Meet the couple
Stephanie Tennant is a Paediatric Speech Pathologist and Caitlin Wynne is a Designer. They live in Melbourne with their beloved miniature dachshund Billie.The couple met about 10 years ago, playing Handball at a little local Melbourne club. Caitlin was a veteran at the club and Steph was a new recruit, and they connected instantly. Caitlin knew Steph was perfect in every way from the first moment. After years of friendship, Steph finally plucked up the courage to confess her love to Caitlin sitting in a car on a Melbourne street. I Caitlin replied, “I know!” and the rest is history!
“I was drawn to Caitlin unlike anyone before and in my heart of hearts I knew she was someone special as being in her company felt right,” says Steph.
Who proposed?
Caitlin: Steph popped the question on a beautiful weekend away glamping in Point Leo, Victoria. The day started with a massage and spa followed by a beach picnic with oysters, cheese and champagne. After a lovely sunset beach walk Steph sat me down and gave me a present. I was kind of expecting the proposal by this stage so I was a little thrown by the present, but it was a book she had made listing all the things she loved about me and us. I cried my way through until the very last page which said, “Will you marry me?” She then surprised me with a beautiful engagement ring.
How did you choose your ceremony and reception venue?
We loved the location of Kinglake Forest Adventures. We grew up around the bush and love nature and the outdoors and wanted a ceremony among the trees. At Kinglake Forest Adventures, we could take our guests on a journey to different locations for our ceremony, happy hour drinks and reception. And everyone could fully embrace the experience, stay the night and join us for brekky the next morning!
What was your wedding theme or vibe?
Caitlin: The main inspiration was the Australian bush location. This set the tone for the native flowers, the relaxed vibe with food trucks and the overall boho-ish style.
What made your wedding unique?
We had a full DIY wedding, and organised and styled everything – a lot to do but worth it because the wedding felt unique and authentic to us. Our ceremony, set among the soaring gum trees with the autumn sun glistening through the forest, created a truly magical experience. During happy hour, our guests enjoyed making flower crowns, drinking Aperol Spritz and listening to the beautiful sounds of Tobi music live, surrounded by the forest and keeping warm by the fires. Bliss!
Is there a story behind your dresses?
Caitlin: We decided to surprise each other with our dresses. I knew I wanted a two-piece, so I just Googled and found one in the first place I looked.
Steph: I wanted something Boho–ish, relaxed and oozing forest vibes. My mum, sister and sister in-law and I took a trip to Geelong with only one day to find a dress and one bridal shop appointment and I didn’t like anything. Then, in a café magazine, we found the lovely and intimate Pearls and Roses Bridal, who squeezed us in for an appointment and had a range of their own Boho designs.
Feeling overwhelmed, I left it up to my trusty crew to select some dresses for me. My mum burst into tears with the second dress I tried on, and we unanimously agreed ‘Wildflower’ was perfect. It was a stunning dress and very comfortable to dance in…#1 criteria!
Tell us about any old traditions you love, and new traditions you embraced.
We embraced most of the typical traditions and made them our own. Both our parents walked us down the aisles, as we made our way to the altar from different directions – a surprise for everyone and hard work for our photographers!. That was a very special moment.
We created our own version of a ribbon ceremony with the help of our amazing Celebrant Cassie. Our sibling in-laws gave us advice for the future as they placed a ribbon over our hands before we literally ‘tied the knot’.
Our wedding dance was a dance routine with all our bridesmaids to I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston. That certainly got the party started!
What makes a marriage?
Caitlin: Marriage is important for me in a way I never realised. It gives me a sense of belonging and security. Regardless of being married or not, Steph and I will always be there for each other. However, getting married has made me feel safe in a way I didn’t think it would and doing it in front of family and friends made me feel so happy and lucky!
Steph: A marriage to me is a partnership built on love, trust and honesty. It’s about accepting, appreciating and loving everything about each other. Doing the things we love together, sharing special moments and laughing often. Supporting each other no matter what happens in life. Making compromises, forgiving and admitting when we are in the wrong. Learning from each other, encouraging and challenging each other. Growing together through life. Being a family and sharing the pleasures of loving others, like our little dachshundBillie.
What was the highlight of your day?
Caitlin: Dancing back up the ‘aisle’ together after we were officially married. It was such a happy and beautiful moment with all our friends surrounding us, happy and dancing, and throwing ‘nature’s confetti’ all over us!
Steph: There were so many, but the ceremony was the ultimate highlight for me. The setting was breathtakingly beautiful. There was so much love in the air, thoughtful words and promises, and a dance up the forest aisle to Prince. It was a truly magical, happy and memorable experience.
Anything else you’d love to share?
Steph: Announcing our engagement to our family and friends after the YES vote was a very humbling experience for us. We were so thankful to have our love recognised. The outpour of joy, love and affection we experienced from our friends and family, with the backing of the Australian community, was beyond words. All the excitement and love in support of our partnership spurred us on to get married and celebrate with our loved ones. We feel so privileged now to have enjoyed such an amazing experience together. I love my wife. Being married is awesome!
If you insist on having your pooch as your ring bearer (like I did despite Caitlin’s efforts to warn me of all the potential disasters) make sure the rings are secured properly so they don’t end up in the dirt! Then it’s totally worth it. 🙂
Number of Guests: 110 / Location: Kinglake Forest Adventures / Date of wedding: 28 April 2018
VENDOR CREDITS
Photographer: Dan Brannan
Videographer: Vinnie Petrilli, Happy Video Productions
Florist: Edward and I
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Kinglake Forest Adventures, Kinglake West
Catering/ Cake & kind: Happy Camper Pizza/ Fig and Salt
Styling and Stationery: DIY – Caitlin Wynne
Celebrant: Cassie Duncan – Marry Me Melbourne
Entertainment: Tobi Music& Jess McGuire DJ
Engagement ring and wedding bands: Blackfinch, Northcote
Transport: No need, everyone stayed the night in the cabins!
BRIDE CREDITS
Bridal gown designer: The Bridal Atelier, Prahran (Caitlin) & Pearls and Roses Bridal, Geelong(Steph)
Headwear: Flowers by Edward and I
Bridesmaid dresses: SilkFred – ASOS
Hair and Make up: Elliot Steele (Caitlin) &Jessica Woods(Steph)
