A romantic garden wedding set in the groom’s family estate, Gina and Duncan celebrated their nuptials during a three day event that included a pre-wedding cocktail party and a Slim Aaron’s poolside recovery party. The couple exchanged vows under a stunning bloom-covered pergola on the perfectly manicured estate grounds and concluded the night’s festivities with a fireworks show.

Gina wore the Spring wedding dress, from our Enchanted Forest collection–a style that could not have been more perfect for her romantic garden wedding. Scroll down to read all about the couple’s wedding story and to view their wedding album, beautifully captured by Brendan Woods Photo. 

How did you and Duncan get engaged?

Duncan planned a picnic to celebrate our anniversary at Mckell Park in Darling Point – a stunning Sydney Harbour secret just down the road from our house… At some point he produced a boxed bottle of vintage Krug – I was laughing and asking why he wanted to drink such expensive champagne that it wasn’t necessarily a special enough occasion – when he then got down on one knee, explaining it wasn’t the only box we’d be opening that day, and asked me to marry him with the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen. I was immediately overcome with love and emotion and burst into tears. It was the happiest moment of my life. 

We were married on 13 December 2019. 

Can you tell us about the wedding venue and theme?

We tied the knot at my husband’s family estate, Glenquarry Park, in the Southern Highlands – 1.5 hours south of Sydney. 

The destination was the easy part! I’d always been drawn to the idea of having a garden wedding. Luckily for us, the gardens of my father-in-law’s property are spectacular – so it was an easy decision to be married at home where we’d always have these memories. 

We wanted all our events to have a classic, elegant and traditional touch to them, as well as a clear narrative from start to finish. We held the wedding over three days with a welcome cocktail party the night before the wedding at a local vineyard for guests to meet and mingle; and a Slim Aaron’s poolside recovery party to recharge after the big day where we would be able to really let our hair down. 

The wedding itself involved celebrations across three distinct areas of my father-in-law’s estate. The ceremony was held under a purpose-built pergola by the house; the cocktail hour around the pool in the property’s walled garden; reception under a circus style marquee on the croquet lawn; and dancing spilled out of the marquee and onto the lawn, under the stars, where later in the evening the sky was lit up by fireworks. 

Being able to plan a weeding at home meant so much to us. The possibility that one day we’d take our own family back to the property and be able to tell them stories of the day we were married and show them where it all happened is something very precious, that can’t be replaced.  

How did you choose your wedding dress?

I absolutely adore Lee’s work and knew that if and when Duncan were to propose, that I’d definitely have to visit Helen Rodrigues, who represents Lee Grebenau in Australia. 

After we got engaged I booked an appointment with Helen. I picked out six of Lee’s dresses to try and fell in love with the third – the Spring gown from the Enchanted Forest collection. I loved the dress so much that I asked the others to be taken away – I knew I’d found the one! It was everything I could have imagined and perfectly fit the image I had in mind.  It had 3D flower appliqués which reminded me of the flowers in the garden at Glenquarry Park, a touch of sparkle, and felt ethereal and romantic… 

The day of my first fitting I was so nervous – it had been months since trying the dress and I had butterflies wondering if it was as I’d remembered. When I walked into my appointment with Helen and she unzipped the garment bag for me, unveiling the dress, I couldn’t believe it – it was more beautiful than I’d remembered and I was even more in love with it than the day I first tried it on. 

What’s your favorite memory of your wedding?

Of the three days of celebrations, every morning I would wake up and say, “that was the best day of my life!”

From the anticipation and excitement catching up with all our guests the night before the wedding, getting ready with my bridesmaids, to walking down the aisle, speeches and first dance, followed by our Slim Aaron’s Poolside recovery party – everything was perfect. However, it was marrying the love of my life and watching the smile on his, my family and fried’s faces, that definitely stands out. 

Congratulations on a stunning wedding, Gina and Duncan!

Gown retailer: Helen Rodrigues | Planning & Styling: Olivia Warwick, Yes Events | Venue: Glenquarry Park Private Estate | Photography: Brendan Woods Photo | Videography: Bear Deer Fox | Floral: Flowers on the Mill | Hair: Nancy Mefaddi | Makeup: Eloise Proust | Catering: Simon Ekas | Cake: Cakes by Adrienne | Music: Clear Strings, Scotty Sax