How long have you and Damien been together?
4 years.
Were do you live?
Recently moved to Broome.
How long was your engagement?
3 years.
What was the theme for your wedding?
No particular theme, relaxed outdoor ceremony.
Where did you get inspiration and ideas for your wedding?
Lots of searching the internet! Always wanted a garden wedding and bride grew up in Yallingup so were keen to have the wedding in the Yallingup/Margaret River area, had been to Cape Lavender a few times and liked the garden, bridesmaid's dresses ended up being purple which went well with the lavender gardens, so decorations for reception were made to be purple too. Did get quite a few ideas off Coast to Country website and also from family.
What was the hardest part to plan for your wedding?
Deciding what was worth spending money on and what we could do ourselves. We did a lot ourselves which took more time but helped in keeping costs down and we ended up with the wedding we wanted.
Did you have a budget and did you stick to it?
Yes and we did manage to stick to it.
What was the one thing you weren’t going to comprise on for your wedding?
Having an outside wedding.
How many guests did you have at your wedding?
About 120.
Did you have a particular style of wedding dress in mind when you started looking and was that what you ended up with on the day?
Orginally I wanted a halter neck dress, that was a simple design but after trying on a few I decided that they did not suit me and tried on some other dresses and found a style I thought I liked. My grandmother was then going to make a dress for me based on what I liked (as she used to be a dressmaker). However ended up looking at dresses with my grandmother and mum in Bunbury and found the perfect halter neck dress, that was simple but elegant and what I had thought I would like originally. It just needed a few adjustments which my grandmother was able to do for me, and it cost less than what it would have cost to buy material and make a dress!!
How did if feel wearing your dress for the whole day was it comfortable?
Yes it was comfortable and fine to wear all day.
What flowers did you and bridesmaids carry?
Roses- cream/white and a light purple colour.
Tell me about the running of the day what time did you start preparing etc?
Hairdresser arrived at 8am so this is when things started but was a pretty relaxed day and felt like we had enough time to get ready etc. Ceremony was at 3pm and finished by 3:30pm, then photos with family and friends, then bridal party photos at Cape Lavender and arrived at reception by 6:30pm. Reception ran smoothly and on time, bride's older brother was MC.
Describe what happened at your ceremony?
Simple service from family friend, was perfect for what we both wanted, guests were all gathered on lawn and it was a relaxed atmosphere. Bride entered to song 'Valium' by Lisa Mitchell, I managed to not cry until seeing my dad cry right at the end!!
Who were the witnesses for your marriage?
Bestman- Hai, Groom's best mate. Maid of Honour- Amine, Bride's older sister.
What were the decorations for your ceremony?
The gardens of Cape Lavender! Just had a grey carpet runner to walk on and 2 topiary trees at start of carpet.
What did your guests do after your ceremony while you and Damien went off and had wedding photos?
Some stayed and had a wine at Cape Lavender, others went to some other wineries in the area, and some headed to the reception venue and had a few drinks there before the reception.
Where did you go for wedding photos?
Stayed at Cape Lavender and had photos in the gardens and vineyard.
Why did you choose Australis in Margaret River as your wedding venue?
Easy for guests to be able to stay the night, nice to have everything organsied by the staff e.g. tables, chairs and they included setting of tables etc in hire cost, reasonably priced food and drinks with lots of options to suit different budgets and the food was great on the day. Looked at having a marquee wedding at parents farm in Yallingup however cost and work load involved in setting it up was not worth it. Also it was a chance for guests from interstate and overseas to see some of the South West. Staff were very helpful in the lead up to the day and did not have any issues with organising what we wanted.
What were the decorations for your venue?
Arranged by bride, purple table runner with large glass candle holder on table and white and purple rose petals down the table runner. Bridal table had the same but tealight candles and purple and white bunting across the front.
What was your bridal waltz song?
Bella- by Angus and Julia Stone.
What happened at your reception?
Both groom and bride's fathers had wonderful speechs and bride's dad managed to make her cry again! Best man's speech was fantastic and very heartfelt. Had our bridal waltz right at the start of the reception when we walked in (as Damien is not a dancer so we did it at the start so we could both relax for the rest of the night) and Damien did very well, I think everyone was impressed.
What food was served at the reception?
Buffet, roast meats and vegetables, salads etc.
John Kuppens was your wedding photographer what made you choose John and how do you feel about your wedding photos now that you have seen them?
I had seen photos John had done of a wedding of a friend and liked the look of them, price was also reasonable compared to some other photographers in the area. Very happy with the photos and the slide show that John has put together for us. The photography team were great on the day and helped to keep everyone relaxed after taking so many photos.
Describe the look and flavor of your cake, plus any other desserts that were served?
Cake was carrot cake (groom's favourite) and made by bride's mother. Other dessert was pavlova, sticky date pudding and eclairs.
Did you make anything for your wedding?
Yes lots! Invites, place cards and table plan.
What were your bombonieres for your guests?
A jarrah themometer made by Bride's father who is a furniture/cabinet maker.
Any special mentions about your wedding suppliers?
Libby Jean (hairdresser) was fantastic and did a great job on everyone's hair. She listened to what we wanted and was able to offer valuable advice about what to do as well.
Did you have any dramas on your wedding day?
No it all went really well, nothing major went wrong although it was very windy so had a few issues with my veil blowing everywhere!
How do you feel now that your wedding is over?
We had a great day, it seemed to go fast but we have great memories and are enjoying being married.
Were did you honeymoon?
Malaysia- Pangkor Laut Island.
Your top tip for planning brides is:
You can save a lot if you do things yourself, but you need to have the time as it is time consuming. It's easy to get caught up in little things that in the end don't matter too much. Also, take at least a week off work before the wedding, as you will need it!
When you look back what would you have done differently on your wedding day?
Nothing, it was perfect. Except to remember to drink more water as I was sick next day due to only drinking alcohol and forgetting water during the day. | 
Gemma & Damien's Margaret River Wedding 
