Real weddings: Jemima and Daniel

Posted on 18 August, 2016

Jemima and Daniel’s Midsummer night’s dream meets boho wedding was a stunning affair – and the couple didn’t let torrential rain get in the way. We asked the lovely bride to take us through the day.

Getting ready

We both drove to Crookwell and Binda separately the night before with our families and closest friends. I stayed with my bridesmaids at Pinn Cottage, a beautifully restored 19th century bluestone cottage in Crookwell and my family stayed in the homestead next door.

The morning of the wedding, mum and the girls and I got ready at the Cottage – it was lovely and bright and we could go to the rose-filled backyard and sit in the morning sun (before the downpour!) and have copious cups of tea – it was divine!

Dan and his family and friends all stayed at and did their wedding preparations at the Binda Mill Cottage, another beautifully restored old building.

The dress

I had loved Anna Campbell dresses for aaaaages, but also didn’t want to just be in a “wedding” dress and wanted it to be a bit boho. I think the dress I chose is actually often used as a bridesmaids dress, but I loved the way it fell and moved and felt on my body, and that even though it was ivory, it was a bit unusual.

For extra “wow” during the ceremony, I popped on a layered tulle ivory skirt – because, well, who doesn’t love tulle?! And for the reception I lost the tulle, but added a rose-gold sequin bolero because if you can’t wear tulle and sequins on your wedding day, when can you?!

The ceremony

We used The Stables at Binda, just outside Canberra. And – wow. The lengths these guys go to, the caterers they use (de-lish food) and the props they use to create such theatrical, euphoric, amazing backdrops and spaces is just amazing.

The rain MADE our wedding. It was literally torrential. There was thunder during the ceremony, cars got bogged, the canopy at one point looked like it was going to buckle and spew water everywhere, and the bus carrying our guests was late because it had to keep pulling over!

We could have let it spoil our day but if anything it added to it. We had such a blast, and we just kind of went with it – what else could we do?! Amanda and Annika (our photographers) were great and made quick back-up plans when it became clear we wouldn’t be getting our sunset-roaming-through-fields-photoshoot.

As a result we did photos on a bus, photos in a ‘loo, photos under umbrellas which seemed to give no protection – and as you can see from every shot, we couldn’t stop laughing and smiling about it! It was a blast!

The reception

Above all else, everyone commented on how much love and fun we crammed into one day. And that it was SO us. Everyone LOVED our DJ. We black-listed all the conventional wedding songs and stuck to what we loved – it was a crazy mashup of oldshool motown stuff, gangsta rap, some Beyonce (obviously) and everything in between.

A definite highlight for many was watching my late Grandma and her sister Auntie Dot breaking it down to Azealia Banks’ song 212 – amazing. I have never seen so much dancing at one wedding. People also commented on the amazing level of detail that Annette and her team from The Stables went to to make our “backup” space (thanks to the rain) just.

So. Stunning. Everywhere you looked there were fresh and silk flowers, candles, fruit – it really did feel like you were on a set for some amazing movie or play.

There were so many little moments I loved so much; getting ready, people’s expressions throughout the day… but my favourite moment was when everyone was having dinner in the marquee and Dan grabbed me and whisked me outside for a quiet moment.

It meant we got to re-group, and got to see our wedding for a moment as an observer instead of being in the middle of it all. We hid outside and peered into the marquee and there were all our favourite people eating, drinking and laughing in such a beautiful setting.

The little details

Ceremony and reception: The Stables at Binda
Photographer: Thorson Photography
Celebrant: Gina Callan, Licenced to Wed
Dress: Anna Campbell dress, The Babushka Ballerina skirt, Etsy bolero
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Their own
Groom and groomsmen’s suits: Groom, Marcs from the Canberra Centre, Groomsmen, Sam Catanzariti Menswear
Bride’s hair: Portia Peacey Hair and Makeup (through Kundalini Hair)
Bridesmaids’ hair: Portia Peacey Hair and Makeup (through Kundalini Hair)
Makeup: Estella Artistry
Reception stylist: Annette from The Stables at Binda
Flowers: Moxom + Whitney
Lighting: Annette from The Stables at Binda
Cars: own, bus provided by The Stables at Binda
Caterer: PB Catering through The Stables at Binda
Cake: Erin’s Tasty Eats
DJ: DJ Brandon from We Are Your Song
Band: Bride’s cousin and friend played cello duets as guests were seated and as bride walked down the aisle
Stationery: Invitations through Etsy: Brand Concept Co, paper stock from Pepe’s Paperie and printing done in Manuka. Stamp from Canberra Rubber Stamps and Signs
First dance song: Vance Joy’s ‘Georgia’ – which cut half way through into Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’ and got everyone up and dancing!