Bec and Aaron's Wedding - an Illawarra wedding

Engaged 24th June 2006
Married 3rd November 2007

Illawarra Weddings businesses used
Photographer BCP Photography

We met through friends on the 10th July 2001 a date we will never forget. We were out having lunch with mutual friends and time seemed to stop when we were first introduced to each other.

Aaron – “When I first saw Bec I thought she was gorgeous and thought for sure she wasn’t available. When I found out she was I asked her out straight away.”

Bec – “There was definitely a strong connection when we first met, an immediate attraction and he asked me out there and then, we had our first date the following week, we went to the movies and out for dinner at a beautiful quaint restaurant. We have been together 7 years now.

We had been together 5 years and knew we would eventually get married. “I was sitting in my Pyjamas at home when Aaron got down on one knee and showed me the most stunning ring I had ever seen and ask me to marry him. After I had said yes we were both so excited, we couldn’t wait to tell our families, who where just as happy as we were and they popped the champagne in celebration.

We wanted a wedding that was warm and inviting yet simple. We always said we would get married at Aaron’s family home. Which is a beautiful cottage in the countryside of Berry. It was the perfect setting for our planned spring wedding with beautiful gardens and plenty of space for an outdoor cocktail-style wedding. Nine months of preparation took place, Aaron’s family worked very hard for these full 9 months to have the gardens looking perfect. “Picking my dress was easier than I thought! It was the first one I tried on and I knew it was the one because my mum cried when she saw me in it. My bridesmaid, Megan, helped me make all the invitations and picking the bridesmaid shoes and dresses saw my other bridesmaid, Melissa travel from Sydney to be a part of that” Three days before the wedding we went to pick up Aaron’s suit when they told us they could not find it. A bit of panic set in, a groom with no suit! However to our relief the day before the wedding they provided us with another suit that was the same as the original.

The night before it poured with rain, being a garden wedding we were a bit concerned, however we always said in the case of bad weather we would have the ceremony in the marquee and so we went ahead with this plan B. It had stopped raining on the day but the marquee was so stunning we decided to go ahead and get married in it.

The day of the wedding the groomsmen, Ben and Daniel and the family were awesome in organising the tables and the chairs and getting the bar set up. It was such an intimate ceremony. “It was so special having my brother and mum walk me down the aisle, I just concentrated on looking at Aaron and no-one else I was so nervous”. “Somewhere over the rainbow” was the song for the walk down the aisle, some guests told us later that they were very moved with tears and had goose bumps.
When I got to Aaron, everyone laughed because my brother trod on my dress.

Aaron – “seeing Bec walk down the aisle took my breath away, she looked amazing!”

We wanted to have our photos taken at the beach as we both love the ocean, especially Aaron who’s a keen surfer. It was such a great atmosphere we felt totally relaxed and celebrated with a few glasses of bubbly. Our photos turned out to be absolutely amazing.

When we arrived to the reception we were showered with rose petals. Introducing us as Mr and Mrs Stokes, such a great feeling. Speeches were fantastic, the groomsman had some great stories that had everyone laughing. Aaron’s speech was short but said it all “I’m not one for saying too much”. He thanked family and friends for coming and then turning to his new wife he said “Bec , I love you and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you”.

Bec – I couldn’t help but cry a little when I heard those beautiful words from Aaron, it really brought it home how happy I was to have him. Aaron picked the music for the wedding. Our wedding waltz we danced to Michael Buble “Everything”. Something we wanted to do that was special to us was that we asked all the guests to bring a shell from their beach and place it in a larger shell we had placed on the cake table. We now have that shell collection on our hall table at home and every time we walk past it, it is an instant reminder of the day and really brings back all the great memories of the day and night. We wanted the reception to be just one big party and celebration with lots of dancing and the guests very much enjoyed the DJ dancing up a storm all night. The day was everything we dreamed it would be and more. It was extra special to have our family and friends all together.

Just to enjoy the day and stop worrying about last minute preparations because what will be will be and by the end of the day you have a husband or wife you get to spend the reset of your life with and that’s what’s most important. From the start it really has been a great friendship and that’s why I feel we have become such a strong loving husband and wife.