D A V E + J E R I N – L E I
Jerin-Lei set out to create one of the most beautiful weddings that any of her guests had ever seen; and with a background in wedding styling, lots of happy helpers in her friends and family and a beautiful location – Midginbil Hill EcoResort Byron Bay- she created a show-stopping boho wedding weekend. Marrying the love of her life, Dave, was the cherry on top of the loved up weekend.
F R O M T H E B R I D E
How we met…
We met at the bar I was working at in London. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. He fell over himself to get my number. When we kissed for the first time it was this kind of electricity filled/earth moving moment that if bottled, could change the world. From that point on we desperately spent as many minutes of the day together as possible. Seven years later we are still doing the same thing.
We knew it was love…
Probably one of the many times he swept me off my feet with outrageous acts of infatuation.
The engagement…
We got engaged on an island in Thailand in September 2013. He had convinced me it wasn’t going to happen for at least another year (we decided we were going to marry about three months into our relationship). He ended up organising an elaborate proposal and had bought the ring I had fallen in love with a year before. Very romantic, very sentimental, very big. He knows me well.
T H E W E D D I N G…
Our dream wedding…
We wanted a big, relaxed, bohemian luxe, ‘wed-stival’ kind of weekend. We wanted everyone loved up, full, drunk and happy. We wanted the people we loved the most to leave having had one of the best weekends of their lives.
I worked for She Designs Events at the time so had been part of creating the most beautiful weddings anyone has ever seen! So making sure it was devastatingly gorgeous was important too. And to ensure it reflected David and my love. We chose a low-key, easy-going venue in the Byron Bay Hinterlands that acted as the perfect blank canvas. We then went in three days before the wedding with trucked up props, styling pieces and an endless supply of flowers and transformed it into some kind of Baz Luhrmann production.
Inside the barn were three long tables coated in eclectic romantic stylings, kissed with lush floral. We hung chandeliers, baskets, ladders, reclaimed iron lace, festoons, lashings of draped white fabric and finished it off with tree branches collected from the property. We used deep gem colours of ruby, emerald and sapphire with lots of gold and brass. Mixing all that glamour with natural components really brought the bohemian to the luxe. It was a vision. Outside was a more festival feel with an outdoor dance floor, cigar lounge, help yourself cocktail bar, lace bunting, dream catches and dreamy hideaway nooks to relax. The crowning beauty was the massive fire pit we all danced around well into the night. Magic.
The ceremony and reception…
Midginbil Hill EcoResort, Byron Bay Hinterlands. We celebrated the ceremony on a mountaintop on the venue’s property. The views were breathtaking. A very sacred space.
Pre-wedding celebrations…
We had a thrown together sort of ‘rehearsal dinner’ the night before. It was a big BBQ on the veranda of the Midginbil homestead with all of our guests who were staying at the retreat, which was most of them! Lots of food, music and alcohol. A perfect prelude to our wedding!
The groom…
David wanted to be comfortable and to ensure he felt like himself on the day. He opted for dark blue dress pants rolled above the ankles, revealing his favourite part of the outfit – his shoes. He wore a rolled up white shirt, vintage floral suspenders in deep reds, blues and greens and an ombre looking tweed vest.
Our photographer…
Our photographer was Andrew Guidry, Sydney. We chose Andrew because he was quite bohemian and relaxed. It was important to us that the photographer was part of the big party we were having. He was perfect for our weekend festivities!
The wedding party…
In keeping with the relaxed vibe, David and I decided to stick to who we were when choosing our wedding party. I had my four closest women as bridesmaids and my stunning baby sister as junior bridesmaid and David had his one very best mate. Three of the wedding party were from overseas so it was very special that they were there and such a big part of it.
My bridesmaids were so magnificent! They wore dresses I very randomly found on eBay after spending months trying to find the exact image I had in my head. They each wore a different vintage slip underneath, all with a golden or blush hue. They wore Samantha Wills earrings that I had chosen to represent their individual personalities. They each chose a flower they liked best and each had a crown of sorts pinned into their hair. So pretty!
The groomsman wore rolled up blue chinos, ruby suspenders over a white rolled up shirt and very dapper shoes.
The gown…
Ohhh my dress. I wanted to be a bohemian luxe goddess on the day. I wanted to feel the most beautiful I would every feel in my life. I didn’t have a particular designer in mind as I hadn’t seen a dress as yet that had given me butterflies. My mum and bridesmaid of honour were visiting from their overseas homes and were free on the same day. I hadn’t planned on choosing THE dress that day, as we just walked down the road from my apartment and were still over 18 months out from the day. My mum wanted me in a glitzy white meringue, my Maid-of-Honour wanted me in a ball gown, and all I knew was that I didn’t want either. I tried on one of each to keep them happy in a boutique that I was convinced I wouldn’t find my kind of dress in. But behind all of the frilly ballgowns and sequinned fishtails I saw my dress. Intricate, beaded, bohemian, hugging the body in all the right places in a shade only described as a golden blush. My mum hated it at first sight. But as soon as I stepped out of the dressing room and popped on the floor length veil, we were all in tears. Mission accomplished.
The flowers…
Working in the industry I knew what would work to create the overall look, but it was about what was available at the time. I wanted lush, bountiful floral in shades of deep red, pinks and whites. I was lucky enough to get the last of the beautiful Dahlias and even got myself some delicious locally grown garden roses. I grabbed anything weird and wonderful that fit the colour scheme, and made sure to take full advantage of the chandelier like amaranth in both burgundy and green. Overall it was a tantalising combination and teamed seamlessly with the styling.
Catering…
Our very dear friend and amazing fine dining chef Jono Thorne created an obscenely delicious grazing table filled with locally caught shellfish, oysters, salmon and other yummy delights. For dinner he cooked up a storm and served it up as a massive banquet. Family and friends still talk to me about that food!
Memorable moments…
Just a general magic-ness. It’s like someone came in and sprinkled loved-up-happy-magical stardust over the whole day/night. Everyone we love helped get something done. There were careful touches everywhere I looked on the night that I hadn’t been part of.
The ceremony was my favourite part, but sitting amongst the flowers and glittering atmospheric lights when we first went into the reception was also up there. And the first dance! Getting ready with my bridesmaids who took turns finalising details that I couldn’t get to. The dancing! It was just such a spectacular night enjoyed thoroughly by everyone!
Cake
Jono supplied us with the cheese for our cheese-wheel cake and there was no holding back. So scrumptious! And my bridesmaid/cousin who is an amazing interior design stylist baked, iced and decorated 10 cakes. They were all so naughty and, aesthetically, the best looking cakes ever made. We lived off a combination of the cheese, the cakes and the leftover wine for WEEKS!
M A R R I E D L I F E
The Honeymoon…
We decided to put it off a year so we could spend the money making the wedding even better
Future plans…
Well we accidentally got pregnant two weeks after the wedding! So going on our muchly anticipated honeymoon would be cracking! Sans our beautiful baby boy Rio!
In 40 years we hope to…
Be happy, healthy, surrounded by family and in love.
W E D D I N G W I S D O M
Engagement
There is something contenting and exciting about being engaged! We were engaged for almost two years and it was such a happy time of our lives! Enjoy it with every moment!
Planning
Pick the venue, caterers, photographer, stylist and florist straight away to make sure you get your choices, then take a break and enjoy being engaged. Pick it back up with the dress 10months-ish before and then take another break. The real planning and minor details start at about six months before. Just enjoy the process as much as you can, it’s not meant to be stressful!
Wedding day
Love it up! Dont worry about the bits that haven’t been done – it’s too late anyway. Forget about it and take in your amazing, oh so romantic and special day! Don’t fret about talking to everyone. Guests won’t be offended if you don’t make a beeline towards them. Eat, drink, be merry and in love!
Venue Midginbil Hill EcoResort, Uki / Photographer Andrew Guidry Photography / Styling & Floral Design Bohemian Blooms / Props She Designs Events / Makeup Julie Corbet / Wedding Dress & Veil Idora Bridal / Bridal shoes Jimmy Choo / Bride & bridesmaids’ Jewellery Samantha Wills / Catering Jono Thorne / Cakes Allira Bell