After 17 years together, Kelly and Matt finally married at Stonebarn on 2nd October 2024. Photographer, Victoria Baker, captured their magical day and their Stonebarn wedding story features these beautiful photos below.
Kelly had been googling wedding venues for a very long time. She believes she started looking way back in 2016…years and years before they booked in 2022. She stumbled across a blog post about wonderful south west wedding venues. Stonebarn was featured on the blog and Kelly fell in love with it right away. She remembered Stonebarn a few years later when they decided it was probably time to get hitched and booked two years in advance to make sure they could secure a date.
Matt wanted a water wedding and Kelly wanted a rustic forest wedding. Therefore they chose Stonebarn as it had everything they wanted. Kelly tells us that the location and scenery was so breathtaking that nothing else they looked at came close. Kelly loves the big forests of Pemberton, the moss, the dark rich earth and the clean air. The lodge itself reminded her of something right out of old England or Provence, like a fairy tale come to life. She also liked that she could chose all her vendors, or as she did with many parts, do it herself.
Kelly and Matt booked our 2 night mid-week offer. On the Tuesday they drove from Bunbury, as did most of their family from Perth. At the same time Matt’s parents drove 6 hours from the wheatbelt to join them the night before the wedding.
Kelly and Matt used the day before the wedding to settle in and set up the venue. They also used this time to do a rehearsal with their celebrant Georgia. Everyone made wood-fired pizzas and in fact did portraits of the bride and groom to break the ice, “it was hilarious” says Kelly.
Their ceremony was not until 3.30pm so they had all morning to get ready onsite. Lillie Anne did Kelly’s makeup.
Rose Hair Studio styled Kelly’s hair.
Kelly bought her dress from True Society – All Who Wander designed the dress. Gator Made4u made all the dress alterations.
Originally they were going to be married down by the river, but the last storm of the season decided to end that dream. Fortunately for Kelly and Matt, Stonebarn has multiple ceremony and reception locations so just 3 hours before the wedding, the groom folk and various husbands set up the ceremony inside the lodge instead. They even built a stunning arbour from pieces of wood they found lying around the grounds. They ended up marrying in the doorway of the lodge, with the dam, Truffiére and forest behind them.
Georgia B Dunsborough Celebrant officiated the wedding.
They had planned to hold their reception on the verandah, but it was far too stormy to sit outside. Therefore they decided to set up their long table reception along the length of the hallway so that they could still use the dining room for their dance floor later on.
Simple And Beautiful Catering provided the delicious food.
They hired Stonebarn’s white gladiator chairs and trestle tables for both the ceremony and reception.
Kelly was overjoyed to see the efforts their friends and family went to, in making last minute changes to pivot the wedding from the river to the lodge. There was so much love and determination on display – it was so heartwarming.
Another special moment for Kelly was when her beautiful 4 year old niece feel asleep halfway through their vows and started snoring like an old man!
Overall, what made the wedding so amazing was the venue, the people, the food, and the atmosphere. Kelly always wanted “something ethereal, magical, a little woodsy fae, and Stonebarn delivered. The rustic farm pieces and red gravel also was very reminiscent of my mum and step dad, who sadly have passed and could not be there.”
They simply loved the fact that “the day was just our own to enjoy with those we love” including their dog!
Thank you so much Kelly & Matt for sharing your Stonebarn wedding experience with us. May your life together be filled with countless moments of laughter, adventure, and shared dreams.
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