Sam and Jamie brought their own unique flair to their Canberra wedding with a wild rock ‘n’ roll theme, DIY decorations and all-black outfits.
The couple had their sights set on a budget-friendly wedding, and decided to plan it all themselves. “We tried to be as budget-friendly as possible, as we are a small family and did not want to splash cash. The wedding all-up was about $20k”, said Jamie. “We essentially just wanted a celebration. We kept the official stuff short and sweet, and wanted to focus more on our loved ones. We just wanted everyone to eat, drink and dance!”
The couple faced challenges when it came to expenses, but were relieved when they found packages at the Hotel Kurrajong, with many inclusive options. “It was such a relief to find a hotel that was not only beautiful, but also had so many packages that made it easy to budget”, Sam continued. “It was the biggest expense but we decided on the highest tier package which was inclusive on all guests, a 5-hour beverage package, a night in the bridal suite, complimentary ceremony package, canapes, an accommodation discount, and much more! In the end I think it saved us money as the package included so much.”
The ceremony was a magical and tear-filled event. Bec from B-Cos Celebrations wrote the couple’s love story from answers to a questionnaire they did separately. Sam was walked down the aisle by both her mum and dad, and Jamie’s best man was his brother, Sean. They also included a ring warming, where the rings were passed around to all their guests to put their good vibes and love into.
The reception was a wild night of dancing, drinking and laughter. The couple’s first dance was to Better Together by Luke Combs, and they were quickly joined by their guests to share the dancefloor. As an ode to the family’s German heritage, each guest was given a shot of traditional German schnapps.
For Sam, the worst thing about planning the wedding was her concern about the guests having a good time. “We hit some snags and had hitches on the day, and to move on from that can be hard. But I was extremely lucky to have friends who were involved in this big day”, she said. “Our photographer, Hannah from Disco ’til Death had immaculate vibes and she delivered exactly what we envisioned for our our photos. My good friend Steph spent hours making our table number, name plates and signs, and they were absolute perfection.”
The wedding was an absolute success, and the couple are still beaming about the day. Sam concluded, “It was an absolutely magical day, followed by a wild night. A perfect rock ‘n’ roll wedding!”
