ASHLEA + TOM

Ashlea and Tom met while working together at a pub in Ballarat whilst they were at uni. Ashlea remembers she interrupted his dinner break to check the scores to the cricket. Tom says he was in love from that moment, but for Ashlea it was a slow burn (and a lot of hard work by Tom!) 

Ashlea and Tom got engaged in June 2021. Tom’s initial plans for a proposal in Tasmania were interrupted with a lockdown, so instead they went for a regional Victoria long weekend away. After wine tastings at Mitchelton Winery, Nagambie, Tom eagerly initiated a walk, swiftly proposing on the winery’s ceremony platform by the river just before the sun was setting. Perfect! 

The couple knew from when they got engaged that an early autumn wedding would be their preference, so that gave Ashlea and Tom a bit over 18 months of planning time.

Their chosen venue was the first venue they visited in December 2021 – Merne in Drysdale. Sharon, the venue manager, blew them off their feet with her friendly demeanour making them feel right at home from the moment they arrived. Over the following month Ashlea and Tom booked in ‘the big vendors’: photography, videography, celebrant, music, and began dress shopping.

The 107 guests were welcomed by the rustic vibe of Merne, to which florist Rachel the Posie Place added a pop of colour, making it more whimsical and fun. 

Ashlea wore a combination of two of Jane Hill’s gowns to allow the dress to essentially look like a second dress. The bride opted for an off-the-shoulders dress with a full skirt for ceremony, the shoulders then pinned back into a bow making the dress strapless for reception with the skirt detaching and creating a more fitted look. 

Tom wore a Forrest green blazer from Politix Men’s Wear with a white shirt, sandy beige pants and brown boots. The outfit was topped off with the ‘protea green’ tie from Peggy and Finn.