Bec and Joel

WORDS SARAH TOLMIE

FOR A CENTRAL COAST BEACH-LIVING, BEACH-LOVING PAIR, BEC AND JOEL SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRAVELLING IN COLD PLACES LIKE CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK, SKIING IN CANADA, HIKING NEW ZEALAND AND ICELAND AND ATTENDING CELEBRATIONS IN WALES, ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND. AND WHEN IT CAME TO THEIR WEDDING, AN INITIAL INSTINCT TO HEAD TO THE BEACH WAS QUICKLY OVERRIDDEN BY THE IDEA OF A WEDDING AT A LOCAL COUNTRYSIDE ESTATE.

Bec and Joel loved the rustic and natural feel of Somersby Gardens Estate with its bucolic setting amid lush gardens and views extending across to the Brisbane Water National Park. ‘We loved that Somersby offered a fairly blank slate. We wanted a simple, rustic, and relaxed day. Joel’s family are greenthumb amazing gardeners so we loved the garden setting. We wanted to utilise the natural beauty of Somersby Gardens and add little touches of white, hessian, simple florals and lights. We wanted random seating, lawn games and lounge areas. We wanted everyone to mix and most importantly, dance!’ says Bec. ‘It was important to us that our day was simple, no stress, casual, relaxed, and happy! It was important that it was ‘us’ — genuine, not fancy, with all the people we loved together and all our family included in our day.’

Well it’s only right a bride should get what she wants ... and then some!

The gardens were blessed with a bit of rain the week before to spruce up the green and bring out native flowers, but what no one expected was the amplified sense of mountain magic that created the cosy conditions for a memorable night of highs and highs.

The celebrations were a family affair from beginning to end. In fact, none of it would have happened without the consent of Bec’s twin brother. It’s tricky business falling in love with your good mate’s sister and before Bec agreed to go out with Joel, she made him ring her twin brother, Jason, and ask his permission first. Phew, he said yes!

Joel’s ‘second mother’ Gabrielle was their celebrant, bringing a special sense of intimacy and support to the ceremony experience, for which Joel was particularly grateful as she stood by his side while he waited for Bec to arrive.

‘The ceremony was quite overwhelming, but with Gabrielle there, it helped and we were just in a whirl of emotion, laughs and love,’ says Joel.

They didn’t have a bridal party but preferred to involve their many siblings throughout the ceremony: doing readings, bearing the rings and being the witnesses.

The ceremony took place in the estate’s amphitheatre, where the Wisteria and native flowers had blossomed on time. Another delightful and special moment included sunset on the bushland ridge top, huddling in the 4WD with their photographer waiting to capture the perfect moment.

‘It was so funny and intimate, we just laughed, and I now love that photo so much,’ said Bec. ‘We also got a photo with the resident horse. It was a random moment that again created a joyful memory and great photo.’

When the wind calmed and the party started, a favourite time of the celebrations got underway: the dancing. The party got going and the dancefloor did not stop all night.

Perhaps Joel’s moment of the night was his stint as DJ. Bec had organised for DJ Soho to blast out the Dolly Parton tune, ‘Joelene’, spotlighting her Joel as everybody sang along, and Joel took over the deck for a while, unleashing his hidden DJ talents. »

‘People keep asking us, “how is married life?” and our response is, “exactly the same as before!” And we think that this is what it should be, especially when you have been together for as long as we have. We just wanted to celebrate us, put all the people we love into one spot, and have an awesome time.

‘Being married to us means keeping everything we already had, moving forward together like we already were, but I guess putting an “official” spin on our future. We always thought it would be nice to be married before the next step of starting a family,’ said Bec.

Ceremony location and reception: Somersby Gardens Estate Photographer: Jennifer Burch Photography Celebrant/officiant: Gabrielle Streater from Gabrielle Celebrations Musicians: Steve from Soho DJs, and Tarna Rosentreter and Oscar Gross (Acoustic) Videographer: Jaxson Bryden from JXSN Films Dress: Peter Trends Bridal Suit: Peter Jacksons Hair: Phillippa Snodgrass Makeup: Peita Marie Jeweller: Monty Adams Jewellery Flowers/Stylist/Event Hire: GG Events Caterer: Gabrielle Streater from Seaside Celebrations Bar: KuBarz Cake: Kayla Bone

A place where two hearts beat and become one. Enchanting and romantic. Beautifully elegant, yet simple and relaxed. Fernbank Farm – it’s simply heaven on earth... Enquire today about your day.