Classic Summer Wedding in Bowral

There’s a reason Colin and Denise kept coming back to Bowral. They’d spent plenty of time there together over the years, so when it came time to celebrate their marriage, the Southern Highlands felt like the right place to gather their favourite people. From the gardens of Retford Park to a rain-soaked reception at Centennial Vineyards, the day unfolded with a classic elegance, a few unexpected turns and a dance floor that had everyone up and moving. Maple & June and the team from Cinemotive captured it all, and we’re excited to dive in with you!

For their anniversary, Colin whisked Denise away to a tiny home in the middle of nowhere, with a cosy fire planned for the perfect proposal. The only thing standing in the way of his plan was that Colin’s fire-starting skills were less than impressive. After a failed attempt at a casual fire (that led to an enormous blaze), awkwardly short camping chairs and a frantic search through the many pockets of his hiking pants, Colin finally got down on one knee. Denise, who thought he was about to fall into the fire, realised what was happening, and she said yes!

Colin opted for a classic black Joe Black suit, complete with a black bow tie, cufflinks and black leather accessories.

Found at Luv Bridal, Denise found her dream dress in this stunning floral jacquard ball gown. “I’ve always liked ball gowns but wanted to try out different styles for dress fittings. I still ended up finding that a ball gown suits me best. It was great to have my mum here from overseas to choose the dress with me. For the second dress at the reception, I found it a few days before the wedding,” she explained.

Working with Ivy Lane Collective, Denise and Colin created a classic green, white and burgundy colour palette that flowed from ceremony to reception, styling to florals. They included fruit in some pieces to add a beautiful texture and liveliness.

Their ceremony was at Retford Park, where guests could stroll through the incredible gardens and around the house. “The staff and volunteers are absolutely amazing. Despite being a National Trust property, we were easily able to hold the ceremony within the property’s gardens. We chose this setting because of the gorgeous Portuguese salmon pink building backdrop and well-manicured gardens. We also had our couple and bridal party portraits at the same location, capitalising on the many gorgeous backdrops the venue offers,” they shared.

Denise walked down the aisle with her father in arm as Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” filled the gardens, performed live by Luminous Strings.

Colin and Denise wrote their own vows and shared them surrounded by their favourite people. “We wanted to keep it intimate and short. Reading them aloud to each other and our close family/friends was a perfect means of declaring our love and tying the knot,” Denise explained.

The vendor dream team went above and beyond for Denise and Colin, bringing their classic wedding to life across their venues. “We were quite nervous about the ceremony, reception, vendors and the ability for so many to transition into a different plan due to the weather. What was pleasantly surprising is that our vendors did exceptionally well, and our guests absolutely loved what we were able to put together,” they explained.

Maple & June captured this classic wedding alongside Colin and Denise, without forcing them into unnatural poses or situations. “They were incredibly polite and professional – even when chaos slipped in occasionally. For us, it’s difficult to interpret instructions and generate the stance/poses required to ‘get that shot’, but the photographers worked with us as best as possible.”

The best part for Denise and Colin when planning their wedding was everything they got to do together! “It was lovely to get away together, see venues, have a vision for our day and make the decisions together to make the day as memorable and special to last forever.”

Centennial Vineyards in Bowral was the home base for the reception. It offered exceptional indoor and outdoor options, which came in handy when the rain came rolling in. “The staff are lovely, the food is exceptional, and the venue offered the space needed for our guests with the intimate atmosphere we wished for our reception.”

The three things that made Colin and Denise’s wedding so unique and special for them included:

“1. The people – we invited only those close to our hearts

2. The location – we love Bowral and have visited together many times as a couple. Each time is special.

3. Dancing – we were nervous most guests would not partake, but it was amazing to see so many get up.”

The two vendors that made their reception all the more enjoyable were:

“The DJ – who also took on the role of the MC and structured the reception exceptionally well.

The Photo Booth assistant – who was extremely patient and ensured all guests (along with us) received multiple copies of their photos.”

Denise and Colin’s first dance was to Radiohead’s “True Love Waits”, and was something they had choreographed themselves. “It was incredibly nerve-wracking, but we like to think we nailed it.”

For Colin, the fact that everyone partook in the Greek dancing towards the end of the night was a major highlight! “Greek dancing was incorporated into the night, and it was amazing that everyone partook. And for Denise’s side, we had a tea ceremony take place a day before the wedding.”