Although Laura and Tim planned a relaxed modest affair for their Maleny wedding, they took a full 18 months in planning, so their guests travelling from the UK could have plenty of advance warning. Perhaps it would have been nice to have them welcomed with sunshine… However the torrential rain only added to the charm of the day, as far as the bride and groom were concerned!
The wet celebration was embraced by all and captured beautifully by Matt Rowe Photography.
“Our family and friends were hugely involved which made it all the more special. One of my sisters did hair and make-up while the other made the cake as well as scones and popcorn for everyone to enjoy.”
“It was beautiful and clear when we got up but a storm rolled in just in time for the ceremony. It cleared up to a thick fog for a while so everyone could enjoy the games and then the lightening and thunder rolled in again around speech time making the whole tent rattle. It was all a lot of fun, if a little muddy and wet!”
“We had a tree planting ceremony and asked our immediate families to contribute some soil to the pot. One of Tim’s friends read a ‘Advice from a Tree’ by Ilan Shamir while we did that. “
“The theme evolved from the venue and our wish for a relaxed affair. And, of course, Pinterest! The inspiration wound up being a bit of a mix between a 1920s garden party and a country picnic.” 
“The basis of our relationship is a strong friendship. We genuinely have fun and enjoy each other’s company and while we share a lot of interests we are very different in other ways so we complement each other by bringing different strengths to the table.” 
“My brother-in-law invited a work colleague who had just moved over from Italy to his birthday celebrations. We didn’t expect a floppy haired Englishman! Tim and I instantly hit it off and over the next year, became good friends.”
“We really wanted a relaxed affair which we could do our way and both wanted to get married under a tree so choosing the right venue was the first priority. Once we had that sorted, the photographer was the next priority as we both love photography and wanted to have really special pictures to look back on in years to come.”
Wedding Secrets
Biggest splurge: The photography. It was something we decided early that we wanted to get right. And my dress ended up being a lot more expensive than planned – but when it’s love, it’s love!
Best money-saver: Having so much expert help from family and and friends saved us a lot. We also did a heap of DIY and set up ourselves.
Bridal gown: ‘Ettia’ dress, Maggie Sottero
Accessories: Lovisa
Bridesmaids’ dresses: For Her and For Him
Bridesmaids’ accessories: Lovisa
Groom’s and groomsmen’s suits and shoes: The Cloak Room, TM Lewin and they all wore their own shoes.
Rings: Ash Milton – we had them custom-made with an etching of the elevation profile of the ultra marathon we were running when Tim proposed.
DIY: Lawn games, decorations, photo booth. Tim even made his own cufflinks!
Honeymoon: New Zealand’s South Island
Number of guests: 80
Wedding budget: $15,000
Photography: Matt Rowe Photography | Venue: The Old Dairy, Maleny | Catering: The Paella Fella | Hair + makeup: Miss Nessi | Rentals: Complete Party Hire | Celebrant: Adam Gould | Wedding night accommodation: The Old Dairy, Maleny
