WEDDING PLANNING TIPS, WITH PAST BRIDE BRITT DUNLEAVY

Planning your wedding (should) be one of the most exciting times of your life, but it can get a little overwhelming really quickly; from deciding on what vendors to choose, when to get married, where, how to structure the day, who to invite and so much more – it’s a lot!

So I decided to chat to one of my recent brides who just married her bestie at Estate Tuscany in the Hunter Valley and I was lucky enough to be their photographer. And let me tell you, it was nothing short of amazing!!! Not only am I going to share some of the best bits from the day, I’ve got some super helpful answers to questions I asked Brit about the planning process and the wedding day itself.

Bride having her makeup done on her wedding day in the Hunter Valley NSW

Bridesmaids in silk pyjamas drinking glasses of champagne

Why did you choose the Hunter Valley?

We wanted somewhere close to home but still far enough so it felt like a mini holiday! We also wanted somewhere that our family from overseas and friends from interstate could stay the whole weekend, it was a mini festival haha.

How did you find the planning process?

I booked our venue, Estate Tuscany, the day before I gave birth to our son (lol) and then forgot about planning for a long time! The planning wasn’t too bad until it got closer, Mum life + work life + LIFE + wedding planning = hectic. 6 weeks out from our wedding I booked Leisha from Chameleon Directive and what a life saver she was – she took on all of the communication from a few weeks out and then made the day run soooo smoothly. Also, Etsy is life, I purchased a majority of our wedding items from there!

Mother of the groom putting bow tie on the groom

Groom with his groomsmen all dresses in black suits standing together smiling

Mother of the groom securing buttonhole on the groom

Mother of the bride zipping up the wedding dress

Mother of the bride standing next to the bride smiling

What was a stand out moment from your wedding day?

I don’t know how to pick one. So here’s 3!

Walking down the long ass aisle and seeing all of our beautiful friends and family in their all-black attire, seeing their smiling faces, melted my soul.
Seeing my baby living his best life, dancing and loving up to everyone. UGH I CAN’T.
The people I hired. I still cry thinking about this. Amy, Rosie, Leisha, Alan – I’ve never felt so comfortable with people I barely know. They all made our day so special and care-free. I think it’s because they were all just as mental as we are!!

Wedding arbor with white flowers and black metal cages

Groom waiting for his bride smiling at the top of the aisle

Bride being walked down the aisle with her Dad

Bride and groom, standing at the top of the aisle holding hands looking out at their guests smiling

Bride and groom standing at the top of the aisle holding hands, bride putting wedding ring on the grooms finger

Bride and groom standing in front of the arbor holding hands with mountains in the background

Bride and groom standing in front of the arbour, holding hands smiling, looking at each other

Bride and groom, standing at the top of the aisle having their first kiss

Wedding table details, featuring white flowers on a black tablecloth with a black place card

Wedding welcome sign with flowers on black cages

4. What advice would you give to other couples planning a wedding?

When you are deciding on who to hire as your vendors, pick the people who you want to party with, people who you’d sit down and have a coffee with and feel SO comfortable.

Practice dancing with your fiance, practice your first kiss, practice walking in your dress, ah who am I kidding? It doesn’t matter anyway, you’ll be so excited you’ll forget everything!

But my most important tip; HAVE AN EMERGENCY KIT. Everyone teased me and said I was crazy for being so organised with bobby pins, safety clips, sewing needles etc but let me tell you, all of it was gone by the end of the day!!!

Wedding party with bride and groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids, wearing black dresses with black suits

Bride with bridesmaids, with bridesmaids wearing black dresses holding white bouquets

Bride with bridesmaids, with bridesmaids wearing black dresses holding white bouquets, laughing

Groom with groomsmen, all wearing black suits, with arms wrapped around each other smiling

Bride sitting on the grass changing into white sneakers

Bride sitting on the grass changing into white sneakers, with the groom helping her

5. Anything else you want to add?

I was lucky enough to hire vendors who became friends immediately on the day, they made our day so special and felt as though they were just our friends hanging out with us.

The list of said epic vendors:

Wedding Coordinator: @chameleondirective
Photographer: @amyallencreativeco
Videographer: @rosievanfilms
Celebrant: Black Tie Celebrants
DJ + Photo Booth: @mobilemillenniumdjs
Doughnuts: @dailydoughco
Venue: @estatetuscany
MC: @josh_svenstagram
Dress: @finaltouchbridal + @sarahjosephcouture
Suit: @peterjacksonau
Hair: @colourbycaity
Make up: @brittanyivery

Bride and groom entering their reception with their arms up in the air cheering

Father of the bride standing at a lectern giving his speech holding a microphone

Bride and groom sitting at the bridal table holding hands smiling

Bride and groom sitting at their bridal table, while the bride wipes away tears with napkin

Bride and groom, standing in front of a vineyard kidding

Don’t forget to take moments to yourself throughout the day so you can look back at your family and friends and just live in the moment. Drink the champagne, dance like a crazy person and trash the dress because who cares the next day!