Bride & Groom: Ashley Nahum and Stephen Narunsky
Planning & Styling: Honey Lane Events
Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau
Venue: Redleaf Wollombi
Photography: Alex Marks
Videography: Josue Films
Floral: Floral Anarchy
Bridesmaids dress: L’idee
Hair & Make-up: Rachel Collura and Lauren Brook
Shout out to Fennel and Co. They were AMAZING. From the taste testing through to the catering on the day and during the recovery brunch. Tess checked in on us to make sure we ate canapes while having photos and that there was a plate of food left for us at our seats.
How did you and your husband meet?
Steve and I met via a dating App called Hinge, but we tell everyone who asks that we were introduced by a friend, as Steve vetted me by my good friend featured in my photo.
How did he propose?
I always hoped that my life would emulate a romantic comedy like When Harry Met Sally… End up with your best friend and live happily ever after. Steve knew that I loved the ending when Harry runs up to Sally on New Years Eve and tells her all the crazy reasons why he loves her. True to form, a week before we got engaged, I had impatiently asked Steve if he was ever going to propose, not knowing that he had already asked my parents for their blessing. Steve then arranged a ‘family picnic’ for his sister’s birthday and I coincidentally suggested we take the Hermitage Walk as it was a beautiful, sunny day. He then led me up some stairs above Queens Beach where a picnic was set up for the two of us and got down on one knee, telling me all the crazy reasons why he loves me and can’t wait to spend the rest of his life with me. My real life Harry.
We then celebrated with family and friends who were eagerly waiting.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
Before I met Steve, my grandparents took our whole family on a trip to Vienna and Poland to see where they had come from. While my grandparents finished off the very emotional trip in Zurich, my family together with my aunt and uncle and cousins ended our trip in Lake Como, Italy. I fell in love with the beauty and romance of the lake side, the beautiful gardens, and the exquisite Italian cuisine. I had always hoped of getting married there but COVID intervened and so for me anything that brought Lake Como to Australia was what I had in mind. Redleaf, Wollombi, was a perfect compromise.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
A lot of my wedding inspo came from Instagram accounts I followed – from wedding dress designers, to wedding planners and photographers. It’s no secret that I love weddings, and despite now being married I can’t help but continue to follow them all to see the beautiful day for so many others.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
I first met Helen 8 year ago when my sister came in for her wedding dress. Watching her try on her dress and witnessing that magical moment when she knew she had found the only dress she could imagine walking down the aisle in was so emotional. I just knew I would be back when it was my time.
I have always loved the intuitive way that the Israeli designers create gowns that are both unique and work to flatter a woman’s shape. My personality is unapologetically extraverted and I wanted a dress that would showcase my fun-loving side, as well as suit the elegance and sophistication of a grown-up wedding. As soon as I put on the dress by Lee Grebenau I felt stylish and glamorous - from the exquisite pearl beading to the soft and romantic lace that lined the dress. I could see by the tears my mum had in her eyes that she too, thought this was the perfect dress.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
We started planning the wedding a year in advance. We found the wedding journey quite different to what we had expected and a bit challenging at times. It is always hard to manage the competing opinions and hopes of everyone involved in the wedding process, and at the end of the day I just wanted everyone to be happy and feel included. Having a wedding planner was a game changer, as they made the research easier and gave us a neutral party to bounce ideas off and help solve any issues.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
Where we got married was one of the biggest decisions we had to make. I had dreamed of getting married in Lake Como but with the unpredictability of COVID and my grandparents being unable to travel such a long way, we made the decision to have it in Australia.
Our vision was to create a vibe where everyone could carve out a weekend away from everyday life, let their hair down and put on their dancing shoes, with no commitments the next day to halt the fun. However, with my husband being the practical one he also wanted the venue to be within driving distance so that guests with families could get home easily should they need to. Romantic Redleaf Wollombi in the Hunter Valley was just the answer we had been looking for. It was the one venue that could transport us to a slice of Italy in our very own backyard. We danced the night away in a marquee lit up by fairy lights under a stary sky. And best of all we can always come back to relive the memories of one of the happiest nights of our lives.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
Finally walking down the aisle and seeing Steve after a long and stressful week. When I asked Steve what his highlight was, he said the same thing, which is pretty cute. But I also have to say being surrounded by all our friends on the dance floor was just as memorable. We could really feel the love and that’s all we wanted for our wedding, to radiate warmth and love.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I probably would not have taken on a renovation and got a puppy at the same time as planning a wedding. While you can’t let the wedding get in the way of living your life, it meant I left a lot of things up to the wedding planner that I feel I would have enjoyed being more involved in.
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Hold true to your vision for the day. There will always be differing opinions and expect that some things may go wrong on the day, but that’s okay and not something to be surprised by.
I had the most wonderful experience with Helen Rodrigues. Helen took care of me from the moment I walked in. She knew how long I had waited for this day – remembering me from years prior when I had come in with my good friend and then my sister. She made me feel like a VIP and always had a solution for any problem. She helped alleviate any concerns I had and made sure that appointments worked around my busy schedule. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Thank you for making me look the way I had always hoped to look on my wedding day. You made me sparkle.