A huge congratulations to you both! We are so honoured we were able to play a small part in your big day, could you tell us a little more on how you two got engaged and also married in the rain?
Thank you so much!
Luke and I went on a little trip to Nelson Bay in NSW at the beginning of 2020. I had just recovered from major knee surgery and we were off to celebrate that - or so I thought. One morning we woke early to watch the sunrise, it was pouring with rain and after some convincing on both ends we were up to take in the stormy sites of the beautiful coastal town. Whilst walking hand in hand, Luke told me he had something to give me and to close my eyes. After heavy discussion of who was going to hold the umbrella, I opened my eyes to Luke down on one knee, ring in hand with the biggest smile. Choking back tears, he asked me to marry him with the most beautiful LJ ring.
Fast forward 16 months and it was our wedding day. Like every bride, I checked the weather leading up constantly. It changed daily and there was really no saying what the weather was going to be like. I woke early and went for a stroll with my bridesmaids. It was an absolutely gorgeous day without a cloud in sight. As the day progressed so did the clouds and the stormy weather.
Just as we were about to head to the ceremony, it started pouring. I was worried about our guests staying dry and warm. However as soon as I turned the corner to the aisle, I saw Luke and any stress and worry about the rain was completely forgotten.
It continued through the evening with a small break for photos and once we returned to the reception we decided to embrace the weather and do our first dance in the rain. It was so magical. We kept it private and it was by far our favourite part of the day.
Weather as beautiful as it is often causes a lot of brides stress and uncertainty, Alana could you share some advice on how to embrace it?
My absolute best advice is - just embrace it! Weather can’t be controlled.
Of course there was the initial disappointment, but once I saw my now husband at the aisle. The weather was so insignificant, we, as well as our guests barely noticed.
My girlfriends often say to me how amazing it was, it made the whole event even more intimate and cosy.
My advice for any events that it may rain, grab some umbrellas and ensure you have a wet weather option. And the most important part, like mentioned above, is - embrace it! The photos you will get will be amazing and you will have the best time celebrating regardless of the weather.
At the end of the day if you get to call your best friend your husband/wife then mission accomplished. Weather will not matter.
What was the vision for the wedding? Looking back now, is there anything you would do differently?
Going into the wedding we both decided we wanted our guests to feel as loved as we did. So, our most important aspect was to ensure everyone was well fed and hydrated. We opted for a shared banquet down the tables and served 2 different cocktails as well as Champagne, Beer, White & Red wine.
Dessert was in the form of a beautiful cake and we had sandwiches made before our guests departure.
We added different items to our wedding to ensure everyone was comfortable such as blankets, slippers and stubby holders, as well as special place cards using nicknames or personal jokes.
Being a florist, I completely took over the styling of the venue and Luke had a small input - when I let him (haha). The venue was so beautiful and really didn’t need a lot. We kept it very simple and classic and as I was doing most of the floral styling myself I didn't want to give myself too much work. We opted for neutrals and kept it very clean and crisp. I used a combination of fresh and preserved flowers.
In short, there is absolutely nothing I would change. Like all events/weddings there were a few setbacks but nothing that wasn’t sorted or could be forgotten. It truly was the most beautiful day.
What are your thoughts around ceremonial traditions and did you include any on the big day?
We weren’t big on traditions however a few did sneak into the wedding.
A few that snuck in were - I wore white and had my Dad walk me down the aisle, as well dance with me. Luke and I cut the cake together (before he put a handful in my face) and we didn't see each other the morning of the wedding. Other than that we tried to keep things unique and care free.
Some of the non traditional things we included in the wedding were -
We both had two maid of honors/ best men. We just couldn't decide so we had both!
During the ceremony my mum held my bouquet and our beautiful celebrant (Jacqua Celebrant) helped us tailor our ceremony, leaving our big kiss to the end after already signing our certificate. We both loved the idea of our recessional song being loud, our guests cheering and rose petals thrown at us whilst we kissed each other as husband and wife. It was magical.
We thought long and hard about our vows and truly poured our hearts into them, so we decided to do our vows in silent. Just for each other to hear. We laughed and cried with each other and a lot of guests expressed how intimate and beautiful it was to watch
At the reception my husband and I did a joint speech and we had our first dance in private outside in the rain
Alana, we’d love to know why you chose Ivy Rae to help create the perfect flower arrangements for your big day. How was your experience and what was your favourite part of the process
During the wedding planning process, I came across many beautiful florists. Whilst searching through instagram, I came across a lot of inspo pics from your instagram. Ivy Rae, didn't just send me a quote but sent me a mood board with everything I was after. They made me feel confident with my decisions and executed my vision perfectly.
I instantly trusted them and listened to their advice.
Honestly, the whole process was my favourite. I was always excited when I saw an email from them and meeting Alana to go through everything was a highlight. She was on top of everything and so organised. I knew I made the right decision straight away.
In regards to wedding planning, what was the easiest decision? And what was the hardest?
The hardest decision was the flowers! How could I possibly choose when there are so many beautiful options. We ended up opting for a clean and classic theme and chose the flowers to match.
The easiest decision was the food. We had a tasting a few months prior and it was so delicious. We had already decided our full menu even before leaving the tasting
Another easy decision was to hire a coordinator. As our venue was complete DIY, I didn’t want myself, my husband or our bridal party running around the morning trying to get it all organised. She ensured everything ran smoothly and they offered bump out services the next day. I highly, highly recommend an on the day coordinator and the day after clean up package if they offer it.
What does marriage mean to you both?
In our vows we chose to include what marriage meant to us. We both included love and support and how marriage was the ultimate commitment to each other. It ultimately means to us that we will always be together through thick and thin, supporting and inspiring each other along the way. We will continue to laugh, fight, annoy and surprise each other until the end.
Venue - Worrowing
Photographer - Ripple Weddings
Videographer - Life by Luke
Florist - Ivy Rae
Coordinator - Wed Event Creators
Makeup - Jessica Phillips Makeup
Hair - Jami Irving Hair
Celebrant - Jacqua Celebrant
Catering - Rabbit & Co Creators
Bar - Meet Mabel