They share a simple story, but this real wedding proves that sometimes it’s the simple stories that really make us go ‘awww’. Bride, Tara shared her beautiful love story with Modern Wedding. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Proposal
In April 2010 Dave proposed to Tara at her favourite beach, Delwood Beach, near Manly. With help from Dave’s brother, unsuspecting Tara was taken down to the beach at sunset. On the sand Dave had set up an aisle of candles leading into a heart shape in which he stood. “As I walked through the aisle there were pink cards that I picked up with reasons why he wanted to marry me. I’m keeping them for the rest of my life,” says Tara. “I have to say at that stage we were both SO nervous! I was in shock therefore not remembering all the lovely things he was saying, although I do clearly remember him getting down on one knee, opening a ring box, with the most amazing ring in it, and asking me to marry him! Of course I said YES!!”
Dave designed the ring, a 1.00-carat diamond surrounded by 24 diamonds in 18-carat white gold. “It was such a surprise to see him propose with this beautiful ring.” Afterwards they celebrated with dinner at 360 Bar & Dining at Centre Point Tower. “For weeks you couldn’t wipe the smile off our faces.”
OK – so this part wasn’t that simple!
Planning the wedding
“Both Dave and I grew up at the beach so we both wanted to use soft colours for our wedding day and incorporate the ocean and beach as much as we could. I wanted the wedding to have soft colours that would make our reception cosy, romantic and elegant.” The couple wanted their wedding to be a formal occasion and so a theme of beach elegance emerged. “When I first got engaged I was so overwhelmed by all the different options and colours, but once we started planning our personalities started coming through. It all just really fell into place,” says Tara.
Wedding
The couple were married in Manly at Ceretti Memorial Chapel on 24 October 2010. “The chapel is on beautiful grounds, with a long drive way and you can just feel the history of the place from the second you arrive. When I was a girl growing up in the area I used to think it was a castle. I told my parents on numerous occasions that one day I would marry my prince there…and I did. Because the chapel itself is just so beautiful we wanted to keep it as the main feature. We only added a long red carpet, candles and two very large flowers on either side of the alter for decoration. After the ceremony we had champagne and nibbles on the estate grounds overlooking Manly and the ocean.” It was special for the couple to have their family pastor marry them.
Their reception took place at Mounties Freshwater, overlooking the ocean as well as the beautiful chapel in which they were married. Decorations were kept simple so that the views could do the talking. The tables were decorated with candelabras, mirrors, and scattered with acrylic diamonds and white rose petals.
Cake
“We had a lovely three tiered chocolate and vanilla swirl cake with white icing decorations and edible acrylic diamonds. On the top we had D & T in mirrored letters to match the décor of the room.”
The dress and bridal party attire
“When Dave’s proposal got sprung on me I really hadn’t thought too deeply on what kind of wedding dress I’d love to wear, so the day we looked for a wedding dress I was a blank canvas.” Tara’s dress, by Madeline Gardner New York, happened to be the first dress she tried on. “My four closest friends came with me for a day of wedding dress shopping and our first stop was Marry Me at Mosman. I was so overwhelmed by the dresses I just ended up choosing five random dresses off the rack. The first dress I tried on I just absolutely adored! I tried the rest on and we went to another five bridal shops that day, but the first dress just wouldn’t get out of my mind.” The pure white, strapless dress, featured lace and bead detail around the chest with a bow. She accessorized with simple Swarovski jewellery and a veil. “As my wedding was in a large chapel I wanted a long veil.” The bridesmaids wore lavender dresses by Seduce. The men wore black Zenetti suits altered for slim fitting teamed with white shirts and silver ties from David Jones.
Photographer
“We flew principal photographer Mike Larson, from Mike Larson Inc., out from California. He was exceptional!”
Honeymoon
After a night at the Westin Sydney the newlyweds honeymooned in Thailand for three weeks. “We wanted a tropical honeymoon filled with cocktails, massages, sun and shopping! It was all that plus more!”
Advice from the bride
“I was told to hold my husband’s hand the entire day so as not to be accidentally separated. This way we got to enjoy every moment and conversation together. It really made the day beautiful!”
- Ceremony: Cerretti Memorial Chapel, St Patricks Estate, Manly
- Reception venue: Mounties Freshwater
- Photographer: Mike Larson Photgraphers Inc
- Supporting photographer: Tim Williams
- Videography: Blake Doubler, Elanora Heights 0412122263
- Cake: Unique Cakes, Rosebery
- Florist: Flowergirls, Fairlight 0410336231
- Hair and make-up artist : Simona Janek
- Stationary: Pulp Creative, Balgowlah
- Wedding dress: Marry Me, Mosman
- Rings: House of K’dor, Chatswood (02) 9960 5746
- Transportation: A2Z Weddings
Thank you Tara and David for sharing your beautiful beach wedding with us!
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Isabel 🙂