VOGUE BRIDES 2013

GRANDIFLORA CELEBRATIONS BOOK

featuring wedding created and executed By Appointment 

entitled 'Foraging Tussy-Mussy', pages 108-117

BAZAAR BRIDES QUESTIONNAIRE

- Do you remember the first time you met your husband? Can you tell us about it?

Our fairytale romance had quite an unremarkable beginning, meeting as we did, socially in Sydney, quite by chance. Destiny perhaps? I was certainly smitten from the beginning and it feels like more than luck that we met.

 - Can you tell us about how your husband proposed to you?

David whisked me off to France, where we lunched at La Bastide de Moustiers, a restaurant of Monsieur Ducasse.  In the foothills of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the intimate restaurant is typical of understated French elegance – without pretension but with a sense of occasion.  Following lunch we ambled though the grounds, lovingly tended by Gilbert the resident gardener and a feature of the region, where David found the opportunity to propose, the most wonderful of surprises.  We were fortunate enough to have the moment captured by a professional photographer, who was dining in the restaurant, fittingly celebrating their wedding anniversary.  It was just one of those perfect days, that makes me grin like a Cheshire cat whenever I recall the memory.

- How would you describe the theme of your wedding day?

A guest described the reception as ‘A private dinner in a grand New York home with English manners and grace’, which made me smile.

- What overall feel were you trying to create at your wedding day?

An elegant ‘At Home’ dinner shared with family and special friends.

- Were you involved in the styling of the event?

As the director of By Appointment, a wedding & events company, I am fortunate to have the job of my dreams.  I have thrown parties for celebrities and created events from the extremely grand corporate event to a very special private dinner for a mature gentleman client. By appointment, I am also honoured with the opportunity to work intimately with a bride and groom to create their dream wedding.  And, whatever the occasion, for me it is the creativity of my role that is the most thrilling.  My wedding was no exception.

- Were there any styling details you would like to tell us about?

My mother has instilled in me that “ Elegance is remembered long after gimmicks have been forgotten”. It is perhaps because of this sensibility that a well-appointed table makes my heart sing.

I consider it a great compliment when one has taken the time to attend to the details of presentation, not least of a table, and ordinarily make considerable effort to do so for my guests.  It was important to me to uphold these standards, at our wedding. 

The table setting was very much ‘Christofle and Crystal’ in spirit, that is, silver and cut crystal ‘art de la table’ featured prominently.  As I was unable to acquire many of these items locally I hand-sourced them individually from International boutiques and where possible commissioned bespoke customization of local products.

Since the styling of the wedding was most significant the consequent research and efforts were comprehensive and extensive, not least of time.   But for me it was the collective display of items individually selected and sourced that gave the wedding a unique and personal feel.

Plentiful clusters of square Spode porcelain vases, cut crystal rose bowls and small beaded silver vases formed the focus of the tables, in consideration of which all other styling elements were derived.

The much talented local artist James Gordon, was commissioned to individually hand paint the dinner plates with an interpretation of our crest – a most wonderful treat!

Silver knife rests a rarity in Australia but a signature of finely dressed tables from the Left Bank to the Upper East side, in the style of ducks, were a whimsical addition.

- What flowers did you use and why?

For the wedding, we luxuriously flew in a small garden of David Austin cut roses, direct from the grower in Kenya.  For some tastes there might have been a few too many flowers, but for me they are one of nature’s pleasures to be enjoyed in abundance. I adore to fill our home with flowers, so, whilst indulgent, it was natural to create a rambling table top garden at our wedding

We chose the Juliet and Rosalind cut David Austin Roses, to wash the tables with a burst of palest pink and peach.  The fully blown blooms were hand arranged in a relaxed style and presented in clusters of traditional vases (1 per guest) to compliment the milieu of antiques and antiquities.

My British father once sent me a beautiful bouquet of the most fragrant gardenias, which is not at all in his character and touched me greatly.   Because of the joy that they brought me, Gardenia’s seemed the perfect choice for my bridal bouquet.

- What about the colour palette of your wedding?  Can you tell us about it?

I abhor what I term an ‘American’ wedding where everything matches and is formulaic.  As such, we didn’t have an official colour palette, preferring to more respectfully approach each element of the wedding individually.  Whilst the table top styling was very traditional and in-keeping with the setting of Martyn Cook Antiques, independently the items were quite different in colour, making for a more creative and interesting aesthetic.  For, my husband and I, who each being rather conservative often joke about our fondness for beige and grey respectively, the usage of colour at our wedding was quite wild.

- Can you tell us about your dress and why you picked the dress you did?

With much experience, I have learned that ordinarily I prefer to and have infinitely more success shopping alone.  Shopping for my wedding dress however was a cherished occasion shared with my mother and sister.  On a trip to Europe we attended an appointment at Browns Brides in London, a very special experience. 

Presented with a selection of gowns, that perfectly fulfilled my brief, the decision ought to have been difficult, but it was a true saccharine rom-com moment when I tried on the Confection by Monique Lhuillier with shared knowing glances, audible breath-taking and gasps of ‘This is THE one’.

The original design featured a peplem of fine Chantilly lace encasing a puff of tulle, attached to a strapless bodice of corded Chantilly lace.  The dress was a completely frothy creation and quite heavenly!  But, as it was important to me to cover my shoulders in church I contacted Monique Lhuillier directly and asked that a more formal lace top be created for the wedding ceremony.  The waist of the new design followed the undulating hem of the peplem and scalloped around the décolletage, completely changing the feel of the dress.  For the reception I reverted to the original strapless design and indulged in the sugar-coated girliness of it – far more fairytale princess than I care to admit!

- What about hair and make-up? How would you describe the look you went for?

As did Catherine Middleton for her wedding to Prince William, I chose to apply my own make-up.  I adore to be pampered, but for the occasion preferred to appear as I usually do.

Ordinarily I prefer to wear my hair in what I term a ‘do’, that is, bouncy and voluminous.  For my wedding I consciously chose a more understated chignon, dressed with a tiara and veil.  Hairdresser Robert Maiolo gave the style lots of depth and height and a softness that better complimented my look.

- What about shoes?  What shoes did you wear and why did you pick them?

Christian Louboutin Hyper Prive in ivory satin, the simplest of shoes, as it is a favourite of my very conservative husband.

- Did you have any bridesmaids or flowers girls?  What did they wear?

The flower girls wore traditional smocked dresses in a blue toile by Annafie, in which I had a little bell sewn into the hem that tinkled as they walked.  On their heads a circlet of roses - very English wedding in style.

- What was the most exciting part of your wedding day?

En route to the chapel my bridesmaids and mother’s car escorted that in which my father and I were travelling, pipping their horn and whooping with delight.  It was very sweet and created the most wonderful excitement.

- Were you nervous walking down the aisle?

I was both nervous and most emotional walking down the aisle. The sense of occasion certainly had an impact, but it was the opportunity of becoming David’s wife that overwhelmed me with emotion.

Whilst it has since hosted a small number of select events, when I approached Mr Cook the space in which he houses Martyn Cook Antiques, had not been used for external events.  Then recently refurbished, persuading Mr Cook to hand over the keys to his gleaming flagship proved a significant challenge. 

-Why did you pick that venue?  What did you love about it?

The building, a former Electric Light Station, is a contemporary industrial shell juxtaposed with the most beautiful of antiques, for which his business is acclaimed.  It was, I thought, perfect for our wedding and I consider it a very special favour that we were given rare access to such an exceptional setting and use of his fine antiques.

- What about food? Can you tell us about your menu?

We selfishly created a nostalgic menu inspired by memories of our favoured meals. The food had an Italian flavour, with a concentration on simple dishes of fresh local produce.

For main we served lobster w/skinny fries – a personal favourite!

- Most memorable moment from your wedding day?

I will eternally remember the emotion of walking into Shore chapel and locking eyes with David as an angelic and very talented soloist from the school choir sang Ave Maria – a shivering memory or the most wonderful kind.

- What advice would you give brides-to-be?

Plan with meticulous precision and when possible instruct the help of a professional.

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