WHERE: Deux Belettes, Dalwood NSW (Byron Bay Hinterland)

Deux Belettes is a 16^th century style French Chateau set in the Byron Bay hinterland (50 minutes drive from Byron). Hidden behind trees on a quiet country lane Deux Belettes was our little piece of France in Oz (my husband is French).

THEME: Less is more

GUESTS: 90

DRESS: Johanna Johnson

BRIDESMAIDS: 5 bridesmaids and 2 different style dresses. 3 wore a very pale pink Alannah Hill dress and 2 wore a black Gorman wrap dress. The girls in pink wore a black Mollini pump and the girls in black wore the same Mollini pump in pale pink. Bridemaids had bouquets of pale pink David Austin roses.

GROOMSMEN: 5 groomsmen wore black fitted suits from Satch.

HAIR: Daniel McLennan / One Room (Sydney)

MAKEUP:Daniel McLennan / One Room (Sydney)

RINGS:Tiffany & Co

STATIONERY/INVITATIONS: Fine Invitations (Sydney)

FLOWERS:

Kate Hedges / Kentucky Roses (Kentucky NSW) – specialises in David Austin roses

Ros Macdonald / Flowers on the Run (Byron)

CEREMONY DETAILS: The ceremony was held in the garden of Deux Belettes at 4pm

RECEPTION DETAILS: Champagne and canapés were served after the ceremony in the garden we were married in. Once the sun had set guests were moved to a marquee for a three course sit down dinner followed by dancing.

CAKE: Monique Guterres-Harrison / Seaweed Cuisine (Byron)

Our caterer made our cake and decorated it with fresh David Austin roses we supplied

ENTERTAINMENT: Nathan Karl (Noosa) is my brother’s best friend from school. He is a beautiful musician so he sang and played acoustic guitar for the ceremony and afterwards while champagne and canapés were served in the garden he played a mix of covers and original songs. I walked the isle to “Here Comes the Sun”.

Colin Germano (Gold Coast)

I’ve known Colin for 10 years, he used to play in a band called Late for Woodstock. It was Late for Woodstock that played at my 21^st and then at Mum’s 50^th. Colin sings in 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s rock cover bands. During dinner service Colin sang an acoustic set. After dinner he was joined by his band The Feramones.

Colin Germano / The Feramones (Gold Coast)

Nico and I first saw The Feramones at The Beach Hotel during a holiday in Byron, they had everyone dancing!

FOOD:
Monique Guterres-Harrison / Seaweed Cuisine (Byron)
Canapés
Prawn + paw paw rice paper roll with lime + coriander dipping sauce
Red paw paw & picked crab san choy bau with roasted ecshollot jam
Roasted shiro miso pumpkin +grilled haloumi tartlets
Roasted peking duck + cucumber pancake served with a sweet lime hoisin sauce
Entree
Byron seafood plate - salt + pepper king prawn, oyster with kaffir lime + chilli dressing, yellowfin tuna sashimi with a light citrus dressing + char grilled scallop
OR
Bangalow sweet pork medallions wrapped in prosciutto stuffed with herbs + pistachios served with caramelised pears + jerusalem artichoke puree
Main
Char grilled lemon myrtle + chilli marinated wild barramundi with a mesculin + pistachio salad served with grilled lime polenta
OR
Pancetta wrapped rosemary angus beef filet mignon with spring vegetables + roasted baby potatoes served with a blue cheese dressing
Dessert
Lime, coconut +white chocolate cake served with vanilla bean ice cream and fresh berries

DRINKS: Nico (my husband) is French so sparking white was out of the question, had to be French champagne. We organised the wine to be shipped from Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard in the Hunter Valley (they are old friends of our family and we are obsessed with their wine)

Champagne – Veuve

Wine – Krinklewood (Hunter Valley)

Verdelho, Semillon, Tempranillo, Basket Press Shiraz, Lucia Dessert Wine (which is named after their first grandchild)

LITTLE EXTRAS: Guests were picked up from their accommodation in Byron by buses and transferred to Deux Belettes. As it was an out of town wedding we didn’t want our guests worrying about directions, transport or drink driving. My Mum organised for individual lolly bags to be placed on each bus seat just in case anyone got bus sick on the way up (she thinks of everything!).

The bus trip to Deux Belettes is 50 minutes so we thought guests should be greeted with a cocktail, beer or refreshing San Pellegrino mineral water on arrival. Guests arrived ½ an hour before the ceremony was due to start… this gave them time to walk up the driveway have a quick drink to refresh and look around before being seated in the garden for the ceremony.

Deux Belettes is also a B&B so the girls being me, bridesmaids my Mum and Grandmother stayed the wedding eve at Deux Belettes, woke up and got ready there, no cars or delay. Once guests were seated we walked thru a hidden private garden and arrived behind guests to walk the aisle… this eliminated a lot of stress!!!

I wanted to include my Grandparents in the wedding, so my Mum walked the aisle first with my Grandfather and my brother followed with my Grandmother… then came the bridesmaids and lastly Dad and I.

Champagne and canapés were served after the ceremony, we had a bit of time to mingle before photos. While photos were being taken guests had a garden party with lots of champagne, wine, food and live music.

We had David Austin roses as our wedding flowers any of the roses that couldn’t be used in bouquets, cake, table settings etc we placed on seats at the ceremony for guests… no wastage and then donated the flowers to a local nursing home.

Instead of traditional place settings we had a personalised menu printed for each guest and placed on their plate.

We added a small marquee to one side of the main marquee and set up a cocktail lounge area. This gave guests a relaxed place to drink and socialise after dinner and betweens dances.

BEST ADVICE FOR PLANNING A WEDDING/TO BRIDES:

Don’t obsess make a decision and trust you initial instincts. Don’t be afraid of a short timeline I organised my wedding in 6 months. Most wedding diaries give you a one year calendar. I think one year should be the absolute max, if it’s any longer by the time your wedding comes around styles will have changed and you’ll be pulling your hair out.

Live music was one of the most important things to create atmosphere. We had acoustic live music during the ceremony, canapés, dinner and a six piece rock band to finish.

Lastly if you really want something at your wedding, where there’s a will there’s a way. I was told there was no possible way I would have David Austin roses at my wedding, so I sourced a local grower ordered them wholesale and the florist put them together. The internet is your best friend!!!

Oh, if you live in NSW/QLD Kate from Kentucky Roses is amazing!

CASEY'S CONTACTS:

• PHOTOGRARHY: Justin Ealand / Bushturkey Studio (Byron)

• BRIDE'S DRESS & VEIL & ACCESSORIES: Johanna Johnson (Sydney)

• BRIDE’S SHOES: Gary Castles (Sydney)

• BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES: Gorman & Alannah Hill (Sydney)

• BRIDESMAIDS SHOES: Mollini (Sydney)

• GROOMS FORMAL WEAR: Satch (Sydney)

• RINGS: Tiffany & Co (Sydney)

• HAIR: Daniel McLennan / One Room (Sydney)

• MAKEUP: Daniel McLennan / One Room (Sydney)

• INVITATIONS: Fine Invitations (Sydney)

• FLOWERS:

Grower - Kate Hedges / Kentucky Roses (Kentucky NSW)

Florist - Ros Macdonald / Flowers on the Run (Byron)

• RECEPTION: Deux Belettes, Dalwood NSW (Byron Bay Hinterland)

• CEREMONY: Deux Belettes, Dalwood NSW (Byron Bay Hinterland)

• WEDDING PLANNER: Hayley Newport / Divinity Signature Events (Byron)

• ENTERTAINMENT: Colin Germano & The Feramones (Gold Coast)

• DECORATIONS: DIY – paper lanterns supplied by Mum, Menu’s I had printed by Fine Invitations in Sydney, left over roses used around the venue… whatever we had we used. The venue was so beautiful it needed very little.

• VIDEOGRAPHER: NA

OTHER:

• PARTY HIRE: Penny / Byron Bay Wedding & Party Hire
• FOOD: Monique Guterres-Harrison / Seaweed Cuisine (Byron)
• CELEBRANT: Brent Jones (Tweed Heads)
• TRANSPORT: Steve’s Tours (Byron)