Emily + Charlie - BoxGrove

If anyone was going to pull of an unforgettable wedding celebration, it was Emily. A project manager by day and a past employee of BoxGrove - their stunning NSW barn wedding venue - she had plenty of tips and tricks up her sleeve, including an unusual ritual involving a raw sausage. "We also buried a raw sausage at the ceremony location and danced around it like crazy witches trying to bring good weather as we had heard about this working. It did clear the skies for our ceremony which was lucky...", said Emily.

Regardless of the weather though, it was a magical event that was "timeless, classy and romantic" with a black tie dress code, live music by Paper Hearts and Hugh Whyte, a champagne tower, simple white florals by Bloom Babes and all their loved ones under one very well-styled roof.

Captured by Megan Kelly, this is one for the Pinterest board.

How did you meet? We were both in Europe and had exchanged a few messages on Instagram and met up when we were both back home in Aus. A bottle of red and a night of chatting and we've been inseparable since.

Wedding venue: We had the ceremony at my family farm so my late grandparents could be there with us. We then relocated to BoxGrove Bathurst for the reception because we didn't want the clean up task after a home wedding and I have worked on and off at BG since for the last 15 or so years - it is an INCREDIBLE venue in every way.

Wedding vibe: We wanted timeless, classy and romantic. Everyone wearing black and white, and black tie dress code. Simple white florals and a delicious raspberry topped cake.

Best wedding planning resource? Kayla Atkins from BoxGrove - she taught me everything I know about weddings over the years of work at BG and luckily I had some knowledge before planning my own wedding otherwise I would've been pretty overwhelmed!

Hit (or near) miss: I had dry heels on the morning so just before we left for the ceremony I put on some heel balm... I had slingback heels on and the strap came off my heel as I was walking down the aisle. I was clinging to the shoes for dear life with my toes lol.

We also buried a raw sausage at the ceremony location and danced around it like crazy witches trying to bring good weather as we had heard about this working. It did clear the skies for our ceremony which was lucky because we had no wet weather option for the ceremony and wouldn't have been able to have it at my farm if it was raining.

Expectations vs. reality: I am a project manager by trade so organising the wedding was not an issue, but the unpredictable changes to budget were not as I'd expected! I should have planned for some contingency for that. Be prepared to pay thousands on alterations for dresses!

Best thing you did? Have the ceremony at my family farm. Every time I am there know I remember walking down the aisle so vividly and our vows and it gives me all the feels every time.

If we had our time again (anything you'd do differently in retrospect?) Be more prepared for wet weather. I tried to manifest sunny skies and that didn't go our way so that added a bit of stress to the wedding week.

Rapid Fire Questions

Wedding splurge?

Dress.

Wedding save?

Reuse of florals.

First look?

No.

Best thing you ate or drank on the day?

I don't remember eating lol.

Aisle song?

"Lifetime", by Justin Bieber.

Party starter track?

"Man, I feel Like A Woman", by Shania Twain.

Ceremony or reception (which won)?

Ceremony for all the feels I'll never forget with Charlie.

On-budget or over-budget?

Over-budget.

Honeymoon destination?

Vanuatu.

CREDITS: Photos Megan Kelly // Venue BoxGrove // Celebrant Get Hitched by Amanda // Content Creation By Clara Rose // Florist Bloom Babes // Catering Margot Burke Catering // Cake La Nipotina // Stationery Creative Birds Event Stationery // Bridal gown and veil L'eto Bridal and Kyha Studios // Bride's shoes Tony Bianco // Accessories Kings Hall Jewellers // Bridesmaid dresses Camilla and Marc // Bridesmaid gifts Kat The Label and Adore Beauty // Suits and ties Rundle Tailoring // Rings Kate and Kole and Kings Hall Jewellers // Hair Hair by Millah // Makeup Denhammua // Music Paper Hearts and Hugh Whyte // Transport Clint Mutton Buses Bathurst // Toilet hire Luxury Toilets // Photobooth Renaissance Photobooths.