Real Wedding; Isobel and Sam @ Bendooley Estate
About You Two;
Now, How did you two meet?
We met in person, at a rugby game in Sydney – it was “ladies day” and I saw him and immediately knew I had to find out who he was! I made the first move.
Who popped the Question and how did it happen?
Sam woke me up on a Sunday and took me for breakfast at Bondi Beach, where I grew up. We went for a walk around to the rocks and we coincidentally got on the topic of marriage. This is when he surprised me by getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him.
Why did you choose your venue and how was the venue choosing process?
We knew we wanted a venue with a country feel. The bride to be looked up a few options, and we narrowed it down to 4 or 5. It was important to us to have a venue with a large capacity as we knew we wanted a big wedding. We visited venues in Mudgee, the Hunter Valley and Bowral – which is when we landed on the stables at Bendooley Estate. The venue choosing process was fun – you can outsource this job but Izzy liked having control and exploring the different options.
Quick Fire Questions;
How many wedding guests did you have?
160
Sit down or Cocktail Style?
Sit down
What month?
February
Planning The Wedding;
Was planning the wedding stressful or did you enjoy the journey?
Loved it! Some parts were stressful, given the groom didn’t do a lot… and it was important for us to ensure that our parents were happy with some of the decisions we made, given that they were helping us financially with the wedding costs.
How involved were you both in the wedding planning, did one of you take more of the lead on certain aspects than others or were you both equally involved?
The bride definitely took the lead – Sam chose the beers and what time the golf tee up was going to be!
What was the top couple of non-negotiables or important must-have’s at the wedding for you both?
Great food, a great photographer and videographer, and making sure we could have all the guests we wanted.
Tell us about your dress and that dress-finding process?
I got my dress from perfect day bridal in Sydney by a designer called Morilee. I tried on so many dresses and landed on this one – it was a lot cheaper than most as well, so I’m glad I didn’t spend crazy amounts of money!
What sort of theme, vibe or style did you go for?
Minimalistic neutrals. We wanted the venue to speak for itself, as it is so beautiful.
On the Day;
How did you both feel wedding morning?
So relaxed! Thanks to our bridal parties and family who helped us feel relaxed.
What was the best part or moment of your day?
Walking down the aisle after being announced husband and wife!
Anything you would change about your wedding or anything that didn’t go to plan?
I hired my second dress for the reception which didn’t show up on time – make sure to have a plan B!
Are there any rituals, sentiments or traditions you incorporated into the day?
A performance by the bride and groom, as we love karaoke.
After the Wedding;
Describe newlywed life in a couple of words?
The same as before!
Best investment or money well spent on the wedding that you made?
Videographer!
Budget-over, under or what you estimated?
Over, of course
Credits:
Coordination/Set Up; The Wedding and Event Creators
Celebrant; Marry Us Gary
Venue; Bendooley Estate
Florist; Blooms by B Botanicals
Photographer; Lens of Rosie
Catering; the venue
Cake; Applemire Cakery
Entertainment; Ben Fox Band
Stationery/Signage; Paperlust
