Robin and Kerry celebrated two of life’s biggest milestones at Maleny Retreat in South East Queensland – a spot they say was perfect for their relaxed, family-oriented affair.

Photographed by legend Luke Going, this pair’s day (which included an intimate ceremony and a picnic) has taught us how important it is to follow your heart and not your head when it comes to planning a wedding.

Tell us about how you met and the proposal?

After asking for my Grandfather’s permission, Kerry had been planning a surprise proposal involving a picnic on the top of a mountain in the middle of the bush. However, at 4am the morning of the planned surprise proposal (Saturday the 21st of March), moments after we found out we were pregnant and expecting our first child, happiness, joy and excitement overcame Kerry and as we both shed happy tears he proposed right then and there. We still enjoyed our picnic later that day and had two wonderful things to celebrate!

What DIY projects did you do accomplish for the wedding?

We decided to make our own bunting –  our mothers made it over a weekend using scraps of old material and recycled ribbon.

We also made our own bonbonnieres, we used recycled vintage jars filled with local honey from West Wyalong. Kerry is a passionate beekeeper so it fitted us really well. We topped the jars with hessian, a personal stamp with our names and the date and some handmade woollen flowers.

The bunting turned out beautifully, it was so bright and provided a beautiful contrast to the wintry weather over the weekend. The bunting marked a beautiful pathway through the corridor of trees leading to our ceremony location, made even more special because we had created it.

What was your theme/inspiration/vibe for your wedding?

Our inspiration was to create a family weekend away, where both families came together as one to celebrate our love and life together. We wanted to create a relaxed, happy and intimate setting with plenty of good food, music, games and time together in the most amazing setting with the most beautiful view!

What traditions did you involve during your big day?

I wore Kerry’s mother’s great-grandmother’s brooch in my hair, Kerry’s brother’s wife wore the same piece at their wedding earlier in the year. It was certainly a family affair as we asked Kerry’s sister to be our celebrant. We were so honoured to have her stand with us and witness our wedding – it felt very fitting for the intimate wedding we wanted to create.

What advice would you give to other couples leading up to their big day?

Make sure the wedding reflects you as a couple and as individuals. We started with our ideal concept of a wedding as if it was just the two of us standing in front of each other and we built on it from there. That helped us create an intimate, connected, simple and love-filled wedding.

We felt it was really important that the weekend and wedding day was a true reflection of who we are as a couple and what we enjoyed and what was important to us – love, family, intimacy, simplicity, joy and happiness.

What does marriage mean to you?

Partnership, equality, love, happiness and family. For us, it was a way to celebrate the life we already share together and to acknowledge how privileged and honoured we are to be sharing the journey together. Our wedding was the perfect way to mark all that we have and look forward to, a shining bright future together as our love continues to grow and blossom.

What was your favourite moment on your wedding day?

Kerry’s favourite moment: standing next to my sister (who we were lucky enough to have as our celebrant), in front of my family and watching Robin walk under the bright bunting down the corridor of trees with her Mum by her side to meet me on the edge of the mountain. Every time I hear the song that was playing then (If I Needed You – The Broken Circle Breakdown), I am taken back to that exact moment.

Getting ready on the deck of the guesthouse with my family while playing giant Jenga with my nephew and brothers. My mum pinning my buttonhole flowers onto my jacket. The speeches were both very special; both of our mothers spoke beautifully and paid wonderful tributes to the occasion.

Robin’s favourite moment: Sitting quietly with my sister as we did my makeup, it was lovely to spend that time together as sisters and have her there with me as I prepared for such an important moment in my life. Through the open French door I could hear Kerry and his family laughing, chatting and playing Jenga on the deck outside – it was the perfect soundtrack to my morning.

Soon my mother and stepmother joined us and they helped me with the final touches, it was so fitting to have the three special women who are my immediate family there with me. Having Mum walk me down to meet Kerry was emotional; it was a really intimate and treasured moment between mother and daughter. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Kerry standing next to his sister through the bunting and trees, crying joyful tears and smiling so brightly as he watched us walk towards them.

I was speechless when Kerry and I stood up together to say an impromptu speech of thanks following the speeches, he read out a dream, a piece of writing of his ideal life which he had written and shared with me as a romantic gesture when as we first were falling in love. It was amazing to hear him read those words with such deep emotion and love in front of our families, as we are now living that dream that he shared with me so long ago and we are so happy.

Tell us any funny stories that surrounded your wedding?

As Kerry was standing out at the ceremony site with all of our family members waiting for Robin to walk down to meet him a huge black cloud drifted across and delivered a refreshing dose of rain! Thankfully we had prepared and had a supply of umbrellas waiting. Kerry sent his brother-in-law back to see Robin and ask if she thought it was best that they all came inside and they relocated the ceremony to the deck of the guest house. Robin, who is known for her positivity, insisted that all was ok and that the weather would clear by the time she and her mum were ready to make their way across. Miraculously, that is exactly what happened, as Robin walked down to meet Kerry the sun came out and the weather was perfect for the rest of the afternoon.

CREDITS Photos Luke Going Photography // Flowers Maleny Montville Florist // Ceremony and reception Maleny Retreat // Catering Love My Food // Decorations Handmade // Bridal gown Beige Vintage Co // Brides shoes Walnut Melbourne // Grooms suit Jacket Massimo Dutti, Shirt Germanicos, Pants Rodd and Gunn // Grooms shoes ShuBar // Rings antique // Cake Cakes by Zoe // Hair Heads in the Cloud // Makeup Inika // Celebrant Marriage by Tessa.