Ella and Neven

PHOTOS: JENNIFER LEAHY, SILVERSALT WEDDINGS

Ella Neven AND

BLACKHEATH

TRADITIONAL TOUCHES AND SPECTACULAR SURROUNDS GUARANTEED ELLA AND NEVEN’S WEDDING DAY WAS AS UNIQUE AS THEIR COMBINED CULTURAL HERITAGE.

From the second Sydney couple Ella Brinch and Neven Basic decided to marry, they started thinking about ways they could blend in customs from the various countries represented by their immediate family members.

“My Mum is Australian and my Dad is from Norway,” explains Ella, a freelance violist who regularly works with the Sydney Symphony and Opera Australia orchestras, as well as being a founding member of the chamber group, Ensemble Vinifera. “There is also a Scottish connection – my mother’s father was from there.”

Neven, a professional golfer who plays on the international circuit, wanted to honour his Croatian family. He also wanted to marry Ella before the end of December 2016, as their work commitments meant he would be travelling soon after, while Ella remained in Sydney to perform.

With less than three months to organise their wedding, Ella and Neven decided on the perfect location – the Blue Mountains. “We thought the stunning views would be the ideal way to represent Australia, and it also meant my two aunties, who both live in the mountains, could be involved in the planning,” Ella adds.

Fortunately for Ella, her aunties know something about style – Janet James is a former magazine editor who now specialises in interior design, and her sister Judith Langley is co-owner of Leura Whisk, a popular kitchenware store on Leura Mall.

“The brief was ‘small, simple, contemporary and nonreligious’,” recalls Janet, who was assigned the role of wedding planner and relied on Judith for backup. “Ella and Neven wanted to invite around 20 guests and loved the idea of a garden wedding. As soon as Judith and I saw Allview Escape, we knew it was the right venue.”

Set on 20 acres in Blackheath, Allview Escape is a romantic retreat perched on top of the Grose Valley escarpment. It offers spectacular views and rambling gardens complete with visiting kangaroos. There are also two self-contained cottages on the property – ‘Malie’s House’ has five bedrooms and ‘Isabella’ has four bedrooms. This meant the couple’s family members would literally be able to walk from their accommodation to the ceremony. Allview Escape was promptly booked, along with a range of local service providers Janet had sourced. After just eight weeks of planning, Ella and Neven were married on 10 December 2016. “We had a civil ceremony conducted by Susan Artup of A Ceremony by Design,” says Ella.

Staying true to their original vision of celebrating culture and tradition, Ella included a traditional Celtic wedding vow in the pair’s wedding ceremony to reflect her Scottish heritage. Acknowledging that rosemary is traditionally used at Croatian wedding ceremonies to ward off evil, Neven requested that a bowl of the fragrant herb be placed on the table where the wedding certificate was signed.

Rosemary was also included in the beautiful table centerpieces, which were arranged by local florist Olivia Meredith, owner of The Little Flower Shop, using a selection of herbs, kale and leaves she handpicked from First Farm Organics, in Kanimbla Valley.

Made by Blue Mountains paper artist James Gordon, the exquisite handcrafted bouquet featured eucalypts, fl annel fl owers and pink peonies.

Ella’s mum, Sandra Brinch, baked kransekake, a traditional Norwegian celebration cake made from almond meal, icing sugar and egg white. Twenty rings were placed in the cake to signify the number of years Ella and Neven have known each other. (The pair first met at school, dated for over two years then parted ways. Their flame was rekindled in 2011, when they reconnected on Facebook and Neven offered to fly Ella to Japan, where he was playing in a golf tournament.)

Neven’s grandfather supplied the rakija (Croatian fruit brandy), which was presented on a pewter plate that had been handmade by Ella’s great uncle on her father’s side. To further acknowledge Ella’s male forebears, her dad Johan wore the top hat and shoes his own father had worn at his wedding in Norway, back in 1937.

Even Ella’s wedding bouquet held special significance. Made by Blue Mountains paper artist James Gordon, the exquisite handcrafted bouquet featured eucalypts, flannel flowers and pink peonies, which have been Ella’s favourite flowers since she first saw them in her grandmother’s Norwegian garden. James also crafted the beautiful cake decorations and place cards. As guests sat down to savour the delicious meal prepared by Red Pepper Catering, Ella’s parents handed out IKEA throws to keep everyone cosy as they enjoyed the great outdoor setting. After the wedding, the throws were donated to the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group. This kind gesture seems to perfectly reflect the love and generosity that allowed Ella and Neven make their wedding-day dreams come true.

“The ceremony was lovely – it was very personal and really tailored to suit us and the atmosphere we wanted. The weather was amazing, the views were absolutely spectacular, the food and wine were delicious and the accommodation was perfect,” says Neven, adding that there was even a little red wine spilled during the evening, which signifies good luck in his homeland.

According to Ella, the wedding would not have gone ahead without the help of her wonderful aunts. “And it certainly would not have been as beautiful,” she adds. “Getting married in the Blue Mountains was the best decision we made.” BML

CEREMONY & RECEPTION Allview Escape, Blackheath CELEBRANT Susan Artup of A Ceremony by Design HAIR Lisa Le Raux at Le Raux Hair Studio, Leura BRIDE Zimmermann dress worn with a pearl necklace owned by Ella’s grandmother that was wrapped around her wrist, and pearl earrings Ella’s dad had given to her a few years ago GROOM H+CO suit, M.J. Bale shirt, Ron Bennett tie and Aquila shoes BRIDE’S RING Hardy Brothers white-gold band set with diamonds GROOM’S RING Hardy Brothers tungsten band EVENT PLANNING, DESIGN & STYLING Janet James Design, Leura BOUQUET, CAKE DECORATIONS AND PLACE CARDS Designed, handmade and painted by James Gordon HERB CENTERPIECES Arranged by The Little Flower Shop, Wentworth Falls, using Japanese herbs, kale and leaves handpicked from First Farm Organics, Kanimbla Valley TABLECLOTHS & NAPKINS L&M Home ‘Moss Blush’ linen SHOT GLASSES potterybarn.com.au FLAMELESS CANDLES Real Safe Candles, fl amelesscandles.com.au CAKE Kransekake (traditional Norwegian celebration cake) made by Ella’s Mum, Sandra Brinch CATERING Redpepper Catering, Lawson ACCOMMODATION Ella and Neven stayed at Seasons of Mist, Blackheath. Wedding guests stayed at Allview Escape, Blackheath PHOTOS Jennifer Leahy, Silversalt Weddings