Stefanie & Tim ~ 21st May 2016
When I asked Stefanie how she imagined her wedding day she told me "Everything I have ever dreamed of filled with everything I really love - My amazing friends and family, beautiful surroundings, crisp autumn air, the love of my life standing at the altar...... and amazing shoes".
I don't know about the shoes (Stef, I need a picture of the shoes!) but I do know that Stef's dreams came true and Stef and Tim's wedding was all that, and more!
Venue: Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
Photographer: Elle DS Photography
Event Styling: Plan Style Party
Videographer: Little Darling Films
Stef and Tim's enchanted wedding was full of gold sparkle and had all the little touches and attention to detail that gave it the real 'wow factor'!
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden was the backdrop for the enchanted themed ceremony, and they definitely picked the perfect time of year to be there! Surrounded by amazing autumn colours and fallen leaves was an arbour, and a stunning glitzy signing table. Stef and Tim had thought of everything, with umbrellas and blankets ready for the guests, but luckily the sun was shining and there was not a raindrop in sight!
Stef ensured that her groom would be arriving to the ceremony in style and secretly organised for him to pull up to the location in a Lamborghini! Now, I can admit that I know nothing about cars (I mean NOTHING!) but I do know that this is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity, and what a way to start the day for Tim!
Shortly after Tim and the guests arrived we saw the bus enter with Stef and her bridesmaids inside. Tim stared straight at the ground, commenting that he wanted the first glance of his bride to be as she came down the aisle.
Stef's bridesmaids walked through the garden and down the aisle to Amy Winehouse's 'To know him is to love him', and as Stef captioned the below photo: "Mismatched dresses done right"!..
Stef gave her bridesmaids some guidelines when it came to their gowns but allowed them all to choose their own dress, and the result... WOW! They all looked stunning, and while their dresses were all very different, they complemented each other, and the theme, perfectly!
Stef followed, making her entrance to 'Angels' by The xx and looked absolutely breathtaking in a blush, lace gown.
Stef and Tim's ceremony began by acknowledging those who could not be there, with a very special mention of the third member of their family, their fur baby, puppy Claude, and followed with a very special and unique 'Giving Away'. Leo, Stef's stepdad, escorted her down the aisle and not only was he asked whether he supported the bride and groom in their decision to be married, but was also asked "...will you, Leo, take Tim into your family, and allow him full access to your liquor cabinet?".
The ceremony told the story of Stef and Tim's modern day fairytale, their mutual dorkiness...
'Despite Stefanie convincing herself that Tim was out of her league, they shared the same first impressions of each other, both thinking the other was cute and seemed like a happy person. They were also excited to find someone who had similar vertical challenges!
As they got to know each other, Stefanie began to realise that Tim was not out of her league at all and really was just a bit of a dork, and that is one of the main things she still loves about him today.'
Before Stef and Tim exchanged their vows, the bride and groom asked Tim's sister, Maddie, to share a simple reading inspired by some of her favourite Disney films:
‘What’s Mickey without Minnie
What’s Piglet without Pooh
What’s Donald without Daisy
That’s me without you
When Ariel doesn’t sing
And Pooh Bear hates honey
When Tigger stops bouncing
And Goofy isn’t funny
When Peter Pan can’t fly
And Simba never roars
When Alice In Wonderland
Can’t fit though small doors
When Dumbo’s ears are small
And happily ever after isn’t true
That’s when I’ll stop loving you’
A very special touch added to the ceremony was the personal vows that Stef and Tim wrote for each other (and put a lot of time and a lot of thought in to!). There were tears and laughter as they shared the reasons for their love and their promises for the future:
'...You are always there for me when I need you most
And you’ve always cooked me really good steak.
I promise to always give my all for you,
To dust you off when you fall down and, To encourage you to do what makes you happy,
I promise to always tell bad jokes and to always clean up the dog poo...'
'...I promise to support and encourage you to achieve your goals and live you dreams.
I promise to watch the football with you, and the tennis, and the formula one and maybe even the cricket for a long as I can endure,
And I promise to love you always and be by your side, no matter what.’
After being pronounced husband and wife, the newlyweds made their way back down the aisle being showered with autumn leaves (that they had been collecting up for weeks) by their guests, before many hugs and congratulations and heading straight back to the car park to have some photo's with the Lamborghini (something that could not be missed!!!).
Stef and Tim, thank you for sharing your wedding day with me. The love and connection you share is undeniable, and the work you put in to your big day absolutely paid off! I love that you did things your own way and put so much thought in to all the small details to make the day so very special!
Thank you also for the absolutely beautiful gift and kind words following your ceremony.
Wishing you a long and happy life together as husband and wife!
