Talyssa & Tristan
How did you and your partner meet?
Unfortunately nothing too romantic – we met on a dating app! But we clicked straight away. We were planning a wedding within our first 15 minutes of speaking haha.
How did you or partner propose?
Tristan randomly asked me to go on a drive. He took me to West Head lookout and during a spectacular sunset he popped the question!
Why did you choose to have your wedding at Terrara House?
It was beautiful in every way. We looked at a few venues and while every venue had something that was amazing, some aspects would be a lacking a little. At Terrara House though, every aspect was beautiful – from the very moment you drive in the tree-lined driveway you’re greeted with with bursts of colour from the agapanthus and a stunning panoramic view of the estate. The bridal salon is decadent and gorgeous – perfect for getting ready photos and has everything you need to get ready in luxury. The accommodation allows for plenty of friends and family to stay together onsite and celebrate – not to mention its heritage charm makes it a special treat for everyone too. The grounds are stunning for photos and there’s a picture perfect ceremony location around every corner.
There’s also a lot for guests to do during canape hour, whether it’s playing lawn games, visiting the Scottish highland cows, exploring the gardens or having a sneaky taste test in the artisan garden.
Finally the main criteria for the wedding we wanted was a barn-like space for the reception, and with the opening of Chesters, we were sold. A lot of barns are just rustic, but Chesters has a dash of elegance thrown in too.
Did you have a theme for your wedding?
The vibe was very romantic and I was heavily inspired by Bridgerton and Downton Abbey which I think suited the venue perfectly!
What was your menu on the night?
Canapés
Raw Scallop with Lobster sugo, caviar and miso butter
Smoked rainbow trout betel leaf, mieng kum and diced lime
Oysters with Ponzu and fingerlime
Kimchi fritters with wasabi vegan mayo and togarashi
Smoked jackfruit slider with chimmichuri and red slaw
Entrée
Charred octopus, romesco and harissa
Raw cobia with yuzu kosho and tempura wasabi leaf
Broccoli and edamame tartare, wonton cracker and back sesame
Mains
Sous vide duck leg with celeriac choucroute, bulgur wheat and cherries
Loin of venison with fresh figs, balsamic, friend sprouts and raspberry sauce
Harissa baked pumpkin, dehydrated citrus and romesco
Sides
Triple cooked potatoes with rosemary salt and herbs
Heirloom tomato and shiso salad with peach and Stracciatella
Grilled iceberg, salty vegan cheese and lemon
Dessert
Espresso martini with choice of orange and poppyseed or vanilla bean mud cake.
What was your favourite part of your ceremony?
I loved that we wrote our own ceremony and vows from start to finish. Because of this, the ceremony was really meaningful and exactly the way we wanted it. It was also my favourite part of the day.
What did you love about your reception?
The styling was my favourite aspect, it turned out exactly as I had imagined. Everyone commented on it when they walked in. Elsie Wren did an absolutely fantastic job with the florals and although she was only my florist, she went above and beyond in discussing styling ideas and options with me to create the perfect look. She was amazing to collaborate with.
How many people attended your wedding?
Approx 85.
What was your favourite location in Terrara House & The Estate and why?
To be honest, I love everything. But my favourite room in the house is the conservatory.
Did you plan a post wedding ‘honeymoon’ celebration and if so, what experience did you plan?
We actually only just booked it, but prior we didn’t know what we were going to do. We were tossing up between Portugal and a few other European countries, but in the end, because of the uncertainty, we decided on an Australian trip. So this April we’ll be travelling on the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth, with a few stops along the way, then exploring Rottnest island, and finally heading to Ningaloo reef for a couple of days to swim with the whale sharks.
What is your advice for any future couples planning their wedding?
So much…it’s hard to think of just one thing to write.
As the bride, it is okay if you don’t 100% enjoy every aspect of your wedding. There is a lot of pressure and expectation for it to be ‘the most perfect day’ etc. It won’t be perfect. Instead it will be perfectly imperfect. Things will go wrong, you might feel stressed and overwhelmed and there’s a pretty jam-packed schedule to get through too. It’s very go, go, go! Regardless you will take with you a lot of great memories and the post wedding ‘newlywed’ glow is really nice/cute.
THE DETAILs
Photographer: Splendid Photography, but editing done by the Bride.
Bride’s Dress: Jasmine Couture
Brides shoes: Badgley Mishka
Groom’s attire: Peter Jackson
Engagement & wedding rings: Nader Jewellers and Capucinne
Celebrant: Ceremonies with Tanya
Hair & Makeup: Lauren Hairstylist and Chloe Day MUA
Florist: Elsie Wren Wild Flowers
Venue: Terrara House
Catering: Orchard Catering
Cake: Karen from Wedding Cake Art
Planner: Olivia
Stylist: (Does this mean who came up with the styling/theme? I would say it was a combination of myself and Elsie Wren)
Stationary: The Bride
Invites: The Bride