By
wedding date 11 april 2019
103 guests
Deenikka + Steven met for a coffee after connecting on RSVP in April 2016. "There was this instant connection, we talked about anything and everything! I even told him about my action figure collection! It was just so easy to be together. As we said goodbye, we organised to meet later that week for dinner, but I had to cancel our second date as I was so ill. I thought I’d blown it! I was so upset that he’d think I wasn’t interested. He then flew back to work the day after our almost second date so I organised dinner with him the day he flew home! It really felt like that ‘love at first sight’ feeling the movies all talk about." Deenikka shares.
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the proposal: Together for 2 ½ years, Deenikka + Steven have happily lived together with their two labradoodles. Steve proposed on Thursday 30th August 2018. "We drove down to Manjimup to pick up our new labradoodle, Winston. Steve took the ring with him waiting for the right moment. He was going to put the ring on our puppy’s collar but didn’t want to scratch it. Then he was going to propose at the restaurant we went to for lunch but it wasn’t the right vibe, so he suggested a walk through the grape vines instead but as we went to leave it started pouring with rain." Deenikka tells.
They picked up their puppy and took him home and introduced him to their other dog Chester. "As we were watching them having their dinner, talking about how our family is now complete, Steve shocked me by getting down on one knee and proposing, having not found the right moment or place all day. I always thought I would burst into tears when this moment came, but instead I said yes straight away and then just started laughing really weirdly! It was perfect and beautiful and private, just the four of us." Deenikka laughs.
the wedding venue: We knew as soon as we got to Perth City Farm that it was the right place for us. We loved the potential of the courtyard and the barn, they’re both blank canvasses for you to really make your own. Also, Steve had been to a wedding in a barn in country Victoria and he loved that rustic vibe — he also wants to be a farmer — and we really wanted a venue that would allow us to do as much ourselves as possible.
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The venue allowed us to set up the day before with the help of our amazing family and friends, which was such good fun, and hand the keys back the day after which really took the pressure off. We DIY’d everything we could (bouquets, buttonholes, arbour flowers, bridal table backdrop, table décor, seating plan, etc.) and really wanted the freedom to find the right vendors for our vision.
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wedding theme inspiration: We didn’t really have a particular theme in mind. We used greenery, gold accents and fairy lights as our base and bought in touches of maroon with the bouquets, bridesmaid dresses, signage and favours. We have an olive tree at our house which Steve planted 10 years ago, I really wanted to use that as the garland down the centre of the tables as it was more personal to us. Steve and his best man got a bit ‘chainsaw happy’ two days before the wedding so we had plenty to work with! Luckily it’s recovered!
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We’re also both nerds and wanted to have nods to our favourite movies. We wanted long tables with Edison lights hanging down the centre like the long tables and floating candles in Harry Potter. Our cake (which Steve’s incredibly talented sister made) had a Star Wars quote on it — the first time I said ‘I love you’ to Steve, he answered with ‘I know’.
favourite moment: There’s so many! But our reception was a real highlight for us! We were so happy with the decision we made to enter our reception through the courtyard, with our family and friends surrounding us. Steve and I were introduced as Mr and Mrs Loprese and went straight into our first dance followed by Steve’s speech, we then led our family and friends into the barn. I’m so glad that we chose this order of events. It meant that not only could we both relax and enjoy ourselves for the rest of the night, but having us open the dance floor when we first arrived meant that our guests danced throughout the night, not just towards the end. It really helped to encourage that relaxed, fun, party atmosphere we were going for.
I think what we both loved the most about our reception was that we spent the whole night together. We danced all night, chatted to our family and friends, had beautiful photos together. At one point Steve handed me a wine and took me to the veggie patch for a quiet moment to just take it all in. We chatted and danced to Backstreet Boys and it was wonderful.
However, one of our favourite details was the arbour we were married under. Steve made the jarrah structure and I made the artificial flower arrangements. I love that we both said ‘I do’ under something that we’d created together.
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how was your dress/suit shopping experience overall? I was married in a Maggie Sottero design (Charlene) which I purchased from Dion for Brides in North Perth. My mum, sister and best friend were my support! The dress was the third dress I tried on at the first shop we went to. I knew it was the one, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. But as we’d planned a girl’s day and it was only 9:30am, we went to two other places and I tried on all different kinds of dresses just to make sure. In the end we went back to Dion for Brides in the afternoon and I said yes to the dress!!
Steve and the groomsman’s suits were from Connor, and all suits were sorted in the hour. So easy and the quality and cut is amazing.
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what does marriage mean to you? It means spending your life with your best friend! It means dancing in the kitchen and building silly cardboard forts! Its means loving each other unconditionally.
advice: Definitely the bit about doing your dance and speeches first – takes the pressure off!
stand out vendors for the day that went above and beyond: Photography – Simone was beyond incredible! Choosing the photographer was the most daunting to me as I love photography and know how important this decision was. Simone went above and beyond to capture the most breathtaking memories of our day!
Videographer – Connor from White Swan Productions is an absolute legend! Our wedding video brings me to tears every single time! His creativity and passion for what he does is incredible!
DJ – Scott-e from Elite DJ’s made our reception what it was! We couldn't get people off the dance floor the whole night and that was exactly what we wanted. He can perfectly read a crowd and play exactly what they want next. He listened to our music preferences and catered to them perfectly, then threw in a few extra songs along the same theme to keep the party going.
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weddings songs:
Aisle: Hawaiian Wedding Song by Elvis Presley – My mum is a massive Elvis fan and we would always watch Elvis movies together. I remember watching Blue Hawaii with my mum when I was about 6-7 and telling her I would walk down the aisle to this song one day.
Recessional: Ain’t that a Kick in the Head by Dean Martin – Steve and I love this song! We love old music and really wanted something vibrant and fun to play as we were announced Husband and Wife
First Dance: Halo by Postmodern Jukebox – This was the song that played in the background as we first said ‘I love you’, after returning home from the Postmodern Jukebox concert where we watched the same artist perform this song.
Photographer Simone Addison @simone_creative
Videographer White Swan Productions
Bridal gown Maggie Sottero from Dion for Brides
Groom wear Connor
Bridal gown Maggie Sottero from Dion for Brides
Groom wear Connor
Hire company Elegant Chair Hire
Lighting Micktric Events @micktric_events
Caravan Bar Charlie and Colette
Venue Perth City Farm @perthcityfarm
Catering Prestige Catering and Event Hire @prestigecatering
Cake Nat Bake’s @nat_bakes_
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