ISSUE 01
REG IO NA L LOVE STOR I E S
First love WELCOME TO OUR LAUNCH ISSUE OF MORE THAN LOVE. This is not my first date with print. In between reading trashy romance novels (I’m a Mills and Boon tragic) and watching Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall, I am the founder + editor of two print publications OAK Magazine and now More Than Love. Ten years ago, I married my happily ever after. Sometimes you get really lucky and find out that your soulmate was disguised as your best friend the whole time. My wedding story can wait for another day but let’s just say it involves supermarket flowers, a trip to the emergency department and nits. I look back now with lots of love and laughter because it was the best day ever making memories with the person I love the most, my husband (oh, and the kids with their nits). The last 18 months has proven how quickly things can change and how little control we have over that. I know you might be holding off setting a date but eager to get planning, or you’re a business owner desperate to be servicing a wedding but all the while panicking at the back log ahead. I don’t have a crystal ball or five top tips, I do however have this quote which was a collaboration between our graphic designer Kylie Norton, writer Nat Dowling and lettering artist Kate Hardingham...
It’s love we want to spread. Through lockdowns, over distance and across adversity, love can never be cancelled. Our love lives, and its story will be told. Much like a marriage, this publication has been a partnership with Kylie. I met Kylie at a workshop I hosted in Mildura earlier this year. We bonded instantly over our love of print. You could say this issue is our print version of a micro wedding, and you can bet we will follow up with a big Issue 2 celebration in 2022. I have an undying love for regional and rural Australia. It’s where I live. It’s where I work. It’s who I
champion as an individual and proud business owner. More Than Love exists to support, celebrate and connect couples with vendors in regional and rural Australia as they create their own happily ever after. The best piece of advice I can give you when planning a wedding is to look local first. Everything you need is right here, in your own backyard. I hope More Than Love can help you on that journey. Let’s make memories together,
Kimberley Furness
FOUNDER & EDITOR Kimberley Furness D E S I G N & L AY O U T Kylie Norton QUOTE ARTWORK Kate from Hardinghand List your business, share your wedding or tell us a good love story. www.morethanlovemagazine.com.au @morethanlovemagazine hello@morethanlovemagazine.com.au F R O N T C OV E R Photography - Eliza May Creative Stylist - Ali Swanston Model - Bella Suit - Martin Studio from Ruby Tuesday Jewellery - St Prin Jewellery Hair - Shelley McCormack Hairdressing Makeup - The Glow Lab Makeup and Beauty
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EMBEDDED BLOOMS Flowers evoke emotions and memories, they capture so many of life’s milestone moments, and Embedded Blooms are here to help you continue to cherish those moments by embedding your floral memories with it's custom resin casts. Handmade in Camden, NSW. @embeddedblooms
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A COLLECTION OF OUR FAVOURITE NEW FINDS. AND WHEN YOU MAKE A PURCHASE, KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING A BUSINESS FROM REGIONAL AND RURAL AUSTRALIA.
BENDIGO BRITTLE Delight your wedding guests with Bendigo Brittle bonbonieres and favours - a sweet treat that every generation will love. Three choices of colours have any wedding colour palette covered - matte white, matte black and kraft. Handmade in Bendigo, VIC. @bendigobrittle
WE LOVE DISCOVERING NEW BRANDS SO GRAB OUR ATTENTION ON INSTAGRAM BY USING #MORETHANLOVEMAGAZINE IN YOUR CAPTION.
LUCY IN THE SKY Lucy Fife creates world class bespoke jewels and brings people’s stories to life via fine jewellery. She believes in the power of honesty, integrity and the beauty and comfort that sentimental and meaningful pieces of jewellery can bring us. Based in Goulburn, NSW. @lucyintheskyjewels
LESS STUFF – MORE MEANING The wedding footprint calculator from Less Stuff - More Meaning, combines industry knowledge with scientific data, empowering you to work out your wedding’s carbon emissions… better yet, tangible ways to plan your wedding with care for the planet. @less_stuff_more_meaning
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WRITTEN WITH LOVE WORDS KIMBERLEY FURNESS
ANYTHING HANDWRITTEN IS PERSONAL AND MEMORABLE. WHEN INCORPORATED INTO YOUR WEDDING OR EVENT ON AN INVITE, TABLE DECO OR SIGNAGE, IT CAN ADD A STYLISH AND PERSONAL TOUCH. Kate Hardingham is a modern lettering artist based in regional Victoria. She describes her style as “modern calligraphy with a twist of modern monoline and brush lettering on the side”. Having started Hardinghand as a creative outlet in 2016, Kate has some sage advice for couples considering custom hand lettering.
And then once you’ve worked that out, keep coming back to it throughout the planning process. What do couples love most about working with you? Outside of my unique lettering style and shining personality, I think it comes back to me being able to have a really strong understanding of each couple’s style for their big day. I also think that as a wedding vendor, communication is key. My clients really appreciate the fact that I communicate the key timelines and expectations in a simple and honest way right from the beginning of the process. ✦
What is special about custom hand lettering? It’s completely personalised which makes it such a unique and luxurious way to set your big day apart and make it feel even more special. For original lettering on items like guest place cards, to be able to see the shimmer of gold ink and feel the beauty of quality paper stock is such a lovely way to make your guests feel welcomed.
HARDINGHAND www.hardinghand.com.au @hardinghand
What surfaces can you write on? I’ve written on a lot of different surfaces from beautiful agate slices, to pieces of slate, to fresh gum leaves. I’m a sucker for a simple, good quality, thick paper stock though – there’s something about the texture that gets me every time. Budget? As the brief is different for each and every wedding, costs vary depending on what you’re looking for. As an indicator, place cards start from $4 each with costs increasing up to a full suite of wedding and on-the-day stationery. Timing? For invites, at least six months in advance. For on-the-day stationery, around three months in advance. What is the one thing every couple should first consider when planning their wedding? First and foremost, before all the budgets and the table plans and the invite lists, really think about how you both want to celebrate your love. This is your big day. This is the day of all days where you get to be completely yourselves and celebrate who you are as a couple and what you love about each other.
IMAGES: Kate Hardingham (top & middle), Katie Harmsworth (bottom)
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Angela & ANDREW 24 APRIL 2021 MILDURA, VICTORIA
THERE WAS NOT A DRY EYE WHEN HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS ANGELA AND ANDREW THOMPSON EXCHANGED THE VOWS THEY HAD WRITTEN INDIVIDUALLY AS A SURPRISE FOR ONE ANOTHER IN A GARDEN CEREMONY EARLIER THIS YEAR.
We shared the moment in the most perfect place before running the 20kms back to our camp. Ange’s fingers were pretty swollen so the ring didn’t fit until the next morning – one of our favourite memories for sure.
How did your love story start?
ANGE: Our inspiration changed due to postponing twice – which also meant a change in seasons – but we kept calm and adjusted to have the perfect day. We knew we didn’t want to sweat the small stuff – we just wanted to have fun on the day. We looked at Pinterest and gathered inspiration from other weddings that matched our style. Leah, our wedding planner from Willow & Ivie, was a huge help to setting up the venue to suit our wedding.
ANGE: We met at high school in Red Cliffs in 2015. We really didn’t know much about each other until the week of meeting up. We just had so much fun together – that never stopped and here we are. Tell us about the proposal? ANDY: We went over to Tassie to do a week of running, hiking and mountain biking. One of our planned runs was a three day hike called the Three Capes Track near Port Arthur that we were going to run in a day. As we reached the second cape, we were completely alone staring off a huge cliff and it was the perfect place to ask Ange to marry me. She was too busy trying to sight a whale to notice but when she turned around, I was on my knee with a ring.
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Where did you find your wedding inspiration?
Did you follow any traditions or start your own? ANDY: We did a ‘wine box’ ceremony where we had a bottle of wine from Freycinet – where we were engaged – and nailed it closed until our first wedding anniversary. We had written a note for each other that we will read on the day we open the box.
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What was the most challenging thing about planning your wedding? ANDY: We were actually living in Melbourne at the time of organising the wedding. So due to 2020 lockdowns, it made it quite tricky (and sad) having to rearrange and postpone the day. We only got to see our new wedding venue in person about a month or so before but the team at Willow & Ivie were just amazing to work with. Any advice for couples planning their wedding? ANGE: When we got engaged, a friend of ours said to us, ‘Don’t sweat about the small details’ and we would totally agree. Have an idea of what you want your day to be and follow that. Anything you forget to do is not important. Remember to take a moment for yourselves together and be in that moment on the day. And don’t forget to dance! ✦
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Dream team PHOTOGRAPHY Run Wild Photography VIDEOGRAPHER Brad ~ Wedding Films VENUE Willow & Ivie BRIDE’S DRESS Grace Loves Lace B R I D E ’ S H AT Will & Bear GROOM’S SUIT M.J. Bale WEDDING RINGS Hammerton's Jewellers Mildura F LO R I ST Botanik Floral Designs CELEBRANT Jan Goodieson CAKE Claire Gowers MAKEUP Maquilleur Make-up Artistry P H O T O L O C AT I O N S Kings Billabong, Quality Hotel Mildura Grand and Willow & Ivie in Nichols Point
WEDDING STYLE Autumn leaves. Relaxed. Rustic. Fun.
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Meet me in the woods
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IF YOU GO INTO THE WOODS IN COOLAMON, YOU TOO COULD DREAM UP AN ENCHANTING FOREST WEDDING LIKE STYLIST ALI SWANSTON. “Our rural backyard is gorgeous. We have a vast array of stunning natural backdrops that, with a bit of thinking outside the square, can make the most incredible wedding locations.” says Ali. “The back scrubs and forests on farms have always held a feeling of magic for me, and I wanted to harness that scared feeling of being in the middle of a forest and feeling like you are the only two people in the world.” Ali dreamed up this exclusive wedding collaboration for More Than Love which weaves in the old with the new. “I love the idea of a colourful wedding dress and also the use of vintage or second hand wedding gowns - not only is it a great sustainable option but also cheaper and unique. “It has been a dream of mine to see a bride in a red dress and veil; it’s the merging or juxtaposition of the classic elegant vintage bridal look with a contemporary pop of colour flare.” ✦
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Dream team PHOTOGRAPHY Eliza May Creative STYLIST Ali Swanston WHITE COUTURE GOWN Jillian Franklin Couture RED & PEACH DRESSES Dress with Heart Vintage F LOW E R S , M OS S & C H A N D E L I E R S Scooter Flowers MODELS Tamika, Ruby and Matt
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VIRTUAL WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING WORDS KIMBERLEY FURNESS IMAGES RUSILA & JOSH
WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING IS NO EASY TASK IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. FINDING THE PERFECT GOWN CAN TYPICALLY TAKE BETWEEN SIX TO 12 MONTHS AND INVOLVE CLOSE, IN-PERSON CONTACT AND, IN SOME CASES, TRAVEL. QUITE SIMPLY, THE PROCESS DOESN’T FACTOR IN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
- Be realistic about your budget. It’s not just the dress, you should factor in shoes, accessories, a veil, drycleaning.
But wedding retailers are thinking outside the seams so as brides can move forward with the wedding they have always dreamt of.
“People often assume that you need to go to Melbourne or you need to spend $7000 to have an awesome dress which is not the case at all. Melbourne is probably ahead in the couture game but their ready-to-wear range is the same as us.”
Based in Victoria, Catherine Anyon of Fifi & Edga Bridal has taken her dress fittings virtual from online consultations to at-home try-ons with lockdowns forcing her business to close its doors seven times since March 2020. “It is now me with the camera on a stand going through the styles, putting them on the mannequins, pointing out the details and, when possible, picking out a selection of gowns and delivering them to the client,” says Catherine. “It’s also become more about making the client feel like they are still doing something. With everything on hold, you can go crazy out of your mind with a million people in your ear telling you a million different things. Sometimes it’s reassuring to just talk to your consultant, even if you can’t try on a gown.”
- Keep your crew small and intimate, one to two people max. More people means more opinions. - When planning your wedding, Catherine urges brides to shop local first.
And a final piece of advice? Catherine says once you’ve found your dream gown, stop shopping - you’ll go crazy if you keep looking at dresses. Yours is perfect. ✦
FIFI & EDGA BRIDAL 21 View Point, Bendigo, Victoria @fifiandedga
Catherine’s racks are filled with beautiful gowns we all dream of one day wearing. “I have all this stock sitting here, and with the constant change I don’t even know if it’s what people will be wanting but luckily I can sew and I can modify the gowns into being something completely different.” Catherine is about to launch her own ready-to-wear range which includes a simple and classic style dress which you can add willowy sleeves, romantic ruffles, and more to really make it your own with prices starting from $2000. Catherine’s tips to help you say ‘yes to the dress’: - Lead time is key. Start early and book your appointment in advance. - Have an understanding of what you love and dislike. This will give your consultant a place to start so you can truly make the most out of your appointment. MORE THAN LOVE [ 15 ]
Lauren & BRODIE 20 MARCH 2020 BENDIGO, VICTORIA
AFTER WORKING IN THE WEDDING INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS, LAUREN THOMSON HAD DONE HER FAIR SHARE OF RESEARCH AND KNEW THE SUPPLIERS SHE WANTED TO ENGAGE. “I wanted to use small businesses as much as possible. Being the week of COVID-19 hitting, every single supplier went above and beyond to make sure if we were going ahead they were going to help us do it. Our wedding would not have been the same without them all,” says Lauren.
on the Tuesday as guests started to cancel and family from interstate were unable to travel. It was all starting to take its toll. “I’m so glad we made the decision to soldier on, as we both know our day would never have been the same in this current climate. One of our biggest hassles that week was getting toilet paper and hand sanitizer. My mum went to the cleaning wholesalers with our wedding invitation begging for some rolls of toilet paper.”
Lauren and Brodie were married the weekend before Australia was plunged into its first lockdown.
On a private property in country Victoria, the couple executed their vision for a marquee wedding with Lauren describing the style as “a little classic with a touch of our own spin on a Hamptons White Party”.
“Wedding week for most is a very busy and stressful week; add a worldwide pandemic to that and you’re in for a wild ride. We almost cancelled the wedding
“We actually made our dress code ‘Hamptons’. I was worried thinking 150 guests wouldn’t listen to our request, but they did.”
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The three pole white sperry tent was dressed in a mix of white, blush and nude roses, orchids, hydrangeas, dried palms and greenery, and a huge floral installation on the centre pole. “As the sun went down, the tent just looked incredible. I remember stepping back at one moment and thinking this is better than a dream; I can’t believe we made my vision a reality.” Looking back on their wedding day in March 2020, the couple recall the most memorable moments. For Lauren, it was walking down the aisle. “I am normally an emotional mess but I didn't shed one tear. I think I was in absolute disbelief that the wedding was actually happening. And also my Dad surprised me by singing ‘A little ray of sunshine’ with the band.” Brodie says he’ll never forget the speeches and “sitting back and listening to our favourite people speak about us as a couple”.
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For those looking to plan a wedding, Lauren has this advice. “Make decisions for your special day based on what you want to do, have, include and not include. Communication between each other will save any arguments - especially on budgets. And on the day, make sure you spend some time together - just the two of you. Stand back and look at the day you've created.” ✦
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Dream team PHOTOGRAPHY Whites and Woods VENUE Private property, Longlea, Victoria BRIDE’S DRESS Blue Bell Bridal F LO R A L S Kylie Wales I N V I TAT I O N S , S TAT I O N E R Y, ST Y L I N G & F LO R A L S Atelier Creative MARQUEE & FURNITURE Elderberry Event Hire BAR, GLASSWARE & FURNITURE Memphis Hire OTHER HIRE ITEMS Bendigo Party Hire CELEBRANT Trudi O’Donnell E N T E R TA I N M E N T The Knots FOOD Nuoc Mamas Pizza De Wheels DONUTS Cakes By Occasion HAIR Hair By Sammi MAKEUP Demi Ryan
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Cassie & JARED 22 AUGUST 2021 EMERALD, QUEENSLAND
CASSIE AND JARED WATENE CHOSE TO RENEW THEIR VOWS TO REAFFIRM THE PROMISES THEY MADE TO EACH OTHER 13 YEARS AGO BUT ALSO AS A HEARTFELT WAY TO SUPPORT AND SHOWCASE SMALL BUSINESSES IN EMERALD, QUEENSLAND. CASSIE SHARES THE LOVE STORY BEHIND THE COUPLE’S DREAM WEDDING. "I was talking to my good friend Kasey about how I’d love to renew my vows to Jared; just something small and intimate with all the pretty touches that I would have loved when Jared and I first were married in 2008 at 19 years of age. I loved my original wedding because I was marrying Jared but of course being so young with a very low income we just did it as cheaply as we could.
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We also didn’t have an official photographer. With everything going on in the world, I decided why not - why not celebrate love. We picked a date that coincidentally fell on a blue moon which I find so ironic as I really feel our love really is a once in a blue moon love. Kasey and I hunted op shops for vintage mismatched dining settings, we pulled out all the old lace curtains and vintage doilies. With the help of some amazing local businesses we transformed our very average backyard into a beautiful boho themed magical ceremony venue. All of the items and services were donated or at cost price to collaborate and show just how many amazing businesses and people we have here in Central Queensland.
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It was such a special day, honestly so much better than my actual wedding. And being in my 30s, I know what I like and it was just a perfect, no stress, happy, love filled day." ✦
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Dream team PHOTOGRAPHER Dux Till Dawn Photography VENUE Fairbairn Dam, Lake Maraboon, Emerald, and bride and groom’s backyard BRIDAL GOWN Desert Moon Bridal MAKEUP Kasey Davis Makeup Artist HAIR Danielle Hales Hair EARRINGS Wattle & Co CHILDREN’S OUTFITS Noiz Handmade G I R L S F LOW E R C ROW N S The Sweet Pea + Co CAKES/CUPCAKES Cas’ Cakery CAKE TOPPER Mini & Co COOKIES Petals + Cream Cookies C AT E R I N G Cracked Pepper Canteen & Catering P R E S E RV E D F LO R A L ARRANGEMENTS & MACRAME Dry Your Tiers
B O U Q U E T & A R B O U R F LO R A L S Pepperberry Studio R O S E P E TA L S Simply Rose Petals L I G H T I N G & V I N TA G E H I R E JS Vintage Hire
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Copper. Co Photography + Cinema Australia Wide
Unique. Distinctive. Breathtaking. @pemberleyofmalmsbury
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@copper.cophotography info@coppercophotography.com www.coppercophotography.com
PRINTED BY PRINTGRAPHICS ON PAPER BY BALL & DOGGETT. This publication is printed using vegetable based inks. More Than Love Magazine has chosen to print on FSC and PEFC certified stock ensuring traceability and verification of well managed forest timber, from mill to printer to you. Copyright More Than Love Magazine 2021. All rights reserved. All material in More than Love Magazine is wholly copyright and reproduction without the written permission of the Publisher is strictly prohibited. Views and comments expressed by individuals do not necessarily represent those of the Publishers and no legal responsibility can be accepted for the result of the use by readers of information or advice of whatever kind given in this publication, either in editorial or advertisement.
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