Both rustic and modern, Brigette and Andrew’s romantic garden wedding was the perfect blend of their personalities — relaxed, fun and intimate. Merribee served as the perfect venue, with a restored silo, guest cottages and ornate gardens, permeated with old English charm. Keep reading to find out all about the unique touches that made Brigette and Andrew’s day and to see more stunning work from Kat Stanley Photography.
Tell us about your proposal. After wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, we had an intimate picnic in the vineyard. Andrew propped his phone on a vine post for what I thought was a photo, but he was recording a video. Andrew got down on one knee, and now we have our special moment saved forever.
How did you know your partner was the one? Our love was like fireworks from the second I made eye contact with him (I mean that flawless face… ;) ). Three months later, I knew I would marry him. I grew up in Los Angeles, so getting to know his small town morals is what set him apart from anyone I have ever met. He values marriage, and after watching him with his little sisters, I know he will make an amazing father one day.
What do you love most about your partner? We have been in a long distance relationship for 5.5 years (Jervis Bay to Los Angeles). Despite the 12,000ks between us, Andrew has always done an amazing job at communicating and I feel incredibly safe and adored every day. He embraces my playfulness and makes me smile for hours.
What was your favourite part of the wedding day? Our wedding day will forever be the best day of my life! Our friends stayed at the venue in cottages, and it was amazing to have our favorite people together in one place. I have three favorite moments from the wedding. The first was the moment I made eye contact with Andrew when I was walking down the aisle. From the second I saw him, my nerves floated away, and he put the biggest smile on my face. Then, after we were introduced as husband and wife, all appetizer trays were brought to us (cheesy rice balls with my guy = heaven). Lastly, dancing the night away with our family and friends. Shirts came off, hidden Irish dancing talents were revealed, and Taylor Swift’s Delicate Music Video was reenacted by Andrew’s gorgeous 12 year old sister.
Describe your wedding theme/style. Our wedding was the perfect blend of our personalities. It was relaxed and fun, and intimate. An acoustic guitarist played during afternoon cocktails, and after sunset, the DJ took center stage. The decor was rustic and modern, with personal touches throughout. Andrew made the lawn games himself and we added “Team Andrew” and “ Team Brigette” decals to tie into our playful and competitive nature. We constructed our table signs, which were named after our favorite travel destinations. Another unique touch was that we had homemade gelato from Kiama served out of a caravan, rather than a traditional wedding cake. Our families helped with design execution, so a lot of love went into our big day.
What is marriage to you? Marriage to us is a commitment to take on life together as a team. It is bringing out the best in each other every day, and accomplishing goals to make the brightest future for both of us.
