Karen Partridge
- Aug 20, 2023
- 6 min read

REAL WEDDING - JOSIE & CHRIS - MARDELLA MEADOWS

Nov 12, 2022

Josie and Chris Mardella Meadows Wedding

This lovely couple have literally been through fire and flood in their journey to become husband and wife. Josie had waited so long for Chris to propose and she had very definite ideas about how she wanted her wedding to be, and the kind of photography and videography she wanted to capture it. She told me “I’m only doing this once so I want it all!” She first saw us at a wedding expo and loved what she saw in our Wall Art and Albums, but we were busy chatting to other people, so she looped around to other stalls and came back to our exhibit, but we were still busy. So she took some marketing materials and then “stalked”(her words) us on our website, Facebook and Instagram. She then gave me a call and we went from there!

Meeting Josie and Chris in our home studio for an obligation free Meet N Greet was just so much fun. The energy between them was so beautiful and when Josie would batt her eyelids Chris would just melt. The love between them was palpable. He openly told us, “this is Josie’s wedding - she’s waited so long for it, she deserves this and I just want to give her exactly what she wants!” WOW - when your husband to be just wants to give you whatever will make you happy - what a lucky bride-to-be your are!

We wish this happy couple a lifetime of wedded bliss as they start this new chapter of their adventures together.

Lots of Love Karen & Vince x

HOW THEY MET They worked together as colleagues, then became friends then fell in love!

FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO AS A COUPLE They have two fur-babies, who they would have loved to have included in the wedding but they felt they would be too boisterous to attend in person, opting for a photo of the two of them with the Groom getting ready, putting on their cute wedding bandanas! Josie and Chris love travel, have fun and generally love life!

THE PROPOSAL Josie thought Chris was never going to propose, they had been together for so long (9 years). He had it all planned to propose at a function at home in front of all Josie’s friends but a house fire put and end to that plan and he was frantic to get inside, past the firemen, to check of the engagement ring was still okay (box charred but ring untouched). Being the super detective Josie is, she started to get suspicious - so still wanting to surprise her Chris came up with a story about how she had now ruined his surprise that he was going to her by buying her a new BMW car! Which he then of course had to! The proposal did finally come, at the Broken Hill Tavern, in front of her friends and it took a bit for it to actually sink in before Josie (his “Little Miss”) of course said “YES”.

THE DRESS Josie is a very petite lady, hence Chris’ nickname for her of “Little Miss”, although she made it plain in her wedding vows that she was now the “Little Mrs” which made everyone laugh. Her choice of gown from Archela Bridal was a sweet A-Line Dress that accented her curves and gorgeous figure but still had the feel of a fairy princess.

HAIR Josie and her bridesmaids spent the night before at Mardella Meadows in the Cottage and were all together to get ready with their hair by (THA) The Hair Agency.

MAKEUP As a wedding gift to the couple the makeup was done by a relative, Alyssa, who is also a professional makeup artist Simply Flawless Makeup by Alyssa Mearns.

RINGS The Brides engagement and wedding rings were from Mazzucchellis and the Groom had some family gold that they had prospected made into his wedding ring.

CELEBRANT & MC A personal friend of the Groom, Steve Cowan, was their celebrant and MC and this added a very special touch for the Groom.

WEDDING PLANNER, COORDINATOR, FLOWERS & STYLING

Tash from Infinity Weddings and Events was the planner, coordinator, florist and stylist! WOW is there anything she can’t do? Josie told us it was one of the best decisions they made, to have someone take on all the stress of the day and let them just be like guests at their own wedding!

ACCOMMODATION & VENUE Although Mardella Meadows was not the couples original venue, they changed their mind once they saw it and fell in love with the place. Vince and I went down with Josie to check it out with her and we totally agreed that it was an exceptional venue, and as Mardella Meadows had only just opened as a wedding venue, we would actually be their first real wedding there! Very exciting! Although the venue works with Infinity Weddings and Events to source local vendors for couples, Josie and Chris had already chosen us for their photography and videography and insisted that our services be used - so that was not an issue at all! It’s also something to keep in mind for couples who may feel that they are not getting a choice or the kind of service the want from a given “package” at any venue - you are the client and can always pick and choose - especially for something as important as the photographs and video of your wedding which will become your treasured memories and keepsakes. You want to make the right choice for you and your wedding!

FURNITURE Over The Moon Events & Infinity Weddings and Events provided the furniture for the venue both indoors and outdoors.

CATERER & DRINKS Prestige Catering were hired to provide all the food and food service, including serving the drinks the couple had bought from Dan Murphy’s. There was a bit of confusion over the vendor meals but it all got sorted out, even it they were at the very end. A great tip we give our couples is to arrange ahead of time with the caterer to have vendors whose services will be required for the formalities (such as the photographer, videographer, MC or musician) fed at the same time as the bridal table this means the schedule for the evening won’t be adversely affected. In many cases vendors are generally fed by the caterers last of all, after the bridal table and all the guests, and this can obviously mean that they are then not available for things like the speeches, first dance, cutting the cake etc even though the bridal couple are - or they are simply not fed and have to soldier on! For vendors such as us, we will have been up before sunrise to get drone shots for the couple over the venue, and been with the Groom from about 9.00am onwards and with the couple ALL day long and will definitely need food before we pass out - which we obviously can’t just pop out and get somewhere else - so please consider your vendors and make sure that you feed them at the appropriate time - after all we are only human too!

CAKE Amy from Wildflower Home Kitchen is a passionate home baker who’s love for making people happy through food comes out in her cakes, her skill is in the ability to make her art look good & also taste delicious! She customises each wedding cake to suit the unique style of the couple and make it truly theirs!

PHOTOBOOTH "Ollie" - JustForKiks is just the cutest little vintage (c1965) caravan make in Western Australia forming part of caravan history! We have seen Ollie at various Wedding Open Days and Wedding Expos but this was the first time we actually got to work with him (and his sidekicks Greg and Janine) at a wedding. Ollie comes with a complete alfresco frontage including festoon lighting and a coffee table with cushion seating. Guests get to have lots of fun inside, using props provide and take away instant prints as a souvenir! Lots of fun and gives them something to do whilst the Bridal Party are off having those all important photos or throughout the down time moments in the reception. Another delicious option Josie and Chris chose to entertain their guests was a gelato cart provided by Mimmos Gourmet Gelato

MUSIC The Groom is in a band and they played several opening numbers to entertain his guests, and serenade his new wife, before Moves Like Swagger took over and guests danced the night away on the dance floor provided by JPS Grazing and Events.

MY FAVOURITE DETAILS I just loved the boudoir lingerie that the bride chose from the Daisy Collection - Honey Birdette, it has an ultra-Parisienne feel that features Swiss designed embroidery, sheer crystal tulle, and decadent trims. Finished with luxe gold hardware and iridescent crystals, Daisy makes an ultimate keepsake collection for blushing brides. In addition to various underwear options the collection even offers a robe, garter, matching stockings and a little veil! But I have to say the couples First Touch was a highlight for me followed by the veil shot at the same tree after the ceremony.

EXTRA SPECIAL United Media Group who publish the Western Australia Wedding and Bride Magazine included two of my wedding couples in a recent issue under “real weddings”, and Josie and Chris were one of them! Being the photographer and videographer at the very first real wedding at Mardella Meadows was also super special!