Anna Wearing The Jade Dress

So tell us, how did you meet the love of your life?

I actually knew of Blake for years before we met as we had quite a few mutual friends and we even went to the same school - though different years. He actually by chance met my mum ages before I even did at a birthday party. It wasn't until a few years later we were thrown together during a few social gatherings that we actually met and starting talking.

When did you know they were the one?

Blake was so easy to get along with and always so much fun. We moved quite quickly and we never really 'dated' in the typical sense. We felt like we knew each other well and we easily slotted into each other lives. We would spend every free moment together and it has always been that way. I just knew immediately that he was different to anyone I had ever met.

Tell us the story of the proposal!

We went for a hike around John Forrest National Park, Western Australia– where we went on an early outing together. He popped the question in what we jokingly call the ‘murder house’ - a creepy little hut in the park filled with spider webs. It’s a special spot for us now and was lovely at the time. Looking back it makes me laugh that it was in the little house.

For months beforehand though, every time we were in a romantic setting with a view or in a nice restaurant, he would look around and say ‘ohhh I have an itchy knee’ and pretend he was about to propose…

How long was your engagement? What went into deciding your wedding's date and location?

We were engaged for just over a year. It worked out to be a good length of time for us to plan what we needed to and have it during a nice time of year - not too hot in April! Perth is our home and it just made sense to have it not too far away in these crazy times. Also, what's not to like about a winery with views!

How would you describe your personal style? What was most important to you when you were planning your bridal look?

Can comfort be a style...? I like to keep things pretty simple and timeless. Nothing to fussy or out there. I guess I tend to be quite modest too. I wanted my look on the day to be classic and vintage looking. A full lace dress had my name all over it!

How did you find Wear Your Love?

Scrolling on instagram when I was nowhere near engaged! I always knew I would come back to it one day.

When did you know you had found your perfect dress?

I still wanted the 'trying on dresses' day out but I always had the Wear Your Love dresses in the back of my mind. There was nothing close to them in the stores. There were a few contenders on your website for sure, but I sat with my mum one night slowing narrowing them down. We finally settled on Jade but weirdly a few days later my mum showed me the only wedding dress she had saved from Pinterest years before, and it was Jade. So that made me love it more knowing she had picked it years before I did - even if she had forgotten!

Which dress did you choose, and did you request any custom aspects?

Jade Dress and Oceane Veil - no changes

What went through your mind when the Wear Your Love box arrived at your doorstep and you tried on your dress for the first time?

Unfortunately I was not at home to receive my dress! I ended up driving with Blake to the airport to collect her as soon as I could- I even took the day off work I was so excited. I remember opening it in the front seat to take a sneak peak telling him not to look!

Did your wedding have a theme or style?

We got married at one of our favourite wineries with the reception under a marquee on the grass. It was a very relaxed, outdoorsy style, with lots of rustic charm and vintage touches.

How involved was your partner in the wedding planning? Did your families help? Did you hire a coordinator, planner, or event stylist?

Blake was involved in the big important bits, picking a venue, what we ate and just deciding how we wanted the day to feel. He really wanted it to feel like a big relaxed family wedding - nothing too polished or formal (and I agreed). We had lots of different vendors who all went above and beyond, however we still had an on the day coordinator to do all of the final touches and just to give peace of mind that everything would come together. Our families were both pretty involved with the planning and set up to bring it all together.

Let's show your wedding venue some love! What is the name of your venue, and why did you choose it for your special day?

The venue was Riverbank Estate in the Swan Valley. It's about 30 minutes outside of Perth in Western Australia. It's not a very big venue but we loved that we could have the ceremony and reception in the same spot. It has the most beautiful views and best atmosphere!

Tell us about your wedding playlist! What song did you walk down the aisle to? Did you have a first dance song that was meaningful to you?

We had two songs by Paolo Nutini. I walked down the aisle with my dad to Candy - we had a live musician! Then for our first dance we had Last Request which was sung by my wedding singer Maid of Honour as a little surprise. It was so special.

What was your favorite moment of the day?

Most of my family live in Northern Ireland which meant that they could not travel to be there. Blake had secretly arranged and complied video messages to play during the reception as a surprise to everyone- it was such a highlight and there were so many tears!

Seeing everyone else enjoying the day was just the best!

Who was involved in your special day? We would love to shout out your photographer, favorite vendors, and anyone else who made your day magical.

Venue: Riverbank Estate @riverbankestate_weddings
Photographer: Carly Williams @cjwilliams_photography
Florist: Bec at Edie and Ivy @edieandivyflowers
Decor: Infinity Wedding and Events @Infinityweddingandevents
Celebrant: Annette Carone @Annettecaronecelebrant
Vintage Couch Hire: Harvest Hire and Style @harvesthirestyle
DJ: Envy Events
Coordination: Liillanie @circleofloveweddings

Do you have any advice or helpful tips for others planning a wedding?

Put your trust into your vendors. They know what they are doing and it is the biggest relief when you can step back and let them do what they are best at. Try not to interfere however tempting it may be - they got this!

What has been the best part so far about being married?

It's so nice to step into the next chapter of our lives together - it feel like it has been a long time coming. It feels so grown up!

Anna is wearing The Jade with natural lining and an 10 inch train.