Rustic charm: Alicia & Nick’s country wedding

Alicia Denton and Nick Goodwin shared their first kiss on school camp and haven’t looked back since.

“It was a two-week bus trip to central Australia and was to this day still the most memorable and amazing trip of our lives,” Alicia, 29, says.

After 13 years together, Nick, 28, planned a New Year’s Eve proposal. “I was so surprised and deliriously happy that I called my entire family that night, waking some of them up,” Alicia says.

With just over a year until the special day, the couple began planning a country wedding at Gembrook, near Melbourne, for March 8, 2014. DIY played a big part in the preparations.

“Colour and style were very important to me and I worked particularly hard with my mum, friends and mother-in-law to get all details just right,” she says.

The couple wed and hosted their reception for 80 guests at Forest Edge, a glorious venue overlooking the Dandenong Ranges.

The rustic country feel perfectly captured the couple’s style and allowed Alicia to get creative.

“Everything was made by hand. From the invitations, table flowers, place settings, bomboniere, guestbook, and family photos on display, to the antique family suitcase that became our table setting chart, everything was carefully crafted and considered,” she says.

“It was important to include our friends and family in the process and where there was talent we used it.”

“Typical of our goofy relationship, Nick and I tripped on the dress at times, forgot to stop at the cake to cut it when we were announced and a few other dorky incidents, but none of that even mattered,” Alicia says.

The ceremony had many emotional moments for the couple and their guests. “It was not our intention to make people cry, but our vows had everyone in tears,” Alicia recalls.

Forest Edge provided a spectacular backdrop for the couple’s photographers to get creative.

DIY creations adorned the reception venue and carefully followed Alicia’s teal and orange theme.

Photos by Amy Murray & Jess Shattock.