Calèche real bride Frances and hubby Dylan’s romantic Adelaide Hills wedding featured the most gorgeous Autumn colours, highlighted in the floral details of both the ceremony and reception. Continue reading for all the details Frances has so kindly shared with us.
Lets start at the beginning, when and how did you and your partner meet?
We met through mutual friends and over time we spent more and more time together and really enjoyed each other’s company. He went away for a few months overseas, and when he got back we had a heart to heart and realised we both had really missed each other and that was that!
Tell us about the proposal ..
We normally celebrate our anniversary at Womadelaide each year as it was the March long weekend where we both said “I love you” for the first time down by the bridge on the Torrens River behind the Adelaide Uni. He suggested we go for a walk, and we sat on the bench under the bridge for a while. While we were sitting there I actually thought to myself this spot would be a nice place to get engaged someday as it was so meaningful to us and then I obliviously looked over at Dylan and he was on one knee! He asked me to marry him which was followed by lots of blubbering and hugs. It was very special and poor Dylan was so relieved to have finally done it after anxiously carrying the ring around the Botanic Gardens all day hoping that I wouldn’t find it or he wouldn’t lose it!
The Dress! Tell us about your experience finding the dress. How did you decide on the one?
I did a bit of preliminary research on where to get my dress and every time a Calèche bride popped up it just stood out to me how beautiful and happy all the brides looked in their photos. Calèche was the first dress shop I tried, and I went in thinking I wanted a high neck long-sleeved plain dress and no veil.
I begrudgingly tried on a sleeveless v-neck dress that Libbi suggested, thinking it wouldn’t look good on me and as soon as it was done up at the back I knew it was the dress for me! Then she insisted I try on this stunning cathedral length veil and I was sold! The girls were so helpful in making some tweaks that made it so perfect and exactly what I wanted. I described the kind of lace I was going for to the girls as the lace the dress had on it wasn’t quite what I wanted, and they brought out some beautiful detailed and interesting floral lace that was perfect! The Calèche team were so accommodating and even made some sleeves for me to see if I wanted sleeves as I was still undecided a few months in, and that really helped solidify that I was happy without sleeves. It was a magical experience and so much fun!
Because we had such a wonderful experience with getting my dress, we ended up getting my bridesmaids dresses and my mum’s dress custom made at Calèche too. Having all the girls involved and get to watch their dresses created was so special. The beautiful quality and love that goes into everything Calèche makes is so obvious in all the perfect tiny details. Liz was so helpful in helping to make sure that the girls dresses would compliment the style I was going for and she made me so comfortable and relaxed knowing I could trust her judgement! We even got the groomsmen’s bow ties made at Calèche out of the same fabric and colour as the bridesmaids dresses!
Frances’s gown was inspired by the shape of our Blossom gown, made in an all-over embroidered tulle.
Can you give us some details on your wedding location?
We got married on the beautiful Piccadilly Lawns overlooking the valley and had our reception in the Piccadilly Pavillion, both at Mount Lofty House. We wanted a very leafy, floral theme for the wedding as the gardens and grounds were all beautiful and lush, with stunning autumnal colours at that time of year. Everything about Mount Lofty House is stunning and the staff were incredible, they really went above and beyond!
What was your favourite moment of the day?
Probably the moment I got down the aisle and got to hold Dylan’s hands again as I hadn’t seen him since the night before and with all the excitement it was so nice and comforting to be back with him. My second favourite moment was towards the end of dinner, Dylan and I snuck out to a small courtyard to practice our first dance which we were due to do in about 15 minutes. It was so nice to have 5 minutes alone and quiet to ourselves to just breathe and check in with each other.
Hens Day! If you had one, please tell us all about it!
My lovely bridal party organised a weekend getaway at Aldinga for me with a beautiful long lunch at Victor’s Place with a bunch of friends, my mum, mother-in-law, and two sisters-in-law. After lunch we went back to an Airbnb for some drinks, games, and ended the day with pizza by the beach. It was so much fun and I am very grateful to my girls for all the effort they went to.
Lastly, is there any advice or words of wisdom you have for future brides?
Just before the ceremony started I had a group hug with my bridal party and we did three deep breaths together and took a moment to try and take in all of the emotions and giddy excitement. I did this periodically throughout the day too – to try and slow down and just appreciate how amazing this day was!! As everyone will tell you: the day will go by in a flash so just remember it’s your day! Slow down, enjoy yourself, and remember to breathe!
Details
Photographer: Goldlight Photography; Videographer: Alex Pratt Wedding Videography (APWV); Bride & veil, bridesmaids & mother of bride & groomsmen bow ties: Calèche; Groom & Groomsman suits: Oscar & Hunt; Flowers and Styling: Hygge Studio; Makeup: Charlotte Morgan MUA; Hair: Ali Hair.
