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.

The couple married under an old gum tree, with guests enjoying canapés by the fountain before heading to the homestead’s stables for a formal sit-down dinner at the black-tie reception. “We chose to be married under the old gum tree by the stables as the aisle song sung by Alex Weybury was ‘True love’ with the lyrics ‘you and me beneath these old gum trees, hand in hand it will be, forever you and me’, so it was perfect.” Hints of their favourite colours of white, green and gold featured throughout the occasion, with the couple saying the day was unique to their personalities with plenty of highlights. “Considering the circuit-breaker COVID-19 restrictions gave us two days to lock in everything and for guests to travel from interstate, a highlight was having everyone in the one place and Dad being well enough to enjoy every moment. The day was full of love, emotion and family and friends coming together as one.”

As for any hiccups? “Nothing that wasn’t sorted out within a few minutes or drastic enough that the day wasn’t seamless,” says Renee. Adds Brad: “We have lasting memories of friends and family who had not seen each other in over 12 moths reunited. The energy and love from the start of the weekend knowing everyone was arriving and together, was incredible. Renee having her father walk her down the aisle and share a first dance was special.” The couple plans to honeymoon when COVID-19 restrictions ease and time permits. Renee, a nurse, returned to work two days after their wedding, with Brad keeping equally busy in a family business. “The day unfortunately feels like it goes by so fast, and it does, so it’s important to make sure you enjoy and saviour every moment,” says Brad.