Real Wedding // Tessa & Adam’s Forget Me Not Wedding

Located in a serene and private hinterland setting, Tessa & Adam celebrated their intimate wedding at Forget Me Not. Wanting to have accommodation on-site for their family, and their ceremony and reception in one location with a beautiful outlook, Forget Me Not absolutely ticked all the boxes. As a reflection of their coastal life in Sydney, they opted for an Aegean style theme with crisp whites and soft blues. Their day was filled with laughter and fun, playing lawn games and soaking up the most stunning hinterland sunset views. Read on to hear more about Tessa and Adam’s special day.

Tell us about your story, how did you meet and where did the proposal happen?

We met originally at a mutual friend’s birthday party when we were younger and exchanged numbers but nothing eventuated. Five years later, we ‘re-met’ at a pub in Canberra and hit it off. We had actually both forgotten we’d already met and had each others numbers. All our old messages came up when we started chatting which was quite funny. We’ve been together ever since! 

Adam proposed to me in Coogee, where we both live now. He really wanted it to be a surprise as nothing really gets past me and I guess most of the things he tries to plan. It was a normal Sunday morning and he suggested a walk to a café. Half way along the walk, at a pretty secluded spot along the coastline he said there were dolphins along the horizon; while I was trying to find them he got down on one knee behind me and proposed. I was in total shock but loved it.  My mum lives just near the spot he proposed, so Adam organised for our parents and a few of our best friends to celebrate with oysters and champagne straight after. It was so thoughtful and a big surprise which is what he wanted.

What were the reasons for choosing Forget Me Not as the wedding venue for your special day?

I always wanted to get married on a small secluded property that could host the ceremony and reception all in one place. Forget Me Not ticked all the boxes! It was open plan, had accommodation on-site for family, heaps of spots to hold the ceremony/reception, a beautiful outlook, and it had a lush green garden/flowers. Forget Me Not’s reviews were also amazing and Jo (venue owner) was so delightful to meet and easy going. She definitely instilled the trust we needed to go ahead with her, especially during a pandemic.

What style were you striving for with your table settings, florals and reception? Was there a certain look or vibe that you wanted to create at Forget Me Not?

We wanted a minimalist look and something fresh. We fell in love with the Aegean style from The Wedding Shed. It really summed up our coastal living life in Sydney while also complementing the beautiful rustic style of Forget Me Not.

Were there any wedding suppliers that you particularly loved working with and why?

 We loved everyone we worked with! Everyone was so friendly, available, transparent and accommodating, especially during the pandemic. They all offered us two weeks notice on whether we’d go ahead or not on the day which we found really comforting. 

• The combo of Stories by Ash (photographer) and Fly on the Wall (videographer) also exceeded expectations – they fit in during the day so well with our families and friends and definitely felt like part of the crew.
• My flowers were so beautiful and fresh – Mikarla from Wilderness Flowers did a great job in capturing the Aegean style and making the flowers shine and go far with our smaller budget.

What were your favourite parts of the wedding planning process with Byron Bay Weddings?

We loved how easy everything was! The module you guys use was so helpful as it sets the agenda in an easy to follow step by step process. We found we didn’t have to worry about missing anything because it was all set out in the regular chats. Carlie (wedding planner), was also amazing! She really built rapport, was always available, answered and clarified all our ‘dumb’ questions, and helped put our vision into a smooth plan. She also had some great styling tips that I wouldn’t have thought of. Can’t thank her enough!

Tell us what were the most important aspects of your wedding day and which moments really stood out to you?

We really wanted to have as much time with our guests as possible. We loved our cocktail ‘hour’ as we were able to socialise with everyone there without stressing about time away to take pictures. Stories by Ash took some great shots and now we have photos of us with everyone. 

We wanted to incorporate little bits of everyone on the day. As our guests, and it being so intimate and small, they were the people who meant the most to us and how we became the couple we are. Handwritten notes were written by us of happy memories on everyone’s name cards. We chose our wines based on their favourite cellars, and included them in the officiating, MCing and speeches. 

We had a small window of ‘just us’ time where we could bask in the post-marriage feels and glow. It was so nice to look back at our guests enjoying themselves and seeing all the planning come together. That was very special and a ‘we did it!’ moment (more so because of Covid and the regional travel borders only just opening a week before our wedding day).

What would be your biggest advice to other couples currently planning their wedding?

Get a wedding planner! And one that knows the area and vendors; it’ll save you so much time and money in the long run. You’ll also find they become your go to person for anything; random questions, advice, stress counsellor and someone to have a laugh with that you trust. 

You’ll also want to plan everything up front but trust the planning process. There’s plenty of time – use that time instead to relax over champagne with your partner!

Tessa & Adam

Suppliers
Venue: Forget me Not // Hair & Makeup: Alex Ouston Beauty // Photographer: Stories by Ash // Videographer: Fly on the Wall Films // Florals: Wilderness Flowers // Musician: Niall Lochhead // Transport: Byron Bay Double Deckers // Catering: Fig Tree Catering // Lighting:  Byron Audio // Furniture & Styling: The Wedding Shed // Planning & Coordination: Byron Bay Weddings

Interested in a wedding at the beautiful Forget Me Not, get in touch for an information pack