The Sapphire Coast of New South Wales is a popular destination for couples from Canberra who are after a coastal style wedding. I wanted to showcase a few of the talented wedding vendors in the area by collaborating on a bridal photoshoot as inspiration to brides for planning a wedding.
The location we selected for a romantic garden feel wedding is The Foxglove Gardens in Tilba Tilba and its only minutes from the beach for bridal photos.
Interview with Lyn from The Foxglove Gardens
Hey Lyn, can you tell us a bit about your beautiful gardens?
Foxglove & Co. Is an open Garden and Luxury Accommodation situated in the gorgeous Tilba Tilba valley.
The essence of the gardens is one of romance, fairytale-like charm & quaint English style elegance. With each season, there are new wonders & floral delights to explore.
A large section of the grounds have been extensively and beautifully developed over many years, with water features, a gardened ruin and the Willow House overlooking the duck pond.
The accommodation features refined french provincial furnishings and simplistic ambiance, each room named after something significant to the area or gardens.
The garden has been featured on major TV shows including Burke's Backyard and Better Homes and Gardens and is the subject of the book Velvet Pears.
When is the garden most magical?
Sep through till October is the most magical time for the garden, even November and December are perfect for spring and summer weddings. Autumn looks good as well for warm hues with the leaves in the garden changing colour.
What kind of facilities does The Foxglove Gardens have for weddings?
The Willow House can be used if raining and champagne and canapés are often served there before the guests head off to the reception venue, if not having the reception at Foxglove.
The Pear arbour looks stunning with tables and chairs down the middle for the reception. The lawn area overlooking the pond is a great place for the ceremony.
The renting of a marquee can be organised for you by us, along with any chairs tables. There is a commercial kitchen available for catering.
What types of accommodation are onsite?
For overnight, or short stays, the accommodation available are three cottage, two of which sleeps 4 adults and one sleeps 2 adults. Glamping is coming soon.
What is the capacity for the venue space for weddings?
The Willow house will accommodate approximately 60 guests or a marquee can be erected for the event. We can accommodate approximately150 guests in the garden.
What makes your venue unique on the Sapphire Coast?
There are no restrictions as to where the ceremony is held.
The uniqueness of foxglove are the gardens, the many different areas….. some manicured and others areas whimsical and fairy like. Photos of weddings can be viewed on our Facebook page of a marquee in place.
Can Bride & Grooms come to the property for bridal party images after their ceremony?
Bride & Grooms can come to the property for bridal party images after their ceremony if not held at Foxglove.
Any new venue developments or plans on the horizon?
The gardens are always evolving and new areas are being created.
Interview with Joccoaa Taylor of JT Photography
How would you describe your wedding photography style?
My photography style would be modern, candid & fun.
What is a tip you can offer brides when planning a wedding?
Have your day involve things and people you & your partner love. They’ll be what you remember at the end of it all. And make it fun (you don’t have to do things by the book!)
Do you offer any other services?
Family, maternity, new born photography.
Interview with Lisa Garner of Lisa Jane Skin and Beauty
How would you describe your wedding makeup style?
My style is flawless soft natural dewy skin, enhancing natural features and bringing out their eyes. I take into consideration the individuals skin condition, personal style, colouring including wedding theme and bring together. The makeup lasts, stunning in person and camera ready.
What got you inspired to be apart of the wedding industry?
I was lucky, I fell into the industry! My friends started asking me to do their wedding makeup 14+ years ago and I went from there. I simply love the environment, transformations and the joy the day brings so it's something I'm very passionate about, creating the perfect look for the bride. It's what they look back on in years to come so it has to be what they have imagined if not better.
What style of makeup would you suggest for a garden themed wedding?
Soft natural colours complementing the bride and her style.
What are some of the main questions couples ask you? And what are the answers?
Bride: are you available, do you travel and how much? ....and yes, I travel!
Groom: please, not too much makeup! 😆
Do you offer any other services?
Yes! Qualified beauty therapist including dermal and laser treatments. Therefore facials, massage, specialised skin treatments, eyelash extensions, tanning, tattoo removal, IPL and LED to name a few. All can be personally tailored treatments including cosmeceutical skincare ranges for ageing, acne, pigmentation and hydration are treated.
Interview with Carla from CC Bridal Pambula
What got you inspired to be a part of the wedding industry?
My mum Cate has been making & selling wedding gowns for years, so I learned to love this industry as a young teen. I was inspired to open my own bridal boutique with mum’s help back in 2016, when I realised that our local brides were having to travel to Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne to find a dress. Whilst there had been shops selling wedding gowns in the area, there wasn’t a dedicated boutique offering the fitting & aftersales services that are so much a part of buying a wedding gown.
What styles of dresses would you suggest for a garden themed wedding?
In my experience garden weddings range from romantic & relaxed to stylish & formal. There are a couple of factors to think about here… how easy will it be to walk around, and what is the weather likely to do?
For the garden that has paved paths & is easy to walk around, a fit & flare or mermaid gown featuring lace or beading & long train always looks stunning. Paired with a long veil, this is a timeless & classic look perfect for a formal garden setting.
For the more romantic, wild garden, a tulle or satin ballgown with spaghetti straps, paired with a sparkling headpiece or bridal belt, is a modern princess look that will be easier to move in. Pair with a vintage faux fur wrap or soft, ivory cardigan as the evening cools down.
What styles of dresses would you suggest for a rustic farm style wedding?
The practicalities of walking around a farm need to be considered when choosing your dress for a rustic style wedding. A heavily embellished mermaid skirt with cathedral length train is going to be awkward to walk in across a variety of surfaces, including long grass, gravel & dirt.
I would suggest a flowing A-line skirt (think layers of luxurious chiffon) that will be light enough to carry, with a feminine lace bodice. Or, for the more daring bride, you could consider tea length.
Boho or vintage works beautifully for a rustic theme, as it can easily be paired with boots, Acubra & a spray of wildflowers for that authentic country vibe. Or, to soften the look, opt for loose curls & a small, colourful posy.
Once again you’ll need to think about the weather. You may need something warm for when the sun goes down. A cute denim jacket is always fun, or layer the boho look with a crocheted shawl.
How far in advance do you suggest a bride to go for a gown viewing appointment?
Before covid-19 changed our lives, I would have said to book your first appointment out as far as possible. 12 to 18 months was most common, as it gave brides a chance to choose their gown, place the order, wait the 3 – 5 months it took for their gown to arrive, and then have any alterations completed.
I will always recommend that brides give themselves as much time as possible, however I understand that weddings have changed dramatically over the last few months. Because of this, we’ve changed so that our brides will now find a greater range of new dresses available to buy off the rack. Our suppliers also have bigger & more comprehensive stock-on-hand lists, to help us meet very short turn around times.
If in doubt, ring your chosen bridal boutique & discuss your timeframe to see what flexibility they can offer you.
Interview with Sam from Faux Flower Company
What got you inspired to be apart of the wedding industry?
I always loved the thought of creating something special for someones “best day of their life” and being apart of such an amazing memory!
What faux flowers would you suggest for a garden themed wedding?
For a garden themed wedding, we love gorgeous whimsical foliage, with hydrangea, roses, peonies and delphinium.
What are some of the main questions brides ask you?
Q: How much do i need to spend on my wedding flowers?
A: This question pretty much is how long is a piece of string ha ha! What we try and do is work with our couples to work out how much they want to invest in their special day, and then work through what are the most important elements for them and focus on those areas first with their budget. Every wedding is completely different and customisable.
Do you offer any other services or products?
We absolutely do, we offer everything from florals, to styling, signage, candles, arches, props, invitations, linen. We also own Frank & Bloom which is a fresh floral company, so we work really closely with both Fresh & Faux to bring your wedding dreams to life!
To view the full gallery from the collaboration click here.
VENUE: The Foxglove Gardens
PHOTOGRAPHER: @jt.photography____
GOWNS: @ccbridalpambula
MAKEUP: @lisajaneskinandbeauty
BOUQUET: @fauxflowercompany
MODELS: @holly_little5 & @sharnie.lei