Cara and Tim’s romantic countryside wedding was filled with rustic charm and offered their guests a chance to disconnect from the bustling city.
As soon as Cara tried on the Freya gown, she knew she was wearing the dress that she was going to be married in. Of her Freya gown, Cara said: “I had tried on so many dresses before I met my Tara Lauren gown. The second I put on the stunning Freya gown, I just knew it was the one. I absolutely loved the layers, the fit and the lace details. It suited me and the whole vibe of our wedding perfectly. I was a little hesitant about having such a long train at first but I’m so glad I decided to go with it because it truly did bring a touch of magic to the whole look.”
Names: Cara & Tim
Wedding Date: 02/26/2021
Guest Numbers: 85
Wedding Location: Mali Brae Farm, Fitzroy Falls NSW
Photographer: Red Berry Photography
Tell Us Your Love Story
How did you meet?
Tim and I met about 12 years ago at a poker night he was hosting at his house. I tagged along with my friend who was dating one of his friends at the time. It was a pretty crazy night…Tim went to an all boys school and it was pretty clear he wasn’t used to being around girls! I left thinking “I never want to see that guy again”. But he was persistent and we became great friends for many years.
About 5 years ago, Tim went on a trip to Europe and the time apart made us realize that what we had was more than a friendship. We both wanted to be together, and we started dating as soon as he came home.
How did he put a ring on it?
Tim proposed to me on Valentine’s Day 2020. His original plan was to take a drive to our favourite picnic spot on the South Coast, but I wasn’t feeling well and refused to go. So poor Tim had to think of a Plan B! We went out to dinner at a local Thai restaurant and while we were out, Tim’s sister worked her magic. She lit a sea of candles and spread rose petals over our bed in the shape of a love heart. As we walked back into the house, there was a trail of candles and rose petals to our room and I was so surprised. I walked into our room and Tim was right behind me on one knee with the ring.
Where did you draw inspiration from?
The Southern Highlands is one of our favourite places to visit. It feels like a different world compared to the busy city of Sydney, without being too far away. For this reason, our venue was our main inspiration and we fell in love with it straight away. The rustic country style was exactly what we wanted, and all the other elements of our day tied into this theme.
What made the wedding personal to you?
Tim and I wanted to create a really relaxed environment, without any part of our day being overly formal. Our venue catered to this perfectly, from the refurbished caravan serving drinks at cocktail hour to our shared platters for dinner. This also extended to our attire for the day. Tim was certain he didn’t want to wear a full suit and opted for a blazer and chinos instead, and my dress was beautifully detailed and elegant, without being too over the top. Our flowers and styling added to this perfectly as well!
What were you most nervous or excited about?
We had some nerves around COVID restrictions, but otherwise, I wasn’t nervous at all in the lead up to the big day! I was super excited to marry Tim and to celebrate with our closest friends and family. The restrictions on dance floors at weddings in Sydney eased on the day of ours, so we were very excited to be able to dance too!
Now, the most important part – the Dress!
Tell us about your dress?
The lovely Amy from Love Marie Bridal Boutique picked my dress out for me to try on. I had tried on so many dresses by this time, but the second I put on the stunning Freya gown by Tara Lauren, I knew it was the one. I absolutely loved the layers, the fit and the lace details. It suited me and the whole vibe of our wedding perfectly. I was a little hesitant about having such a long train at first but I’m so glad I decided to go with it because it truly did bring a touch of magic to the whole look.
What stockist did you get it from?
What was your most memorable moment from your day?
My most memorable moment was right before I walked down the aisle. My morning had been fun and relaxing with my bridesmaids, drinking champagne and getting ready. Then it felt very real all of a sudden and I had a little freak out. Luckily I had my bridesmaids and my dad there to help me through it, and as soon as I saw Tim standing at the end of the aisle all my nerves disappeared. Our ceremony was absolutely perfect!
Vendors to credit:
Photography Red Berry Photography // Venue Mali Brae Farm // Flowers + Styling Blush and Blooms Floral Studio // Hair + Makeup Eternal Elegance // Celebrant Married by Kristie // Tara Lauren Gown Stockist Love Marie Bridal Boutique //