 Yana and Ben were married at one of my all time favourite wedding venues, Gum Gully Farm. Nestled out the back of Silvan on like a hundred or so acres is the most incredible farm, now turned wedding venue. The owners, Kerry, Colin, Sue and Simon all live on the property, a real family business. When you walk in the door you instantly feel a part of the family so it isn't any wonder that they attract the same kind of cliental. Yana + Ben are just that, the most incredibly kind and humble couple. They ooze love for one another and you can't help but be swept away in their love bubble.
Yana rolled in the drive in a Kombi Van, driven by Ralf Fish himself. The Jeweller extraordinaire. Surrounded by her bride tribe, the champagne flowed and the giggles could be heard all the way down the road. 
So after a little pow wow by the car, we were ready to get Yana and Ben MARRIED! Yana's dad by her side, they made their way down to the windmill chapel. A gorgeous mud brick, wood lined, hand made by Colin and Simon masterpiece. Wood fire in side (and air-conditioning for the summer) it is the most cozy spot to be married.
Their ceremony was full of laughs. At times Ben looking like he had been struck down with hay fever (eyes watering just a tad), they stood hand in hand as their story was told, vows and rings (hand made by the amazingly talented Ralf Fisch) were exchanged and the stunning Michelle Pragt from In Photography was there to capture it all. 
  One thing that Gum Gully Farm has that everyone wants a photo with it the deer. So after the kisses and hugs and group photo with everyone. The guests headed to the bar whilst the bride tribe headed to the paddock to feed the deer. 
With a tribe as big as Yana and Ben's there was plenty of fun to be had during photo time. Yarra Valley Catering there to keep them all nourished during the duration. 
And to top off the photos there is always a trip up to Sue and Simon's top paddock where the views carry for miles, the sun sets over the tree tops and you can soak up all those just married feels with the two of you xx  
 Yana + Ben’s awesome team of suppliers include:
Venue : Gum Gully Farm, Silvan Celebrant : Kate Haley Master of Ceremonies - Kate Haley Photographer: Michelle Pragt Gown : Miss Bella Bridal, Boronia Suits : Harvey Spectre Tailors Hair : Nicole Whitty Make-Up : Moore Beauty Co. Rings : Ralf Fisch Jewellery Kombi: Kombi & Beetle Hire
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Jay + Andrew A Snippet from their Ceremony...We can thank the term ‘SWIPE RIGHT’ for Jay and Andrew’s first encounter. Jay tells me that Andrew had Super Liked her (is that even a thing?) and that caught her eye straight away. She started to feel a little bad that she didn’t press the like button straight away so after they were matched and Andrew attempted numerous times to catch up, she finally gave in and they arranged their first date on the 23rd of February 2016. Jay was at the train park and as Andrew lived just across the road it proved to be the best spot to arrange a casual meeting. Jay went on to say - I instantly felt a connection; it was like we had known each other for a long time. Everything was just extremely comfortable. I could tell he was a kind soul, helping the kids ride around on their bikes. We could have stayed talking for hours. It was like I couldn’t get enough of getting to know him. 
He is a gentle soul, hard working, family orientated (he will try and drop anything to be there for all of us), passionate and compassionate. He volunteers any free minute he has to help someone else (CFA calls out, Oscars Law, Reach out). This is something I have always admired in my dad and I’m so lucky to have found someone who has the same heart. I admire that Andrew has taken on Eris and Arion as his own, it takes an amazing person to take on someone else’s kids no questions asked. And to become an instant dad and do such an amazing job is not an easy thing. I’m constantly amazed at the love Andrew has for them and how much they love him.
Of course I had to ask what Andrew can recall from when they first met and he backs up Jay’s story. He did use the ‘SUPER LIKE’ Feature on Tinder to gain her attention as he was completely blown away by Jay with her gorgeous smile, long dark hair and stunning features. Andrew went on to say - The moment I saw Jay at the park, interacting with Eris and Arion, I felt a spark. Something I hadn’t experienced like this before. Watching her be so calm around Eris and Arion and completely in control was something that resonated with me. Knowing that she was a single mum and doing such an incredible job raising the kids on her own made me instantly attracted to her, she has so much independence and strength. After getting to know Jay, Andrew came to see Jay as selfless. She will always put others first as she is always thinking of other people. I admire her love for her family and friends and she will always find time for them. Clearly Andrew wasn’t going to let this Train Park mum go and with many months in the making, Even convincing Eris to keep a lid on the surprise. Andrew dropped to one knee out on his parents Farm.  Andrew explains it so well so I am just going to go on and quote him - The plan was many months in advance, once I found a ring that I new she liked, which was easy when she shows me ‘oh this is nice!’ So after selecting the most pure diamond I could get, I got the ring made! It then stayed in our house in one of my shoes for 4 weeks. Eris even had the ring on her finger before Jay and was able to keep this from Mum as she understood the importance! She kept asking me are you proposing tonight?! I picked out a spot on our farm in Clarkefield in the middle of a paddock and mowed the grass 3 weeks in advance. It was then a cute crop circle amongst all this long grass. But what I didn’t realise was that mum had the intentions to put the cows in there the week before! This made it incredible hard to find my spot and also had to dodge the cow pats! I got some wooden pallets and made a table, put some posts in the ground, hooked up some fairy lights to run off a generator, had linen and decorations from the neighbours art department, and then some fresh flowers, a love heart cookie cake which gave her no option to say no as it had a bold MARRY ME plastered on it and a platter of sweets and condiments. I lit a fire and sat down on the rug waiting with Tessa. Mum had organised to have Jay take me some pipe fittings that I needed as “I was up the back fixing a leak” and as she comes along on the motorbike, right on sunset, with the kids, she gets to a single wire fence, which the motorbike has a pipe to push it underneath, but she stops, turns off the motorbike and as I’m 40m away, now realising that my surprise is getting awkward as I’m on my knee, I call out to drive over it, but she doesn’t realise how to start the motorbike, so I run on over, start the motorbike, drive it over the fence and then run back to get the flowers and the ring and VOLA.... not awkward at all, noted by Eris! And I guess the answer was YES! When you here Jay’s version of events Andrew you are lucky she even made it that far into the paddock cause there was no way she was keen to get on the back of the motor bike and head into a paddock full of cow pats! Jay and Andrew had planned everything to a 'T'. It was the most magical day spent with family and friends and staying on site meant that those celebrations could last long into the night. Glen from Directors Edge was there to capture all the magic, sit back, relax and enjoy reliving this incredible day! Meet The Team Celebrant - Kate Haley Civil Celebrant Video - Directors Edge Flowers - Hello Blooms Suits - Your Suit Guy Venue - Yarra Valley Lodge |
AuthorKate Haley Civil Marriage Celebrant Archives
April 2023
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