Jessica + Dennis’ Wedding | Anambah House | Paper Cranes
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Jessica and Dennis’ gorgeous wedding at Anambah House sticks out in my mind for so many reasons.
First off, it was my debut at Anambah House—a hidden gem in the Hunter Valley that not a lot of people, even those in the industry, know about. It’s surprising because this place is absolutely spectacular. You drive through these grand wrought iron gates and down a tree-lined driveway, and you just know something amazing is waiting at the end.
Jessica was getting ready in the heritage-listed country house that dates back to the mid-19th century. I loved soaking in all the period features—stained glass windows, ornate fireplaces—and hearing all the historical tidbits from the staff.
But what really stands out to me was the beautiful bond between Jessica and Dennis. Their vows were so heartfelt, they brought many guests to tears, including Jessica’s dad who coincidenetally is Irish. I like to think my love story got him emotional, and then Jessica’s vows gave him that final nudge over the edge!
After the ceremony, I snuck into the dining space for a peek—it did not disappoint. It had these cool industrial and rustic vibes with natural exposed timbers.
I never run away right after a ceremony, but this time I stayed for the whole cocktail hour, mingling with the well-dressed guests on the pristine lawns. I was in my element, admiring the mix of Asian and Australian fashion. Not drinking because I was driving, but I did indulge in some Mr Goaty gelato.
Whiskey drinking
I offered Dennis a shot of whiskey before the ceremony. He very politely declined, saying that like a lot of Asians, alcohol makes his cheeks flush. I’d never heard of that before! Apparently, it’s a thing. According to Wiki, between 30-50% of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans get facial flushing. And it’s not just that—they also get nausea, headaches, and a racing heart! I’m so glad Dennis had the sense to decline. If someone’s on the fence, I’ll often try to twist their arm, but no one wants to deal with those symptoms on their wedding day if they can avoid it.
Tell me you love your dogs without telling me you love your dogs!
When Dennis filled out my love story questionnaire (the nifty tool I use to dig up all the juicy details about a couple’s relationship), he mentioned the word “pug” 11 times. You bet that caught my attention!
Molly, the pug Dennis had since she was a wee pup of one year old, was a constant thread in their love story. She was there at the coffee shop for his first date with Jess, snuggled on the couch at his apartment for their first kiss, and even at the picnic where Dennis realized he was head-over-heels for Jess. No surprises here—she was there for the proposal too, sporting a dashing bow tie.
Jess, thankfully, is just as dog-crazy as Dennis. They bonded over their shared love for animals and, later on, added Watson, a 2-year-old pug, and Primrose, a British Shorthair cat, to their fur family.
Their pets are such a big part of their lives that I just had to include them in the ceremony. As I talked about their furry friends, the pet sitter rolled in the pugs in a little trolley, stealing the show with their cuteness.
We made sure there was plenty of cuddle time. I didn’t rush it, knowing this might just be their favourite part of the whole ceremony.
Give us a Wave!
Sometimes it’s nice to give a shoutout to the friends who played a key role in the love story. Ava was the one who encouraged Jessica to download the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. If it wasn’t for her, Jessica might still be single and binge-watching Harry Potter alone. So, Ava definitely deserved a special mention during the ceremony. I got everyone to give her a round of applause for giving Jessica the nudge she needed, and she seemed to appreciate it!
Review- Jessica + Dennis | Anambah House
‘An absolutely lovely person, Julie manages to capture the big (and small) details of a couples’ journey together and spins this into a personalised love story to share with family and friends on your special day.
She delivers everything clearly and with emotion, making the crowd participate as well so that they, too, are taken along on the ride. We really appreciated the attention to detail and the help and support in writing vows of our own that have so much more meaning to us on a personal level.
Thankyou Julie for an amazing day and we hope to see you narrate the journey that others have had at hopefully another wedding!’
– Jessica + Dennis
Wedding Vendors Anambah House
Paper Cranes | Two Play Strings | Advantage DJs | Get Chauffeured | Pronovias | Luv Bridal | Nadi Bridal | InStitchu | Paperlust
This was my first time working at Anambah, and it was love at first sight! I wrote all about it in my blog, “The Best Hunter Valley Wedding Venues.” If you are getting married at Anambah House, I would absolutely love to be your celebrant, so get in touch.
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