What’s better than 1 amazing wedding? Leah and Eric’s TWO incredible weddings at Spicers Hidden Vale.
When I first met Leah and Eric back in 2019 and they shared their wedding plans with me, it was clear that it was so important to them to create a day, that all their guests would REALLY enjoy.
Despite the challenges of 2020, Leah and Eric knew more than anything they simply wanted to be married. So in a small and intimate ceremony they became husband and wife, then almost one year on, they celebrated again with all their guests.
Leah and Eric’s wedding part 1 was their intimate and elegant elopement with their nearest and dearest and took place at the garden ceremony lawn at Spicers Hidden Vale, with the stunning backdrop of rolling hills.
Leah and Eric’s wedding part 2 also took place at the same venue, Spicers Hidden Vale, this time in the barn ceremony space with all their guests joining them for the celebrations.
Like many couples, Leah and Eric’s original wedding plans all suddenly changed in 2020 with restrictions at the time meaning guest numbers at weddings were limited.
Initially they made the decision to postpone their wedding, then they realised above all else they still really wanted to be married, even if it meant they couldn’t have the wedding they had planned. So they decided on having an intimate elopement on their original wedding date with their immediate families attending.
Wedding Part 1 – The Elopement
The moment Leah arrived and walked down the aisle towards him, they both locked eyes and Eric couldn’t hold back the tears.
As they held hands, he gathered himself, wiped away the tears and for a moment he wasn’t sure what to do with his tissue, when Leah quickly resolved this, placing the tissue in one of the secret pockets that their dear friend and dress designer Paul, had added to her amazing gown.
Eric couldn’t have been more surprised and responded “You’ve got pockets?” resulting in roars of laughter form guests.
Their elopement style ceremony was short and simple and proceeded to be full of belly laughs, happy tears, and heartfelt words, all while these two proudly wore their love heart eyes. What a perfect duo these two are.
Wedding Part 2 – The relaxed and happy celebration
When it came to celebrating with all their guests, as they were already married, Leah and Eric decided to change things up a bit and create a relaxed, happy celebration.
This time they moved their ceremony to the barn, with Leah wearing a new fun flowing dress and Eric opting for a waistcoat.
Being married already, this time they decided to arrive and walk down the aisle together to the excited cheers of their guests. This well and truly set the celebratory tone for their ceremony and the rest of the day.
Just like their previous ceremony, this one was also full of love and laughter. They shared their heartfelt vows once again and skipped the signing table formalities altogether. I re-pronounced them as Mr and Mrs to the cheers of their guests, who showered them with rose petals as they made their way back down the aisle.
We felt so lucky to both be invited to stay and celebrate their day with them.
Following cocktail hour and lawn games accompanied by live music, we joined guests at the homestead for a lovely shared banquet lunch feast.
Following the celebratory lunch, Leah and Eric shared their breathtaking first dance by the pool, before dashing away to catch some stunning sunset wedding photos.
Wow! these are just a snippet of Leah and Eric’s amazing wedding photos, and one thing that is consistent throughout their gallery is their genuine happiness and laughter throughout the entire day.
For others that have also decided to have a legal marriage or elopement, followed by a celebration later, as these two have shown, there are no set rules to follow. You can mix things up and do things a little differently the second time around.
Leah and Eric’s relaxed celebration was a huge hit with their guests and having shared in their wedding journey, I couldn’t be happier to see them so happy.
With Celebrant Cara Hodge
Photography: Leah Cruikshank
Venue: Spicers Hidden Vale
Leah’s gowns by Paul Hunt Design
Hair and Make up: Twidale
Flowers Kate Dawes Flower Design
If you enjoyed reading this post sharing Leah and Eric’s two weddings at Spicers Hidden Vale, and are looking for a Celebrant for your special day, we would love to hear form you. Contact us now to enquire about availability for your special day.