Ria and Jessie: Love, and Happiness
Ria and Jessie’s wedding celebration unfolded amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Redleaf. Their union was not just a coming together of two souls, but a harmonious fusion of nature’s beauty, Tuscan vibes, and the warm hues of autumn. Beyond the picturesque setting, what truly set their day apart was the unwavering focus on FUN, genuine love, and happiness.
Photographer House of Lucie | Venue Redleaf, Wollombi
“Marriage, to Jessie and I, is a sacred bond and a commitment to constantly show up for one another. In our marriage, we embrace each other for who we are, celebrating strengths and accepting all parts of each other…”
How and when did you meet?
Ria: I was living in Canberra at the time, and Jessie had always lived in Sydney. I decided to download a dating app for the first time ever, and extended my radius to Sydney! Jessie messaged me saying "Hey Gorgeous" and we didn't stop talking, texting and facetiming for the next month until we decided to meet in person...
Tell us a little about that first time you met…
Ria: As we lived a few hours apart, we both decided to meet in Huskisson for the weekend, I booked an airbnb and we had the best time, our first date was a beach picnic on Hyams beach! The entire weekend was a blend of getting to know each other - chatting on the veranda of our place, enjoying meals, exploring the local beaches and soaking up the nature. Our connection was instant and we felt so at ease with each other from the start. When we both left Huskisson to return to our homes in Canberra and Sydney, we couldn't help but feel so buzzed and excited for the next time we would see each other.
What was the first thing you noticed about each other?
Ria: Jessie said she doesn't remember as she was too nervous when she first met me! But she noticed how thoughtful I was because I had pre-packed a beach picnic however, she was secretly dying inside because I didn't wash the blueberries! haha
Jessie was a lot smaller than I'd imagined, I thought she was going to be taller than me because most people are! I also first noticed just how much Jessie was connected to nature and how much of a bird nerd she was!
Tell us about the standout moments in your relationship…
Ria: When we rented our first apartment together in Sydney and made it our own little haven - it felt so magical to us. Our trip overseas to Europe when Jessie met my family for the first time and then adventuring around Italy. And of course, the pinnacle of our relationship so far is our beautiful wedding day.
Have you ever faced any issues of non-acceptance?
Ria: Fortunately, both of us have not encountered any challenges of non-acceptance. While there have been instances of such comments online, we haven't faced any in-person or real-life issues. The people around us have been incredibly loving and supportive, and we are truly grateful for that.
What does marriage mean to you?
Ria: Marriage, to Jessie and I, is a sacred bond and a commitment to constantly show up for one another. In our marriage, we embrace each other for who we are, celebrating strengths and accepting all parts of each other. We want to make sure we are always listening with open hearts and minds, creating space where we feel safe to be vulnerable and share our deepest thoughts and emotions helping us grow into the best versions of ourselves!
Who proposed and how?
Ria: On her 30th birthday, Jessie surprised me with a proposal I never saw coming. We had just entered a challenging COVID lockdown, we were fortunate to be living together. For Jessie's birthday, I had prepared a champagne breakfast on the back deck, unaware that she had her own surprise up her sleeve—literally. She proposed to me with a beautiful diamond. To add to the magic, a massive rainbow appeared just before the proposal, which we found incredibly fitting and took as a lovely sign for our journey ahead.
When did you get married?
We got married on April 1st 2023.
Ria and Jessie’s story continues below↓
What was the main influence behind your wedding day?
Jessie: The main inspirations for our wedding day was a fusion of our love for nature and the beautiful Tuscan vibes of Italy, and Redleaf proved to be the ideal setting for our vision. We fully embraced the season, infusing autumnal colors throughout our day, and the venue served as a perfect backdrop, beautifully complementing our theme.
What was the most important thing to you surrounding your wedding?
Ria: The most important thing to us surrounding our wedding was to create a day filled with filled with FUN, genuine love and happiness - shared intimately with our closest family and friends.. another huge part of our day for us was good music and good food! Which both exceeded way beyond our expectations! We wanted to take our guests on a journey with us through the day and fill it with everything that we both love, we wanted our day to reflect us as people and it certainly did exactly that.
Where did you find the bulk of your inspiration?
Jessie: Pinterest and Instagram were significant sources of inspiration for us throughout the entire wedding planning journey! From the initial stages to the final details, our vision evolved, and with these tools and the valuable guidance of our wonderful stylist Hannah at Honey Lane, we were able to bring together the perfect vision for our day.
How did you choose your suppliers?
Ria: Our wedding planners at Honey Lane played a massive role in helping us discover amazing suppliers. We loved their approach of presenting us with various options, allowing us to explore different vendors. This gave us the flexibility to choose those that resonated most with us and aligned perfectly with our vision for the wedding.
What was the most difficult thing about planning your wedding?
Ria: We were fortunate to have a total of 12 bridesmaids! While all of them were amazing throughout, the most challenging aspect was coordinating dresses and determining the perfect colour combinations and styles for our girls. Our goal was for each bridesmaid to embrace her individuality and feel true to herself, including the three who were pregnant. Ensuring everyone felt comfortable and beautiful was our top priority. Soraya, the owner of the dress brand (Lylou the Label), was incredibly helpful and flexible throughout the entire process, and we couldn't have asked for more.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Jessie: We spent 10 nights in Ubud, Bali, we had a beautiful private villa and it was the perfect place to start our married life. Ubud holds such a special place in both of our hearts now!
Any advice for other couples planning their day and finding it difficult to navigate the journey?
Ria: Consider hiring a wedding planner if possible! It allowed us to thoroughly enjoy the planning process without any unnecessary stresses. On the day itself, we had absolutely nothing to worry about, and this made such a difference for us. With a wedding planner handling the details, we could relax and be as present as possible on our day!
Ria and Jessie’s Team
Photographer House of Lucie
Videographer Cine Haus
Celebrant Married by Meredith
Planner / Stylist HoneyLane
Flowers The Flower Posse
Music Upbeat Social
Catering Fennel & Co
Marquee Kata Lane
Hair/Makeup Airlie & Co
Stationery Blossie
Cake Cakes By Han
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