Sarah & Rob - 6th September 2019
How did you meet?
Sarah
We met at work almost seven years ago. I had just started a new job and never thought that I would be meeting my future husband as well!
Any funny first date stories?
Rob
As we were working in the same office, we were trying to keep our relationship on the down low, but we got busted when we were caught leaving the office after Friday night drinks together heading to the movies.
What was it about the venue that made you choose Stones of the Yarra Valley?
Stones was always our first choice as it ticked all the boxes. Not only is it stunning and picturesque, it also has such a warm feel about it. From the moment you drive up the driveway lined with trees and then have a first glimpse of the beautiful Chapel it's hard not to fall in love with. The Chapel was important to us as we wanted the feeling of tradition while having a more relaxed setting. We loved how the Barn overlooked the spectacular vineyard and reminded us of our time in Tuscany together. Another thing that we really liked about Stones was that our ceremony and reception could be in the one place. We wanted our family and friends to relax and enjoy each moment filled with delicious food, wine and dancing and not have to worry about travelling between venues.
What was the inspiration for the look and feel of the day?
The look and feel of the day was a combination of both of our personalities. Getting married in Spring allowed us to have soft but romantic floral arrangements which worked beautifully with the rustic feeling of Stones. Another great thing about Stones is that it is already so stunning, that you don't need to do a lot with the space. By adding our own touches such as the florals and fairy lights, the space felt unique and captured the mood perfectly.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started planning?
Sarah
My career is in Events Management which definitely helped when planning the wedding! However, I didn't realise how busy the week leading up to the wedding would be, even though we were super organised. We were fortunate that all of the suppliers we chose were so professional and worked closely with the team at Stones, taking the pressure and stress off us.
Rob
How good it was having a wife who organises events for a living.
Were there any traditions that were important to incorporate?
Sarah
We are both very close with our parents and it was important to have them included in our ceremony and have our Mum's sign the registry. I also had a lace flower from my Grandma’s veil sewn into my veil - it was special being able to combine the old with the new.
What were some of your favourite moments/details on the day?
Sarah
Standing at the altar in the Chapel saying I do while surrounded by all of our family and friends was probably my favourite moment of the day. It is so surreal having all of your loved ones in the same room together. I also loved seeing all of the elements of the wedding come to life - from the bridesmaid’s dresses and the groomsmen’s suits, to the beautiful bouquets and flowers, to the cake and finally to the tables all set up in the Barn.
Rob
I stayed in the Yarra Valley with my groomsmen the night before our wedding which meant we could check into Meletos early and have a really nice lunch at the restaurant together before strolling next door to get ready for the day. I really enjoyed having that time with my groomsmen to just relax and chat before the big day started.
If you had your time again, is there anything you’d do differently?
Sarah
It rained on and off all day which was stressful at the time but looking back on the day it didn’t matter. After the ceremony, the most beautiful double rainbow appeared, and we had the most stunning photos taken. I think it's important to realise that not every single detail on the day will go as planned so just relax and go with it because looking back it was the perfect day!
Rob
Our wedding was on a Friday and I worked all the way up to Thursday. That week was quite stressful trying to get the finishing touches organised and working full-time. If I had my time again I would have taken a day or two off leading up to the wedding for those last-minute things, like getting a haircut (which I forgot to do!)
What does marriage mean to you?
Marriage is very special to us. Our marriage symbolises loyalty, trust and the unconditional love that we have for each other. Life can have unexpected challenges and facing these challenges together has only made our marriage stronger.
Where are you now? Living, career, family?
2019 was a very busy year for us! We travelled overseas three times, sold our townhouse and bought our family home. We are loving our new home and have plans to renovate it in the next few years. We have Ellie (our German Pointer fur baby) and we can't wait to expand our little family soon.
Vendors
Celebrant: Mrs Judy McMaster (Sarah's former School Chaplain)
Photographer: Rick Liston
Videographer: C2 Films
Florist: Say It With Flowers
DJ: Melbourne Entertainment Company
