Photography by Martine Payne Photography Jess wears our Genevieve gown — *Photography by* Martine Payne Photography
Jess wears our Genevieve gown

Wedding Date: Saturday 26th October, 2019

What was your wedding venue and why did you choose there?
Our reception was held at Chiswick Restaurant, Woollahra, and the ceremony was held right out the front of the restaurant in the Chiswick Gardens.

We chose the venue as we wanted somewhere local, intimate (with only 40 guests) and no-fuss. The Chiswick was just that, and we were able to book its beautiful private dining room. Added bonus was its delicious menu by the amazing Matt Moran!

Did you have a wedding theme/style?
What we loved most about the venue and garden was that it had an English garden feeling. So, this influenced our styling when it came to table setting arrangements, colour palette and florals.

How did you and your now Husband meet?
We met nearly 5 years ago in a bar in Green Park, London. I guess that’s what drew us to the wedding venue – reminded us of the gardens in London we were so fond of!

What is your proposal story?
Mark had secretly been organising my engagement ring from London with my sister in Sydney for a few months before he proposed. We travelled to Australia for Christmas, where we were spending it with my family in Port Macquarie. On Christmas morning he got me up at 5:30am to do the Port coastal walk (which we love!). And, when he found the perfect spot, dropped to his knee. Safe to say, we had plenty to celebrate that Xmas day!

How did you hear about Prea James Bridal?
My sister stumbled across one of Prea’s dresses on Instagram. As soon as she showed me, I knew straight away I’d end up in one of Prea’s designs – I love how modern, elegant and importantly, timeless her designs are.

From where did you purchase your gown?
Prea’s studio in Wollongong. And it truly had to be one of the most perfect experiences. Prea was an absolute joy to work with, and made the entire process so special.

What do you love most about the gown?
I loved the Genevieve Gown as soon as I put it on - it just felt like me all wrapped up in a dress! It felt amazing on, and Prea made sure it fitted me like a glove. She has an amazing eye for detail. My favourite details of the gown are the middle split and the strappy back.

Are there any special details about your wedding that you would like to share?
I loved how intimate our wedding was. Only having 40 of our closest friends and family made the day feel really personal, warm and cozy. I loved that both Mark and I got to spend quality time with all our guests. I guess heading to the pub with everyone afterwards helped too J

Finally, Do you have any words of wisdom for couples planning their big day?
I would say don’t overthink your decisions too much. The Chiswick was the first wedding venue we looked at. And likewise with my dress choice, Prea was the second bridal designer I tried on and I just went with it. If it feels right, just go for it and don’t feel you have to continually look around.