It all started at 9am on November 14, 2014.
The park was green and lush and soft and light, and the decorations were being set up for the event of the year.
The girls made their way to Lion Gate Lodge in the Royal Botanical Gardens, where they would get dressed for the events to happen later that day.
The Bride
The bride was beautiful that day, with Nicola Pitt dressing in a gorgeous gown, ready to walk the soft green aisle to meet her man.
Accompanied on all sides were her lovely bridesmaids: the sister Katie Thomas, and the close friends Deanna Mushins and Sam Lowe.
The Groom
The groom was awake and making coffee, while the groomsmen Michael Stark, Bill Chan, and Michael Pitt all grabbed beers, ciders, and the odd glass of scotch.
They were doing what guys did, dressing and drinking and smiling as they do, before heading out to get Leigh Stark married.
The Style
The style of the day was handled by Jason Kates at Love2Love from a dream of the bride, and it would look old and classic and retro and jazz. Like a piece of history, there would be a typewriter, suits, and a feeling that the days of old had returned.
Guests started turning up and the sun shone down. It was warm and humid and sunny and bright. New Orleans had come to Sydney, and both the bride and groom were ecstatic.
The Ceremony
A little after three, people made their way to their seats with smiles abound to watch two people join hands and forever be connected, in love, because that’s what people in love do.
And just before four, it happened.
The crowd shouted “mazel tov!”, and Nic Pitt was no longer the same girl. She was now Nic Stark, and was married to the happy (and teary) Leigh Stark.
The two walked off, arm in arm, in love, husband and wife.
The Music
Pictures were taken in the distance, and the band started playing, the dulcet sounds of Dane Laboyrie and his quartet striking up a solid sound, with a horn, guitar, bass, and drums playing Frankie, Louis, and Nat King Cole.
The Food
Shortly after, the food began to roll out to delighted guests. There was ceviche and prawn gumbo and poboys, too, with the brilliant work of One Pot Catering delivering a taste of New Orleans to Sydney, Australia.
And everyone chilled as the temperatures began to fall, the wind picking up and letting everyone relax on the green while the sun went down.
Nic and Leigh returned in each other’s arms, the bridal party ahead of them, ready to cut the cake made by Flour and Stone, which was big and beautiful and as brilliant as the two could have ever hoped.
There was a candy bar with plenty of sweets and tea, with lamingtons provided by the lovely folks who made that beautiful cake, and handmade truffles crafted by the expert hands of Peter Stubbs.
And there was even a sign that read om-nom-nom just in case you didn’t know what to do.
And there were speeches, and dancing, and kisses and hugs, before the newlyweds made their way home under the cover of darkness, ready to begin their new life together as only a husband and wife can:
Happily ever after.
Credits: Photography by Kevin Cheung and Berry Mak, processing and website by Leigh Stark, with the video for the wedding handled by Sam Hastwell. Food for the wedding was catered by One Pot Catering. Wedding cake and small cakes by Flour and Stone, with chocolate truffles by Peter Stubbs. Music performed at the wedding was by the Dane Laboyrie Quartet. Hair for the bride was handled by Mel Kilic at Partners Hair, while make-up was taken care of by Christina Cleary. The bride and bridesmaids were wearing dresses by Bridesmaids Only. Flowers by Jodie McGregor, while event decoration and venue styling for the day was handled by Love 2 Love. The celebrant for the wedding was Joy Bowen. Special thanks to Lauren Lister at the Royal Botanic Gardens.