A MARRIAGE AS BEAUTIFUL A S Y O U R W E D D I N G D AY
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Photography by Athena Grace
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hello friend and welcome to Issue 41—a book full of adventure, perfect for you as you start out on your own. Exciting times, isn’t it? For me, adventure is when I can find joy and pleasure in the unknown and the unexpected. When I’m living adventurously, my eyes are wide open. I’m able to see opportunities and I’m more prepared and can adapt to changes. My best stories and life shaping moments have always come from surprising and challenging situations. And with the spirit of adventure, I can embrace and overcome them (better still when it’s with the one I love). Like a random trip somewhere new, you never know what’s around the next corner and you’re always kept on your toes. In fact, I’m on one right now. I’m writing this to you from Austria, living on the side of a mountain, overlooking the most stunning view of lush, rolling hills, valleys and mountain peaks (I may just burst into singing and dancing any moment now). We booked our flights in March and against my usual self, have arrived with nothing planned. Nothing! In fact, tonight at dinner it was partially decided that tomorrow we’ll head off on a little drive over the border to Italy for the weekend. And who knows what will be next or if we make it or perhaps ever return. And all of this with our three kids in tow. Travelling with kids is an adventure in itself and if I’m 100 per cent honest, I can be a bit of a grump when sleep isn’t on my side … Sorry Luke—you keep me balanced, that’s for sure. Issue 41 marks 12 years of White. It has sure been a big adventure! We had no idea what to expect and no business plan could have predicted the journey so far. That is the joy of stepping out as an adventurer—having faith and navigating the way (somewhat naively) through whatever comes. As big as that adventure has been for us, there is no doubt that marriage is by far life’s greatest and most important adventure. It is full of unknowns and the unexpected— at least it has been for Luke and I so far. But we wouldn’t have it any other way and we’re only 17 years in. There is so much more to come. Having someone beside you, committed to you, sharing every up and down, the good and the bad is what it’s all about! We can learn so much about ourselves and each other through this adventure. This journey needs us to love fearlessly, without holding back. That’s when we can be an adventurer and truly experience joy. We were made to love and be loved! I hope you get so much out of this Issue and the words resound in your hearts. Enjoy this time and all to come.
ISSUE FORTY-ONE OCTOBER 2018 publishers luke + carla burrell
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EDITOR’S LETTER CONTRIBUTORS WHITE LOVES
editor + creative director carla burrell carla@whitemag.com
deputy editor cassandra holland cassie@whitemag.com
advertising + partnerships
planning
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PACKING FOR THE JOURNEY EQUI P
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GETTING LOST NAVI GATI NG AN ELOPEMENT OVER SEAS
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A QUEST FOR LOVE R I CH
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PIT STOP WORKI NG THR OUGH WEDDI NG PLANNI NG STR ESS
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ADVENTUROUS HEART TAKI NG
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BRING TO THE TABLE SET
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NATURE’S EMBRACE FASHION THAT CALLS TO THE WILD
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WILD + FREE NATURAL + EFFOR TLESS BEAUTY LOOKS
partnerships@whitemag.com
online editor angela donofrio online@whitemag.com
guest fashion editor sierra ramke accounts keiralee spencer accounts@whitemag.com
designed by mezzanine.co mylan chen-ough intern gem kellahan
cover photo joshua mikhaiel editorial contributors amanda viviers, athena stricklin, cate stephens, josh withers, keira mason, liv lundelius, marriage 365, naomi jaensch photographic contributors alice mahran, amelia fullarton, amelia soegijono, amy higg photography, byron loves fawn, daniela marquardt photography, emily magers, ephemeral creative, india earl photography, janneke storm, joshua mikhaiel, lauren nicole photography, lauren scotti, lilly red, sposto photography, the robertsons
YOURSELVES FOR THE ROAD
+ R OMANTI C WEDDI NG STYLI NG
THE SCENE WI TH ELEGANT STYLES
wedding
submissions whitemag.com/submissions
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established by mezzanine.co
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ABN 31 725 316 171 ~ ISSN 1834-3589. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, no responsibility can be accepted by the publisher for inaccuracy or for submissions by organisations or individuals and/ or printers’ errors. © 2018 white Magazine (Aust). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited.
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NEW TERRAIN JOUR NEYI NG THROUGH EAR LY MAR R I AGE
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THE RELATIONSHIP TALK LI VE
creative contributors borrowed blu, sierra ramke—sr creative, summers floral, veronika moreira
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OSCAR + VIVIANE ASHLEY + TERRENCE ANNA + ROB LAUREN + FRED BRITT + DREW TARA + STEVE ALEXIS + TOM RACHEL + MARK
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LI FE OF ADVENTURE
PAVING A NEW PATH PRACTI SI NG
I NTENTI ONALI TY
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WE’RE ALL HUMAN R EACHI NG
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STILL THE ONE I LOVE RAY
FOR NEW HEI GHTS
+ B ETTY: A SOLI D FOUNDATI ON
AMANDA VIVIERS WRITER
ATHENA STRICKLIN PHOTOGRAPHER
CASSANDRA STEARNS STYLIST
JOSH WITHERS WRITER
AMY HIGG PHOTOGRAPHER
Passionate about helping people find their own voice, Amanda is a writer, speaker and creative coach. Along with managing her own business and a CMA awardwinning daily blog, she is an expert at juggling a full work schedule while still making time for family, friends, social justice and her love of writing. @amandaviviers
Athena is a photographer who thrives on capturing unrepeatable moments of joy. She allows the people she photographs to free their inner beauty while she captures the visual story. “I love beauty, intimacy and depth. I can’t get enough.” With a wondrous sense of adventure, she welcomes crazy shoot ideas. @athenagrace
As the founder of tabletop rental company, borrowed BLU, Cassandra has artfully set over 1,000 tables in her career. Her clientele includes various celebrities, event professionals and media brands. She believes in doing things from the heart, and that gathering to set a table is about so much more than setting the table. @borrowedblu
Josh is a marriage celebrant based on the Gold Coast, with offices in Brisbane and Sydney. He sees it as a great honour to travel the world celebrating that marvellous union called marriage. Josh is a thought leader in the wedding industry, and has been featured on TV and radio as well as in newspapers. @marriedbyjosh
Amy is an Australian photographer with a heart for capturing love in its many forms. Her approach to photography is all about the people and stories behind each image. Amy endeavours to know more about each couple so she can capture their precious moments with more depth, honesty and emotion. @amyhiggphotography
LIV LUNDELIUS MAKEUP ARTIST
TRENT + JESSIE PHOTOGRAPHERS
NAOMI JAENSCH WRITER
AMELIA SOEGIJONO PHOTOGRAPHER
VICTORIA CAMERON PLANNER + STYLIST
Born in Germany, Liv is not limited by current trends when creating a personal look for her brides; she finds inspiration in their everyday life and personal stories. She worked in New York, Berlin and London before settling in Sydney, and her organic makeup kit is the perfect companion for her flawless work. @liv_lundelius
Trent and Jessie are the wonderful couple behind wedding photography business, Ephemeral Creative. This sweet duo are committed to authenticity, approaching each shoot with a documentary style of photography. They work seamlessly to ensure your day is retold as beautifully as your memories. @ephemeralcreative
Naomi is a talented writer and founder of the blog, Bill & Coo. She shares our passion for marriage in not only wanting to see couples grow, but to thrive. We’re also lucky to have her on board as a guest blogger, offering her sage advice to couples on their marital journeys in between Issues of the magazine. @bill_and_coo_marriage
Amelia is a photographer who is invested in your love story. She creates images that are authentic, luminous and effortless, and she isn’t afraid to run barefoot with the bride in a field or experiment with double exposures. Amelia is based in Sydney, but is available to document weddings worldwide. @ameliasoegijonophoto
With 10 years’ experience in the wedding and event industry, Victoria offers a wealth of knowledge, along with a personal approach and well-curated sense of style, to event planning and styling. She has also leant her expertise to international publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings, Glamour and Huffington Post. @vcweddings
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contributors
THIS PAGE COORDINATES MATCH MADE BRIDAL matchmadebridal.com EARRINGS SOFIA ROE maisonroe.com OPPOSITE PAGE DRESS DELILA FOX—BABUSHKA BALLERINA babushkaballerina.com VEIL BABUSHKA BALLERINA babushkaballerina.com EARRINGS SOFIA ROE maisonroe.com
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nature ' s embrace
DEAR VIVIANE Every day is a pleasure spending it with
still absolutely in love with you and I would
you. You are my true reflection that gives
not want to change a thing. I’m already
me balance in my existence. You literally
dreaming of our future baby that is almost
make me reach great heights. Even when
here. You were made to be a great mother
times are low you are that shining light I
and I can’t wait to raise our little rascal and
come running home to. Communication is
see him grow up together. I dream of our
key and listening to one another has got
future getaways with our own little family,
us through many obstacles and problems.
but I also enjoy every lazy, couch potato
One year after our amazing wedding, I’m
moment with our baby husky. I love you.
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VIVIANE + OSCAR
DEAR ASHLEY Love is a powerful word and I feel that it’s
I said to myself that I would spend the rest of
important we don’t let the word ‘love’ define
my life with you Ashley. Love is an act of
love. Love takes many shapes and sizes.
surrender, total abandonment, saying I give
There is the idea of falling in love. We don’t
myself today. It’s quite mad if you think about
say we are rising in love and when I fell in love
it. Our love is wild, our love is out of control—
you with you here in Switzerland, I made a
love is not bound. Our love is something
decision. There was a moment where the fall
special. I have let go, committed, and given
became a creation for me. A gamble of sorts
myself up to love. It’s madness but in this
and an act of faith. The moment in time that
love of madness lies sanity.
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ashley + terrence
THE PROPOSAL Rob and I had been together seven years before we got married. We worked next door to each other when we first met, and we were set up by the local coffee shop girl who thought we would be perfect for one another. With our proposal, Rob booked me a flight to visit my sister in Sydney for my birthday in 2016. I had no idea that he was on the flight directly after me. After spending the morning with my sister at the Art Gallery of NSW, we sat down in The Royal Botanic Gardens. I turned around only to see Rob walking towards me. I at first was very confused and thought I was dreaming, but then very quickly worked out what was happening. We had some champagne and a little picnic after. For the rest of the day, I told anyone who would listen that we had just become engaged. It couldn’t have been more perfect. I am a very suspicious person and the fact that Rob pulled it off was amazing.
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anna + rob
THE PROPOSAL Every year we go to the Isles of Scilly, which
for. He slipped it out of his pocket and laid
is a very special place for Fred’s family.
it down on the sand. At first, I thought Fred
This time, we were there on a windy but
had actually found a scallop! He asked me
gloriously sunny February day and we went
if I would love him forever. And of course,
for a walk on our favourite beach, Great
I said yes. We told our friends and families
Bay. The ring was hidden on the beach in
as soon as we got back to London—it
a scallop shell that Fred had made hinges
was all so exciting.
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LAUREN + FRED
BRITT’S VOWS Over the past eight years, you have
I win. I promise to share in your dreams and
captivated, motivated, challenged and
to greet you each morning with a cup of
frustrated me in ways no person has done
coffee in hand, so you have a head start
before. I have fallen in love with you again and
on achieving your goals. I promise to strive
again, as I continue to rediscover who you are.
for constant self-improvement, to learn and
I’ve witnessed your kindness, strength and
grow with you, even as time and life change
resilience, and promise to instil these values
us both. I promise to be patient, to listen to
within our family. I promise to be an equal
you with compassion and understanding,
partner in creating a home filled with laughter,
and speak to you with encouragement.
learning and love. I vow to keep the kid in you
Most of all, I promise to love you loyally and
alive and to make time for your favourite
fiercely, and continue to choose you every
games, without showing too much sass when
day, for all the days of my life.
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B ritt + D rew
DEAR STEVE You’ve been my best friend for over 10 years
I love our life together—you, me and our
and during this time you have been nothing
fur baby, Yogi. We will continue to have
but supportive of me chasing my own goals
adventures together, to push boundaries of
and pursuits, even when it would make times
what is expected, and most of all enjoy doing
challenging for us as a couple. You and I are
life together. I think our marriage is summed
a formidable team; we complement each
up perfectly by the quote, “May your love
other’s lives. You are the yang to my yin, the
be modern enough to survive the times and
bat to my ball, and the salt to my pepper.
old-fashioned enough to last forever”.
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A SHLY N + E R IK
DEAR ALEXIS You have exceeded just about all my
and, without a word, know what I am thinking.
expectations for what a life partner should
Another favourite is your amazing talent in the
and could be. It is magic. Unless you have
kitchen. Please never stop cooking for me. My
experienced this, you just don’t know; you
wish for us going forward is to continue to
don’t think it’s possible to have the perfect
live the life we want and support each other
complement, to have someone who is there
unconditionally. I can’t wait for 100 more years
for you always. But I have that in you. I love
with you, to grow old together and to see
everything about you. One of my favourite
what twists and turns life takes us on. There
things about us is the head nod; just the
will be good times and not so good times, but
slightest of nods, not enough to draw
there will always be us. Thanks for being my
attention but enough to know you are there
bird. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.
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erin + brendan
MARK’S VOWS One-thousand, one-hundred and forty-nine
Rachel. When I was a boy, I often prayed for
days ago, I asked you to court me. I still
you. I thought of who you would be. Rachel,
remember that day. I was nervous, shaking,
you are the girl of my dreams. I want to
and stuttering … some things never
serve you the same way Jesus serves the
change. Soon after this, I left everything and
church. I want to protect you the same way
came to Utah to pursue you. This was the
God does for us, and I want to worship Him
best decision I ever made in my life because
together. You are God’s promise and God’s
though I did leave everything I knew, you
gift to me. I cannot imagine life without you.
became my everything. You are my world,
I love you with my whole heart.
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P AV I N G A N E W P A T H “LOVE IS MEANT TO BE AN ADVENTURE.” —GORDON B. HINCKLEY Photography: Ephemeral Creative
T
here comes a time in every marriage where you both get comfortable. You’ve settled in to life together and
are now just going through the motions of the day-to-day. This may last for a season, but it’s so important for your longterm relationship to keep adventuring together, exploring and searching for new experiences outside of your routine. We challenged three couples with this over the space of a week. See how they fared with breaking free from monotony and
JESS + BRAD: SELFLESS LOVE
finding moments of connection in the everyday. Brad: We’re intentional about breaking routine so that we can spend time together, but we also try to understand the way the other receives love and then act accordingly. I’m always doing tasks for Jess because I love her and that’s the best way for me to express my love to her as she doesn’t really care about presents or time; she wants to know that I’m caring for her and that we share the load. Jess: My husband and I spent this week investing in our relationship. It was done under the guise of completing ‘challenges’ that essentially just forced us to listen, selflessly invest and learn from one another. My husband is kind—I learned that this week. He chooses songs that I like when we’re driving, just so he can hear me sing along because he knows I love it. He also drives me to the beach so I can dance in the waves. He hates Taylor Swift, and sand. But he loves me. Love is sacrificial.
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paving a new path
A D V E N T U R E A W A I T S