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Eight years down the track a six week European vacation provided Steven with the perfect backdrop for his proposal – it doesn’t get much better than sunset at Santorini in Greece. Steven had picked out a ring for the occasion to make the picture perfect proposal complete with the view to selecting the “real” engagement ring when they returned home. “It was basically a stunt ring and then when we got back I designed the real ring with the jeweller at Faith Jewellers,” Carly said. “I wanted something vintage looking and it was fun looking through all the diamonds to select which one I wanted.” Chances of an international proposal were always high, given the duo have already visited 16 countries together, with plans to add significantly to that tally in the future. And Carly does still wear the stunt ring at the centre of her Greek isles proposal. Carly isn’t one of those girls who has spent most of her life planning her own wedding so it did take the couple a while to decide just where and when and how to tie the knot. “I wasn’t born with the bride gene,” Carly said. “I was invited to a friend’s wedding in Fiji and that at least made me decide I’d like to get married somewhere tropical.” In the end, Port Douglas became the venue of choice, with Steven and Carly opting to elope. “As we started planning things we realised we just wanted it to be the two of us,” Carly said. “We told family and friends what we were doing – it was too big a secret for me to keep.” For Carly, the Port Douglas wedding was stress-free. “I didn’t have to do anything,” she said. “Port Douglas Weddings did absolutely everything – booked the celebrant, the location, the photographer, videographer, hair, make up – everything. I realise it could go terribly wrong but everything was perfect. You had to have faith in the wedding planners – it’s their full time job.”
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For Steven and Carly, their October 8 wedding day was perfect from beginning to end. “We woke up together, Steven cooked breakfast and then we just relaxed and drank champagne,” Carly said. The happy couple then got ready together before hopping in the jeep that had been chosen as their wedding car to head to the ceremony location. “Being just the two of us we were also lucky to go and have photos taken in some places where bigger bridal parties just can’t go,” Carly said. Steven and Carly then headed off on a sunset cruise before heading to Port Douglas’ top restaurant Nautilus, for dinner. “Steven planned the dinner and where we were going and he even organised a cake,” Carly said. “We had been together nearly 10 years and there was no stress, the whole day was just about the two of us.”
The plan was always to celebrate with close friends and the perfect wedding day was followed by the perfect party – a day long celebration with 25 friends. The day started at Claraville House, progressed to Blue Water Wines and then finished up at Compton Hall, which Carly has decorated in her signature vintage style. Open House provided the entertainment and Vanilla Bean, the food, and while there were a few speeches, it was all about partying. “We showed our wedding DVD and it was quite funny because no one could hear it because there was a volume problem,” Carly said. “We danced the night away and had fun with our friends and that was exactly the way we wanted it as well.” Continued on page 6
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Carly believes the fact they have the same values and beliefs has made sure they’ve already clocked up a decade together. “We also have a lot of shared interests but plenty of separate interests as well,” she said. In fact, the couple’s work is now somewhat colliding as Steven looks to build up his construction company and Carly embarks on a new venture – her own drafting and interior design firm. Carly started her career with Mount Gambier designer and draftsman David Pike, working for the local design and construction company for five years. It was her dream job and gave her an amazing grounding across all facets of the industry. Continued on page 9
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From design to construction and everything in between, Carly cannot speak highly enough of the experience she gained under David. It was also when she started her drafting. “I was involved in every aspect of the business,” Carly said. “I was basically David’s shadow.” Spending a lot of time on site through both David and her now husband, Carly also has an amazing skill set in terms of basic building site labour – she’s certainly not afraid to get her hands dirty. It was in August last year that the downturn in construction work finally forced David to let Carly go. “Luckily the Olympics were on so while I was deciding what to do I had something to watch on
Having a husband in construction certainly helps. Carly knows it will be hard work and could be a long road but she has a clear plan and is leaving no stone unturned in making sure her new venture is a success. And you’d back her in. She got the David Pike job simply by sending out letters and asking for a job. She originally wanted to do architecture but she’s just not a city girl and so university was never a viable option. But through sheer determination she found herself a place in the industry and is now set to make her own mark. She has designed a website, has a facebook page and knows that word of mouth will be the key early.
television,” Carly said. “It was two months before my wedding and all of a sudden I didn’t really know what the future held. “ In the end she decided to fast track the plan to open her own business and has spent the past six months trying to develop Carly Scheidl Interiors, establish a foothold in the industry and build her brand and client base. “I believe everything happens for a reason,” Carly said. “I had planned to gain a lot more experience and then maybe branch out on my own in my 30s but it’s just all happened a bit sooner that’s all.” She has already designed a range of children’s furniture and homewares, adding yet another string to her drafting and interior design bow.
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South African Michelle moved to the Netherlands with her parents and was in the throes of making plans for a year long visit to Australia on holiday. Her travel plans revealed for all on facebook, her cousin suggested contacting his best friend, who lived in Australia, suggesting both accommodation and work could be available. Well, Michelle got that and more when she met Pieter and a few months after first meeting, the romance blossomed. A soon to expire visa meant Michelle had to return to the Netherlands and so the next seven months saw the new couple face the challenges of a long distance relationship before Michelle orchestrated her return to Australia
protectio0n from the weather. And that was the stunning outfit both were wearing when at the halfway point of the hike, when they stopped for a drink of water, Pieter went down on one knee and popped the question. At least the most important part of the plan – Michelle saying yes – went exactly according to the script. Despite both Michelle and Pieter’s families living overseas, the couple decided to marry in their new home – Australia. Preferring to spend their money on buying a house and continuing to establish their boutique winery Suffoir Vineyard and Cellar Door, in Macarthur. So it meant while it was a small wedding, Michelle and Pieter had to plan it all, as well as accommodation for
and Pieter. Not surprisingly with this well travelled couple, the proposal came when Michelle and Pieter were on a Top End holiday. And also in keeping with Michelle and Pieter’s romance, it wasn’t without its challenges. Pieter had the whole proposal in hand. He had been hiding the ring for months and had planned the whole surprise holiday in readiness for his grand gesture – the sunrise proposal at Uluru. He woke Michelle up very early one morning to drive to Uluru but Mother Nature refused to provide a sunset. Pieter soldiered on as the couple decided to hike at the Olgas. That was when the rain came and with no warm clothes on hand, the couple used plastic bags to give some
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relatives. For Michelle’s parents, the wedding was also going to be the first time they met their future sonin-law. The couple decided on a church ceremony at Tabor and then transformed their machinery shed into a reception venue. As for Michelle’s dress, that was a saga in itself. She ordered an ivory gown online that required some alterations and work when it arrived and saw Michelle, her mother-in-law and others spending their evenings beading and adding Swarovski crystals. Continued on page 14.
Michelle then started to doubt whether the dress was exactly what she wanted so she bought more dresses from a bridal store that was closing down in Sydney. The dresses came in bundles of 12 as part of the sale so Pieter went to Sydney to pick them up, as he had never been there before and saw it as a good chance to look around. It’s probably safe to say that not to many men, let alone bridegrooms, have ever carried 12 wedding dresses on a plane before. And just as well it was a sightseeing trip for Pieter because in the end Michelle chose her original gown that everyone had worked so hard on in the lead up to the big day. The Tabor church was a beautiful setting for the ceremony – an old bluestone building surrounded by Cyprus trees – and except for an Afrikaans prayer, it closely resembled a traditional Australian wedding. But the South African heritage of the couple soon crept in. An afternoon tea was set up right
outside the church with a raft of South African snacks and drinks on offer and the South African cuisine extended into the reception – lambs on a spit, chicken pies, roasted vegetables and lemon meringue pie for dessert. A highlight of the reception was a powerpoint presentation Michelle’s sister had organised with messages from friends and family that couldn’t make the Australian wedding day. The day had plenty of other personal touches as well, with photos of the couple of the wall of the machinery shed, the church decorated in vines from the couple’s vineyard and Michelle and Pieter crafting their own ginger and pineapple beer for the occasion. The couple also used one of their wine barrels as a unique guest book, which has since been varnished and sits in pride of place in their cellar door. Michelle and Pieter were married on October 27 last year
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Kahli Rolton’s after school job at Warwick Grieves Chemist in Naracoorte turned out to be so much more than a chance to earn extra money – it was where she first noticed Jason Flavel – the man she would marry a decade later. “He used to come into the chemist and he caught my attention,” Kahli said. Jason took off overseas not long after but returned after six months and Kahli’s chance presented itself where it so often does in regional Australia – at the pub.
The couple went to South America last March and unbeknown to Kahli, Jason had his grandmother’s ring in tow the entire holiday. They visited some of the world’s most amazing landmarks but in the end the couple and the family heirloom returned home with Kahli none the wiser and no proposal. Kahli returned home from a girls night out shortly after returning from the holiday and over a couple of drinks, Jason proposed. “I actually laughed and he said no – that can’t be our proposal
“We officially met at the Kincraig Hotel and we’ve barely been apart since,” Kahli said. That was nine and a half years ago – the love story adding another chapter on March 10 when the couple tied the knot. The proposal had come 12 months prior but not exactly as Jason had originally envisioned. “I had always told Jason not to propose to me until I had finished my degree and he stuck to that and it was about four months after I finished that the proposal came,” Kahli said.
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story,” Kahli said. “But for me it was perfect – we were home together rather than on a holiday and being asked in front of a group of strangers. Jason just didn’t feel right at any of the places on the holiday he thought might be a good spot to propose but in the end he just couldn’t hold onto the ring any longer and so he asked me at home. It was the perfect moment – just the two of us.” The couple have called Mount Gambier home since 2008 when
they moved for Jason’s work – he is a financial planner at Midas Home Loans. Kahli then secured a position at Sinclair Wilson, where she is an accountant. She is also set to return to study this year to complete her CPA. Kahli is nothing if not organised and she had the whole day planned within two months of the engagement and everything major booked. “The one advice I could give to any bride is make it easy for yourself, keep it simple,” Kahli said.
Town Hall and Varcoe’s Foundry all became the backdrop to the couple’s wedding album. The ceremony in itself was history making – the first time vows had been exchanged at the Main Corner. “We got married in the Dress Circle,” Kahli said. “It was Jason’s idea – we were in there one day and he just said it would be perfect and he was right.” All the guests commented that the tiered seating gave everyone a perfect view of Jason and Kahli exchanging
And that’s what she did - choosing Mount Gambier’s Main Corner as the venue for the ceremony, photos and reception. They didn’t want guests, especially one from out of town, having to travel between venues and to have hours between the ceremony and reception. “I love the Main Corner, and there’s so many beautiful old buildings nearby, as well as the garden so there was no reason we couldn’t get all the shots we wanted right there,” Kahli said. So the Main Corner, Old
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vows and it’s that perfect size for a wedding of around 100 guests. The couple and their bridal party did enjoy a quiet moment alone to soak in the day on the mezzanine balcony, where Main Corner staff had organised champagne for the group just to sign the registry and take a moment to take in the day. “It was great to have that five minutes away from everyone to just breathe, enjoy the moment and have a private moment on what is a special but busy day.”
A string quartet provided the musical score for the bride’s entrance, the ceremony and then while the guests were enjoying drinks and canapés in the Main Corner reception. “I had always wanted to walk down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon and the string quartet was perfect,” Kahli said. The music soon turned a little less traditional and classical when it was time to party and Kahli swapped her bridal gown for a sequined strapless party dress to dance the night away.
“I just wanted to have fun and for everyone else to have fun and it was a blast,” Kahli said. Kahli’s father Gordon Rolton, who succumbed to cancer when Kahli was 16 years old, was still very much a part of the wedding day. Not long before he died, he presented both his daughters with a diamond necklace, for the special occasions in their life, as well as a ring. Kahli wore that necklace on her wedding day, having only worn it once before – at her graduation.
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18 PERCY STREET, STREET M MO MOUNT OU UNT GAMBIER SA 5290 529 TELEPHONE 08 8725 3757 MOBILE 0437 264 007
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Her late father also played a role in the selection of the wedding gown. Having made a trip to Melbourne with her mother and sister and not finding “THE” dress, Kahli then went to Adelaide with Jason’s mother Anne and when she was trying on the dress she eventually chose, her father’s favourite song came on the radio. “It was like he was telling me that was the dress,’ Kahli said. She was also wearing the necklace and it was perfect with the dress. Also perfect was the unique ring setting Everett Brooks designed for Kahli. “I wanted to make sure Jason’s grandmother’s ring was still the highlight and what they came up with is just amazing,” she said. In fact, Kahli can’t speak highly enough of everyone who was involved in creating her wedding day. From Talie Teakle at the Main Corner, who organised projections on the screens throughout the complex to celebrate Kahli and Jason’s day, to the superb reception catering of Sam Rothall and Josslyn from The Main. From the hard to source native flowers by Jacqui Wilson to the make up by Katie Fox and hair by Giannis – it was a day that ran smoothly and allowed
everyone to just sit back and enjoy the celebrations. Kahli’s now infamous timetable might also have played a role. Everyone involved received a detailed timeline for the day and it is the other recommendation Kahli would give any bride. “In the end everyone really appreciated it and referred to it and because I knew everything was planned and organised I could really relax. I’m a person who gets stressed and I didn’t want to be stressed on my wedding day and the timetable gave me peace of mind and everything went as close to clockwork as it can.” Kahli and Jason celebrated the day with her mother Carolyn and her partner Jeff Overall, as well as Jason’s parents Anne and Peter Flavel. Kahli was attended by her sister Brittney Mills (matron of honour) and Naomi Price and Jasmin Meyer, while Jason’s best man was Tim Blackwell, with Justin Bertram and Leigh Flavel as groomsmen. Kahli and Jason spent a week in Sydney after the wedding but are in the throes of planning a honeymoon for the middle of this year.
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