Renee & Nathan
Images Sarah Clements Photography
She noticed him first. ‘I had keen eyes! Our friend Willy let Nate know; Nate had no idea and thought I was keen on his flatmate.
Renee chose a gorgeous wedding dress, infused with a touch of romantic Parisian-style. She was drawn to the work of Newmarket-based bridal designer Michele Corty after seeing one of her trunk shows in Melbourne. The designer’s years spent living in Paris influenced the evolution of her relaxed, fashion-forward brand, Rue de Seine. Renee’s mum came over to help her with the final selection. ‘We both fell in love with Michele’s designs – she was there and helped guide us.’
The couple planned their New Year’s Eve wedding so it would have a festive atmosphere and give their guests the feeling of being on holiday. Everyone chipped in to have the farm venue looking at its best. Organic natural florals by Flowers Manuela complemented the wedding’s rustic setting.
‘It was such a team effort; we had half the guests helping out the day before. That’s what made it so special.’
This bride will never forget walking down the aisle with her dad, listening to ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ sung by Haley Reinhart, and seeing Nate standing there with her mum.
As Renee and Nate wanted to spend as much time with their guests as possible, they chose not to go too far for their photos; these were taken on the farm and at home station. Renee’s favourite photo of the day was taken just after they were married. ‘We’re walking out and we’re just so happy.’
Their reception was relaxed and casual, with tapas, trays of crayfish and an ice cream truck. Guests enjoyed slider buns and rolls, vegetarian wontons, falafel, satay chicken, venison and a salad selection from Street Food Kitchen. The needs of younger guests were not overlooked, with a kids menu of chips, chicken and hot dogs. Their wedding cake was a cheese stack of Whitestone Cheese sprinkled with rose petals and wreathed with rosemary, the herb of remembrance.
This casual country wedding on the farm was perfect for both bride and groom and all their friends and family.
Gently rolling fields, expansive gardens and rustic farm buildings provided the setting for this bride and groom’s festive country wedding, themed beautifully in Burgundy plum and rich berry tones.
Renee and Nate were married on the family farm, Hawkesbury Farm, where the bride had grown up. Their vows were heartfelt, reflecting their love for each other. ‘We were guided by our celebrant Jocelyn and kept it light-hearted but personal to us,’ Renee says.
A mini-vacation to Victoria’s Wye River in Australia in July 2016 had earlier set the scene for Nate’s proposal. They were walking in the treetops at Great Otway National Park when Nate got down on one knee. Surrounded by rainforest, it was a magical setting for their engagement. The couple had first met in Wellington. Renee recalls Nate moving into a flat down the road.
Q&A
The whole day is special, but are there any moments in particular that stand out?
One of the most heartfelt moments was when Karen, Nate’s mum delivered her speech. There was an amazing amount of courage taken to do this as public speaking isn’t her favourite thing and she nailed it. We were both blown away with her words and courage.
Do you have any advice to share with other brides-to-be?
Enjoy the madness and make sure you give yourself time to reflect during and after your big day.
Is there anything you would differently, in retrospect?
Possibly, but it’s not my focus. The day represented us so if something wasn’t quite right, that’s only to be expected, lol!
