Gone west

Story ALI KLAVER  Images ARLENE BAX and SAMM BLAKE

Having careers in hospitality meant Kelly and Nathan Hull knew how to organise the elegant cocktail wedding they wanted.

How it all began
Restaurant managers Kelly and Nathan met at a mutual friends party about eight years ago. They decided to travel around Australia in 2005 and it went so well that Nathan proposed on their sixth anniversary, while they were working on the Gold Coast.

Preparations
Kelly is a self-professed organiser, so she found planning her wedding quite easy. “We both had a very clear idea of what we wanted for the wedding – a casual but elegant cocktail function for around 100 people,” she says.
Since they both come from the south-west corner of Western Australian, there were no arguments over where to hold it. They chose The Rocks in Albany, a restored bed and breakfast surrounded by stunning gardens and overlooking the harbour.

The bride
After a difficult decision between two gowns, Kelly chose a champagne silk gown with a train from Anastasia Collections in Perth. It was ruched at the waist with a single strap that fastened in the middle at the back. The gown was complemented by a veil and a vintage brooch in her hair.

The groom
Nathan wore a black wedding suit which with a pinstripe from Soho Workshop, which the couple bought while visiting a friend in Melbourne.

Flowers
Merle-Ann Florist couldn’t get Kelly’s chosen roses for the wedding. “My second choice actually ended up working perfectly,” Kelly says. She had a wedding bouquet of crème de menthe roses with a matching buttonhole for Nathan.

Ceremony
Kelly and Nathan said their vows in The Rocks’ gardens under a beautiful blue sky.
Nathan found it hard not to cry as Kelly walked down the aisle with her parents. Instead of a bridal party, they asked their siblings and closest friends to be involved in the ceremony. Band The Lonely Brothers played before and after it.
“It was absolutely beautiful; the best moment of our lives to date,” Kelly says.
A friend’s daughter, Zephyr, was the couple’s flower girl. She wore a fairy outfit complete with a wand and a wreath of orchids in her hair.

Let the party begin
Kelly and Nathan treated their guests to champagne, oysters and canapes on the lawn while they had formal photos taken at Middleton Beach.
Kelly says they didn’t have to organise lavish decorations for the venue because it already had fantastic features and harbour views. They only added simple vases with liliums, pebbles and tea-light candles.
Kookas Catering made sure guests were well-fed with substantial finger food, which included lamb cutlets and hot butter chicken curry. Kelly’s dad and Nathan created a few ales at the Albany Ale Works to serve on tap as well.
Local group The Lonely Brothers had everyone on the dance floor after moving speeches by the couple’s fathers and friends. Kelly’s sister Samm caught the bouquet, much to her surprise.

The cake
Family friend and pastry chef Alan Miller created a beautiful three-tier wedding cake to serve as dessert, with two layers of white chocolate mud and one of chocolate beetroot.

Picture Perfect
Deciding on their photographer was an easy decision because Kelly’s sister Samm is one. She assisted their official wedding photographer, Arlene Bax and between them they got some brilliant photos of the day. The couple’s only request was to keep the photos fun and casual. “They did an amazing job – we love them!” Kelly says.

Honeymoon
The day after the wedding, Kelly and Nathan drove to Denmark WA, for a few relaxing days at Karri Mia Resort, then met up with friends from Queensland. They spent the next few weeks in the Margaret River region, exploring the area and drinking plenty of great Australian wine.