Getting married on the Far South Coast – this area holds a special place in our hearts and while it meant that we and our guests had to travel down, we were so happy that we were able to get married there.

5. Including a few unique decor/table details that we loved, such as personalised menus, baby pictures on seating charts and tables, and a bottle of whiskey on each table.”

For Jack and Desiree, one of their best decisions when planning their alfresco reception was to have their couples table. “It is so easy to get swept up in the excitement with family and friends, but we took a few moments before and during the reception to spend time with each other, which was really special. We also loved the couple’s table, where we could spend time together but surrounded by our guests,” Jack shared.

To wrap up the night, they had their first dance to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole. “We’re not dancers, but we choreographed a short part of the dance. Practising the dance in the lead-up to the wedding was a great way to have fun during the height of the wedding planning.”

Thanks to Katie from Captured by Kate for capturing and sharing this incredible day with us! Congratulations, Jack and Desiree, on your beautiful alfresco wedding!