April 2017 – An Unscheduled Journey

So, every bride I know wants the best photographer for their wedding. Unfortunately, mine became a little too busy three days leading up to our wedding and without panic, I mentioned this on the Adelaide Wedding Chit Chat page and wow, did I get a HUGE response.

The one that stood out the most to me was a gentleman by the name of Shane Neaves. He has obviously been photographing for quite some time but just struggled to get into the wedding industry because of the Bride and Groom expectations of having a portfolio. He didn’t have one and was struggling to get his foot in the door

He came through for us time wise and financially. Here was an opportunity for photographers to take advantage of our situation, needing a photographer three days out from our wedding but Shane didn’t. He offered his services at a ridiculously cheap price, provided an offsider, Chloe, and spent hours with us and our guests.

Thank you Shane for spending the day and night with us and for providing our beautiful photos.

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Thank you again both Shane Neaves and Chloe Neville for your wonderful work.

xx Mrs Wilkinson

We did it! We got married and it was wonderful. It was simple. It was perfect.

I gave up on the ‘magic tree’ in Kuitpo because it wasn’t available for my new, short notice wedding date and also, EVERYONE is marrying there now!

We opted for a small and simple back garden ceremony and reception which we both felt more our ‘style’ than anything else. Yes, money is a big issue but also, we wanted to be able to mingle and celebrate with our guests as well. So, a 50 person guest list consisting mainly of family with a few friends, catered by a lovely local company called D&D Catering Co, nibbles prepared by my now Mother In Law, help yourself drinks stations and lots of lovely smiles and well wishes.

Did it all go off without a hitch? Hell No! It started with Sam accidentally calling me his ‘Awful Wedded Wife’ instead of ‘Lawful Wedded Wife’ and, I put the wedding ring onto his wrong hand! We didn’t even realise until after all of the formal photos were taken hehehe.

Photo below was taken at the exact “Awful Wedded Wife” moment! Oh how the celebrant and my soon to be EX-Husband are thinking this to be soooo funny! Maybe we should have practiced the words before the wedding like our celebrant Sharyn Colliver suggested 🙂

There was a small kitchen fire that the guests took care off, a few broken glasses, a moon boot required for an old Achilles tendon injury to one of our guests, music station hijacked by the younger crowd….. but, it all made for a wonderful day.

I was very fortunate in having my amazing neighbours John and Clare offer their beautiful home for us ladies to get ready in, and for Clares Bloomers doing the bouquets, and they’d left me a gorgeous note on their blackboard. I left them a lovely array of clothes, make-up, perfume, etc to be collected the next day.

My long time friend Nicole gave up her entire Saturday to provide me, my mum, my daughter and my sister our lovely faces and hair 🙂

Another lovely lady who gave up her time and said YES to singing our songs on the day was the very talented Steph. Steph and I had worked together many years ago and although I had never heard her sing before, one drunken evening I sent her a message asking if she would be willing to sing at our wedding. Thank goodness she said yes because she was amazing. She sang “At Last’ by Etta James as my mum walked me ‘down the garden’ and then sang “Better Place” by Rachel Platten and “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” (The Delta Goodrem Version) as we signed our paperwork.

Food! The food was amazing not only by the amazing caterers but also my MIL and the amazing cake maker Tash from The Sweet Tooth Factory.

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Yes, it was an emotional day but of course, a happy emotional day. Whilst there were many family and friends missing from our day, I was so humbled to have received voice messages, face time all the way from Bali, text messages and cards.

I hear all the time from brides who say they want to do it all again, that it was the most amazing day etc. Yes, it was an amazing day but NO, I do not want to do it again hehe. I love a wedding, adore food, love a few drinks with friends and family but, one wedding is enough for me thanks.

Thank you to everyone for their amazing well wishes and happy thoughts. It was really nice to focus on a happy, positive event given the last couple of years.