“Everybody was so lovely and was trying to make us happy! The lady who actually brought out the dress I would choose gave us each a glass of champagne to celebrate having found ‘THE’ dress (I’d forgotten to bring my own). It was such an easy process and everything I was told would happen did happen – from pricing to timing, to knowing when and where alterations were done.”
#RCREALBRIDE TARA
RC – How did you meet Colin?
Colin and I met in Cambridge, England while we were both there teaching – he’d come from Canada and I’d come from Australia. My Canadian friends and I were hosting a party, and one of our Aussie mates (Brent) who was living in London asked whether he could bring along a friend. We said yes, of course – the more the merrier! When Colin showed up, Brent introduced him and that was that. It wasn’t until later, when we met up again at the Notting Hill Market, that I realised I actually really liked this guy. We stayed by each other the whole day, though neither of us could explain it. When, a few weeks later, Colin suggested we go to Italy with Brent and another friend, Alex (flights were 60 Pounds return!), I couldn’t say no. It was in the tiny seaside town of Corniglia in Cinqueterre that Colin told me he wanted to marry me one day, and asked me whether I would be his girlfriend. I actually said no a few times (I was so level-headed, thinking about the fact that he’s Canadian and I’m Australian and it could never work being so far apart). He was persistent though, and I guess I got caught up in how romantic it all was. Eventually I conceded to being his girlfriend, but I told him I wouldn’t marry him until we’d been together for at least one year. Our first official ‘date’ was at a little cafe there, overlooking the sea, with little coloured bottles hanging from the roof and flowers along the walls.
RC – How did Colin propose?
I’d like to start by mentioning that, despite the previous answer, Colin is a very straight-forward, logical guy. He never makes a decision without completely thinking it through. He had actually informed me that he would propose soon and told me I should go a choose a ring, which I did. I had no idea when he’d propose, but I guessed it might be on our one-year anniversary together. I had been teaching that day, and Colin had taken some time off to spend with his parents who were visiting from Canada. When I got home I was tired and grumpy, but I noticed Colin was all dressed up, like he was going out. We lived in a shoebox in Port Melbourne at the time, and he brought me out to our stamp-sized back yard. As he did so, his parents and our housemate Simon (who would become Colin’s best man) melted into the background. Colin handed me a card, saying that he’d loved spending this year with me and could he ask for many more to come? I thought that was so sweet and started freaking out that I hadn’t bought him a gift. When I looked up, he was on one knee holding a ring (which he’d hidden in the dog-food container). How could I say no to that?
RC – Is there a particular reason as to why you chose your venue?
There certainly is – Lake Moodemere Estate is my parents’ winery in Rutherglen. It was originally the house my father grew up in, and I have so many memories there. They were delighted when we asked them whether we could get married there, beneath the big old tree my grandfather had planted years ago. It was so perfect, looking over the lake and knowing that we were truly home.
RC – Your favourite part of the wedding?
Where do I start? I was so deliriously happy, I actually don’t remember a lot about the ceremony. Our wedding brought so many people together in so many different ways – my brother Joel was our chauffeur, my brother Harry made us a beautiful wine box which we’re to open on our 3rd anniversary, my parents organised the food, the wine, the venue; rather than having a wedding cake, I asked eight special people to bake their signature cake for a cake table; my grandmother did the table flowers for us; my great-aunt provided rosemary for the part of the ceremony where we would remember those who couldn’t make it. It was so beautiful and so perfect, and I think that’s mainly because of all the people who put their time and love into our special day.
RC – How did the dress make you feel?
The dress was not actually the style of dress I thought I’d choose, but when I tried it on in the store I knew it was the one. It made me feel beautiful. I loved that it showed off my body without being too risque, and the sweetheart neckline was perfect. I spent my wedding day being informed it was ‘the most beautiful wedding dress I’ve ever seen!’
RC – How was your bridal shopping experience?
I honestly couldn’t pick one person to speak about during my RC experience. Everybody was so lovely and was trying to make us happy! The lady who actually brought out the dress I would choose gave us each a glass of champagne to celebrate having found ‘THE’ dress (I’d forgotten to bring my own). It was such an easy process and everything I was told would happen did happen – from pricing to timing, to knowing when and where alterations were done.
RC – Tips for brides-to-be!
Relax. Yes, it’s your big day, but if you spend the lead-up to it freaking out about tiny details, you’re not going to enjoy the actual moment because you’ll be thinking about other things the whole time. Also, delegate – people want to help you, so let them, and you’ve done them a service by helping them feel they’ve supported you.
