ISABELLA X BRENDON

joey + jase wedding photography real weddings bridal gown venue floral design

wedding date 13 october 2019

75 wedding guests

Together for nearly 10 years before Brendon popped the big question to Isabella, these two gorgeous humans met when they were 14 years old working at KFC together. "It feels like so long ago. How romantic! We were friends, but not that close at the time. It wasn’t until two years later I was updating my phone contacts with my new mobile number. Brendon replied back “who’s this?” and then we started texting back and forth. Our first date was in early January 2010. We did all the cute teenage dates like ice skating, movies hanging out at parks. I still remember that young love feeling." Bella shares.

the proposal: It was in August when the weather was just starting to warm up. We drove from Sydney to the Hunter Valley for a weekend away. We had never been before so we were both so excited. We arrived at this cosy cabin nested in the hills overlooking the town of Pokolbin. It was so quiet and peaceful. Brendon seemed tense and I tried to push away the thought of a proposal in fear of getting my hopes up.

There was a lookout balcony near our cabin and when Brendon suggested we go outside, my heart started racing. We exchanged a few words but after it went oddly quiet and I could feel Brendon’s nerves, I pulled him in for a hug. He’s quite tall so when I laid my head on his chest I could hear his heart pounding. I kept a tiny laugh inside. He pulled back, looked me in the eyes as he got down on one knee and proposed.

I don’t think my smile could get any bigger. I was thrilled and couldn’t stop hugging and kissing him. Brendon was more concerned about getting the ring on my finger. After all he had the exact design I wanted made for me. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. He put a lot of effort into getting it right so you can imagine when the ring didn’t fit, he’s face was so shocked. It was a priceless expression. But it didn’t matter because after the many years we had together, we were finally going to tie the knot.

what led you to decide on Summergrove Estate + Babalou? Brendon and I both love being near the ocean. It’s our happy place. Every year we used to celebrate our anniversary at Icebergs in Sydney. We really wanted to capture something similar and were also open to travelling. We stumbled across Babalou first, then continued looking at more venues through the Tweed and Byron area. We kept coming back to Babalou and after visiting venues, so we knew it was the one. It was bright and fresh and not too stylised to allow us to dress the venue how we liked.

We then searched for a separate ceremony venue that was just as special as Brendon and I saying “I do”. I liked the idea of indoors to create more of a formal feel. When we came across the Summergrove Estate chapel we were in awe. It has these grand windows which were like the alter. The view was spectacular.

what was the inspiration behind your Wedding theme? Would it be cheesy to say my own personal style? (Not at all!) When it comes to style, I’m very much a simple yet elevated person. I also love finding those simple pieces that have a touch of something special. In terms of colour palette, my wardrobe it basically neutrals. A lot of this came out in the wedding styling. It was warm neutrals with blush tones to create romantic vibe. It wasn’t too much but just enough to keep it relaxed yet special.

favourite moment: Without a doubt, Brendon and I both agree the ceremony was our favourite part of the day. Saying “I do” was the reason for this special day. Standing in the Summergrove Estate Chapel overlooking the Tweed hinterland was so magical. The sun was coming out, the hills were green and it was quiet and blissful. I don’t think we’ve ever looked into each other eyes for that long before. Both smiling so much to the point our cheeks hurt! Hearing our celebrant Ben Carlyle talk about our relationship to date, I just couldn’t believe the moment was finally here. We had become husband and wife!

favourite detail: Having spent so long planning all the details and styling, I had a pretty good idea of how things would look but I didn’t actually see it until we arrived at Babalou. I was blown away. The team captured everything perfectly. I would have to say that was my favourite details of the day. Not sure if that’s cheating since it includes the hired table wear and vases, florals arrangements and stationery! I also have to mention the wedding cake. Oh my gosh, never in my life have I tasted a better cake. Grace from Milk & Honey Cake Creative is incredibly talented. I had so many people come up to me saying how good that cake was. I even took some on the plane when we left for our honeymoon.

how was your dress/suit shopping experience overall? It took me about three weeks to find my wedding dress and I loved the whole process. It’s not every day you get to slip into a glamourous gown, let alone a white one! I didn’t go into dress shopping with a particular style in mind either. Having no experience with formal wear, I wanted to keep my mind open and try on different shapes and looks. The last dress by Enzoani I tried was the one I ended up picking. It was perfect and I felt amazing in it. It was the perfect mix of glamour, femininity, elegance and sexiness!

what does marriage mean to you? I hate to sound old fashion, but marriage is the ultimate commitment and a lifelong partnership. It means you are ready to make it work no matter what. Even when my hubby leaves a trail of clothes on the floor!

any classic stories you want to share from the day? As the reception came to end, shoes had come off and the lights had come on again. Making the most of the music time left, we continued to dance. Cue ‘Time of Our Lives’ and suddenly the dance moves got serious. Can’t say the same for serious thought processes though. Just as the chorus was about to start, Brendon got down on his knees and I ran up getting ready to be lifted Dirty Dancing style. Let’s just say an epic fail would be an understatement! Lucky our wonderful friends videoed almost every angle of this tragic dance move. What a way to end our wedding day!

advice: Enjoy the process! It’s easier for things to become overwhelming at the best of times. It definitely helps to delegate so everyone knows what they need to do. Also, don’t forget that this is your day and absolutely fine to make your own decisions to create your special day. It’s the one day it’s all about you two!

stand out vendors: Every single vendor we had was so amazing! The Tweed coast has an incredible pool of wedding vendors. If I had to name a few I would say our celebrant Ben was a superstar! He took the time the get to know us personally to create a bespoke ceremony. It was really special. Grace who made our wedding cake also surprised us on the day with a few additions to our cake like gold leafing to the outside and a macadamia cookie crumb between the cake layers. Yum! Also, Simone from Hello Flora messaged me on Instagram with some behind the scenes videos and photos of our flowers. We were able to chat and make a few adjustments to create the perfect arrangements.