Gemma + Sam’s Australian-English-Greek Wedding | Peterson House | Rachel Livingston
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Peterson House Chapel was perfect
It was an Australian-English-Greek wedding, with a sizeable guest list full of family and friends from the Azzurri football club, where the couple first met. Peterson House Chapel was the perfect venue for their celebration, because of the air-conditioning and ample seating to accommodate their large guest list 🎉
Emotions were running high! The bride teared up as she stepped out of the car, some bridesmaids shed a few tears walking down the aisle, and practically everyone in the front row was sniffling. I was right there with them, loving every moment of it, and had a stash of tissues at the ready.
Greek Dancing
The dancing at Gemma and Sam’s wedding started early in the morning and finished late that night!
This Greek tradition is called “κυκλικός χορός” kyklikós chorós, which translates to “circle dance.” It symbolises unity, community, and shared joy: a perfect way to collectively celebrate a happy occasion.
The bride Gemma, always the thoughtful cutie, had a heartwarming surprise up her sleeve for her in-laws. She penned a heartfelt letter to them, filled with love and gratitude, which they had the pleasure of reading on the morning of the wedding. It was such a touching gesture, setting the tone for a day filled with love and appreciation for all the special people in their lives. What a truly wonderful idea!
Pre-ceremony Whiskey at Peterson House Chapel
Groom Sam wasn’t exactly jumping at the chance to share a pre-ceremony whiskey shot with me. No worries, no pressure! But Gemma’s Grandad George, all the way from England, was more than happy to step in and have a quick sip with me.
How the couple met
Most of my couples meet online nowadays but these two met in a more traditional way: they were both part of the same football club Azzurri. They met briefly at the team’s season launch and then met properly at a night out at Queens Wharf Hotel. Sam made a terrible first impression. He was being cheeky, a bit of a smart arse and Gemma didn’t warm to his sense of humour. She thought he was a bit annoying. The feelings were mutual. Sam was thinking….who does she think she is, commanding so much attention?
By their 3rd or 4th meeting, they had a completely different opinion of each other. On Anzac Day when Gemma won money at 2-up, she hugged Sam. The sparks flew. That night everyone went back to her apartment for kick-ons. Sitting outside the front of the unit, Sam wanting to be respectful, asked if he could kiss her, which took Gemma by surprise because she thought she’d been making her intentions pretty obvious all night. They had their first kiss.
Ring Warming Ritual at Peterson House Chapel
Gemma + Sam really wanted to make their families feel extra special on their big day, since family means the world to them both. So, I suggested this sweet little ring warming ritual idea to involve them in the ceremony. Peterson House chapel where they tied the knot has this awesome long front row, way more spacious than your usual rows with just a few seats on each side. We passed their rings down that entire row, letting each family member hold them for a moment and silently send their best wishes for the couples’ future.
Some of their guests were religious, some weren’t, but everyone got the chance to infuse those rings with their love before Gemma + Sam slipped them onto their fingers. Yeah, some might roll their eyes at this sort of thing, but I think it’s all about how you present it. We framed the ritual in a modern and meaningful way, and both the Karmaniolos and the Dobbyns absolutely loved it.
Tattoos
Gemma’s dream-catcher tattoo has a pretty spontaneous backstory. About a decade ago, she snagged a voucher at a charity auction for a tattoo, and without overthinking it, she went for the dreamc-atcher design. Turns out, it complemented her dress beautifully on her big day.
But that’s not all in Gemma’s ink collection. Take the cross on her upper arm, for example. She and her friend Jasmin decided to get matching tattoos out of the blue one day, about a decade back. The plan was to grab a roast for Gemma’s mum’s dinner, but they ended up getting sidetracked. They returned a few hours later with the meat and matching tattoos, only to find the roast was still frozen solid. Gemma’s mum Georgina was more miffed about the dinner delay than the new ink!
A few years down the line, Gemma, her mum, and her sister all got matching infinity love hearts as a symbol of their unbreakable bond and the love that flows through their veins.
Faux Flowers
It’s not often I do a wedding with faux flowers so I was keen to pick Gemma’s brain on why she went down that route. It was partly eco reasons. Most of the floral decorations were hired so will be used again at other events. The bride and bridesmaids got to keep their bouquets and Gemma was delighted she didn’t have to get her bouquet preserved. It’s currently in a vase at the entrance to her home which makes her smile every time she passes it. She also told me ‘I didn’t want to take the fresh flowers home and have the place looking like a funeral home’!
Review
This review may be short, but it’s the ‘mic drop’ of compliments.
Best Celebrant Ever!!!!
– Gemma
Wedding Vendors Peterson House Chapel
Rachel Levingston Photography | Designs by B | Cake by Beck | Made with Love Bridal | Designs to Adore | Ivory State Hair & Make-up | Miss Co Co Designs | Events to Adore | Rundle Tailoring | Classic Limos Newcastle | Steven Healy Video | Genr8 Entertainment | Peterson House Weddings
Having had the pleasure of working at Peterson House Chapel numerous times, I can confidently say it’s a venue that never fails to impress. If you’re considering tying the knot there, don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d be thrilled to share all the reasons why I adore it. And if you’re still on the hunt for the perfect Hunter Valley wedding venue, my blog is packed with inspiration from other stunning weddings in the area. Check it out and get ready to fall in love with your dream venue!
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