It's true that wedding planning can be stressful. But couples like Shaun and Saskia are living proof that it can be easily mitigated by choosing the right wedding venue.  

"Squires Vineyard was perfect, as we rented the entire property which sleeps 30 people, for three nights - we were able to do everything there including getting ready, the ceremony, the reception, and the recovery brunch!... It was such a nice added bonus that Squire's also does all of the styling (including the florals) as well as the co-ordinating, it made the wedding planning process so much easier", said Saskia.

Having an all-inclusive wedding venue wasn't their only right move. This pair also dismissed any traditions that felt outdated to create a day that reflected their values. The result? A wedding day with zero regrets.


How did you and Shaun meet? We met at a Halloween themed party 11 years ago and spoke briefly, the next day I added Shaun on Facebook and we spoke a few times before eventually going on our first date a few months later to the movies (we saw Wolf Creek haha). 

Shaun had an upcoming summer in Europe booked, and I was moving to Jindabyne to do a ski season, but we decided to commit and did long distance for the first two to three months of our relationship. Ten years later we got married on our 10 year anniversary.

The proposal: Shaun had been trying to plan a weekend away for a while, but it kept getting cancelled due to COVID. Eventually we were able to go to beautiful Wollombi. On the second day, we were going wine tasting and Shaun's sister Amanda had secretly set up a proposal at one of the wineries - I immediately started crying, and don't remember anything Shaun said as I blacked out haha! Luckily, he showed me his notes afterwards.

The venue: We wanted somewhere where we could stay for the whole weekend with our family and wedding party, so that we didn't have to move around! Squires Vineyard was perfect, as we rented the entire property which sleeps 30 people, for three nights - we were able to do everything there including getting ready, the ceremony, the reception, and the recovery brunch! Once we saw the beautiful property and the rooms, we fell in love. 

It was such a nice added bonus that Squire's also does all of the styling (including the florals) as well as the co-ordinating, it made the wedding planning process so much easier. 

The vibe: We wanted classic, elegant and simple. The theme was black tie, and the colour scheme we used was mainly black, white with a touch of red and a lot of candles, styling wise. 

Although we wanted more of a formal look to the day, we also wanted the day to be fun and relaxed without our guests having to move around too much or change venues, which is why Squire's Vineyard was perfect.

Traditions (adopted, adapted or ditched): I walked myself down the aisle as the thought of being 'given' away never felt right to me. My dad completely understood and was not offended in any way. 

We also had all of the speeches in one go before dinner was served, so that we could all enjoy the meal without having to stop and start, and so that those giving speeches didn't have to nervously wait for too long. 

Hit (or near) miss: It rained for the entirety of our wedding day, so naturally my dress and our shoes were filthy! We walked down to this wharf through the mud and puddles, only to realise it was covered in duck poo, which I didn't want to drag my dress through (mud is one thing, but I draw the line at duck poo haha). 

In the end, the rain didn't matter and it made for an incredible intimate feeling on the day, as well as amazing photos which we will cherish forever!

I'll always remember... Our ceremony was so special, and something that we will cherish forever. Another highlight was sitting down at the reception and seeing all of our friends smiling, laughing and chatting away - we opted for a shared style menu to help create this feel and it was so worth it. 

The outfit/s: I went to a few different places and Karen Willis Holmes dresses were the only dresses I tried on that felt like a wedding dress in terms of the quality and worth the price! I loved that you could mix and match tops and skirts, to create the perfect dress and I felt incredible on the day.

Brent Wilson made Shaun's, his groomsmen's and our nephews (the ring bearer) suits. He actually surprised me and wore a white jacket on the day. It was actually such a nice surprise walking down the aisle to see Shaun in white, he looked amazing.

Standout vendors: All of our vendors were amazing, the absolute standouts were: 

• Squire's Vineyard (venue)
• Sally Perkins (celebrant)
• Paul Golbach (photographer)
• Gemma Jamieson (MUA)
• Liam from Red Soda (vocalist, guitarist and DJ)
• Mezzo Catering (catering)

Soundtrack: Aisle song: "Sky Full of Stars", by Coldplay. First dance: "Tennessee Whiskey", by Chris Stapleton. Reception entrance: "Levels", by Avicii.

Words of wedding wisdom: Enjoy the engagement period, planning a wedding is a big task and can be extremely stressful at times, so don't forget to be present and enjoy the engagement period as it such a special and often brief period of your life and relationship!

The future: Not planning a wedding haha.. just kidding! As we have been together for 10 years, our relationship feels no different as it did before getting married, in the best possible way! So, we are looking forward to continuing to grow both individually and together as a couple, with each other by our side. 

CREDITS: Photos Paul Golbach // Venue Squire's Vineyard // Celebrant The Mindful Celebrant // Florist Heather Davy // Catering Mezzo Catering // Cake Dragonfly Cakes // Bridal gown Karen Willis Holmes // Bride's shoes Nina // Bridesmaid dresses Billy J // PJs/Robes Bride Tribes // Suits Brent Wilson // Hair Airlie & Co // Makeup Gemma Jamieson // Rings Alan Gray // Music Red Soda Band.