23 Aug Ffion and Will’s Yarra Valley wedding

It was third time lucky for Ffion and Will when they finally managed to tie the knot after two COVID postponements! There was a palpable vibe of utter joy and relief as the couple celebrated their Yarra Valley wedding with friends and family at Seville Estate. Originally planned as a mid-summer outdoor ceremony, the switch to inside the barrel room, surrounded by rustic barrels of wine, on a cold and showery afternoon turned out to be the perfect setting for their Autumn wedding!

What I loved most about this Yarra Valley wedding ceremony

I need to ‘fess up that I was not only the marriage celebrant but also mother-of-the-bride, so this wedding was rather special, to say the least. I had to hold back the tears as Ffion walked down the aisle in her stunning Suzanne Harward gown, her smile lighting up the room.

So, apart from the mother-of-the-bride connection, there were a few other aspects that took my breath away:

• The rustic vibe of the barrel room created such a unique space and an amazing background for photos! The round wooden and floral backdrop perfectly matched the wine barrels and with a few other floral touches (and last-minute candles) strewn around the ‘shed’ it succeeded in transforming a working winery into a stunning ceremony venue.
• Being an independent woman, Ffion decided to walk herself down the aisle. Her sister, Bethan, preceded her, and then she followed to join Will to begin the ceremony – it was a lovely, personal gesture that aptly communicated their decision to formalise their union as a couple.
• Ffion and Will chose a guitarist and soloist from The White Tree for the ceremony and their processional song was ‘Evermore’ by Hollow Coves. It still brings tears to my eyes when I hear that song…

Some unique wedding ceremony touches

As Ffion didn’t have a bevy of bridesmaids and it was a bit of a muddy walk from the homestead (where she got ready) to the barrel room, we recruited a couple of her male friends to escort Ffion and her sister Bethan to the ceremony. It ended up being a lovely touch and looks so special in the photos – seeing them chatting and laughing as they made their way across a makeshift path of white tablecloths to the ceremony! 

Being a working winery, the wedding photos were facilitated via riding in a ‘buggy’ around the vineyard dodging the rain drops and braving the chilly temperatures! It created quite a unique experience and some very different photos. For the group photos we headed back to the barrel room to capture some special moments with that rustic backdrop. 

What made the wedding ceremony extra personal

I had encouraged Ffion and Will to write some personal vows, but to not show them to each other prior to the day. They were emotional and funny and let’s just say more than a few tears were shed…

Ffion wanted to wear something ‘old’, something ‘new’, something ‘borrowed’ and something ‘blue’. So, she wore a pair of pearl earrings her grandmother had given her and had them altered to include champagne diamonds to match her Sarah and Sebastian engagement and wedding rings. She also wore a ring I had given her for her 30th birthday, featuring a blue acquamarine stone, and I guess the dress was ‘borrowed’ in that she plans to pass it on to another lucky bride… 

The wedding ceremony – in the couple’s own words…

Maria is a warm, professional and polished celebrant. She is well organised and meticulously planned the finer details of our beautiful ceremony. She made us feel at ease and guided us through what can be a nerve racking and emotional occasion! Many of our guests commented that Maria is one of the best celebrants they have seen. 

And the team that made the dream wedding ceremony come true…

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