Behind the scenes of Whit and Cams wedding

The 9th of August was the date set and my flight (Leanne) was booked to arrive the Saturday before.  I thought I'd get there to help out and get 'stuff' done before Phil arrived to make things a bit smoother.  Cam said that it helped so I was happy with that.

It's a pretty important thing the wedding of your first daughter but I didn't feel too concerned having worked in the Wedding industry for so many years, I used to sell wedding dresses when we lived in Sydney before Whit was born and was involved with catering through Mum and Dad for so many years watching or working at so many weddings.  I just forgot that it was Whitney's first time.  She had been very organised and really mostly everything was done.  Wedding dress designed and made in Vietnam, bridesmaids dresses also made in Vietnam back in December so she was really on top of things.  Photographer and flowers booked and Cam's Mum, Linda and her sister Aunty Kerry, doing the hair, Jaimee's best friend, Lauren, doing makeup and a great friend from school of Hannah's, Anna Porter, doing the video.

I got to visit the venue the year before when I was home and we had a lovely mothers day lunch there, the food was amazing and service great so that was all good to go.  The wedding planner at the venue Whitney said had been great as well so the everything was ready.  Her thankyou gift to everyone was to be a small bottle with 2 homemade red melting moment biscuits with Grandma's famous recipe.  So we just needed to make around 320 bickies...piece of cake?

Phil arrived on the Wednesday morning and when we picked him up from the airport it was the first time we had all been together in 1 place for 2 years, it didn't seem real but it was.  Breakfast at the Gold Coast, the airport we came into was the first thing on the list.

We then went straight to my brother Andrews house, which has a big oven and lots of space to cook the bickies...bearing in mind Phil hadn't slept the night before :(  It only lasted all day until around 5 o'clock.  A big thank you to Dianne for getting everything ready for us and Pat, their neighbour and good friend of my Mum's for helping out on the day.  She had the place looking beautiful for us.

                                                                   the cooks below....

Below Whitney and Phil working out the seating tags to put that together as well.

The finished product...AND they were yummy too!

So the next couple of days were taken up with colour changing shoes, nails and tans and enjoying the company.  

Including catching up with my best friend after 2 years of not seeing each other!

Next we were packing up and heading out to Sirromet Winery for the rehearsal and our family night together before it all started the next morning.

On our way out to Sirromet

                                                                        This way......

                 Shenanigans waiting for their turn to walk down the aisle at the rehearsal, Far left is Georgia, Cameron's little sister who was also in the bridal party.

The view of the lagoon from the wedding pavilion.

Practice run

 Will (Jaimee's boyfriend Left) and Zac (Hannah's boyfriend right) working on their jobs for the day, Zac took care of the music and Will was the MC.  They took their jobs very seriously...and did a great job.

                                                               Wedding rehearsal pic

The Sirommet house that we got to stay in for a couple of nights including the night before and to get ready for the wedding.

 Family evening at the Sirommet house, wine and cheese on the balcony...Friday night drinks for anyone who remembers those:)  It was really nice to have the night before with just our family to chat and relax together, it had been a long time since we had done that.

                                                              Watching the sunset.....

                                                    The Dowler girls being silly......:)

                                           Yummy Lamb Shanks made by Dad for dinner.

so the 3 girls DID sleep in the same bed that night and this was their wake up pic!

             Everything was lined up, outfits to wear during the day while they were getting ready

                                             Bridesmaid shoes, wraps, bags and bracelets

                                                           And Dad sat and waited....

Below are Cameron's Aunty Kerry on the left and his Mum Linda on the right doing the hair.

Final touches to Phil's hair?!?!?!?! includes a roller and everything!

The lovely Lauren doing Whitney's make up, she did everyone's on the day....although not Phils? 
                       

And then we were ready and off to the car to head to the ceremony...

                                                     Dad and daughter on their way...

                                                              And the veil is over

Both Anna, the videographer (left front) and Dave the photographer (right back) are in this shot just before they walk down the aisle.

                                     Camerons face as he sees Whitney coming down the aisle...

                                                                   They are doing it!

Signing the register...love Cam's face in this shot :)

                                       Heading back down the aisle as Mr and Mrs Griffiths

        Saying Hi to Pop on Skype from Lithgow.  he wasn't able to come but got to watch it all.

  Hannah and her boyfriend Zac, who did so much running around for us at the wedding, he was amazing!

              Jaimee and her boyfriend Will who also did lots of jobs including the MC for the day.

                                    The wedding party including the page boy and flower girl

                                                              Just the girls :)

Cuties:)))))

The whole Mc Lay (Leanne's) family with the bridal party

The Griffiths family with the bridal party

Just my brothers and Mum and I, my sister Julie came to the wedding by Skype.

And the bridal party goes off into the bush to take some fabulous photos!

Photographer at work....

                Then Whit takes off her full net overskirt revealing her fishtail dress underneath.

The wraps keeping the girls warm between shots...

While we were hanging out in the garden area having drinks waiting for their return...

Spying the odd Kangaroo with Joey while we were there...

In the garden area....

The new look outfit with a fur wrap to keep Whitney warm as well.

the venue ready for our arrival 

Will the MC

Our table with Shirl and Ray opposite us for the night and Julie & Steve on the Ipad at the end of the table.

                                                               3 generations of rings...

                                                     Phil doing his best Dad speech ever!

                         Whit and Cam were laughing? Actually we all were, it was hilarious! Go

Official first dance

Father daughter dance :)

                                                        Time to throw the garter away...

Fighting over the garter...

and then the night was done...Oh yeah so was Uncle Murray....

This is how things ended up for our skyped in guests Julie and Steve!

Recovery breakfast at 11am the next morning 

The morning after with cousin Mia

Belated 50th Birthday celebration with Shirl on Monday night

Dinner together

                 BBQ dinner at Kangaroo Point looking over the city of Brisbane on Tuesday night

 Jaimee's pre emptive Birthday since we weren't going to be with her on the real birthday night.

And the last family pic

Wish everyone could have been with us but it was just not possible...I hope this goes some way to make you part of this very exciting time in the life of the Dowler Family.