Photography Chloe Mitchell
Sign up to our mailing list for the best stories delivered to your inbox.
Amidst the splendour of the wheatfields on her parents’ property, Katie Mitton marked the beginning of her marriage to Nicholas Perkins with a day to cherish forever.
Photography Chloe Mitchell Words Amie Shann
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
It was at the Dirranbandi Show in 2015 when Katie Mitton and Nicholas Perkins first laid eyes on each other. A few weeks later, they officially met where all good country romances start — at the pub — in St George. They shared their first kiss that night, but Nic had plans to travel to America, and Katie was moving south to Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, so it wasn’t until 2018 when the pair started dating. Nic sent her a message, and Katie replied out of politeness, but it wasn’t long before Nic was driving the 10 hours to Wagga from Dirranbandi to see her.
The couple was recently married at Katie’s family property, Clare Park, just outside of Grenfell, New South Wales, in a beautiful celebration brought to life with meaningful details. Katie arrived to the paddock ceremony in her dad’s 1972 Stingray Corvette, wearing an ivory silk gown she sewed herself, with the help of her grandmother. Here, Katie tells Graziher all about it.
Tell us about the proposal.
Nic said he always envisioned proposing somewhere high with a phenomenal view. The Dirranbandi landscape is the exact opposite, so he made do with the next best thing: stock crates. Nic was dragging tables and chairs to the top of the crates one afternoon, and I remember thinking he was going to a fair bit of effort to just have a couple of beers, but then I saw the ring box bulging from the top pocket of his work shirt. Nic said he had prepared a romantic speech but I didn’t hear this as he was too nervous. To be completely honest, I can’t even remember if I actually said yes – I just grabbed the ring!
How did you decide on a wedding venue?
My mum always joked that no one would be getting married at home. My sister had her wedding there just a year earlier, so I knew I also wanted to have this special memory. Nic knows how much home means to me, so it was a bit of a no-brainer. We will be forever in debt to my parents for everything they did to host our wedding.
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Katie’s dog, Maude, was involved at the ceremony. Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Tell us about your wedding dress.
I really, really love sewing. I sewed at school and have continued the passion to this day. About 12 months prior to my own wedding, I had actually made my sister’s wedding dress. After we got engaged, I went to Sydney and tried on some stunning dresses at a few bridal shops, but I knew deep down I wanted to make my own. From what I tried on, I was able to envision what I wanted my dress to look like for the big day.
I sourced my fabric from Silk World in Melbourne. I purchased a Duchess satin in ivory (100 per cent silk) and constructed a slim fitting column skirt with a fitted bodice featuring a moon shape neckline and low back, as well as a matching cathedral length cape — it was 8 metres total. I used a 100 per cent silk organza in ivory as a trim around the top of the bodice, just to soften the neckline. I also placed this organza subtly on the side seams of the skirt, starting at the hips and continuing it down the length of the thigh, stopping it at the knee. The hem of the skirt also had this organza detail as well as the edges of the cape. Because the skirt was fitted, I placed a leg split at the back of the dress.
What made the process so special was that I partially used an old pattern that my grandmother had given me. Nanny was a very talented seamstress, and made so many garments including my mother, aunt and cousin’s wedding dresses. I used her pattern pieces for the skirt, and then made the bodice pattern pieces myself. She also helped me sew the dress, holding all of the fabric for the cape so it didn’t pull on either side of the sewing machine.
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Photography Chloe Mitchell
Bride’s dress: Designed and made by the bride herself
Bridesmaid dresses: Shona Joy
Celebrant: Kathleen Martin
Flowers: Connie Farm Flowers and Canberra Flower Markets. “I made my own bouquet, and my bridesmaids each made their own. It made it all really personal and was a special time together,” says Katie. “We even drove down the road and found the most gorgeous arum lilies on the side of the road and put them in the arrangements that went at the end of the aisle. Table flowers were arranged by my sister-in-law and Nanny using her own roses.”
Food: Jess from Eat Your Greens
Furniture hire: Riverina Party Hire
Hair – Grace’s Hair Studio, Forbes NSW
Makeup – Jessica’s Essential Beauty, Forbes NSW
Menswear: Harry’s for Menswear, Dubbo
Music: Baker Boys Band
Photographer: Chloe Mitchell
Rings: A G Designer Jeweller
Invitations: Deciduous Press
Videographer: Happy Heart Films
Subscribe to Graziher and you’ll never miss an issue of your favourite magazine. Already a subscriber? Consider gifting a subscription to someone special in your life.
To hear extraordinary stories about women living in rural and regional Australia, listen to our podcast Life on the Land on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
Quick-thinking neighbours called a local electrician who saved the garden reception in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
The couple chose to have formal photos taken before the wedding, so they could relax and enjoy the garden reception.
Quick-thinking neighbours called a local electrician who saved the garden reception in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
The couple chose to have formal photos taken before the wedding, so they could relax and enjoy the garden reception.
The two run Hancock Mustering in Queensland and the Northern Territory, but they chose to head south — with their horses — for their nuptials.
