I promised I would share some photos from our wedding day and I am not one to break a promise. We absolutely love all our photos thanks to the wonderful Karen Buckle. We had the most amazing and perfect wedding day. Everything ran so smoothly, everyone had a ball and the best part... we became husband and wife!
I woke up to my 7am alarm and checked the weather on my iPhone. It didn't look good. A peek out the window at the pelting rain and raging surf told me we weren't going to have our beach-front ceremony. I let myself have a little moment of disappointment then just as quickly erased the thought.
It didn't matter what the weather was like. Nice weather would just be a bonus, as long as I got to marry my man.
I emerged from the shower to find a steaming hot cup of green tea on my bedside table thanks to my lovely bridesmaids. Upstairs I trotted in my green dress (I made us matching dresses) to be greeted by my sister, bridesmaid Kristin, mum and dad. We feasted on fabulously fresh fruit and Sarah, my other bridesmaid arrived just in time for scones.
Sarah was 8 months pregnant with twins on our wedding day. She still made the trek up the coast in the rain to be there on the day. I was so happy to have her there I cried nearly every time I looked at her. She just laughed at me. The gorgeous, healthy baby girls were born just five days later!
We had a lovely morning getting ready. My 'big sister' (she's not really my sister but I call her that) Nanette did all of our hair and we all did our own makeup. Will's only request (pretty much only) was that I did my own makeup so I looked like me.
At about midday, two of my friends' mums arrived with platters of heart-shaped chicken sandwiches for our lunch. Aren't they wonderful?
Due to the rain and implementation of plan C for the ceremony venue, we had to go to the house to get dressed so we didn't get wet. We're all in mum and dad's bedroom waiting for our time to walk down the aisle.
Rustic wedding signs marked the house. Our wonderful invitation designer Neisha from Creative Emporium has an equally talented partner who made our signs, table numbers, the canopy we were married under, the registry table (a gift from my parents which now sits at our front door), the blackboard and our Mr & Mrs signs. Neisha did all the writing. If you need any sort of stationary for anything at all, she is your woman!
Have you seen a happier dad before? I don't think I have. Dad did a perfect job of walking me down the aisle and we both got there without tripping or too many tears.
I felt like I was blubbering through the whole ceremony but the pictures make me look quite relaxed. I couldn't stop smiling and neither could Will.
After the ceremony it was time for family photos. I love this photo of me with mum and Guppy (my grandma). Just in case you haven't heard me say it before, she's 94! 94!
I also love this photo of me with dad. What's not to love about it?
We had a rather unconventional wedding party. Will had his two sisters as groomswomen as well as his friend Jeremy as groomsman. It took me quite a while to come up with the idea of dressing the groomswomen in a black version of the bridesmaids dresses. All the dresses were made by an amazingly talented lady in Brisbane. There was no pattern - just a photo we found and loved.
That's pretty much the face I had all day.
The rain decided to disappear just after the ceremony leaving us with perfect weather for our photos. My dress, which I can't find words to describe I loved it so much, was made by the wonderfully talented Brad at Darb in Brisbane. He made every moment so much fun and I looked forward to every fitting.
Don't they look strapping?
It took mum, my grandma, the dress maker and his assistant to convince me to get a long veil and I am so glad I did. It really made the dress and was so much fun to play with!
We might not have had our ceremony where we planned to but we did get some photos standing where we would have taken our vows. The angry sky and sea make a pretty cool background I think.
This is how wet it was. Nearly every guest came under an umbrella. It makes a pretty cool photo though.
The table plan was a little bit unconventional. The idea was that the guests would find their name and scratch the silver panel to reveal their table numbers. I am assuming it worked because everyone found their seats. The lovely Neisha made all of these to match our invitations. The pattern is from the table runners which is what we themed most of the decorations around.
Each tag was pegged to a piece of string hung on a giant wishbone shaped piece of driftwood. Mum found the wood lying on the beach and she and dad dragged it all the way back to the house!
It doesn't look much like a private house does it? Mum and dad have a front and back balcony that we had covered with a massive tents. The guy putting them up said they were waterproof unless there is torrential rain in which case the water might seep through.
We had torrential rain. My super-wedding-planner mother had it all sorted though and we managed to fit all 105 people inside. It didn't matter. This was one thing that looked even better than it had in my imagination.
Another big thanks to all the family friends who helped out in the week before with the set up. I felt badly heading off to be pampered the day before while everyone was hard at work setting up.
I told you the smile didn't leave my face all night! It can't really be helped with friends like these girls can it?!
We danced our first dance as husband and wife to This Will Be (an everlasting love). We took a couple of lessons in the weeks leading to the wedding so we could do more than shuffle around. I could have been in front of a million people and I would have only noticed the man in front of me.
It was the perfect wedding and we both agreed that it was the best wedding we'd ever been to (we might be biased but we don't care!). Now we're just busy enjoying being an old married couple.
Jennifer | Mother Thyme says
So beautiful, Claire! What a beautiful setting despite the weather and your dress is just gorgeous. Congratulations!
Claire says
Thanks Jennifer!
Nic@diningwithastud says
So gorgeous :)
Eva Taylor says
Congratulations. It rained all day on our wedding day, 26 years ago. It's supposed to be good luck. Great photos, gorgeous dress.
Claire says
Well 26 years later and still going strong - maybe it was a little bit of good luck too!
molly kelly says
Yep....we did good!! Mum xx
Claire says
We did indeed mum! x
ROXANA says
Dear Claire,
You all look SO happy, that make me happy too!! Thanks for sharing these beautiful moments with us!
Hope next time you make it to this side of the world, we can meet!
Best wishes from your no 1 Argentinian fan!
Claire says
Thanks so much Roxana. You're so lovely! I would love to. The same goes if you're on this side of the world!
Jess says
SO glad you posted these! Everything was gorgeous, and I love your attitude about and adaptability to the weather. I loved every little detail of your day, and your grandma and mother are both so lovely - what a beautiful trio of generations!
Claire says
Thanks Jess. The way I saw it I could let it upset me or forget about it and focus on the best part of the day... getting married!
LeaB says
Thank you so very much for sharing this Claire. What an absolutely magnificent wedding! Your happiness makes it even more magnificent!
Claire says
Aww thanks Lea!
Katy Potaty says
I'm so thrilled to finally see what you got up to at the exact same moments were were getting married! What time was your ceremony, by the way? Ours was 3pm.
Gosh, you and Will look so happy, it's so genuine to see how in love you are.
Your ceremony plan A... is that a private house at Sunshine Beach? I think I've been to a wedding there before, about two years ago?
Claire says
Now you have to share yours Katy because I'm dieing to see them!
Our ceremony was just before 4pm so you would have been a married woman by then. Yep it's a house at Sunshine. I think they've had a couple of weddings there so you probably did!
Katy Potaty says
I will go through all our wedding pics with B again this weekend and get him to help me pick some for the blog! If I still haven't posted some by next week, harass me again :)
Claire says
Oh don't worry I will!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I had a smile on my face for the entire time that I was reading this post. What a wonderful day. I love your veil and dress and that B&W picture of you holding up your bouquet is so joyously lovely!
Claire says
It was truly the perfect day! I'm so glad I let them convince me to have the long veil. It wouldn't have been the same without it.
The Café Sucré Farine says
Claire, I feel like I was there. What a special, wonderful, amazing day! I love it all, everything looks perfect. I had to laugh at the picture of you and your dad- I always said that the day our daughter got married, Scott grinned like a Cheshire cat when he walked down the aisle, he was so........ proud! Your dad looks the same, such a sweet picture! Thanks for sharing!
Claire says
Thanks Chris! Yep that was dad although he alternated between huge smile and shedding tears of joy.
Cass says
Claire you looked like you had a stack of in congratulations. I feel your situation I had to change my ceremony last minute due to the rain lol makes for fun memories though :)
Claire says
It does make for very happy memories. I wish there was a timelapse camera set up on the day to catch plan C being hatched!
celia says
Oh Claire. I feel like we were invited to your wedding too. Thanks so much for sharing, just so fabulous. All the very best to you and Will for long and happy lives together! xxx
Claire says
Thanks Celia! I'm so happy to share it with everyone! x
Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef says
What an absolutely perfect wedding. You are so beautiful and that smile... nobody could resist it.
Your dress and veil are beautiful.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful peek into your private life. I loved this post.
Claire says
Aww thanks Maureen you're so sweet!
Shannon says
Congrats Claire, you looked amazing and glad you had a fantastic day :)
Claire says
Thanks Shannon we did indeed.
Liz says
Gorgeous! Liz, x
Claire says
Thanks Liz!
Hotly Spiced says
That is so beautiful Claire. Thanks so much for sharing. I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for a few photos. Such a shame about the weather but what can you do! It looks like you made the best of it anyway. I love the idea of the matching black bridesmaid dresses for the 'groomsmen'. Those bridesmaid dresses are stunning and your friend! Making that drive from Brizzie just five days before delivering twins. What a trooper! And you made those green dresses? I'm amazed. Where did you find the time? You are a very handsome Mr and Mrs and you both look so happy. What a great start to a marriage. And I agree with your mum - a long veil made it a wedding - a fairy tale wedding. You look so much like your mother and your granny is gorgeous! 94 Years young. How lovely for you to have her there. It all looks just stunning xx
Claire says
Sorry to keep you waiting so long Charlie! Isn't she amazing?! It was so wonderful to have her there.
Yes, I have to say mum was right about the veil. It definitely made it.
She is most definitely 94 years young. She came all the way from Brisbane too and stayed 2 nights in an apartment on her own. She's just amazing!
Krystle says
Hi Claire,
Thank you so much for sharing your special day with your readers!
The pictures are absolutely amazing and it looks like everyone had a fabulous time :).
Wishing you and your husband all the best with married life xx
Krystle
Claire says
Thank you Krystle!