Tara and Sam tied the knot after 5 beautiful years together in an intimate ceremony that was splendidly styled. A change of location due to poor weather didn't affect these two celebrating in style, and their day came together beautifully, with fine attention to all those carefully prepared details.
Photos by Jacob Jennings Photography
When did you know Sam was the ONE?
The weekend we met, he left my place and I was on the phone to my best friend and I told her I’m going to marry that one
Tell us how Sam proposed - We love a good ring story!
I had booked up a romantic room package in Adelaide for his birthday and I told him about it.
So when we arrive I’ve gone to check in and I looked out and he’s rooting around in the boot and I couldn’t understand why. Once we were all checked in I went and parked the car and he took the luggage up.
He waited for me in the lobby once he brought the trolley down and we went up together but he kept walking behind me (very strange he’s normally 10 steps ahead) he opens the door and on the bed is a heart in rose petals and the ring in the middle. I immediately start crying and he gets down on one knee and asks if I will marry him, I was nodding because I couldn’t get the words out, he waits until I verbally say yes, he gives me the ring box and walks off to the food. He was so stressed about the whole thing he forgot what to do.
When you first started wedding planning, what where 3 of the most important things to you both about your wedding day?
Honouring his mum (she passed from breast cancer when he was 9)
Keeping it intimate, we had 20 guests
Good food, good drinks, good company
Where did you choose to get married?
Ceremony- The Macs Hotel
Reception- The Barn
How did you pick your venue?
It was between two and The Barn was able to give us a ceremony location and reception venue but because of typical Mount Gambier weather we had to change our ceremony to an indoor venue
What Vendors did you use and who did you spend the most time selecting?
Did any Vendors go above and beyond for you?
SE Marquees
The Barn
Lisa Re cakes
Probably Lisa took the longest to select, but then again she was the first person I contacted about a cake and she was incredible
SE Marquees went above and beyond!! We unfortunately had to cancel our hire items for the ceremony due to the venue change but the way they set the room with The Barn was just so beautiful.
Did you find it difficult to bring your wedding under budget?
Not at all, we had a 10k budget and stayed right under it!
What is a unique way you personalised your special day?
We only had our closest people with us even our photographer was a good friend of mine from high school
Do you have any advice for other couples planning a wedding on a lower budget?
You don’t have to do it all, wedding favours a great but if you have hundreds of people the add up really fast, same with all the stationary, also only do what you and your fiancé want it’s your day.
When you look back on your day, what is your most favourite memory?
Our first look, just seeing him and his reaction was perfect
Party all night or did you sneak off with your loved one early in the night?
We only had our reception area until 11 and by then we had well and truely reached a level of tired I don’t think we ever had
What is something unique you did in your ceremony?
We had a seat saved for my MIL who had passed, we also swapped the sides, meaning my family sat on the opposite side so they could see me not my back.
How did you pick your bridal party
My sister was my MoH easy pick she’s always been my best friend
My other best friend we have been friends for 18 years
And once of my closest friends who I used to work with she was the only person who kept me sane in that place
How did you choose the colour and styling of your bridesmaid dresses?
The colours for the wedding were navy, gold and white so my girls were going to be in navy blue. I wanted to have them all in the same but body types weren’t going to allow that.
For my sister it was hard because we could only look a dresses for a while because she was pregnant.
The dresses in the end it was too smooth how it came together. For one of my girls she’s tall and thin and I found a slip dress that would look heavenly on her so I told her this one’s for you.
Later I was flicking through The Iconic and I spotted one for my best friend she wasn’t keen on it but then she and I were shopping in Myer and I pulled it off the rack and she loved it. As for my sister, Sam and I had gone to look for clothes for him and the boys and as soon as I walked in there was her dress, I sent her a photo and she got it.
How did you include Sam in the planning? Did he contribute to the nitty gritty stuff or leave the details up to you?
He was actually great, the hardest part was the seating chart and we went to a brewery and sat out side and smashed it out.
In three words describe your special day to us!
Cold, wet, perfect
If you had the chance to give one piece of advice to a fellow bride what would it be?
Stay hydrated!! I would have drank 2L the morning after I was so thirsty
Looking back, how would you describe the atmosphere of your wedding day?
All I wanted was the big family vibe and that’s exactly what we got. I kept pushing for our reception to be just a big family dinner and that’s exactly what it was we had such a good time.
Did you include any special traditions into your day?
Old, new, borrowed and blue
I had my great grandmothers engagement ring on my bouquet, my sister bought me an embroidered denim jacket, I wore my MIL pearl earrings (her name is Margaret which means pearl and that is my birthstone), and I wore navy shoes.
Did you love your gown? How did it make you feel wearing your Celeste dress?
I have never felt so beautiful in my life, that dress was everything I ever dreamed of
After I managed to navigate my way into it (I was on my own) I just sat and cried it was so perfect.
What is something unique you did for your reception?
We didn’t have a bridal party table, we had a U shaped table and Sam and I sat in the middle of the head with our MoH and Best Man and their partners next to them
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your entire wedding day? Honeymoon Plans?
We had to make a pit stop because I didn’t eat all day, we went to macs for nuggies we got very strange looks. Because of Covid we could only go to Adelaide but we had booked the most amazing hotel (Hotel Indigo) and we planned a very romantic first night. We got through the first two days then I had a chest infection and was bed bound for at least the last 2.
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