A match made in heaven
Story MICHELLE TESORIERO Images GENIC PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN
Yvette Glen thought her flatmate Phil Taylor was perfect - he was tidy and hardly ever around. Turns out, he thought she was perfect too; not only as a flatmate but as a prospective wife.
Yvette says Phil’s proposal came as a big surprise. "We met at Eternity Christian Church in Newtown and had been going out for nine months. I had no idea he was thinking about the ‘big m’,” she says.
When Phil popped the question, the couple had just finished a relaxed dinner at Zanzibar in Newtown and had moved to a comfortable couch upstairs.
"Phil started getting nervous. He grabbed my hand and said ‘I’ve been thinking about our future.' I thought to myself, 'he’s either breaking up with me or proposing.' ” Yvette laughs. "Of course Phil was proposing and of course I accepted. My feet didn’t touch the ground for some time.”
Having decided on a date only five months from their engagement, Yvette and Phil had no choice but to hit the ground running when it came to organising their big day. "Organising a wedding certainly has its moments. The pressure was on. There were times when our stress levels peaked - particularly when deciding on the guest list - but on the whole it was a really fun time.”
The couple chose to get married at Miranda Uniting Church, which has been Phil’s family’s church for years.
Yvette wore an ivory satin gown from Snow White Bridal that she chanced upon after a long day wedding gown shopping. "My mum came up from Canberra to go wedding dress shopping. Snow White was the last shop we tried and I was rather discouraged by the time we arrived. Entering the shop was like entering another world, it was cool and peaceful and classical music was playing. I tried on a few dresses but I knew immediately when I had found the right one.”
Her gown featured a cowl neckline and a short puddle train. She also wore a crystal tiara, choker, bracelet and a fingertip veil.
Phil looked handsome in a modern black single-breasted suit with silver buttons from Spurling Formalwear in Miranda and an ivory shirt, tie and waistcoat.
While an optometrist by day, Phil is also a part time jazz musician, so it was no surprise that music was a big feature of their ceremony. “We incorporated classical pieces, a hymn, contemporary choruses and songs from our favourite artists – Rich Mullins and The Cranberries,” Yvette says. Friends Rebecca and Vanessa did readings.
After the ceremony, it was photo time. Having seen and loved his work, the couple engaged Ian from Genic Photography and Design to capture their day. "We spent some time looking at his work and we were impressed with his eye for detail and ability to create beautiful pictures.”
They chose a package that suited them and included a pre-wedding shoot, which they did at the NSW Art Gallery and Woollomolloo Wharf. Yvette says it's a good idea. “It gave us a chance to get to know Ian’s style and helped us feel more at ease in front of the lens.”
"Ian was very easy to work with. He was pretty relaxed and directed us effortlessly so that we got some brilliant natural shots.”
Yvette and Phil had their photos taken at a park near Sutherland Council Offices, which has both traditional and Japanese gardens. Yvette says they also got some fantastic photos at Cronulla beach as the sky was changing colour at dusk.
The couple shared a reception with 130 guests at Como Historic Hotel in Oyster Bay. "We chose Como because it has a great vibe, is a terrific space and serves scrumptious food,” Yvette says.
The venue looked beautiful and included table decorations made by florist Natasha Morrison from Dew Wedding Blooms. Yvette adores pink oriental lilies so she says they were a natural choice for her wedding day. The florist also arranged bouquets, buttonholes and decorations for the church.
"The fresh scent of oriental lilies will forever remind me of our wedding day,” Yvette says.
Guest dined well on veal medallions with king prawn and Atlantic
salmon followed by an impossible choice of either date and fig pudding or chocolate and hazelnut torte for dessert.
Those wise enough to save room indulged in a two-tier chocolate mud cake from Marrickville Quality Cakes, decorated with pale green icing and pink sugar lilies.
Entertainment included some jazz music performed by friends of Phil and then an unplanned audiovisual presentation by a friend of theirs.
"The video documented our journey up to the point of getting married. We had given John some childhood photos and he spliced that with video footage of Phil bungee jumping, my hen’s night and the wedding ceremony a few hours earlier. It was set to music like When a Man Loves a Woman and Love is all Around – pretty cheesy but it was a hoot. Phil and I had not seen this beforehand but our guests loved it,” Yvette laughs.
The couple shared their bridal waltz to a song Phil had composed for Yvette titled And She Moves.
“It wasn’t a strict waltz and Phil later confessed to being very nervous and awkward. But we managed to move around the dance floor well enough!” Yvette says.
For Yvette and Phil, the best thing about their wedding was that so many of their friends were involved in different aspects. Various friends did their make-up, designed their invitations and order of service and played music.
The couple says the day run without a glitch. "Phil and I had a blast - we just relaxed and enjoyed it! The only thing that was slightly embarrassing was that after our kiss in the church, Phil wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. At the time I thought – what are we, five years old! Later he told me he was worried he’d got lipstick on him - fair enough.”
The couple spent their honeymoon in a tropical paradise on Raratonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.
“We had a fantastic time zooming around on motorbikes, snorkeling, swimming, crab-hunting and lazing about in hammocks.”