The Romance
Nathan and I have known each other for 25 years when we got married. We first met through my brother. They both went to Bowen High School and became friends. I was like 9 years old and they were 4 years older. Nathan was always in my life. Even when he had to come to town to fly out to work, he would stay with me or my brother and we'd have a few drinks in town. I always felt safe around him. I think we both knew we were close but never thought anything would become of it.
Then we were both single at the same time and felt drawn to each other and decided to give it a go. We didn't know if what we were doing was right. But it felt right and we made a promise that if it didn't work, we would forget anything had happened. I couldn't not have him in my life.
The Proposal
Nathan proposed nearly one year after having our son Rory. We had been together for eight years. The best eight years of my life.
We stayed the night at the casino and he asked me what I was wearing that night to dinner and if this (holding the ring) would go with it?
Hahaha, I cried because I thought it was never going to happen.
The Planning
We decided not to rush down the aisle but to have time to plan. Three years to be exact. I'm kind of glad we had time to plan in advance. We booked our venue first (The Farm Plumeria Road). I think two and a half years ahead. Then the photographer. I actually had my eye on 2 photographers and as soon as they opened bookings, I went to book but the dates were already taken. That's when panic set in. I thought I was getting in early. Our date wasn't nearly two years out. Then I found Amy Grace Photography, and I'm so glad I did. If I had to do my wedding all over again, I would book her first.
She has given us the most gorgeous moments captured in time that we will cherish forever. Our delicious dinner and grazing table was from the golden roast. They did an amazing job. They grazing table looked beautiful and was very well received by the guests whilst having a few refreshing beverages from the Kombi Keg. The decorations in the wed shed were all done by my father-in-law, myself, friends and family, as well as the bouquets were made by my father-in-law. The beginning of the week before our wedding it was raining. I was praying it would clear up as we had our ceremony and wedding outdoors.
The Wedding Day
The big day rolled up and not a cloud in the sky. It was absolutely perfect. I got ready at our house in Jensen only twelve minutes to our venue and Nathan got ready at the units on the venue grounds. We didn't see each other the day of the wedding until I walked down the aisle. I had been waiting for this day for years. And I knew Nathan was the one for me, but I couldn't help but to feel nervous for some reason. As soon as he held my hand though all the nerves had gone.
The Ceremony
As I couldn't marry in the same St Marys Cathedral that my parents had been married in, we decided to say our I dos under big old tree on "The Farm". Our Celebrant, Leena Coutts (Marry me NQ) was so helpful putting the ceremony details together and made it so easy to choose vows. Nathan didn't want to write his vows and that was ok. I didn't want to force him to do something he wasn't comfortable with. He is a bit shy when it comes to public speaking, and at first, I had chosen vows too from a list that Leena had given us. But because there was so much history between us and 25 years of friendship, I felt that I needed to say something a little more personal. I didn't get any tears from him but when I received our photos back from the wedding, Amy had captured many of the guests wiping a few tears away.
I walked down the aisle to Vance Joy - I'm with you, and thanks to my bridesmaid Kara, our stunning white Americana chairs set up and white carpet was supplied by her parents wedding hire business in Charters Towers. My father-in-law draped a long length of soft white material through the tree and the aisle had some rustic stumps (that we chopped one camping trip) with glass jars and baby’s breath. Our nieces threw some white and gold eco confetti to top it off.
The Reception
The reception was over across the green lawns at the wed shed, where the Kombi keg, grazing table and lawn games were waiting for us all to enjoy and mingle. We only got about 30min with our guests before we were off to get some gorgeous sunset photos with our groomsmen and bridesmaids. Once we were announced into the reception as the new Mr and Mrs Hansen we didn't have long before our cake cutting. Being a pastry chef I of course made my own wedding cake. Three to be exact. A two tier (top was lemon cake with lemon ganache) ane bottom was a buttermilk mud with Oreo cookies and cream buttercream). The Square cake was a red velvet cake with Ferrero Rocher buttercream and the tall round cake was a white chocolate mud cake with vanilla buttercream.
We had a wonderful entertainer Laurence Sorbello sing throughout the night and our friend Dion MC'd for us, announcing speeches, dinner, bouquet and garter toss, and a fake sparkler send off, which made for stunning photos.
As the night flew away with laughs and dancing it drew to a close around 1am. Nathan and I managed to capture a small moment to ourselves at the end of the night as our singer was packing up he played Little Bitty by Alan Jackson.
The Honeymoon
We weren't going to have a honeymoon but then about six months before our wedding Nathan found a stunning air bnb house in Airlie Beach with harbour views. We enjoyed a sunset cruise and a few days laying back and enjoying a few drinks watching the sun set on the deck.
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