Tamworth locals Abby and Toby celebrate elegant country wedding

Former city girl Abby and country boy through and through Toby needed a hammer and a bottle of shiraz for their elegant country wedding ceremony at Waldara Farm.

The pair, aged 27 and 29, live in the nation’s country music capital – Tamworth – and married in Oberon, NSW on January 20, 2018. “Toby is slowly turning a city girl country, so it couldn’t have been more fitting that we tied the knot at a working farm near where it all began,” says the bride. “It was rustic, with a modern touch and accommodated the entire bridal party (20) in luxurious accommodation, with the ceremony and reception being only walking distances from each other.”

The couple handmade a ceremony wine box from an old apple crate. “My dad wrapped his rusty hammer with some ribbon and bought us a beautiful bottle of shiraz,” says Abby. The celebrant invited the mother of the bride and groom to deliver letters from the family. “We hammered the box shut and it will remain until our first anniversary when we can finally share the bottle and read the letters,” says the bride.

“We wanted our wedding to be a time when we could make the most of seeing our family and friends, so it ticked that box being in the middle of nowhere, with limited mobile phone service,” explains Abby.

Photos courtesy of Sarah Moore Photography.

The bride had to travel more than 10 hours to the boutique where she found her gown, “but it was worth it,” she says.

“We went to the Sydney flower market early on Wednesday morning … we had to drive the flowers in buckets for four hours to Oberon in the boot of two cars, then cut every stem, try to refrigerate and mist them and keep them looking fresh until Saturday,” Abby explains of the DIY creations.

Local celebrant Marry Me Annie wed the couple.

“Toby and I love getting our hands dirty and enjoyed being involved in the making and creating of our wedding. We did lots of DIY including signs, flowers, name tags, table decorations, jams, flower cones and our special wine box.”

“Sarah Moore was a legend! She was so friendly, encouraging, happy to have a laugh and understood who Toby and I were and what we wanted.”

“I wanted a traditional looking yet modern country wedding with neutrals rather than bold colours,” smiles Abby.

Video by John Kurt.