Hope and Adrian – Everview Retreat Canowindra

Hope and Adrian were married at St Raphel’s Church in Cowra, NSW. Hope’s parents were also married in this church, so it had special significance to the couple, who travelled from Canberra to be here. The couple were received by  friends and family to party at Everview Retreat in Canowindra. Hope describes their day below! 

Photography: Twig and Fawn Photography

Florals: Paper Daisy Studio

Gown: Mrs Fray

Venue: Everview Retreat

Catering: Eat Your Greens

How did the two of you meet?

We met in what feel like in today’s times ‘the old fashioned’ way… each out on a night in
town with friends. We shared a couple of drinks, a little dance, exchange phone number and
went our separate ways. It was just before Christmas in 2007 and we didn’t end up seeing
each other again for a proper date until a month or so into the new year, when one of
Adrian’s friends encouraged him to call me in response to a happy new year message I’d
sent.

Did you know leading up to it that your partner was going to propose?
Absolutely no idea! We’d been together 16 years, done the house thing and have three kids.
I’d given up on the idea.

We wanna hear all about the proposal…

It was Christmas and all I wanted was a robot vacuum cleaner. One of our daughters just
had her ears pierced and Adrian had mentioned he’d bought her a pair of earrings and hed
wrapped them ans put them under the tree… I was none the wiser. Not even when our
youngest daughter opened ‘them’ the night before and Adrian went into full panic mode! On
Christmas morning I got my robot vacuum… along with a small wrapped box ‘the earrings’
and a card where Adrian was conducting a surveyed – the question… ‘would you like mum to
have the same last name?’ He’d asked each of the kids to tick yes or no and left a yes or a
no box blank next to my name. It was perfectly us, still in our pjs, crazy morning hair,
surrounded by our kids in our loungeroom full of Christmas morning chaos.

What was the winning factor for you with your Wedding reception/ceremony
venue/location?

The Church! We were married at St Raphael’s Catholic Church in Cowra. My parents were
married at the same church 47 years ago. Although my parents ended up moving from
Cowra to Canberra to settle, we’d still spend almost every school holidays in Cowra with
both sets of grandparents still there. I have many childhood memories of going to the church
for mass with my nan and pop and it’s just simply beautiful. Although we no longer have
relatives in the area I just couldn’t imagine being married in any other church. Our reception
venue was Everview Retreat in Canowindra and once we’d discovered this place our minds
were set – the location and views are stunning!

What was the most important thing you wanted to have at your wedding theme wise?
Beautiful florals, simplicity and cohesion! I wanted a colour palette I thought would tie in
nicely with the NSW country landscape. Once we found our bridesmaids dresses, which
were a brown/bronzy satin, everything theme-wise started to fall into place. I’m incredibly
indecisive which made setting and sticking to a ‘theme’ difficult. I needed help, so booking
our amazingly talented florist, Elyse from Paper Daisy Studio, was one of the first things I
did. After stalking her instagram I knew I needed her! I let her in on all the little details I’d
arranged on my end, gave her my budget, along with my complete trust and let her run with
it. What Elyse created, particularly in our reception space, was beyond everything I’d
imagined.

Most faaaaave moment…
The whole day was my favourite moment! Apart from the obvious of getting married… having our kids part of the celebration was one of the best aspects. Since we got married after having three children together, their involvement made the day even more special.
Many guests shared how meaningful it was, with one even commenting that he wanted to marry his wife again just so their kids could be there too. I cherish that they’ll have memories of when mummy and daddy got married. Other favourite moments were when we got a
minute to pause amongst the chao, such as the car ride from the church to the venue, drinks with just the bridal party between photos, and taking time out to do sunset photos just Adrian
and I.

Faaaave Wedding detail…
So many details… I’m a sucker for details… can’t choose! The most special detail was for Adrian. His dad had passed away about seven years earlier, and I wanted to honor him in our day. I arranged for Adrian to have pocket square flowers instead of a traditional buttonhole, with a picture of his dad attached so he could keep him close to his heart throughout the day. Another amazing detail was our guest photo account.

We printed a QR code on the menus for guests to scan and upload their photos from the day. This has been fantastic in the weeks following the wedding, allowing us to see it through our guests’ eyes. A few guests couldn’t make it down from QLD due to Cyclone Alfred, so it’s been a great way to share the memories with them too.

How easy did you find your dress/suit shopping experience?
I initially thought I had found “the one” online, a gown I would have to travel to Sydney to try on. However, I decided to explore local shops in Canberra first. I discovered Mrs. Fray in Campbell and tried on various styles, but the one that caught my attention was the Shelby
gown by Karen Willis Holmes—a beautifully simple silhouette with a backless design (which was a must for me) and just the right amount of train. After weeks of pondering, I saw a picture where another bride had added a big bow to the back, which sealed the deal. I returned for a second fitting and ordered the Shelby gown along with the Susan Mikado Bow and the Camila veil. My experience with Amy at Mrs. Fray was wonderful; she is calm, welcoming, patient, and gentle. I never felt pressured into a decision, and the whole
experience was wonderful. I found Kate, Twig and Fawn Photography via some commerical work she had done for Karen Willis Holmes.

What does marriage mean to you?
Unity – having three children and being a traditional girl, sharing the same last name is significant to me, it unifies us as our own family. Having already been together for 17 years, I feel we’ve lived through similar ups and downs to most of the married couples we know,
marriage solidifies our commitment to continue to support each other through life.

Classic story you want to share..
My dad asked me privately at our rehearsal the day before if he could wear a sign on his back saying ‘At Last’ as he walked me down the aisle. I agreed and didn’t mention it to anyone. When we arrived at the church my brother pinned the sign to dad’s back, as dad
walked me down you could hear people giggle as we walked past. Adrian could hear the laughter but had no idea what was going on until we got to the top of the aisle and dad gave a little twirl.

Advice that helped you the most when planning…

All of our guests had to travel to attend our wedding, I spent a lot of time in the beginning stressing about logistics in accommodating everyone and trying to pre-empt their needs. My mum stopped me from sending myself crazy and reminded me to provide the necessary information, then just let everyone sort themselves out! Our wonderful photographer Kate gave lots of helpful insight when it came time to plan our timeline for the day and on the day itself gave a few reminders to slow down and take everything in – it’s so true what everyone says… the day goes by so quickly!

Wedding songs…
Processional
Kids/Bridesmaids – Afterglow Ed Sheeran (Live from Hampstead) version
Bride – Desire, Ryan Adams
Document Signing
Heartbeats (instrumental)
Recessional
Follow the sun, Xavier Rudd
Reception Entrance
Bridal Party – Simply the Best, Tina turner mashed into Canberra Raiders Viking clap for
Bride & Groom

First Dance
All Again, Charles Wesley Goodwin
Last song
You Should Probably Leave – Chris Stapleton

What was it like having Kate photography your day? 

Kate was calm, direct, organised, and exactly what we needed. She guided us through timelines and all the little details I didn’t even realise would matter so much. She listened carefully — especially when we said we wanted sunset “golden hour” photos. She protected that time for us, and it ended up being one of the most special parts of the day — and I have the photos to prove it! It takes a special kind of person to seamlessly slot into your wedding day in a way that feels like they’re an extension of your bridal party — Kate was that perfect person for us. She had our complete trust, and everything felt comfortable and natural, like we’d known her for years. And then there are the photos Kate delivered — simply incredible. They aren’t just beautiful images — they hold emotion. Every time we look at them, we are instantly transported back: the nerves, the laughter, the love, the way it all felt. They allow us to relive our wedding, to relive our dreams becoming a reality, all in the most authentic and meaningful way. Being able to relive our day through Kate’s photos is an incredible gift that we’ll hold close forever. But what truly sets Kate apart is who she is as a person. In the weeks and days leading up to the wedding, she checked in to see how I was doing. They worked together to pick up any missing pieces and genuinely shared in the excitement. It felt like I had two extra
bridesmaids — full of joy, warmth, and care — who also happened to be exceptionally talented at what they do. How lucky was I!

If you’re considering booking Kate for your wedding — please know you won’t just get photography. You’re choosing a woman who will pour their whole hearts into making your day truly incredible.

Your photos you’ll treasure for a lifetime, and all the support you didn’t even know you needed. And they will love every minute spent celebrating your love.

We will be forever grateful that our search led us to her.