As promised…Part Two of our double feature, a little about my special day and the events that lead up to it.

Emily and Blake – A Waterfall, a Tree, and a Song

It was 2003, I had greasy hair (new hair product gone wrong), a very large wooden beaded necklace and showed up to Wappa Falls with some other guy. Blake took one look at me and decided, then and there, that one day he would date me. I had other ideas. It took 3 years, but I finally realised what a catch he was; and as he announced his long held feelings for me, late at night under a street lamp, I knew it was a pivotal moment for the both of us.

About 10 months later Blake took me to our favourite park in Buderim, we climbed our favourite tree, where we’d shared our first kiss, and he proposed. Of course I said yes, and with only 3 months until the big day, planning kicked into gear.

Mum and I, working in the same office, started researching venues online and we found Poets Cafe in Montville. I loved it instantly. Such a quaint, intimate venue, overlooking the hinterland. The decor left little else to be done to create a lovely atmosphere. The food was to die for. Unlike the usual alternate drop situation, no swapping was necessary, no option was disappointing.

In the first week of planning I looked in a number of Bridal boutiques, but found nothing. So I found a dress in a magazine and headed off to a dress maker. I still love my dress, simple and just a few vintage inspired touches. Although nowadays the lace jacket look has been done a few times over, back then it was unique. Like Carrie, I am also a tom-boy (two brothers) and not a heels kind of girl, so custom-made allowed me to get away with wearing ballet flats (and sometimes no shoes at all).

Unlike Carrie – I had four bridesmaids. We had ZERO off-the-rack options. Hoorah for better retail options in dresses today. Besides, these days the maids don’t even have to be wearing the same style or colour. So dressing the bridesmaids wasn’t easy, but it was fun having a party of people to goof around with.

My flowers were tulips, simple and no fuss – or so I thought. Despite being winter flowers, probably the most stressful moment was the day prior to our wedding day, when the florist informed me that none of the tulips were opening due to the cold weather! (If you ask Blake what the most stressful moment was, he’ll probably say something about chocolate milk, but that’s a story for another time). Long story short, the tulips opened, crisis averted.

We sourced our favours from a candy store just down the street from Poet’s, we had strawberry flavoured blue and pink personalised rock candy, it was a hit with all of the guests. We killed two birds with one stone and had our favour boxes double as our place cards, which my Mum hand-scribed all of the guests names on using her calligraphy skills.

We had two songs that were “ours” to which we danced, “To be with you” by Mr Big, and “Such Great Heights” covered by Iron and Wine (originally Postal Service). But one of the highlights of our evening was the song written and performed for us personally by my younger brother Wade. I believe the final verse of the song included these lines

“and when the years have gone so fast, and yeah we know its gonna last. When the baby’s crying and Em is sighing, that’s when Blake comes home and Em no longer feels alone, and that’s the way its gonna be, yeah that’s the way its gonna be…the little Tredrea family.”

And that’s how it is! To continue quoting the song, 5 years later and we’re still “in love, sweet sweet love.”