AC BRIDE Shannon & Mark

Wedding Location | Wyong Creek, Central Coast, Australia Wedding Date| 30 November 2019

Meet Shannon and Mark, from the moment we saw the radiant joy filtering through each image of their sunlit wedding, we couldn’t wait to share! Wearing the Amelie Dress purchased from The Bridal Atelier Sydney, Shannon was an absolute vision.

Meet Shannon and Mark | Mark is originally from South Africa and move to Australia about 10 years ago. We met when he first arrived in Australia studying Accounting and Economics. He’s now a Finance Professional having worked at KPMG, CBA and now First Sentier Asset Management. Marks hobbies include golf, music and running. I’m a country girl who grew up in a small town and moved to the Gold Coast to study Marketing, which is where I met Mark. I’m now a Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Eloquent where I manage a great team. I also teach a dance fitness class once a week at Virgin Active Australia. My hobbies include dance, gym, running, hiking and eating.

The Love Story | We met in a class at university – Management Concepts. We were told to get into groups for an assignment and Mark had seen me around the Uni accommodation so thought we should join a group because we lived near each other!

The Proposal | It was a usual Friday night and we were going out to Café Sydney to celebrate a new job promotion Mark had received. Usually I’m the one who likes to walk, and Mark wants to sit and have a drink but this time Mark was keen to walk so we walked around Circular Quay overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and he just kept walking! Later I realised he was looking for a quiet spot with no tourists!!! At the time, there was some construction going on at the harbour so we actually walked onto a site and out the end onto our own secluded little wharf where I sat down on the edge! He said “stand up!” but I wouldn’t so he had to sit down beside me and propose.

Finding ‘The One’ | I had seen the lovely Amelie dress on Instagram (my mum alerted me to it) and it wasn’t in Sydney yet so I went dress shopping trying on everything and just couldn’t stop thinking about the Amelie. As soon as I put the Amelie on, I loved it. I just love that it was both feminine and romantic, I loved that it wasn’t all ivory and had the lovely beige underskirt. It felt unique to anything any of my friends had ever worn. It was so comfortable. I love that it wasn’t too revealing and I didn’t feel too overdressed at my garden wedding.

How I felt wearing my Amelie Dress | My Great Aunt Lynne (her catch phrase it Ohh La La – she used to say it all the time when I was a kid) said “you look beautiful” and I responded “I feel beautiful” – I have said or felt that way before. I’m very shy and usually dressed quite simply. I was so comfy, I loved spinning around on the dance floor, I felt elegant, and just perfect. I love that it had the beige underskirt, I loved the flower details and how they were 3D, I loved the cut – casual and chilled but so romantic and classy. It literally was my spirit dress.

The Dress | As soon as I put it on I knew because I’d tried on so many before it! I still love it so much now and would choose it over and over again. My friend actually said to me (she’s getting married next month) “we have a problem, I think I like your dress better than mine!!!” I bought my dress from The Bridal Atelier in Sydney. I tried it on and then mum and I went for a little walk to digest what we had just seen. I had told myself I should take a moment to make sure it’s the right dress and as soon as we walked out of the store, Mum and I looked and each other and were like “Yes it’s the one”, walked back in and bought it. My favourite moment was when I tried it on during alterations once it fitted perfect and on my wedding day of course. Honestly, where can I wear my dress again?

Memorable Moments | Our florist supplied far too many rose petals for our guests to throw as we walked back down the isle and I has so many down my top that there are photos of mark and I picking them out. Our gorgeous puppy Kiki also made a cute little noise from the crowd when we both said I do! Our cake unfortunately fell over in the car on the way there – everyone hid it from me on the day but I just thought it was hilarious and actually our cake was all eaten – and we had over catered so it just goes to show how good smooshed cake tastes!

 Another of my favourite moments is that for our first dance, we made the chorus something people could join in on. We taught our friends and family the dance the night before and they joined us at the second chorus, after a while EVERYONE was doing the same moves with their mouths wide open – the photos show it all. The dance moves made it through the night to many other songs too. Our band got Mark and I and our best man and Maid of Honour up on the microphones to sing Justin Timberlake “it feels like somethings heating up, can I leave with you” and the ladies “I don’t know what I’m thinking about, really leaving with you” and everyone else was on the dance floor like our groupies.

Words of Wisdom | For most brides, your dad naturally is part of your wedding day – he walks you down the isle, says a speech and does the daddy daughter dance. If you love your mum just as much as your dad, make sure you find special things for her to do and make sure she gets involved in photos! I had my mum sign the register but should have had more! Tell people to ASK YOU FOR PHOTOS. I didn’t get photos with everyone because it was a whirlwind so tell your guests to come get photos – it won’t bother you, but sometimes they think it will. Enjoy it and don’t let the things that go wrong get to you – something will go wrong (like a smooshed cake) but who cares?

Dress: Amelie Dress from The Bridal Atelier

Photographer: James Bennett | Instagram

Videographer: Susan Grayson

Venue: Fernbank Farm 

We chose Fernbank farm because it meant we could have our ceremony and reception in the same place, as well as being able to have our closest family and friends stay on the venue the night before and the night of the wedding. Everywhere you look at Fernbank there is another beautiful corner to explore. Our guests were able to enjoy canapés under the trees while Mark and I went off and had our photos taken – one of the main reasons we loved this spot is because of all the photo opportunities! The homestead on the venue is also just amazing and the bridal suite is so gorgeous for pre-wedding photos. The arbor is beyond beautiful and honestly, we just love every inch of this property!

Florist: Little Willow Floral Design

Entertainment: Vibe Wedding Band Sydney

Celebrant: Sonia Hartman