This gorgeous couple Hayley + Nick are fans of Yellowstone and never miss an episode together, so I wasn’t at all surprised when they chose to get married at The Woodhouse Wollombi Wedding Venue instead of a winery in the Hunter Valley.
With wide-open skies, a rustic barn, and an old horse cart lying around (there wasn’t a vine in sight) 🍇🚫, the whole place was giving off major Ranch vibes! 🐎🌄
And, of course, that gave me the green light to rock my cowboy-esque hat —Shout out to hatter, fellow celebrant, and owner of @molongstores Robert who fitted me for it 🤠
In a fun nod to Yellowstone, Nick and I shared a shot of whiskey before Hayley made her grand entrance through the woods down to the lake. Just like Rip Wheeler, who often sips whiskey, we embraced the spirit of the show in our own moment of reflection and camaraderie…a chance to pause and celebrate what was just about to happen!
Hayley + Nick’s wedding was filled with passion, deep roots, and that wild, untamed love you can’t help but admire. Their connection is as strong as the Dutton family bond (minus all the feuding, of course). 💕🔥
Anyone else a Yellowstone fan?
When Hayley + Nick booked me as their celebrant, they had already built an incredible life together. After 8 years of dating, a few years of living together, and buying a house, Nick popped the question during a New Year’s Eve picnic at Kilcare in 2021. 💍✨
Hayley had absolutely no idea what was coming. She knew Nick had been working on a hand-carved gift, but she was convinced it was going to be a wooden spoon! So when he got down on one knee with a beautifully crafted wooden ring box instead, she was completely surprised and delighted.
Hayley is organised so it wasn’t long until their venue was locked in and most of their vendors were sorted. The wedding planning was in full swing when they got the most wonderful surprise—Hayley was pregnant! 🤰🏻💫
Over the moon with excitement, they decided to keep the original wedding date, and the celebration grew even more special.
I think everyone will agree Hayley looked INCREDIBLE! It was a day filled with love, joy, and the start of not just one, but two new chapters in their lives. Wishing this gorgeous family all the happiness in the world! 🍼💕
These are Hayley’s pearls of wisdom on having to swap out her original dress for something new to accommodate her growing bump.
“In hindsight I did a lot of unnecessary stressing over whether or not my wedding dress would fit my growing body. It was a big concern for me at the time as the pregnancy was a big surprise, the dress was still being made, a lot of money was spent and deep down I wasn’t confident anymore in wearing it.
I feel like I definitely wouldn’t be alone with my thought process on this topic, but the pressure you can put on yourself to look a certain “perfect” way as the bride is actually wild. And trying to control or anticipate how your pregnant body will grow and look by the time your wedding date rolls around is a crazy notion
I waited until my original dress arrived just 8 weeks away from the wedding, it wasn’t going to work so I went and found another one, ordered it through a boutique and booked an amazing alterations guru 2 weeks out from the wedding. I’m actually so glad this was the timeline as your belly (and other bits) grow in the most unpredictable ways and I could finally enjoy food by the 3rd trimester so having alterations done this close to the date was perfect. I swapped spanx for maternity nickers and the stilettos for sparkly sneakers and it was bliss haha”. – Hayley
Hayley was the inspiration behind my blog WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOU’RE PREGNANT DURING WEDDING PLANNING 💍🤰✨. She was a masterclass in how to handle it. After talking with her and several of my past brides who found themselves in the same situation, I gathered their best advice to help other brides navigate this exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) journey.
There’s something truly special about the moments just before the bride arrives. I love watching family and friends gather around the groom, offering support during those last few nerve-wracking minutes. It’s these little moments that remind me how weddings are not just about the couple, but about the love and care of the people who surround them.
At Nick’s wedding, his family and friends took turns going up to him—giving hugs, cracking jokes, and just being there for him. His Aunt Virginia stepped in to straighten his pocket square, gently reminding him to breathe and that everything would be great.
Nick confided in me that he wasn’t nervous about marrying Hayley—he’d never been more certain of anything in his life. But as a private person, the idea of saying his vows in front of everyone made him a bit anxious. I had already seen his vows and knew they were incredible. Nick’s words were a perfect blend of humor, personal memories, and sincere emotion. I reassured him that as long as he delivered them with authenticity, he had nothing to worry about.
I gave him a few tips, which he took to heart. He didn’t rush through them, smiled with his eyes, and struck the ideal balance between light-hearted moments and heartfelt promises. In the end, Nick’s vows painted a beautiful picture of a relationship built on love, fun, and deep mutual respect.
There’s something incredibly special about having your best friends by your side on your wedding day. Hayley’s bridesmaids were absolute legends—up for a laugh and full of fun energy. Hayley even gave me permission to roast them a little during the ceremony, and the look on their faces was priceless! It was the perfect way to add a personal touch and surprise everyone with some cheeky banter.
Curious about what I said?!
‘First up, let’s talk about Bec, the bridesmaid who’s been by Hayley’s side since their Lush retail days. Hayley describes her as sunshine in human form, with a heart as beautiful as her spirit. But beware—if the DJ doesn’t play “Horses” by Daryl Braithwaite tonight, Bec’s ready to stir up some drama!
Next, we have Nicole. These two go way back—right to year 3, when Nicole moved just seven houses down from Hayley. She’s the Hamish to Hayley’s Andy, always there to make her laugh, no matter what. And once the drinks start flowing, so do Nicole’s emotions—especially when it comes to reliving the Sydney 2000 Olympics. If she gets the notion, you can bet Cathy Freeman’s winning race will be on repeat!’
✨ This was THE NICEST EMAIL I’ve ever received from a couple 📩 It actually brought me to tears 😭 Feeling so seen and appreciated for my efforts is everything 💖 Nothing warms my heart more than knowing that my work creates unforgettable moments and connections. Here’s to love, laughter, and the magic of personal ceremonies! 💍✨
Dearest Julie, Oh. My. Goodness!! WOW!!
With every bit of gratitude we can muster up between us, we sincerely cannot even begin to find the words to genuinely thank you for everything. For allowing us to be a part of your magic work, for giving us the gift of the greatest wedding ceremony ever, for making all of our heartstrings tug in ALL the directions, for showing us all the love, and for legally making us husband and wife. HOW BLOODY GOOD!
What you have done for us and how you have made us feel through this whole process, will always be remembered and spoken about with big love. Honestly, you deserve ALL the praise and recognition for being the best at what you do, and also for just being one of the most genuine, caring, bloody hilarious, thoughtful and warm-hearted people we have truly ever met. We are so so happy it was you.
I never thought writing our own vows would be fun, and I never thought we’d be able to present them like we did, but with your support and cheer squad tactics, I’m so happy we did it. You embraced our awkwardness and weird ways and allowed our personalities shine throughout. MAGIC!!!
Honestly, every single one of our people have said to us, that that was the greatest ceremony they have ever experienced. How personal, sincere, fun and cheeky it was. How you carried yourself. Your personal touches. Your inclusiveness. How you made everyone come together. How fabulous your Irish-ness was.
I dropped my Welsh friend to the airport yesterday and she was talking about the wedding. She asked other guests if Australian ceremonies normally go for that long, because back home they only tend to run a ceremony for fifteen to twenty minutes at most, and they’re pretty dull. She was telling me that the feedback was “No they don’t normally go for long, but this was so personal and fun we didn’t want it to stop”!
And Nick and I both feel the same way! It’s the most important bit, and for us it was the absolute best part of our wonderful wedding day!
Love,
Mr & Mrs Kennedy
YEEWW!!
Fennel & Co. Catering | Kendell Tyne Photography | The Woodhouse Wollombi Venue | The Posy Garden | Muse Bridal | Hair by Aleica Pace | Sammie Leigh Artistry
Love The Woodhouse Wollombi Wedding Venue? Check out more photos of it on my WOODHOUSE WOLLOMBI WEDDING VENUE PINTEREST BOARD.
You might also like this blog about Susian + Mark’s wedding at The Woodhouse Wollombi Wedding Venue.
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