To tell the story of this couple’s wedding we have to go back to another wedding, some time ago. Fellow guests at a mutual friend’s nuptials, Sherry and Sam first crossed paths at a pre-wedding cocktail party before being seated together at the reception the next day… well, kind of. “I instantly had my eye on him from the get-go,” admits Sherry. “When I saw he was to be seated at the same table as me, but not within conversation’s reach, I cheekily moved his name-card to be beside mine.” You’ve got to respect a woman with a goal. Forming an instant connection and sharing a sneaky kiss, the two hit it off… and then went their separate ways. It wasn’t until six months later when Sam contacted Sherry on Instagram that their romance truly began.
Knowing she was a foodie, Sam asked Sherry for a restaurant recommendation for ‘a friend asking a girl out’, but it was just an (effective) icebreaker. “After a week of speaking on the phone every night, Sam invited me to a race day in Emerald where we sipped Champagne,” reminisces Sherry. From that day on we have been by each other’s sides as best friends and soul mates.” Life has a funny way of working itself out sometimes.
The now-dating couple were on holiday and staying with Sam’s family in Mexico when he surprised Sherry with one heck of a proposal. While dining at the 100-year-old hacienda where they were staying, Sherry noticed something in the distance. “I could hear beautiful music slowly getting louder… and then a mariachi band entered the room!” she explains. “Sam’s family made a discreet exit to give us a private moment and then Sam asked me to dance. We were swaying side to side, my head on his chest, when he dropped to his knee and asked me to marry him!” It really was a fairytale moment.” We’ll second that.
Balancing their fly-in-fly-out work schedule (Sam and Sherry both work in the mines), the couple planned a boho-luxe wedding led by a specific wish-list. “Sam was happy with whatever my heart desired – as long as we chose a date in the cooler months! We both also wanted it to be somewhere outdoors, overlooking a gorgeous valley.” They discovered their dream venue in the Gold Coast Hinterland: the scenic Summergrove Estate. “As soon as we set eyes on the breathtaking estate we knew it was the place we wanted to create our happily ever after.”
With the where and the when (12 August, 2017) set, Sherry, Sam and a team of wedding experts put together a beautifully laid-back wedding with Moroccan-inspired styling. Fast-forward, and Sherry spent the night before her wedding at a nearby holiday home with her girlfriends. Rising the next day to find perfect weather, she became a little emotional. “I actually squealed with excitement waking to see Mother Nature putting it on for us,” she laughs. The joy was only slightly dampened later that morning when Sherry was getting all dolled up and enjoying a vegan platter with her girlfriends, and received a phone call. “Sam built our wedding arbour and it was his job to put it up that morning so that the florist could attach flowers. But it wasn’t up in time and she had to leave for another wedding, so the job was left to Sam to dress the arbour. I was a little sceptical, but shouldn’t have doubted him for one moment, he honestly did an amazing job!” Sam, we’ve seen our fair share of weddings and we have to agree with Sherry – you did an amazing job.
Later that day, crisis averted and with everyone dressed to impress, Sherry made her way down the aisle on her father’s arm to Sleeping at Last’s cover of The Proclaimers’ ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’. “After all our travels and working fly-in-fly-out, it truly sums up the life Sam and I live together,” she says. With glorious valley views as a backdrop, the couple exchanged their self-written vows and tied the knot before 80 friends and family. “Our celebrant made our ceremony one to really remember and we all shared some seriously big belly-laughs together – I actually accidentally kissed Sam before we even got to the ‘I do’ part!” Keeping spirits high in all senses of the word, the newlyweds took inspiration from an engagement gift and shared a special drink after signing their marriage certificate. “Sam’s family in Mexico gave us a stunning ceramic bottle of boutique tequila as an engagement present,” says Sherry. “We opened the bottle we had been safekeeping for the big day and toasted the occasion.” We’ll drink to that! As the sun began to set, Sherry, Sam and their photographer, Nicola, roamed the picturesque estate on a golf buggy for a beautiful photo session. “Nicola spotted a perfect location for photos,” says Sherry, “but the grass was waist-high and the ground was covered in a soft red soil – not so good for my heels or dress! So my new husband threw me over his shoulder and carried me down to the sun-kissed honey-coloured grass for a few snaps and some alone time.” When the couple returned to their cocktail-style reception (decked out with lanterns, festoon lighting, Persian rugs, cane chairs, vintage leather lounges, Julia roses and masses of candles), it didn’t take long for the party to get in full swing.
Feasting on tasty canapés, listening to speeches and taking their first twirl together as husband and wife, Sherry and Sam then danced the night away with loved ones. “Our amazing band, BenJam, really put on a show,” says Sherry. “They brought along tambourines and had everyone shaking them and dancing like it was 1999! Everyone – young and old – was up and having so much fun!” After tearing themselves away to throw the bouquet (which may have accidentally hit one friend square in the face), Sherry and Sam were about to tuck into their doughnut tower ‘wedding cake’ when an eagle-eyed guest noticed something odd. “We cut one doughnut in half and were about to feed it to each other when a friend saw a huge bite mark,” laughs Sherry. “We were all in fits of laughter when we noticed my maid of honour looking guilty. She pulled me aside later that night and said ‘Out of all the doughnuts on the tower, you had to cut the one that I put right at the back after I secretly taste-tested it!’” Well, quality control is important. Kicking off their shoes and returning to the dance floor, Sherry and Sam partied under the stars before exiting through a tunnel of guests with sparklers – but only after Sherry and her darling dad took to the floor to Cat Stevens’ ‘Wild World’ for the traditional father-daughter dance. “The whole day was filled with so much laughter and everyone had an amazing time,” says the happy bride. “What a way to start off our life as husband and wife!”
BRIDE’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK:
Photography: Nicola Lemmon Photography // Ceremony & reception: Summergrove Estate // Wedding dress: Made with Love Bridal // Shoes: Kookai // Bridesmaid dresses: Alice McCall // Flowergirl dress: Dollcake Vintage // Bride’s hair: Gypsy Rose Hair Boutique // Bridesmaids’ hair: Aleesha Darke // Makeup: Alana Mevissen // Suits: Politix // Bow ties: Wood & Beau // Rings: Diamonds on Boulevard // Flowers: Julia Rose Wedding // Flowers Cake: Flour of Life Bakery // Celebrant: Shane Vincent // Styling & furniture hire: Arctic Fox // Honeymoon: Amalfi Coast to Croatia //
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