We met online. Back when it was very uncool and less swipy. James’ proposal was perfect. It was Christmas day and we were skiing in Chamonix, France (that sounds pompous, but it wasn’t like that at all). Considerately, all the Europeans were hungover from celebrating the night before, so we had the slopes practically to ourselves. Unknown to me, James had packed a backpack of goodies – panettone and champagne, you know, just basic survival food. Since it was Christmas day I wasn’t too surprised when the champagne came out of his backpack but then as he got down on one knee to hand me what I thought was some chocolate, it all came together. It was pretty spectacular to have had that event witnessed by no one but mountains.
We must have looked at a hundred venues and destinations, but each one seemed to have the same vanilla selection of wedding offerings – beef, fish, beef, fish, one red, one white, out by 11:30pm, yawn. Weddings should be fun damn it, and we had quite the list of demands! Our own caterer, dancing till 3am, somewhere in the bush, somewhere sentimental… After two years of searching, we settled (somewhat to everyone’s relief) on my family’s beach house. Looking back, it seems silly that it took us so long to find our location – we’d discounted having it at home because there would be no ‘sense of occasion’ – but in the end it was the perfect venue.
We decided on our theme on the plane back to Australia after four years living in Europe. The last leg of the journey was spent eating our way through Asia, more specifically eating nothing but street food. It dawned on us a street market theme would be the perfect melting pot to bring together all the elements of our time abroad and the sentimental meals from our relationship, while simultaneously forcing our guests to mingle!
The weather behaved extraordinarily well (it had to, there was no Plan B!). Sunshine was the perfect backdrop for a quintessentially Australian bush and beach scene. I’d originally planned just to have some posed photos with the wedding party on the bicycles, but James had another idea – actually use the bicycles as bicycles. It was pretty kamikaze – there we were flying down steep dirt roads with long dresses flapping at the spokes. Miraculously, we all made it to the reception. Seeing my bridesmaids with their dresses stuffed into their knickers is something I‘ll cherish forever. Let’s just say we made a hell of an entrance!
Photography by: Danelle Bohane / Location: Fairhaven, Australia
See more of this wedding inside issue three available to purchase here: issue three
Brides Dress – Rue de Seine | Groom’s Attire – Calibre | Celebrant – Andrew McClelland | Floral – Beachside Blooms | Bicycles – Lekker Bikes
James & Georgia were our beautiful issue 3 cover couple: Issue 3
