Ula and Sean's Wedding - a Blue Mountains and Nepean Wedding
Engaged 18th December 2005
Married 27th January 2007
Blue Mountains and Nepean Weddings businesses used
Photographer A Shot Above
(Sean) We first met at the kung fu academy where we
both trained regularly and I was one of the instructors.
We knew each other for around 4 years, getting to know
each other gradually and it was a shared love of the
outdoors, mountain biking and beach swimming that
finally brought us together. Sparks started flying and it
was on Valentine’s Day that we shared our first kiss.
(Ula) Sean proposed on a warm summer’s evening on
Long Reef headland on Sydney’s northern beaches –
the place of our first kiss – with the stunning engagement
ring he had commissioned with the diamond he had
researched and selected, and with two dozen red roses
waiting for me at home.
I had nearly refused to walk up to that headland that
night, having done a tough, half-day kung fu grading
that day and being thoroughly ready for bed after
sharing a bottle of wine over delicious dessert. Sean
had also made sure that I was entirely off the scent by
telling me to “dress casual” that evening and giving me
little gifts every so often to gradually quell that racing
heart of mine each time he put his hand into his pocket
(so that by the time he did so for the ring, there was no
expectation from me!).
But I did agree to walk up there and after some truly
lovely time sitting, talking and looking out
to sea, Sean bent down on one knee
and proposed. Nothing prepares you
for that moment. It was overwhelmingly
wonderful, magical and special - and
with the full strength of my heart, I said yes.
(Ula) Our year of preparation was a
thoroughly experiential one. Once we
had decided that we wanted a morning
wedding (loving that fresh part of the
day) and a weekend of celebrations
in the mountains (where we regularly
took weekend trips), we researched,
gourmet taste-tested, Hunter Valley wineappreciated
and Latin dance-classed
our way to finding the things that we loved and that would
make up our wedding day.
Armed with our wedding note book, we gathered those
ideas and planned the wedding during car journeys up the
coast and lazy afternoons at home. The venues, celebrant
and photographer were great things to lock in quickly and
in each case we focussed on places and people that
resonated with who we were.
Pretty early on, I also kickstarted my own wedding
dressmaking, with the help of a good friend’s mother-inlaw.
Having dabbled in sewing before, but never touched
a pattern, it was a steep learning curve but one that I am
infinitely proud of and would recommend to anyone with a
creative spark and keenness for a challenge. It is wonderful
to work on the gown in which you will be married to the love
of your life, week-by-week, and ultimately create something
that has so much of yourself in it.
I loved that Sean was as much a part of the wedding
preparations as I was and that the choices we made were
very meaningful to him, not just ones for me to run by him
as a courtesy. He did not see my dress until the day though
(posing numerous logistical dilemmas, as I was making it
at home) but nor did I see, let alone choose, his outfit. We
simply gave the store a box containing a swatch of my silk
and lace in a box to make sure we matched! With both ofour involvement, the weekend really reflected both of us.
The best parts of the preparation were the brilliant
weekend mountain research trips, heavenly wedding
cake tastings, trial lunch extravaganza and learning our
bridal rumba. The worst parts were learning the hard
way that asking for help is a good thing (at our otherwise
lovely engagement party at Avalon Beach) and
assembling 100 wedding invitations – there being a
limit to just how much fun DIY really is.
(Ula) Everyone says that your wedding day goes by
in a flash, so to celebrate Australia Day and spend
time with the people who had travelled up to the
mountains for the wedding, we had an Australia-themed
party the day before at the house my
family had rented for the long weekend, complete
with “singlets, thongs and stubbies” dress code,
backyard cricket and volleyball and all the very
best of Aussie music and culinary delights. It was
a great way to have fun with our guests, for our
guests to get to know each other, enjoy the superb
weather and let our hair down before the big day.
(Sean) It was a 5am start for both Ula and I on
our wedding day. Ula, her sisters and our mothers
had their hair and make up done at a salon over
champagne and strawberries. I had a hearty breakfast
with my family, dressed and went to the gardens to check
everything was in order.
We were married under an old oak tree with dappled
sunlight through the leaves, a gentle breeze and harp
music rippling through the air. We designed the ceremony
ourselves so every moment was meaningful for us. When
I saw Ula coming down the aisle I had to hold back tears
and I could tell she was feeling the same. She looked
beautiful. The ceremony flew by, I thought the celebrant
had only finished giving the introduction and yet it was
time for our vows which were exchanged with sincerity and
passion. The magic of that whole moment is with me still.
After our kiss we ran down the aisle through a shower of
rose petals to another terrace of the garden and enjoyed
a private moment taking it all in. We were surrounded a
few minutes later by family and friends providing heart felt
congratulations and warm hugs.
Champagne and dolci (small sweets) were
served, the harp played on, friends chatted
and we had our family photographs by a
picturesque fountain.
Before the reception, our photographer took us
to a little-known lookout he thought we would
like. It was spectacular. Not only as a backdrop
for our photos but also as the setting for the
next stage of our celebrations that day.
The reception was fantastic, so many friends
and so little time. It was lucky we had tried the
food at the tasting as we hardly ate any of our
meals with the exception of our wedding cake,
a Mexican mud cake. Wonderfully decadent.
Of the reception my favourite moment was our dance and
I really appreciate that we took some lessons.
We had a high tea in the afternoon with our families in the
lounge of the hotel we stayed at. Silver service, sofas you
sink into and a grand piano. We joked that if our wedding
song was played that we could get up and dance again…
which it did and we did five minutes later.
The festivities continued into the evening with an after party
at a local pub, enjoying beers and burgers, pool and
dancing until we came back to the hotel near midnight -
convinced we had squeezed every moment of wedding
romance and fun possible into the whole day.
(Ula) Then off to Tasmania for the surprise honeymoon Sean
had planned!...
