“We opted for a nice mix between traditional and casual” newlywed Charlotte tells us when asked about the style of her beautiful wedding. “We wanted to keep traditional key components of the day but also wanted all our guests to feel as if they were invited to a relaxed family dinner.”

The beautiful mix of old, classic and new came to life, under April skies in a stunning Southern Highland garden wedding. With photographer Lauren Campbell behind the camera and Form Over Function on planning, styling and blooms, the day went off without a hitch, setting the scene for the rest of their lives together.

The pair met on Tinder, both choosing to “Swipe Right”, realising after many chats, messages and phone calls, that they actually only worked 50 metres from each other in the very same building (how’s that for fate?).

The bride to be chose a very special piece for her wedding gown – the very same gown both her mother and grandmother both wore on their own respective days. She enlisted  Anna Maurer Couture to help her bring it to life, telling “I wore an heirloom gown. I chose Anna Maurer to help me remodel a gown that was worn by both my mother and grandmother on their own wedding days. My grandmother wore a beautiful simple french corded silk gown which she then spilt red wine all over! My mother had the gown remodelled adding guipure lace flowers to hide the red wine stains and removed the original sleeves to make cap sleeves to wear at her wedding.

I chose to bring back the original style of the gown by adding in champagne coloured vintage silk ottoman with beaded lace hand-dyed with tea to match the vintage silk. We also tea stained spotted tulle for the long sleeves that were edged in beaded scalloped lace with silk covered buttons finishing at the wrist. We combined guipure lace flowers from my mother’s wedding gown with the beaded lace over the bodice and hips. The gown featured an opulent detachable train featuring the skirt from my mother’s and grandmother’s french corded silk wedding gown. The gown was lined in dusty blue dupion silk and had a boned corset bodice. The waist was finished with a beautiful grosgrain ribbon belt stitched with silk flowers, beads and crystals. We scattered the bodice and sleeves with tiny crystals.

Wearing a gown that was once worn by two of my biggest role models was in so many ways humbling but also exciting. Seeing something with history get reborn and re imagined into something new was one of the best parts of wearing a custom made gown. It made it much more special than just buying of the rack and knowing that 50 other brides would have the same dress as me. In every sense of the word my gown was unique and one of a kind with a story like none other. I was able to tie my love for tradition into my desire to have something that was also a little more fun and modern.”

Form Over Function  created the bright bouquets and floral details for the day, Charlotte explaining “Having grown up with my grandparent’s garden and parent’s garden I have an adoration for flowers. I knew what would be in season and wanted my arrangements to complement what would be blooming in the garden.

I have also been lucky enough to grow up in the wedding industry as my parents used to run and own M&B Food and Catering, so I have been exposed to some amazing and talented vendors.

The moment I had a theme for our wedding chosen, I got in contact with Alicia from Form over Function to make my dreams come true.”

The bride and groom chose the bride’s grandther’s garden, which also houses an art gallery for their wedding, Charlotte explaining “I grew up playing and frolicking in the most amazing garden that my grandparents had built and created. So we got married under the arbour on the croquet lawn in front of the pavilion, surrounded by wisteria, gorgeous roses and climbing flowering vines.

My grandfather (John Kirton the artist) has an onsite art gallery that we chose to hold the reception in.

There was no other option than to get married at “The Burrows” the photos don’t even do it justice, it is simply the most exquisite venue and my grandparents were ever so gracious to allow us to use their home, as the backdrop for our day.”

The song for the processional was Ruelee’s “I Got To Love You” says the bride. “Choosing this song was beyond difficult. Who knew that a simple song would be so hard to decide. My best friend Ashleigh and I sat for hours listening to songs that we thought were suitable. We stumbled upon – I get to love you by Ruelle and I teared up and knew that was it.”

Charlotte and Adam were married by friend Nikki Coleman. Charlotte telling “Simply we wanted short and sweet. A friend kindly offered to marry us which was a lovely gift.
We were both super emotional – with Adam crying more than anyone would have every expected. It honestly was one of my most treasured moments of the day. And it wasn’t a little sob, it was proper, nearly uncontrollable tears. We chose to write our own vows, that we now have proudly displayed in our home and then in a short 15 minutes we were married.”

The newlyweds walked back down the aisle to The Beatles “All You Need Is Love”.

Plenty of the decor details were handmade, Charlotte explaining “We hung thousands of fairy lights, hand rolled all the wedding favours (chocolate truffles), set and designed the tables and made the invitations.
We had friends hand paint our unplugged ceremony sign and another calligraphy our seating chart and other signs.

We hung metres of bunting at my parent’s house for when I was getting ready and my dad constructed our cheese tower wedding cakes and baked the most delicious ham for our late night supper.

It was a joint effort by everyone involved.”

Tells Charlotte “Our vendors all did an amazing job. We were very selective about who we chose but also wanted to use friends and family where we could.”

The newlyweds chose a French favourite for their first dance. “We did a few dance lessons to make sure we didn’t make fools of ourselves and danced away to La Vie en Rose by Edith Piaff – we wanted to tie in my French heritage to the day and adore that song” the bride explains.

A big congratulations to the newlyweds! Thank you for taking the time to share your beautiful day with us! Thank you to Lauren Campbell and Form Over Function for sharing today’s celebration with us.