Rowena and Matt

PHOTOS: ROBERT MEREDITH

Rowena Matt AND Matt

BLACKHEATH

AN APPLE ORCHARD IN FULL BLOOM PROVED AN UNEXPECTED BUT PERFECT SETTING FOR THE SPRINGTIME NUPTIALS OF SYDNEY PAIR ROWENA AND MATT.

Choosing a wedding venue can be diffi cult and hungry work. So when Rowena Doig and Matt Davy stumbled into Logan Brae Orchards during their venue hunt looking for food, they not only satisfi ed their appetites but also found the perfect spot to tie the knot.

“We were out looking for wedding venues one Saturday with a family friend who lives in Blackheath and got hungry, so we stopped off at Logan Brae to grab an apple pie,” explains Matt. The beauty of the orchard and its stunning escarpment views completely won them over. That very day they booked in a date with the property’s owner, Sam Edwards.

The Woollahra couple, who met through mutual friends while holidaying in Byron Bay, had wanted a country wedding but realised the logistics of getting vendors and guests to travel great distances was beyond them, especially with their young baby in tow. The Blue Mountains proved closer to home and offered easier access for their friends and family travelling from overseas (Matt originally hails from the south coast of England).

Vows were exchanged in a small and personal ceremony conducted under the blossom-laden bows of the apple trees. Guests held white parasols and the natural beauty of the orchard setting did the rest.

“Every aspect of the day was styled by us,” says Rowena, who made her own flower crown and the pretty bridesmaids bouquets. “Although many grand plans fell short, it was simple and sweet nevertheless.”

Vows were exchanged in a small and personal ceremony conducted under the blossomladen bows of the apple trees. Guests held white parasols and the natural beauty of the setting did the rest.

Rowena’s dreamy boho-style gown, from sustainable fashion label The Reformation, was finished off with brown suede lace-up boots. Her bridesmaids wore floral Tigerlily dresses.

The couple’s good friend, wedding photographer Robert Meredith, summed up the mood of the celebration: “This was a day shorn of all stuffiness and tradition. Row, Matt and their bridal party spent a very chilled morning getting ready together, making the bouquets and sipping Pimm’s before making the short drive to Logan Brae.”

After some time spent time wandering the grounds and posing for a few relaxed portraits, the couple joined their guests for speeches as the sun set over the mountains.

Six-month-old baby Niamh featured front and centre, held in Matt’s arms throughout the ceremony – it’s a memory Rowena and Matt say they’ll cherish forever.

Post ceremony, after some time spent time wandering the grounds and posing for a few relaxed portraits, the couple joined their guests for speeches as the sun set over the mountains.

The festivities concluded with everyone dancing the night away to Sydney’s Press Club Band inside the intimate confi nes of the tipi.

“We loved that our closest friends and family from Sydney and London were able to be there to share the day with us,” Rowena remembers fondly. BML

CEREMONY & RECEPTION Logan Brae Orchards, Blackheath CELEBRANT Alison Collins, Follow That Dream HAIR & MAKEUP Rowena did her own makeup and let her hair hang loose BRIDE Dress from thereformation.com, worn with Rowena’s own boots BRIDESMAIDS tigerlilyswimwear.com.au GROOM Matt and his groomsmen wore their own clothing FLOWERS Rowena made her fl ower crown and the bridesmaids fl owers CAKE Made by Rowena’s mum CATERING Brazilian Barbeque Catering MUSIC Press Club Band, Sydney TIPI KataLane, Brookvale PHOTOS Robert Meredith