Maddi + Chris

Having first crossed paths as high school sweethearts, Chris and Maddie’s wedding seemed like it was years in the making. The day was a big celebration with their families and friends who had shared in their almost 10 years together.  The warm summer evening proved to be perfect for the indoor/outdoor set up at Lake Breeze, which meant the guests could mingle on the lawns for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles before taking their seats in the elegantly styled veranda.

19th January 2019

Photographer: Johnst Photography
Lake Breeze Venue: Ceremony + Veranda

Their Story:

Chris proposed on a long weekend getaway to the McLaren Vale in January of 2018. After a day of wine tasting at various local wineries, Chris capitalised on his liquid courage and surprised Maddie with a custom-made diamond ring in their beautifully converted horse stable Airbnb.

Many weekends and holidays over the years were spent at Maddie’s parents’ holiday home in Pt Elliot, so the Fleurieu was an easy choice for their wedding location. They both loved the idea of a destination wedding, but to be able to have all family and friends attend a local location suited best.

After a few weekends of scouting venues around the area, a visit to Lake Breeze Wines and a meeting with Ashleigh, their Cellar Door & Event Manager, they knew that they had found the perfect location. The option of the barrel lined veranda which spilled out onto perfectly manicured lawns and faced the vineyards was exactly what they had been searching for and locked in a date for the January of 2019.

“Ashleigh was such a great help in planning our big day! Nothing was too much trouble and she was so proactive in making sure every little detail was thought of. We could not have done it without her!”   

After a few months of smooth sailing with their planning and locking in of various suppliers, the couple ran into their first planning hiccup. The Tour Down Under had released their stage dates, and Stage 5 (Glenelg to Strathalbyn) was to finish at the time of their ceremony. Just an additional 10,000 spectators to contend for parking with! The couple had planned on using a local bus service to transport their guests from both Victor Harbour and Adelaide to The Good Shepherd Church in Strathalbyn for their 3pm ceremony. After re-routing the buses to avoid the road closures in place, the Alexandrina Council came to the rescue, letting the couple borrow traffic bollards to block of the church car park and street front to allow the guests to arrive.

Maddie and her father, John, walked down the aisle to a beautiful acoustic rendition of Ed Sheeran’s Tenerife Sea, sung by Isabella De Marco. The couple were married in front of a full church of family and friends, by Maddie’s family priest, Monsignor John Swann. Following the ceremony, the couple and their bridal party had photos taken around the picturesque Lake Breeze property, by Nathan and Thea of Johnst Photography. The beautiful candid style of shooting perfectly suited the couple who were a little camera shy. 

The warm summer evening proved to be perfect for the indoor/outdoor set up at Lake Breeze, which meant the guests could mingle on the lawns for predinner drinks and nibbles before taking their seats in the elegantly styled veranda.

After some heartfelt speeches, the couple escaped for a private moment to capture the last few rays of sunlight for some extra beautiful photos in an empty field just behind where their guests were continuing to enjoy the night. After returning, they took to the dancefloor for their first dance as husband and wife, before their guests joined in and danced the night away.

 Maddie and Chris then farewelled each guest as they stepped through an archway, and into a waiting car to whisk them to their beautiful accommodation looking over the Lake Breeze Vineyards.

Suppliers Details:

Catering and Drinks – Lake Breeze Wines
Cake – Heidelberg Cakes
Rings – Villani Jewellers
Videographer – Fragment Films
Flowers – Bouquets by The Flower Nook
Dress – Caleche Bridal
Hair – Ashlea Munn Hair and Make Up
Make Up – Emilie Todarello Make Up
Suits – Jenny and Gerry’s Suit Hire