Lets start at the beginning, when and how did you and your partner meet?
Jack and I met in high school, from memory at a party in year 10. We then tested the friendship and started dating after year 12. After a year or so together I moved to Melbourne and we remained good friends until we re-kindled the relationship around 4 years ago. We now live in beautiful Robe with our GSP dog, Hank.
Tell us about the proposal…
Jack dropped the knee on the windiest day Robe has ever seen, on our favourite beach. He packed an eskie and unknown to me, a ring he had being designing for months. I was too busy picking up rubbish to realise he was trying to have ‘the chat’. We celebrated with take away pizzas, champagne and our beautiful family.
The Dress! Tell us about your experience finding the dress .. How did you decide on the one?
Originally, I was going to make my own dress, very low-key and simple. As our wedding was a surprise I didn’t want to be too done up when everyone was dressed for an engagement. But after a while I thought what the heck… let’s have a bit of fun! I also realised I didn’t need the stress of organising a dress on top a busy summer in Robe and planning a surprise wedding in 3 months time. My decision was made, and I went straight to Caleche. I tried the fishtail skirt on first and instantly felt so comfortable in it. The skirt was tailored to perfection and even allowed the bride to boogie! My bridesmaid then picked the top, which was a soft silk georgette blouse with a neck tie and I fell in love just as quick. Originally the blouse was an off-white, which was beautiful, but I have never been an all-white girl, so I knew I wanted to add a bit of colour. The tango red was a natural addition as the outfit screamed romance. Liz was so accommodating to the colour change and working hard to customise the outfit with only a few months notice. I cannot thank Liz and the team enough for their support! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be so comfortable on my wedding day. And best of all, I am definitely wearing both items again!
Can you give us some details on your wedding location?
A really special place for both of us is our local winery/boutique brewery, Cape Jaffa, located 30kms from Robe. Our good friend, Derek Hooper owns the winery and allowed us to use the cellar door and barrel room during peak vintage! The ceremony was next to the paddock rock cellar door and overlooked the fruiting grapevines, where we had gins, oysters and crayfish burgers. We then headed downstairs into the limestone barrel room, where Blomme Flora had installed red and pink cascading flowers amongst the wine barrels. Jack and I did not even have the conversation about where we wanted our wedding, we always knew it would be here!
What was your favourite moment of the day?
Can I have more than one?? As our wedding was a surprise, one of our most favourite moments was seeing our close friends and family arrive from buses and clue onto what was happening. Another was having the kids and dogs run amuck around us while we shared our vows, I think we were just laughing the whole time! One of our gorgeous friends also wrote a poem tailor-made for us, which was so special.
Originally, we weren’t going to have any couple photos, as we wanted to maximise out time with loved ones. But this ended up being the most special hour of ‘us’ time, catching up on everything and soaking up the moment together as the sun was going down.
Hens Day! If you had one, please tell us all about it!
Because the ‘wedding’ was under wraps I never had a traditional Hens. BUT, I was in Sydney a week before the wedding for a tradeshow and had a very fun weekend with my closest girlfriends who also knew. Wouldn’t have had it any other way!
Lastly, is there any advice or words of wisdom you have for future brides?
Take in every single conversation with friends and family as time just rolls so quickly! Dance the night away, and don’t leave your accommodation keys at the venue so you and your new hubby have to sleep in your car…
Details:
Photographer: Elizabeth Harper Photos; Groom: Jack Kelly; Location: Cape Jaffa Winery; Bridesmaids outfits: Bec & Bridge; Grooms & Best Man’s suits: MJ Bale; Flowers: Blomme Flora; Makeup: Pure Luxe Beauty & Spa; Hair: My Beautiful Mum! Kristina Alexander; Jewellery: Holly Ryan (earrings); Caterers: Project, Robe; Music: The Uptown Seeds
