This week we’ve featured #rcrealbride Jessica’s who wore our McCall gown by Sottero and Midgley. Connor and Jessica exude a deep sense of self-confidence and knowing themselves, each other and what they want in life. From the moment they met in a bar over seven years ago, there was an instant mutual attraction and just four days following the night they first met, they were enjoying themselves on their first real date- and have been inseparable since. The same sense of certainty was applied to how Connor and Jessica planned their classic and elegant wedding, held in Phillip Island, Victoria. Each element was thought through carefully and they focused on what was most important to them as a couple. The result? A bride and groom who were thrilled with every decision they made from what they wore, to their choice of bridal party, right through to being overjoyed with the work of each and every one of their wedding vendors. It’s exactly how a wedding should be! This perfect day was captured by Heart and Colour Photography. Enjoy all of the beautiful details below as told by the stunning bride, Jess. THE FIRST SIGHT Connor served my best friend and I our first drinks at a local bar. I remember sitting down with her and commenting on how incredibly amazing his smile was. We both agreed he was gorgeous and then throughout the night I just kept going back to him to be served. A fair bit of money and drinks later, I wrote my number on his arm and that was it. He messaged me the same night, we had our first date 4 days later and over seven years later, we’re now married. Connor is this unbelievable force of positivity and happiness and from the moment I met him, my world was changed for the better. THE WEDDING Our wedding style was classic, elegant and understated. We wanted it to reflect us so we chose to keep it very classic and understated without much fuss. We selected the elements which were most important to us (food, music, flowers & lighting) and they were our focus.The most special and important detail of the day though was that it was actually our ‘second’ wedding. We found out in December of 2016 that my brother was to be deployed in January, four weeks later and would miss the wedding. I am so close to my family and siblings and knew I couldn’t get married without him by my side. So, with that in mind, we got in touch with our celebrant and photographers and within about 3 days, we’d organised a tiny, intimate wedding. We had only our immediate families there and my brother walked me down the makeshift aisle we’d set up in the gardens. It was the most perfect, simple little celebration. We kept it secret until the ceremony of our ‘second’ wedding in March when Josh our celebrant surprised everyone and told them about the secret wedding. It was hilarious seeing the reactions and so heartwarming when everyone came up to hug us later and let us know that they couldn’t have thought of a more beautiful way to ensure my brother was involved. THE DRESS My ceremony dress was nothing like I thought it would be. I thought it would be completely lace, fitted with long sleeves. Instead, there was no lace to be seen, it was bateau neck and had a beautiful full skirt with a long train. As soon as I had it on, I felt classic, timeless and beautiful. It was everything I had hoped I would feel when I found my wedding dress. My mum, aunty and bridesmaids were there with me and they could just tell that I was smitten. It was such a surreal moment for me, I think that was the first moment that everything felt “real”, I was really going to be a bride, I won’t ever forget how I felt that first moment I put my dress on, nor how it made me feel on the big day. THE VENUE Connor’s parents own and run the Phillip Island Winery and it’s full of so many sweet memories for us that we always knew that when we eventually got married, it would play a central role. Although we were originally going to have both the ceremony and the reception at the winery, his parents suggested we visit the Trenavin Chapel grounds. Within about two minutes, we knew we wanted to be married there. Our ceremony was held on the cliff top of the Chapel grounds with the view of the ocean behind us and it was just gorgeous. BRIDESMAIDS My sister and my three best friends were my bridesmaids. At the very start of planning, I took a moment to think about who I wanted have by my side and share the whole day with. Spending the night before and the morning of the wedding together was such a highlight of the whole weekend for me, I would choose them over and over again. THE GROOM Connor wore a classic, black tuxedo with a bow tie from Travellers Apparel in Melbourne. He was tossing up between a few colour choices and styles but when he tried on the tuxedo the decision was easy. I have never seen him look so handsome, he took my breath away on the day. Photographer: Heart and Colour / Cinematographer: Tango Design / Wedding Planner: Pollen & Patina / Styling: Pollen & Patina / Bride’s Dress: Raffaele Ciuca / Bride’s Reception Dress: Houghton / Bride’s Shoes: Tony Bianco / Hairstylist: HBK & Co Hairdressing / Makeup Artist: Cassandra Lusi / Bride’s Jewellery: Samantha Wills / Bridesmaid Dresses: Sheike / Groom’s Attire: Travellers Apparel / Groomsmen Attire: Travellers Apparel / Flowers: Pollen & Patina / Ceremony Venue: Trenavin Chapel / Ceremony Officiant: Josh Withers / Reception Venue: Phillip Island Winery / Invitations & Stationery: PeepDesigns / Wedding Cake: Elaine’s Cakes & Party Bakes / Catering: Melbourne Mobile Pizza / Band: Instinct Music / Photo Booth: Shutter Hub / Transport: Cleeland Bus Lines / Wedding Ring: Facet Jewellers