Renee and Brad
With their twin girls Ava and Alexandra by their side, Bendigo couple Renee and Brad say ‘I do’ under an old gum tree in Ravenswood. Photography by Alli Campbell A four-hour car drive was not to deter a budding romance between Brad and Renee, who met through mutual friends five years ago. “Our first date was a at Clogs and Brad drove from Mildura. All of a sudden, he had lots of ‘work’ come up in Bendigo and we didn’t spend a weekend apart until I moved to start a life with him,” Renee says. The proposal was set to be on Renee’s 30th birthday, 18 months after their first date, with Brad making a dash to Sydney the weekend before to collect the ring that was created by Nicholas Haywood Jewellery Concierge. However, his first attempt was put on hold when their over-tired twins Ava and Alexandra “put Brad off his game”. The ring stayed in the box until, eventually,
Brad and girls with a drawing of “mummy in a big white dress and lots of love hearts” gave the soon bride-to-be a muesli bar box holding the coveted symbol of love. “When Renee came in to the lounge room, the girls squealed ‘surprise’ … there were instant tears and cuddles all round and she said ‘yes’,” Brad says. The couple brought forward their wedding plans to earlier this year when Renee’s dad, already battling cancer, received further bad news. “On January 1, we were delivered devastating news that Dad’s cancer was Stage 4 and untreatable. We knew we had to bring it forward so he was still well enough to enjoy the day with us all and be able to walk me down the aisle.”
The rush was then on to plan, book and buy everything needed for their wedding ceremony. After many calls to venues, Nadine at Ravenswood Homestead secured them a wedding day and celebrant Kerrie Grossman was booked. After trying on four dresses at Bendigo Bridal Collections, Renee found “the one”. “After minimal alterations, it was mine.” The groom and his attendants’ suits were from Politix. Hayley Curnow from Cakes For Occasions Bendigo made the wedding cake. Photographer Alli Campbell captured the occasion on film, with videography by Daniel & Shannaya Films. Alex Weybury provided the music for the ceremony and canapés, then Stellar Perry, Josh DeAraugo, Jay Kolone and Alex Weybury kept guests dancing at the reception. 79
