A R I A N E + J O S E P H
This captivating wedding celebrates the best that the Hunter Valley has to offer: fine dining, wine tours and sophisticated country elegance.
F R O M T H E B R I D E
We first met…
We met on the first of November 2011 – it was Melbourne Cup Day at The Ivy in Sydney. We both had been ‘lunching’ and celebrating ‘the race that stops the nation’. Joe noticed my bright orange fascinator and came over and offered to buy me a drink. He always jokes that he ‘backed a winner that day’.
We knew it was love…
When he forgot what apartment number I lived in so knocked on every apartment in my complex to find me. You can only imagine, the neighbours were not as thrilled as me!
The proposal…
It was Easter Sunday (2015) and Joe arranged an Easter egg hunt around our home. At the final Easter egg there was a jewellery box with my ring. A year later we got married on Eater Saturday. #obsessionwitheaster
T H E W E D D I N G
Our dream wedding…
I always loved the striking combination of black and white so our wedding was themed around those colours. We tried to get creative and had a fantastic wedding logo created out of our initials which was used throughout our entire wedding (subtly of course). We also had a step and repeat (media wall) created so our guests could have photos on the red carpet like they do at the Oscars. We supplied props like an Instagram frame and created a hashtag for guests to upload photos.
For me, attention to detail is everything and I tried to ensure that no little detail was forgotten. We had an ‘After Five’ dress theme and our guests looked classic and sophisticated. We wanted our guests to have a great weekend away, so we planned different events with the wedding being the main event. There was a cocktail mixer the evening before the wedding, a choice of a round of golf or a half day wine tour the morning of the wedding and an easter egg hunt the day after the wedding.
The ceremony location…
Our ceremony was held in the grounds of Peppers Convent in the Hunter Valley. We wanted to get married outside in the beautiful grounds. We wrote our own vows and had live music playing throughout. I walked down the aisle to Let’s Stay Together by Al Green and high-fived everyone as I walked down the aisle, so excited to see all my friends and family (and of course my groom)!
The reception venue…
Our reception was held at Circa 1876 restaurant. It’s a part of Peppers Covent, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley.
We chose Circa 1876 for the stunning surrounds, exceptional food and service which was second to none. They made the whole process or organising a wedding super easy and fun. Joe and I are both ‘foodies’ –so Circa 1876 was an obvious choice. We were so thrilled when executive chef Trent Barrett agreed to introduce the ‘food philsophy’ of Circa 1876 and walk our guests through the menu. This was an important part of our evening which our guests adored.
The photographer…
We chose Photography by Marko off a recommendation from a friend whose wedding photos I loved. I wanted to support a local photographer of the Hunter Valley.
The bridal party…
We had two bridal parties one called the ‘I Do Crew’ and the other was called the ‘Four Wise Men’.
The I Do Crew wasn’t traditional as it included my best male friend and two of my best girlfriends. My bridesMAN was Daniel and my school friends of 25 years, Renee and Eliza were my bridesmaids.
The Four Wise Men were our friends Ryan, Will, Bill and Jack.
Bridesmaids’ dresses…
I wanted them to have their own individual style, so Eliza wore a long black dress by Zimmerman whilst Renee chose a short, lace gown by Alex Perry – they both looked stunning!
Groom and groomsmen’s suits…
The groom wore Tom Ford and the groomsmen wore their own tuxedos or hired through Peppers formal wear Cremorne.
Bride’s gown…
My wedding gown was Pronovias (Tresia) from Marry me Bridal in Mosman. A classic, sophisticated dress in satin and tulle. It had a draped bodice with straps, v-neck front and back and a full tulle skirt.
Wedding flowers…
Flowers were of utmost important to me whilst planning the wedding. I had beautiful white flowers with a touch of green for the bouquets. I wanted to feature my favourite flowers, hydrangeas
The décor…
We had a black and white theme with flowers galore! The tables were covered with white linen with black napkins and a personalised thank you card from Joe and I on each setting. We used old wine corks (with a slit in them) and had the place card inserted into it (seemed appropriate getting married at a vineyard). Each guest received a gold Lindt bunny at their seat (as it was Easter weekend). The table was full of candles and stunning flowers. We also had a feature ‘floral’ wall behind the bridal table which was magnificent.
On the menu…
Canapés:
- Bombolini (savoury donut) of duck confit with aioli
- Potato and gruyere cheese croquettes with aioli
- Goats curd, baby beetroot and pistachios
- Crisp wontons filled with ginger prawn mousse
Entrée:
- Seared Hervey Bay scallops, potato puree, sweet corn nage and basil pesto oil
- Tempura ricotta cheese filled zucchini flowers, basil pesto sauce, pine nuts and honey
Palate Cleanser:
- Champagne & Strawberry Sorbet Spider
Main:
- Char-grilled beef fillet, Kipfler potato, oyster mushroom and spring onion hash, potato mousseline and aioli
- Pan roasted saltwater barramundi, pomme puree, wakame & cress salad, béarnaise sauce
Sides:
- Blistered green beans, jamon and black pepper butter
- Roast butternut pumpkin, cashew and pistachio praline, thyme oil
Dessert:
- Sticky date pudding, butterscotch sauce and vanilla bean ice cream
- Mini pavlova with fresh passionfruit and berries
Bomboniere…
It was the Easter long weekend, so we gave each guest a golden Lindt bunny. You have never seen the look on the face of the shop assistant when I asked to buy 150 of them.
Memorable moments…
We started the day with a hot air balloon flight over the Hunter Valley. It was spectacular to see the sun rise on your wedding day with your bridal party beside you. So much fun.
M A R R I E D L I F E
The honeymoon…
The night of our wedding, we stayed at our holiday home at the Vintage in the Hunter Valley where we hosted the ‘after party’. For our honeymoon, we spent three weeks in New York, The Caribbean and Mexico
Future plans…
Work hard, have fun and enjoy life as Mr and Mrs Fitzpatrick.
Advice for brides-to-be…
Use suppliers you are 100% comfortable with and that understand your vision for the day. I absolutely loved the people I dealt with and they’re really the ones that bring your wedding day dream to life. From my wedding co coordinator at Circa 1876 to my stylist/florist, photographer and band. You will speak to them more (in the lead up to your wedding) then your groom.
Stylist Peonies Floral Designer Reception Circa 1876, The Covent Hunter Valley Ceremony On Site at Circa 1876, The Covent Hunter Valley Photography Marko Denysenko Florist Peonies Floral Designer Hair Vanessa Fowler, Synergy Hair Sydney Makeup Caitie Kenzie makeup Celebrant Barbara Cowley, Something Blue Weddings, Hunter Valley Bride’s gown Pronovias by Marry Me Bridal Mosman Groom’s attire Tom Ford Bridesmaid’s gowns Alex Perry and Zimmerman Headpiece designer Amy Omran from Teeki Groomsmen’s attire Peppers Formal Wear Cremorne Buses to pick up/drop off guests Newcastle Limousine Entertainment The Usual Suspects Hot Air Balloon Beyond Ballooning Hunter Valley Bomboniere/Favours Lindt Gold Easter Bunny Honeymoon New York, Carribean, Mexico