How long have you and your Adrian been together and when did you decide to get married?
My husband and I worked for the same company and we met in Abu-Dhabi. In 2008 June while attending the same training course our companies has sent us to. I am from Azerbaijan (it is one of the Soviet Union countries which is located just beside Turkey, on the Caspian Sea). We started dating after our training course when we realized that we could not live without each other when we got separated. I was working in Azerbaijan while Adrian was working in Egypt at that time. We were in long distance relationship for quite a while, till I actually got to move here in 2010 March. We got engaged in Greece, on the beautiful and romantic island Sanarini in 2009 July, while holidaying there with his sister and her fiancé. I didn’t have a clue that he was going to propose me there but apparently he and his sister had organized everything. He proposed at the place called Oi (Ia in English) on the sunset. We had thousands of tourist behind us (we came earlier than everyone else to stop and watch the sunset) while watching the sunset and Adrian proposed on his knees. I was so shocked and happy that couldn’t talk for ages and he had to actually shake me to wake me up. We got many claps and congrats from all those people behind us. That day will never go from my memory. It was like a fairytale but in real life.
What was the theme and colour scheme for your wedding?
Adrian always wanted an outdoor traditional wedding. Because I am from a different culture he wanted to have mix of traditions and add a few traditional thing's into our wedding from my culture. So we had a traditional father in-law tieing up the red sash around my waist and my bridesmaids were holding candles while walking down on the aisle. We picked purple color for our bridesmaids as it looked much nicer to us.
Where did you get inspiration for ideas for your wedding?
Our weddings in Azerbaijan is different. We have separate restaurants all very well done and magnificently designed for wedding and special days only. Therefore honestly I wasn’t impressed with reception venue decorations here, so I just wanted to suit our wedding to what Adrian and his family would like. I started looking into wedding websites and magazines, went into wedding expo's to get some ideas about Australian wedding's and I think we and everyone else were happy with what we wante it looked really nice on the day.
What was the hardest part to plan for your wedding?
To me, the hardest past was to organize everything from Perth because we live in Perth and the wedding was in Bunbury. But fortunately Adrian's family helped us a lot with planning and booking thing's in Burbury as they live there. But to plan everything, from color to simple things like the table clothes, cake etc was a bit too much for me. As I mentioned before in Azerbaijan you pay for your wedding day and just choose the place and everything comes with it, so you don’t worry about little things. But it was a different experience and I/we really enjoyed to make our day as we wanted it.
How many guests did you have at your wedding?
We had a small wedding with 50 people including bridal party (I call it small because comparing it to my culture we have around 300-700 people to our wedding, so for it I and my family its small). Because all my relatives and friends are living in Azerbaijan and throughout Australia made it to far away and expensive for anyone to travel only a few of them could make it. My mum, sister and brother, my 2 girlfriends and one of them had her mum with her as well.
Details about your dress and attire:
All wedding dresses are nice, so when you pick it you think it is the best one, it is so YOU. My dress is gorgeous, strapless lace up back, beading across top of bodice till the side and train. Train is long. Skirt has triple layered organza and tulle. Dress itself is taffeta fabric.
When did you start looking for your wedding dress?
LOL.. it will sound silly, but I liked the first dress I tried on. I bought it with my mother in-law and sister in low when I first time came to Australia December 2009.
What did you do with your wedding dress after your wedding?
I took it to the dry cleaner and it is sitting in the box at the moment. I would like to sell it so it can make someone else happy (hopefully) as it made me happy.
What flowers did you carry?
I had while lilies with white roses, some purple orchids to match with bridesmaids dresses.
Tell me about the running of the day what time did you start preparing etc?
That’s a funny bit. Because our wedding was an early wedding (started 11am) I had to rush like never before. I have long heavy hair and my hairdresser got devastated when we had the trial that she wont be able to make my hair look good in such a short time. So I had to sleep with hair roles the night before to get nice crisp curls for the wedding. Hence the reason I couldn’t sleep the whole night cos they were penetrating into my scalp if I laid on them for more then 2 minutes. So it was really early start, from 1am I didn’t sleep, couldn’t wait till 7am to be in the hairdresser's to be taken out. Adrian didn’t think about me when he picked the wedding time, cos boys don’t need much time to get ready.
Describe what happened at your ceremony:
Surprisingly we managed not to cry during the ceremony while telling each other our own vows that we wrote. We had a dove release as part of our ceremony is was beautiful.
What did your guests do after your ceremony while you and your husband went off and had wedding photos?
Our wedding date fell on the Saturday of the second grand final between Saint Kilda and Collingwood . So everyone tried to find a spot to go and watch football.
Why did choose Alverstoke as your wedding ceremony venue?
Adrian choose it without me and sent me the pictures. I liked it and said I would be happy to get married there. I think he got the idea of Alverstoke from the people that he knew.
What was your wedding reception like?
Everything was perfect. I didn’t sit all night, I was just dancing. When it came to the speeches Adrian said that I leave every cupboard door open whenever I get something out of it.
What were your table decorations?
Orchids on the purple table runners with white cloth.
What food was served at the reception?
Pumpkin soup, I remember I had that and I didn’t even taste anything else because I was so busy talking to people.
Best moment of your wedding day?
I remember every moment of it. But the best one definitely was when celebrant announced us Mr & Mrs Exton.
What was your bridal waltz song?
Amazed by Lone star
Your wedding photographer was Henderson’s Photographics what made you initially choose them to be your wedding photographer?
My sister in law suggested it as a couple of her friends were happy with Henderson’s work, so we decided to have look on their website and I really liked their work as well.
How do you feel now that your wedding is over?
Want to do it again. I actually asked Adrian if we can get married again.
Were did you honeymoon?
We didn’t go anywhere as my family was here and we wanted to spend time with them. We wanted to travel to Europe for our honeymoon October but this wasn’t the best option. So hopefully we are going in May this year (2011)
Advice for other planning brides:
Do it as you want to do it, but also remember that day will finish soon, try to enjoy every moment of it.
When you look back what would you have done differently on your wedding day?
I wouldn’t change anything and neither would Adrian, it was perfect as it was. | 
Fargana & Adrian's Bunbury Wedding 
Comments