Anthea and Simon

Simon proposed to me on Good Friday 2003 at the Arts Centre, which was the place of our first date. He wanted it to be the best Friday ever and one to always remember which now it will be! We decided on a wedding date of 20th November 2004 and took about 12 months on and off to plan our wedding. We were also both involved in another 2 weddings during the year, as well as our own so it was certainly a marriage full year for us!

Once we had managed to narrow down the guest list to 98 family and friends, we decided to base our wedding theme around paua and used the colours associated with it throughout our wedding.

Our invitations which we made ourselves incorporated paua. We also made the favours that doubled as name cards for the tables. These were little jars that we had filled up with pink, purple, red and white jelly beans and then hand tied either a pink or purple ribbons depending on the gender on the name card.

We used the same paper as our invitations for the name cards which we wrapped around the jars and placed a piece of paua on each. We also printed our own menus for the wedding breakfast which we put onto blue bottles that doubled as water bottles on the tables for an extra bit of colour on the table.

I wore an ivory delustered satin half circle one piece gown with overlay, with intricate hand beading of crystals on the bodice which was made by a close family friend Pauline Alexandre. The Bridesmaids wore a simple two piece A line skirt with fitted bodice in a stunning shot pink/blue/silver fabric which matched their paua jewellery perfectly.

I had always wanted to travel in a Rolls Royce, so our wedding was the perfect chance for that to happen and it was a fabulous way to arrive at the wedding. We also had an old stretched Cadillac limo for the bridal party to travel in afterwards including to the bowling alley when we went ten pin bowling during our photographs!

My dad walked me up the aisle and passed me onto Simon and I gave him a kiss when I first got to the alter which was one of the most romantic moments of the wedding. We had decided to use traditional wedding vows which made the ceremony feel very special. It was also wonderful when my grandmother stood up and did a reading for us.

The reception at Langdales Winery was great and having all our family and friends with us to celebrate our special day made it even better. Seeing all the guests and wedding party laugh and cry during the speeches, especially when the groom and bride spoke was very special to us both (including me when Simon opened his heart during his speech to make everyone cry!). We have since enjoyed reading the book that our guests signed for us on the night for us and remembering day.

Simon's parents were married 33 years to the day - so we now share their wedding anniversary My Grandmother and Aunty made our wedding cake.

We kept tradition by not staying together the night before the wedding and Simon not seeing or knowing anything about my dress until the day and our wedding ceremony.

I also decided to follow the wedding day traditions and wore:

Something old = an old handkerchief

Something new = my dress and accessories

Something borrowed = diamond earrings from my mother in law

Something Blue = blue detail on my garter

Best decision for me was having our hair & make up done at home as it saved traveling time. Allow more time to get ready on the day - it just seemed to fly by too fast!!

Simon kept the honeymoon a secret from me, right up until we boarded the plane. We spent 3 nights in Singapore and then a further 7 nights in Phukett where we had the most fabulous time relaxing and shopping and now have some very special memories.

And Anthea's advice on marriage: "Married life is wonderful - hasn't really changed for us. Be happy together and always talk about problems, never bottle them up or pretend nothing is wrong."