Simon and Penny first met while living in a share house in Brisbane.
PHOTOGRAPHY ANGUS MCKERN
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Simon and Penny first met while living in a share house in Brisbane.
Simon and Penny first met while living in a share house in Brisbane.
“It all started when I was asked to cook the best meal possible, to win over a new flatmate — Simon — and convince him to join our household. As luck would have it, the go-to roast lamb worked a treat,” remembers Penny.
The couple tied the knot on Penny’s family farm; the same property her parents were married on, 32 years ago.
The bridesmaids chose their own dresses.
“They are all dresses I would own myself. In a crazy way it’s the same as an interior design. It doesn’t matter about all the different patterns as long as it all connects with the one shared colour palette," Penny explains.
The flowers were curated by Penny and her mum Sally, and the selection of bold blooms and delicate foliage had been hand-picked at Mayfarm Flowers in Nashdale, New South Wales.
Friends and family cheering on the newlyweds.
The bridal party.
The reception marquee was a glittering jewellery chest.
“I wanted the day to feel special and unlike a wedding anyone had ever been to before, not because I wanted it to be a better wedding than anyone else’s, but I wanted my wedding day to stay with people because of all the special little elements I included that were a little bit different to the standard wedding party recipe.”
Simon and Penny first met while living in a share house in Brisbane.
PHOTOGRAPHY ANGUS MCKERN
The couple tied the not on Penny’s family farm; the same property her parents were married on, 32 years ago.
PHOTOGRAPHY ANGUS MCKERN
“It all started when I was asked to cook the best meal possible, to win over a new flatmate — Simon — and convince him to join our household. As luck would have it, the go-to roast lamb worked a treat,” remembers Penny.
Whether it was fate, luck or one very delicious lamb roast, what started with two kids from the country living in an old Queenslander in the city slowly blossomed into something much, much more.
Fast-forward six years, and the couple celebrated their marriage with a stunning garden soirée, bursting with colour and pure joy, at Cloverbank, Penny’s family farm; the same property her parents were married on, 32 years ago.
LISTEN: Melinda O’Donoghue is known as the Outback Wedding Dressmaker. Article continues below. <//em>
High on a hill overlooking the Central Western Plains of New South Wales, sheep grazed in the paddocks as the sun rose behind the meandering tree line of white gums along the Wambuul Macquarie River.
It was the first day of April, and a picture-perfect morning for an autumn wedding in the country.
The bride, an interior designer who works for Anna Spiro, meticulously planned every colourful detail for the day. The garden was in full bloom, something that had been months in the planning: Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, white seaside daisies and bright pink bougainvillea beautifully complemented the event unfolding around them. Pots spilling with salvia, pansies, lavender and roses added bursts of colour to every corner of the homestead.
The flowers were curated by Penny and her mum Sally, and the selection of bold blooms and delicate foliage had been hand-picked at Mayfarm Flowers in Nashdale, New South Wales.
The bridesmaids chose their own dresses. “We started with my sister Emma’s beautiful dress: I fell in love with it because of the colours and flowers. I could see her in the garden next to me in that dress and it made me so excited,” explains Penny. “They are all dresses I would own myself. In a crazy way it’s the same as an interior design. It doesn’t matter about all the different patterns as long as it all connects with the one shared colour palette.”
Emma Sheehan, who is an artist, painted a bar façade, creating a European market-style vibe. It was the perfect centrepiece to the garden party before the main event. The cocktail menu featured Cipriani Bellinis, summer spritzes and margaritas made with home-grown Cloverbank limes.
The reception marquee was a glittering jewellery chest. Afternoon light struck the colourful glassware, silver bud vases and pitchers of fresh-cut flowers, the colours dancing off the marquee walls and ceiling like gems sparkling in the sun. Adorning the length of the tables and the bar were around 200 unique flower vessels and antique jars, sourced by Penny from vintage shops and op shops all over New South Wales.
“I wanted the day to feel special and unlike a wedding anyone had ever been to before, not because I wanted it to be a better wedding than anyone else’s, but I wanted my wedding day to stay with people because of all the special little elements I included that were a little bit different to the standard wedding party recipe.”
As the sun set over the Central West, and the bride and groom beamed with joy, the guests raised a glass to the newlyweds, and there was a palpable sense of excitement and love in the air. Two country kids who found each other in the big city, about to embark on one of life’s greatest adventures.
IN DETAIL
Bride’s dress
Penny’s custom wedding gown was made by Luci Di Bella Design House in their Melbourne studio.
Bridesmaids’ dresses
Penny let the bridesmaids choose their own dresses. “I really wanted all the girls to feel special in their dresses in a super-feminine, floral way,” says Penny.
Arch and bouquets
Flower arrangements for the archand bouquets were made by Adelaide Arnott at Potter Studio.
Hair
Penny and her bridesmaids’ hair was by Fuze Hair, Dubbo, New South Wales.
Make-up
Penny and her bridesmaids’ make-up was by freelance make-up artist Doon White, from Newcastle, New South Wales.
Photographer
The couple’s talented wedding photographer was Angus McKern Wedding Photography, based in Orange, New South Wales.
Flowers
The flower arrangements were put together by the bride and her mum Sally Sheehan, and sourced from Mayfarm Flowers in Nashdale, New South Wales.
Tableware
The tablecloths in the marquee were created with hand-printed calico fabric from India.
Cake
The couple had a traditional fruit cake with buttercream icing, lovingly made by the bride’s mother, Sally Sheehan.
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