There’s something timeless about a garden wedding — the way light filters through trees, the scent of blossoms lingering in the air, the gentle hush before vows are exchanged. For Meg and Ken, this dream took root at Linnaeus Farm, where every petal, every note of music, and every glance between them seemed to bloom in perfect harmony. Surrounded by their favourite people and framed by the golden hills of the South Coast, their day was a seamless blend of natural beauty and heartfelt emotion.

And as the sky shifted from sun to rain to a breathtaking sunset rainbow, it was as though the world was reflecting their joy back at them! Brett Scapin captured everything photography-related for the couple, while James from HoneyBear Films handled the cinematography.

Meg and Ken met at work; the moment Ken saw Meg with highlights overflowing out of her pocket, he knew he had to meet the woman whose smile brightened the room. “I was a doctor and Meg was a physiotherapist. We had a few friendly chats after this, but I first asked Meg out was when she was walking with one of her patients. I had come to review the same patient. As the patient walked ahead of us, I took the opportunity to ask Meg out on a lunchtime coffee date,” Ken shared.

“She declined because she had prior arrangements, but the patient who misheard the offer put in her own coffee order. Later, disheartened, I returned with a cappuccino for the patient and no date. Not long after, she said yes to a date, and the rest is history.”

Ken had the proposal all planned out, a dinner date, with a nice restaurant as the backdrop to celebrate his return from an overseas work trip, and Valentine’s Day as the date. But the moment he walked into the kitchen and saw Meg baking him Valentine’s cookies – the question burst out of him!

Dressed in a Grace Loves Lace gown, Meg held a soft romance that perfectly matched the garden wedding vibe of the day. Her sister and best friend flew to Sydney to help her find the perfect dress. “I had organised three dress shops to try. The first shop was an absolute disaster. I went to Grace Loves Lace second and immediately fell in love with this dress. Once the veil was on, I knew it was the one. I did try one more shop after, but nothing compared,” she explained.

Ken wore a classic three-piece grey suit from Suitsupply, paired with a soft floral tie and warm leather detailing from Andrew McDonald Shoes.

Deep in the heart of Berry, New South Wales, Linnaeus Farm was the perfect venue for Meg and Ken’s garden wedding. Surrounded by rolling hills and breathtaking mountains, it was an ideal blank canvas where they got to paint their day. “It was highlighted by a stunning barn featuring a dramatic doorway that seamlessly connected the interior to the lush lawn area.”

All of these gorgeous flowers were created by Flowers on the Mill and styled by their talented wedding planner, Rhianna Smith Events. “Our vision was to have pops of colour, and between Rhi and Flowers on the Mill, they really made this vision come to life.”

“Until I Found You”, covered by Em Beilhold, floated through the air as Meg’s wedding party walked down the aisle. Followed by the bride and her parents, Don and Jo, on either arm as a slowed-down acoustic rendition of “Home” played.

Their outdoor garden ceremony was set against the backdrop of the lake, with Saddleback Mountain as its setting. It was short, sweet and entirely intimate.

They both made sure to include their families as much as possible. Ken’s mum was the ring-bearer, while his stepdad was his witness. Both of their mothers blessed the rings. Meg even surprised Ken by reciting part of her vows in Japanese, something he had no idea she was planning!

The ceremony soon flowed into the indoor barn for the reception, with a short cocktail hour set up by M2 Kitchen out on the green, where the sun reflected all of the beautiful colours everyone wore. “We had lots of colours in the overall theme, including the dress guide for the guests, and the colours really pulled the whole day together. We had Rhi from Rhi Smith Events help us out and she really nailed it.”

Since Rhianna Smith Events was handling most of the planning and coordination, Meg and Ken didn’t require many DIY elements. Meg, however, did create a beautiful cake surrounded by an impressive array of homemade macarons.

Capturing everything throughout this beautiful, soft garden wedding was Brett Scapin! “We sought him out after seeing his work on album covers for our favourite Australian musician, Nat Bartsch. We looked at his other works and loved his ability to capture moments in such a candid way. We contacted Brett, and lucky for us, he agreed to fly in from Melbourne to shoot our wedding in NSW,” Ken shared.

The five things that made their garden wedding so special were:

“1. Small, intimate group of our closest people, made us realise how incredible our family and friends are.

2. Making the actual wedding cake over the week. For macaron making and cake icing, we had our guests help us, and that made the whole preparation special.

3. Family involvement – Ken’s mum carried the rings, Meg’s parents walked Meg down the aisle, Meg’s sister was the Maid of Honour, and Lexi, Meg’s niece, was the flower girl.

4. Weather on the day was wild. We had sunshine, rain and rainbows, and bugs.

5. The fantastic location.”

We know how overwhelming planning a wedding can be – and so do Meg and Ken. The best piece of advice they want to leave for future couples is this: “The day goes by so fast. Remember to stop, breathe, and take in the moment with your partner.”

With so many incredible vendors, it wasn’t easy for Meg and Ken to pick their standout, but Rhianna Smith exuded passion and dedication. “She did an amazing job! She brought our vision to life, and she handled the day so well that there were no dramas!”

Ken’s favourite part of the day was the rain at sunset – and the rainbow that came from it! “The rainbow at sunset, with the Cambewarra mountain in the backdrop, was amazing.”

Their first dance was to Frankie Vali’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” as their guests watched and festoon lights twinkled overhead.

A heartfelt congratulations to Meg and Ken on such a beautifully personal and joy-filled celebration. And a huge thank you to the ever-talented Brett Scapin for capturing every candid, tender moment so effortlessly.