In September I arranged a collaboration with wedding vendors on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales to showcase the destination wedding area and to inspire brides-to-be for planning a country farm style wedding.
The Sapphire Coast of New South Wales is the perfect destination for interstate weddings with only 3 hours to Canberra and 6-7 hours to Melbourne and Sydney.
This collaboration took place at the historic town of Tilba Tilba at the base of Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) at Mountain View Farm.
Interview with Kath from Mountain View Farm Tilba Tilba
Can you tell us a bit about your stunning farm at Tilba?
Mountain View Farm was the first selected property in the Tilba area and was set up as a dairy and cheese making centre. It has a long history with both Tilba townships and now we are lucky enough to be operating on a small part of the original portion of the farm. It is located at the base of Gulaga, the Mother mountain and the views from all aspects of the property are dominated by her amazing presence. We have been here for 4 years and have developed a boutique holiday accommodation and function business amongst 5 acres of gardens nestled alongside farmland and national park.
Your paper daisy fields are spectacular, when would be the best time to visit to see them in the future? The everlasting daisies generally flower between August and October, depending on the season. They are in flower for a short time this year now (late Sept) until around mid October.
We have also started growing other flowers and expect there will be different flowers on show during the summer and early autumn period as well.
What kind of facilities does Mountain View Farm have for weddings? For ceremonies, we have set up beautiful french wrought iron gates in the garden facing Gulaga with our horses in the foreground. Newlyweds are able to have photographs within the gardens and rustic old buildings.
We have a renovated Old Dairy space, which includes toilets and rustic furniture and other facilities (eg. fridging, BBQs, fire pits).
There is ample space adjoining the Old Dairy to set up a marquee big enough to manage at least 120 for a sit down meal.
What types of accommodation are onsite? Mountain View Farm includes 3 self contained cottages - a 2 bedroom cottage, a one bedroom cottage and an open plan Studio which has been wheelchair accessibility designed. We also have 2 huge safari style glamping tents. There is a possibility to add extra glamping tents on discussion.
What is the capacity for the venue space for weddings? The Old Dairy can accommodate 120+ for drinks/canapes and the adjoining grassed area can accommodate 120+ for sit down meal.
What makes your venue unique on the Sapphire Coast? Our spectacular location at the base of Gulaga is truly unique. There are views of Gulaga from anywhere on the property, including all accommodations. The character of the authentic old dairy buildings in adds a true rustic and relaxed feel.
Can Bride & Grooms come to the property for bridal party images after their ceremony? Yes, we are open to photographic bookings.
Any new venue developments or plans on the horizon?
We do have ideas for future development but there are no timeframes as yet!
Interview with Joccoaa Taylor of JT Photography
How would you describe your wedding photography style?
My photography style would be modern, candid & fun.
What got you inspired to be apart of the wedding industry?
Taking photos has always been a passion of mine, but photographing weddings has just evolved.
Do you have favourite places to photograph bridal parties?
There are so many beautiful locations in our local area so we are definitely spoiled for choice. The range is what I like the most. We have the beach to grassy paddocks all within half an hour of each other.
Interview with Lisa Garner of Lisa Jane Skin and Beauty
How would you describe your wedding makeup style?
My style is flawless soft natural dewy skin, enhancing natural features and bringing out their eyes. I take into consideration the individuals skin condition, personal style, colouring including wedding theme and bring together. The makeup lasts, stunning in person and camera ready.
What style of makeup would you suggest for a rustic farm style wedding?
Deeper colours for eyes and/or lips as brighter and playful colours are often used in wedding theme.
What is a tip you can offer brides when planning a wedding?
Some of the most important parts of the day for a bride are hair, makeup and photographer. This is what you look back on in years to come so if you want to bring to life the idea you've always dreamed of, you need professionals on the day to bring to reality.
Book early to avoid disappointment.
Start a skincare regime six months before your wedding.
Interview with Carla from CC Bridal Pambula
What styles of dresses would you suggest for a rustic farm style wedding?
The practicalities of walking around a farm need to be considered when choosing your dress for a rustic style wedding. A heavily embellished mermaid skirt with cathedral length train is going to be awkward to walk in across a variety of surfaces, including long grass, gravel & dirt.
I would suggest a flowing A-line skirt (think layers of luxurious chiffon) that will be light enough to carry, with a feminine lace bodice. Or, for the more daring bride, you could consider tea length.
Boho or vintage works beautifully for a rustic theme, as it can easily be paired with boots, Acubra & a spray of wildflowers for that authentic country vibe. Or, to soften the look, opt for loose curls & a small, colourful posy.
Once again you’ll need to think about the weather. You may need something warm for when the sun goes down. A cute denim jacket is always fun, or layer the boho look with a crocheted shawl.
What are some of the main questions brides ask you? And what are the answers?
Q: How expensive are your dresses?
A: We have a rapidly growing range of wedding gowns that retail between $399 & $1000. If your budget is super tight but you have time to order, you can choose a bridesmaids’ style in ivory for under $300.
At the other end, our most expensive dress at any given time would be approx. $2500.
Q: All the dresses are too long. How will I walk?
A: Wedding gowns are generally all made to a standard hem length. We offer an after sales alterations service to help our brides with everything from shortening their hem to adding custom sleeves.
What tips you can offer brides when deciding on a bridal gown?
Firstly, keep an open mind! The dress that looks amazing on that bride on Instagram may not be the dress for you. Go to a bridal store, try on lots of different necklines, skirts & fabric types and listen to the advice of the person fitting you.
Choose your dress for you. Not for your mum, your bridesmaids, for fashion or for any other reason that isn’t true to you.
Be decisive. Mum and I have seen brides miss out on the dress they wanted because they were afraid to commit & place the order while there was time. Of course, you want to be sure that you’re choosing the right dress. But don’t miss out entirely because something better might come along. My advice would be to say yes to the dress & then stop looking!
Do you offer any other services or products?
We specialise in bridal, deb & formal dresses. We also stock an extensive bridesmaid range, bridal accessories, & offer aftersales alterations.
Interview with Sam from Faux Flower Company
What are the benefits of faux flowers for weddings?
There are definitely benefits of both faux & fresh. For faux florals though, they are able to be reused, time and time again, there is also minimal mess and wastage at the end of the day. Also, given the current environment, some fresh floral varieties are hard to secure at our Flower Markets, so the option of faux floral means you can have the flower that you want, at any time of the year.
What faux flowers would you suggest for a rustic farm style wedding?
For a rustic farm style, we’d probably suggest trailing native foliages, gum & eucalyptus, add in some gorgeous natives, king proteas, flannel, and a couple of roses to still keep that little bit of that “wedding” feel.
What are some of the main questions brides ask you?
Q: Most common themes?
A: At the moment, the most common themes we are seeing coming through are;
Big dried/palm weddings - think Byron Boho/Luxe
Floral heavy - very heavy floral weddings in whites and soft pinks
Whites - whites is still a really strong theme / mood for us, classic, simple, stylish!
What tips you can offer brides when planning for their wedding from your industry experience?
At the very start, sit down and talk through your budget. Work out what budget range you want to spend, then have a think about what are the absolute must haves for you and your partner, what are the things that are really important for the both of you, and how can you make this day special for the two of you and your guests. We LOVE to encourage our couples to bring your personality into the wedding.
To view the full gallery from the collaboration click here.
Collaboration Team Credits
VENUE: @mountainviewfarmtilbatilba
PHOTOGRAPHER: @jt.photography____
GOWNS: @ccbridalpambula
MAKEUP: @lisajaneskinandbeauty
BOUQUET: @fauxflowercompany
MODELS: @holly_little5 & @sharnie.lei
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