Schoolyard crush blossoms into Ellen and Josh’s elegant garden wedding

Ellen Fu and Josh Cadd first met in the schoolyard and more than a decade later realised what they had was much more than a childhood crush.

“There was instantaneous attraction for us both, not to mention our knowing each other as children making it enjoyable without any discomfort,” Josh, 33, says of their first date after reconnecting on Facebook 15 years later.

The relationship blossomed and six years later Josh took Ellen, 33, to where it all began for his romantic proposal. “While on our way to dinner I stopped off at our primary school to ‘have a look around’, I encouraged Ellen that she should come with me as it was a beautiful, warm night,” Josh explains.

“As we turned a corner there was a picnic blanket with pizza, pasta… and sparkling wine awaiting us. Ellen was shocked and overjoyed, even more so when I got down on one knee.”

The couple spent their one-year engagement planning their elegant garden wedding, discovering along the way that Ellen was pregnant!

The Melbourne couple wed at Gardens House in the city’s botanic gardens on February 13, 2016 in an elegant affair with 50 friends and family. Celebrations continued at the same venue, allowing guests to relax and enjoy drinks on the lawn.

“The wedding was not so much about us, but about the people around us. It was so relaxed and off-the-cuff that everyone could be themselves, take their time, talk to everyone and enjoy the surroundings,” Josh says.

“The weather was perfect and everything went better than planned.”

Photos courtesy of Passion8 Photography.

Simple and elegant invitations were created through Vistaprint, while the couple travelled in style courtesy of Triple R Luxury Car Hire.

 

Gardens House, in the heart of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, was the perfect setting for the couple’s ceremony and reception.

Ellen dressed her baby bump in a gorgeous strapless gown from Kylie J. Bridal & Formal.

“In the last seven years Ellen and I have experienced a lot together. We have celebrated, loved, cried and laughed together. This has taught us that we can depend on each other and trust each other’s judgement,” Josh says.

Sweet treats were the perfect take-home gift to guests, while Peter Rowland Catering kept everyone well-fed.