Kayla Frizzell and Luke Bartlett

STORY: GEORGIA ROSSITER // PHOTOGRAPHY: MCQUILTON PRODUCTIONS PHOTOGRAPHY

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2021 // ECHUCA

HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS KAYLA AND LUKE DIDN’T LET A RECENTLY HEALED ANKLE GET IN THE WAY OF CELEBRATING THEIR LOVE — OR PERFORMING THE DANCE ROUTINE FROM THE MOVIE DIRTY DANCING.

“The day was literally perfect,” Kayla said.

“We kind of went off tradition and we did whatever we felt we wanted to do.”

Their stunning outdoor ceremony at Echuca’s Aquatic Reserve was followed by an equally magical reception at Radcliffe’s.

“I didn’t really have a specific thing to stick to, it was just super ‘us’,” Kayla said.

The altar was defined by a wooden arbour made for the occasion, adorned with flowers that perfectly matched the bohemian theme.

“We had vintage, mix-matched chairs, and rugs down the aisle,” she said.

The ceremony was a real family affair. Kayla’s dad officiated the wedding while her father-in-law walked her down the aisle. Luke and Kayla’s two children were both part of the wedding party as well. Six-year-old Seth was the ringbearer, and two-year-old Mia was the flower girl, but she brought her favourite bunny rabbit down the aisle instead.

“It was just nice to have the kids involved,” Kayla said.

At the reception, the couple took the chance to perform a decoy first dance, before surprising their family and friends later in the night with a routine to The Time of My Life from the film Dirty Dancing.

The steps did have to be somewhat modified with the help of Excell Dance Centre in Shepparton after Kayla broke her ankle at her hen’s party. She spent the weeks leading up to the big day strapped in a moonboot, and Luke was left to perfect the routine himself while she recovered. “Luke pretty much had to do eight lessons mostly by himself, and I had four,” Kayla said. “We drunkenly practised the lift the week before and the night before the wedding.”

The lift wasn’t exactly like the movie, but Luke went all out with his portrayal of Patrick Swayze. “He did his little Swayze solo, which was adorable,” Kayla said.

The couple wasn’t ready for the night to end when the reception did, and organised an afterparty for those who wanted to continue the celebrations. It’s something Kayla recommends to those planning their wedding now. “I’d suggest to everyone to do that, because 11.30 is a bit too early,” she said. “It just made the wedding go that little bit longer.”

For Kayla and Luke, it was the small details that made their wedding special, including the small mishaps. “Everyone always says their wedding’s the best, but that’s just how I feel,” Kayla said with a laugh.