{Brad + Sam}
Brad and Sam were married at Anderson Hill vineyard. It was a wedding that was a long time in the making. A good year before, Brad had proposed at Sam’s parent’s property on the river, which is a special place for them. They had just come back from kneeboarding. Brad dropped a one-liner – Hope the champagne’s cold” – and got down on one knee!
Because they had plenty of time to prepare, they had everything organised well in advance. You would have thought everything would be smooth sailing; not quite!
Babies and Bushfires
For starters, both bridesmaids ended up having babies not long before the wedding, so they had to juggle babies and bridesmaid duties. They did a fabulous job. Well done, Mums and support people!
Even more significant, however, was the fact that Brad and Sam’s wedding day was on February 1st 2020 at Anderson Hill in the Adelaide Hills. We all know what happened on December 20th 2019 in that neck of the woods (excuse the pun). Not letting the bushfires get in the way of a grand celebration, this easy-going couple made Anderson Hill look fabulous with the help of Ben and Clare, owners of the wedding venue.
Adding Rain To The Mix
Babies and bushfires probably would have been enough to work with, eh, but rain also poured down right on cue – at 2.30 pm, when Sam and the girls were heading to Cobbs Hill Winery for pre-wedding photos! It didn’t let up till after the ceremony. The guests pressed into the cellar door area, rather than the lawned area, and Sam walked through the reception area down the ‘aisle’ to her waiting groom on the deck. In the end, it worked well, despite the added challenges. It created a great atmosphere, and everyone loved it.
The vows
Sam and Brad’s vows were so heartfelt, spoken through tears of love.
“From the moment I first saw you, part of me knew you were the one with whom I wanted to share my life, The other part of me just thought you were out of my league!
You are the strongest, most caring woman I have ever met.
Your beauty, heart and mind inspire me to be the best person I can be, and you make me feel more loved than I ever thought possible.”
Bradley“I love you so much. I know I tell you all the time, but I tell you all the time because just three words don’t seem enough to tell you how I feel. I love your support … I admire your strength … I’d be lost without your motivation and inspiration.”
Samantha
Thankfully, the sun shone through for a few minutes so we could have some photos in the vineyards, forest and road leading to Anderson Hill. How spectacular does Anderson Hill look! Anderson Hill is very special to Brad and Sam because they walk their two huskies, Hudson and Tala, on the forest tracks there, so it was great to be able to have photos in the forest despite the landscape being rather browner than the usual ‘forest green’!
Wedding reception
Being the head chef at Anderson Hill, Brad’s friends from Gawler Place Cafe helped cater at the wedding reception on the day. There were large pans of paella to enjoy, and finger food and canapes served in abundance.
The overwhelming vibe of the whole day was love—what a much-loved couple!
Venue: Anderson Hill
Pre Wedding Photos: Cobbs Hill Winery
Florist: Adelaide Wedding Suppliers
Cake: Little Crumbs Cake Designs
Catering: Gawler Street Cafe (as the groom is the head chef of Anderson Hill)
Bridal gown: Katie May Design
Dress Alterations: Adelaide Hills Alterations, Littlehampton
Photographers: Verity Edgecombe Photography