There was a week in 2013 that I said to Beej, “one of my goals is to photograph the wedding of an Australian Netballer” and so we shared that dream with the universe. The next week there was an article in the Advertiser about the engagement of one of my favourite Australian players, Natalie Von Bertouch and her partner Jace Bode. A few weeks later, I was booked to be their wedding photographer; I haven’t stopped tapping my foot with excitement ever since. Even worse was waiting to share their wedding with you all, but we had to wait for the new edition of Brides of Adelaide to come out as Nat and Jace were featured. But the day is finally here! So here is the story of the day my dream came true, and so did one of Natalie and Jace’s – the day they committed their lives to each other.
The weather forecast was not looking good for their wedding celebrations at Waverley Estate, Port Elliot, but when morning came the sun shone like a blessing on their nuptials, and the remaining wind added a whimsical look to Nat’s veil. The smile Jace wore on his face as Natalie walked down the aisle to him was the biggest I have ever seen. The matching smile on Nat’s face didn’t leave for the entire ceremony either. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself here – so let’s go back to the beginning of the day.
When I got to where the girls were getting ready I was hit with the sweet smell of cupcakes cooling and getting decorated. So many cupcakes… my resolve was being tested so I took Nat’s stunning Alexis George wedding dress and started taking wedding detail photos (anywhere I could away from the cupcakes). It was a custom-made fishtail style dress with glass beading and lace applique and a beautiful long veil completed the bridal look. The bridesmaids wore cream knee length dresses with a little room for the beautiful baby bumps of Nat’s cherished friends.
Jace and the guys were waiting for their roast to be finished so Kim headed off to meet them for their getting ready photos while I stayed with the ladies. Love, love, loved the guys suits. Banjo, Nat and Jace’s dog, was also in on the party and had some photos with Jace.
The bridal party bouquets were baby’s breath blooms, which also decorated the reception and ceremony. Good friend Ryan Herring from Best on Ground Landscaping had made their wedding arch, which was then decorated with tulle and baby’s breath by Kylie from Flowers By Kylie. There were flower garlands everywhere and it was so simple and beautiful, with more fresh flowers decorating the long reception tables in the marquee. A personalised plate held their wedding rings with the words “I love you to the moon and back” and a rustic style wooden sign with a message from Nat and Jace to the guests welcomed them to their wedding. A lot of the little details like the signs, table numbers and the like were sourced from Etsy to meet their rustic wedding theme. “ I love simple and love neutral tones – wood, creams, white, peaches, light pink.”
Both the wedding ceremony and reception were very personalised with the people involved. From stationery to décor, entertainment (Jace played football with the band members) to the celebrant (Natalie’s Aunty). It was important for Jace and Natalie to make the most of the time with their friends and family, some of which who had travelled from interstate, so they decided to hire Waverley Estate for the entire weekend. “This meant that we could have dinner and drinks the night before at the Port Elliot Pub, Saturday was the wedding, then as the venue slept 22 people we then spent the Sunday reminiscing with them plus anyone else who could pop in. Basically it made us feel like our wedding went over 3 days and made us feel like we got to spend quality time with our best friends.”
Wedding Photographer: Jade Norwood Photography
Wedding Venue: Waverley Estate
Wedding Dress: Alexis George
Wedding Stationary: Alex Hutchins
Bridesmaids: Zimmermann
Suits: Ivy League
Wedding shoes: Badgley Mischka
Wedding hair: Smooth Hair – Unley Road
Wedding make up: Katrina Breda
Wedding flowers: Flowers by Kylie
Wedding celebrant: Rev Gayle McClimont
Wedding cake: Friend Lucinda Gregory
Wedding catering: Alison Seedsman
Wedding band: The B Sharps
Wedding planner: Libby Matson