Ash and Em get Married

So, a couple of weeks ago, Ash and I finally got married, like real grown-ups!

The day was unbelievably perfect in every way. Largely due to the help of many dear and talented friends and relatives. So many wonderful people were involved in the creation of this magical day, I’ll do my best to credit them all, but I will undoubtedly forget someone! Please know how grateful we are to everyone who helped make it happen. We love you we love you we love you we love you.

Firstly, this is a close-up of the phenomenally beautiful dress made for me by Scott Bowring. It is raw silk, I cannot begin to describe the level of detail and work that went into this masterpiece, I just felt amazing in it, and it was SO comfortable. (Photograph by Julia Henning)

This is Ash’s gorgeous tie, made as a custom order by the lovely folks at  http://cyberoptix.com/ and his three piece herringbone tweed suit!(Photograph by Eliza Bentley)

A hugandous thankyou must be given to my mother, who among other feats, virtually single-handedly organised a rustic autumnal feast for 80 people!! It was so delicious and nourishing, and everyone had their fill. There was crusty bread and big wheels of cheese, pickled vegetables, cold roast meats, dried fruit, an array of tiny quiches made by Ashton’s lovely relatives! It was wonderful! Also, the necklace I wore is mum’s, and it was my “borrowed thing”. Thankyou mum for being so helpful and enthusiastic. It was good to know that you were happy to do wedding plans at anytime!  (Photograph by Julia Henning)

This is the car that Marty generously lent to Ash and Cam, all decked out in purple ribbon! We felt like royalty in these vehicles! It was so special. Thankyou to Ken for driving me and Ellen, and for being so jolly! (Photograph by Eliza Bentley)

All the decorations were put up at 7am by the heroic team of Annie, El, Sarah, Lloyd, Evangeline, Ken, Marie, Ian and Beth. Thankyou for arriving in the cold, dark fogginess, getting ready with no electricity, and for arranging everything PERFECTLY. (Photograph by Julia Henning)

The hut was filled with hanging white paper cranes, made by Evangeline. Thankyou so much. (Photograph by Simon Bannister)

(Photograph by Annie Johns)

Annie also put together the beautiful wedding favours, little packets of sunflower seeds, grown in Mum’s garden. She hung them all up on a piece of string across the room and the guests came along and found the one with their name on it. (Photograph by Annie Johns)

The forest was so tranquil and crisp, and perfectly still. The music written for us by my Dad drifted through the trees, giving everything a feeling of excitement and anticipation. (Photograph by Simon Bannister)

Ellen and Cam heralded us by scattering (or in Cam’s case, weaponising) rose petals. (Photograph by Simon Bannister)

Did I mention we were married by a Jedi? Well, almost, it’s Ziggy Smith, our gorgeously caring and sunny celebrant. She is a hero, we absolutely couldn’t have found anyone better. Also, cheers to Steve and Cathren for the outfit! :) (Photograph by Julia Henning)

“You may now kiss your groom”  (Photograph by Eliza Bentley)

(Photograph by Annie Johns)

(Photograph by Eliza Bentley)

These are the mindblowingly detailed and delicious cakes made by my dearest friend and Maid of Honour, Ellen. She just put so much effort into these, and it showed. Everyone was gobsmacked. Half the small cakes were violet/chocolate, and the other half orange/chocolate. The main cake was multilayered  with chocolate and violet cream and there were berries and hand painted, gold-leaf-encrusted autumn leaves over everything. Ellen, I love you, you are amazing. (Photograph by Annie Johns)

(Photograph by Annie Johns)

Also among the feats achieved by Annie is the flowers. She carefully collected buckets of flowers and leaves from my mother’s house at dusk on Saturday night, and arranged them in a plethora of little glass jars and bottles. The end result looked so Autumnal and wild, it was gorgeous. (Photograph by Simon Bannister)

My wonderful (and very dapper!) Father, who not only funded the whole day, but also helped out with so many things, even while away working in Brisbane! He also wrote an amazingly beautiful piece of music for the opening of the ceremony, which perfectly captured the whole day, setting, and the relationship that Ash and I share! He knows us so well! (Photograph by Julia Henning)

This is Julia, Eli, Nick and Lachy performing a series of fantasticly adapted songs for us (which they prepared with only two weeks notice, I might add!) We all laughed hysterically at Skullcrusher Mountain by Johnathan Coulton,  had tears in our eyes for In my mind by Amanda Palmer, giggled at the hilarious and in-joke nature of the song they wrote for us, and I jumped around like a hysterically happy thing during Horchata by Vampire Weekend.

These. Guys. Are. Wonderful. (Photograph by Catherine Scholz)

A demonstration of our madly joyful “dancing” (Photograph by Catherine Scholz)

This is Ash posing thoughtfully in front of his Dad’s 1924 Dodge, which I was lucky enough to be driven in! I love this car so so much. (Photograph by Catherine Scholz)

(Photograph by Eliza Bentley)

We also had a photo booth set up. There is no way I can post even a fraction of the hilarious, poignant, lovely, cute, and terrifying pictures people took with this. We looked at them later that night, tucked up in our Hahndorf  B&B, and we absolutely laughed ourselves silly. Thankyou everyone so so much.

Me and my lovely wife. (Photograph by Julia Henning)

“On to Adventure!!” (Photograph by Julia Henning)

(Photograph by Julia Henning)

I also wanted to thank all the hugely talented photographers, who gave their time and skills and produced innumerable precious pieces of that magic day. For the full album of photos, go to www.machinespirit.net/ace/wedding.

Lastly, thankyou to everyone who came and shared the celebration with us, we couldn’t have enjoyed it more, and it was so so wonderful to be able to experience it with our dearest friends and relatives.

Thankyou.

Much love Em and Ash