Tell us a little about yourselves!
We met at work, and I think Matt fell in love with Caitlin because she makes a mean Bolognese and Caitlin fell in love with Matt because he liked a nice glass of red with the Bolognese. We both love to spend time eating, drinking and spending any spare time at the beach.
Given this we love spending time in the South West of WA. It’s not uncommon for us to quickly pack the car on a Friday afternoon and head down south. Although the 3hr drive isn’t ideal after a long week the reward at the end is unbelievable. Sometimes it’s indulging in a paired degustation but more often than not we are sharing a bottle of wine with the best produce the state can offer on the front porch.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
It’s a family property in the famed Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. Many a holiday and family event had been spent there and the backstory of the property really suited us as people. Its history is served as the original 1927 Margaret River School House which was then transported to a property in the middle of town on over an acre of land. The property is complete with old school house, English sectional gardens out the front and sweeping lawns with Australian gum trees and a large running brook at the rear.
We had one of our first dates at the Vasse Felix winery in the region so it held a really special place in our hearts. The reception venue provided an amazing space for an intimate dinner party.
How many guests did you have?
34.
What was your budget?
Because we had the private property, we were able to not worry what the rest of the wedding cost and removed too much budget recording, so it didn’t act as a point of friction for us.
Tell us about your outfits.
I opted for a three-quarter length Rachel Gilbert dress. I did the classic wedding dress try on with my mum, mother-in-law and friend but everything I put on just didn’t feel right. A gown made me feel older and traditional and didn’t really fit with the wedding we wanted. I did however feel pressured and correspondingly I now have a gown in the spare bedroom waiting for a new owner! When I found the Rachel Gilbert dress it just felt perfect. Cool yet classic, comfortable but chic.
Matt wore a custom made velvet black jacket suit from Oscar Hunt. He wanted a blend of classic but with an injection of personality. No belt pants, lace up shoes and black tie completed the look. Matt was able to add a touch of personalisation and included the date of our wedding on the inside of his jacket in small insignia.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We focused on intimacy and quality of connections, this drove our venue choices, guest list and vendor decisions. It was important to get past the traditional pleasantries with guests on the day and having real interactions was a driving principle.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
The South West is home to the best produce and wine in the country and we really wanted to showcase this to our guests.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Make decisions for yourselves instead of your guests, you’ll be the ones who remember things.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Our photographer Kath Young was absolutely outstanding. Everyone knows the day goes so fast, so it was important for us to choose a photographer which provided us the best (and only!) physical memory of the day.
People talk about comfort but it’s very difficult to capture a sense of ease in something that’s still constructed. Kath Young instantly made us feel this and it’s so evident in our photos. She held a genuine interest in our story and worked to get a breadth of shots that blew our mind.
Photographer: Kath Young Photography @kathyoungphotography | Ceremony Location: Private Property Margaret River, WA | Reception Location: Vasse Felix @vassefelixwines | Celebrant:
Sally @wedding.sal.ebrant | Entertainment: Love Sick Weddings @lovesick_weddings | Flora:
Honey Bloom Florals @honeybloom.florals | Makeup: Caitlin Wells Makeup @caitlinwellsmakeupartist |
Hair: Abby King @abbyhairexpert | Cake: Maison Lassiaille @maison_lassiaille | Caitlin's Dress: Rachel Gilbert @achelgilbertbridal | Matt's Suit: Oscar Hunt @oscarhunttailors | Engagement Ring:
Kate & Kole @kateandkole | Wedding Rings: The Diamond Collective @diamond.collective