We were delighted to receive today’s submission. Annie tells the story of her and Bobby’s wedding, and it’s one that instantly drew us in. Their day was colourful and heartfelt (Annie wore her mum’s wedding dress) and was designed to feel like a giant dinner party, full of music, handmade details, laughter, and so much family love.

What makes Annie and Bobby’s story even more special is the way it weaves together joy with something deeper. While planning their celebration, they were also navigating Bobby’s father’s illness, and you can feel in every detail just how much family and the memories their wedding day would create meant to them.

Today, we’re sharing Annie’s story in her own words, with imagery (and a beautiful film!) from Fable Films. From the first “will-they-won’t-they” spark to a magical ceremony in Annie’s hometown, a reception on the mountain, a wedding dress full of history, and a dance floor full of Zorba the Greek chaos and laughter, it’s a story of colour and heart. We’re honoured to share it with you on Polka Dot You.

I first met Bobby (Richard) through university debating back in 2015, but we did not start dating until 2019. I had read a dating advice column by Zoe Foster-Blake that said to look for your future partner on the periphery of your social circles — the friends of friends. So I did, and there was Bobby. A few months of will-they-won’t-they followed, but we finally had our first proper date on October 27, 2019 making it making it 5 years and 5 days of dating before we were married.. With a room full of debating and debating-adjacent friends and family, the speeches were a real highlight of our day.

Bobby proposed on the shores of Lake Annecy in France while we were travelling for the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

We wanted our wedding to be colourful, joyous and feel like a giant dinner party with all our family and friends. We spent a lot more time thinking about how we wanted the day to ‘feel’ for both our guests and us, rather than necessarily thinking about how it would look.

We chose the sweetest little white weatherboard and tin church in my hometown of Cudal (St James Anglican Church) for the ceremony. It has a magical blue roof over the altar and wooden pews , so almost everyone had a seat. Afterwards, our guests were bused to Borrodell Vineyard just outside Orange for a reception on the mountainside. Everyone loved it. During golden hour, the lawns seemed to vanish into thin air, and we had our first dance out on the grass under the fairy lights.

My dress was my mum’s wedding dress from 33 years ago, made by her mother from duchess satin bought by her stepmother. There was never another dress for me. I had known since I was little that I would wear it. Chloe Gray Alterations & Sewing helped me redesign it. We kept the skirt with its original pleats and length, even though I would be lifting it all day. My parents did not see the new version for almost a year, until the wedding day, and I am so glad we captured their reaction on film.

Bobby wore a classic navy double-breasted wool suit from Oscar Hunt. He paired it with RM Williams boots, a Hermès “love-love” tie, his maternal grandfather’s cufflinks and his father’s watch, a gift from his grandfather.

Our wedding party had a bit of a theme. Each of us had a sibling, a high school friend, and two friends from university. The boys wore their own navy suits, the girls chose their own pink dresses, and we had four flower girls in matching smocked dresses and glittery shoes. Our MCs were friends from debating, who told hilarious stories and kept everything running on time.

In a past life, my mum was a florist and was desperate to do our flowers. We compromised by having her and friends arrange the ceremony flowers, using buckets of blooms and greenery from Megan at Edellen Flower Farm. Megan created the reception arrangements, the bouquets, and sweet flower crowns for the flower girls.

Bobby walked down the aisle with his parents to “Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen, and I walked with mine to “Stand By Me” by The Kingdom Choir. We left the church to “Run Away with Me” by Carly Rae Jepsen.

We wanted the ceremony to balance tradition and fun, and Reverend Blackmore was perfect for that. He is known to arrive on his motorbike before putting his robes on over jeans. We all walked from my parents’ house to the church, dancing down the road. Locals stopped to watch and wave, which helped calm my nerves. I went in for the kiss a bit too early, and the Rev had to stop us mid-move to finish the vows first. My brother read Corinthians 13, and Bobby’s childhood friend read “Having a Coke with You” by Frank O’Hara. Our dads, my Noni, and Bobby’s dad all gave prayers. Friends sang and played music, and the church was decorated with potted flowers, pew bows, and a paper flower arch.

Our first dance was to “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader. We did a few swing moves, then pulled everyone in for the last chorus.

I tend to dream up big creative ideas, and my sister, maid of honour Alice, is the one who brings them to life. Her giant standing paper flowers were the standout of our reception decor. When our coordinator could not set up due to a personal tragedy, family and friends pitched in. Even the lawyers and bankers in the group got creative with candles, stationery, and art.

We added little touches to make the day ours, like handing out Middleton ice blocks after the ceremony to cool guests down. Everyone in our direct families had a role, from readings and prayers to speeches. My bridesmaid Gen made our cake, and our friend Vail took an Instax photo of us right after the ceremony that became our cake topper. We included heirlooms, like Bobby’s family candelabra, his grandpa’s cufflinks and watch, and artwork by my great-uncle. I passed my bouquet to my future sister-in-law, who would marry Bobby’s brother six weeks later.

Sherman from Fable Films did our photography and videography. We connected with him instantly at our engagement shoot. He took the time to learn about the church and our family, especially after we shared that Bobby’s dad was living with terminal cancer. He suggested ways to make sure we spent meaningful time with loved ones, and even with a short couple’s shoot, he produced the most beautiful images.

Having vendors we knew personally meant a lot. Georgia from Curly Creator designed stationery we could keep as art, and my old hairdresser, Tammy of Soul Hair and Beauty Room, got teary as she put my veil on. Silent Shout made the dance floor incredible. At one point, we conga-lined everyone from the lawn to the balcony, then danced Zorba the Greek with more than 100 people in a tiny space.

There were so many moments I will never forget – the flower girls leaving “fairy offerings” in my parents’ garden, friends shouting “What’s happening?!” during Zorba the Greek, the colours and joy of walking down the aisle, and the feeling of being surrounded by everyone we love. It was everything we had hoped for – colourful, joyous, and full of heart.