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In some cultures, rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck. Not only did Charlie and Sara have rain, their day was extra lucky because they also had strong winds gushing through their Ontario woodland wedding venue. This made for some very romantic, wind-swept photos, lots of laughter and great stories to share.
For her wind-proof wedding day ensemble, Sara wore a simple, soft silk gown, statement earrings, black leather jacket and our chapel length AMORA wedding veil. With the sheer tulle of the veil catching in the breeze and her dazzling smile – we were truly blown away by Sara’s chic wedding day look.
Sara and Charlie’s ceremony and reception took place at Wheatfield Estate in Canada, surrounded by pine and spruce trees. The couple highlighted the beautiful, natural surroundings with simple decor and styling.
“I love the way our planner executed the tablescape; taupe linen napkins, white dish wear, gold cutlery, black name tags and candle holders, and of course the gorgeous floral arrangements as the centrepiece,” enthuses Sara. “I have always loved toffee-coloured roses and these were the highlight of our floral arrangements for me!”
Sara was limited when choosing a wedding dress, as Ontario, Canada, was in strict lockdown. This meant she needed to buy her dress online and luckily she came across Australian, online bridal brand, Grace Loves Lace and fell in love with their Dove gown.
“I loved the crossed straps and the V-back. I particularly liked that the V-back was not too low, it hit the mid back, which was flattering but not too revealing,” says Sara. “I opted for the 40 cm train (you can also customise it to have no train or an 80 cm train). The material is so soft and comfortable too, and it is double-layered so it is not see-through.”
To elevate her simple dress, Sara wore statement earrings by Australian jewellery designer, Christie Nicolaides. To complete her wedding day look, Sara looked to another Australian designer for her veil.
To adorn her simple, low bun, she wore our chapel length AMORA blusher veil. As Sara is 1.2 metres (4’11”) tall, the Tania Maras team customised the length of her veil to ensure the proportions were perfect for her. Best of all, the veil stayed firmly in place throughout the day.
“The veil comb stayed in so securely, even during my super windy wedding day, and was very comfortable. My hair stylist said it was one of the best veil combs she’d ever worked with,” says Sara. “I also wanted a blusher because my photographer has a knack for doing gorgeous bridal photos with the bride and groom both under the bride’s blusher, and I needed to have some of these photos! When the veil arrived I was so happy with the material. It definitely exceeded my expectations.”
“The best thing I did for myself was to hire a wedding planner. No matter how organised you are, there are always an overwhelming number of details to manage, and for someone who is not in the wedding industry, it is very hard,” explains Sara. “This was made even worse during the pandemic because the gathering guidelines kept changing and so I had to re-plan my wedding a few times. My wedding planner (Perfectly Designed Events) was truly a godsend. If you have the means to hire one, do it! I would also encourage couples to hire a professional live-streamer for the ceremony, if they are forced to have a smaller wedding than they originally wanted, due to COVID. We were able to share our livestream link with all our extended family and friends (who could not attend), and it was very well-received. This also lessens some of the guilt and stress about not being able to invite everyone you wanted.”
From the English-inspired gardens filled with colourful blooms to the arch bridge spanning the lake and highland cattle roaming the property, it’s easy to understand Gerrie and Michael’s attraction to the historic Mona Farm for their wedding venue. Located in Braidwood in rural NSW, the couple created a whimsical garden party, with romantic floral dreamscapes, jazz music, Negroni cocktails and dancing under the stars to round off the day.
With golden hair, blue eyes and red lips, Gerrie’s beauty was further elevated with her unique wedding-day styling. Her dress featured sheer, voluminous sleeves and delicate floral lace embellishments. Tania Maras worked with Gerrie to create a bespoke veil to complement her ethereal dress, along with a golden hair comb to adorn her low-set bun.
Gerrie and Michael decided to have a long weekend destination wedding, with plenty of time to enjoy the picturesque surroundings with their guests.
“We fell in love with the stunning grounds and English-inspired gardens, as well as the luxury accommodation, artwork and sculptures,” Gerrie enthuses. “Mona Farm does away with some of the hassles of a fully DIY wedding, but still allows a very bespoke experience, and the events management team there are first class.”
The ceremony was filled with memorable and personal elements, with one of Gerrie’s oldest friends, Nicci, as celebrant, a reading of a favourite poem by Gerrie’s brother and a rendition of The Lark Ascending by the Brioso String Quartet in memory of Michael’s Dad.
Instagram, The Lane and Wedshed were Gerrie’s go-to sources for wedding dress inspiration, before deciding on the Cecilia dress from Liz Martinez.
“I fell in love with the voluminous sleeve trend early on but wanted to find something that was still elegant and timeless,” she says. “The intricate and delicate floral lace appliqué on Liz Martinez designs is just breathtaking, and I chose a nude lining for the dress to accentuate the white lace detail.”
Gerrie chose the AUDREY veil, for its light and modern design, which wouldn’t distract from the intricacy and volume of her bridal gown.
“I wanted the back of the dress to be visible and the delicate nature of AUDREY means it streams out narrowly behind you and also catches the wind beautifully,” she says.
Instead of a metal comb, the Tania Maras team attached metal loops, to allow Gerrie’s veil to sit seamlessly under her low-set bun.
“I wanted to wear the veil attaching underneath my hair bun rather than over the top,” explains Gerrie. “Tania and the team came up with a different attachment to a comb so it was easier for my hair stylist to secure the veil. They were also incredibly helpful with explaining the difference between all the veil styles and helping me to achieve the look I was after.”
The abundance of shimmering crystals, pearls and floral elements in the MARION headpiece beautifully complemented the embellishments on Gerrie’s dress.
“Do away with any traditions that don’t resonate with you and your partner, and invest in those aspects of the day that are most important to you,” advises Gerrie. “Think about your guests’ comfort throughout the day when planning – is there enough seating, heating, food, bathrooms, etc. We would also really recommend investing in a photographer, videographer and photo-booth – it’s not something we initially planned, having all three, but we’ve really enjoyed seeing different aspects of the day captured for us to remember and revisit.”
Bespoke and ready-to-wear bridal accessories and veils. Designed and handcrafted in Canberra, Australia. Our online store is open 24/7 with worldwide delivery available including express options. The Fyshwick showroom is by appointment only. Virtual appointments are available for interstate and international brides.
