THE bride was beautiful and resplendent in white and the groom looked magnificent amid all the smiling faces at St Anne’s Church in Merriwa, as Emily Wightman and Kirby Hockings exchanged wedding vows on Saturday, October 14.
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It was an intimate wedding with some of the guests travelling from as far as Brisbane, while others arriving from the ACT.
Adorning Emily’s dress was a family heirloom normally kept by her great-aunty Robyn Wightman.
It was a brooch depicting a blue bird.
It was the same brooch worn by Emily and her three siblings at their respective christenings as well as their mother Fiona Wightman on her wedding day.
Jutta and Maurice Irvine each expertly conveyed the bridal party in the horse drawn carriages provided by Kirby’s mother.
They travelled to the church along Vennacher Street as admiring passers-by looked on.
Emily’s four elegant bridesmaids Zoe, Lauren, Elizabeth and Megan, travelled in the first carriage while Emily, her dad James and little sister Beth travelled in the second carriage.
It was hard to imagine a lovelier setting as the sun light filtered through the ornate stained-glass windows of St Anne’s.
Father John provided an excellent service and truly emphasised the joy and happiness the wedding brought to not only Emily and Kirby, but for everyone who was gathered.
There was great jubilation outside the church.
Together with Emily’s parents, Kirby’s parents - Bryce and Paula, proudly looked on as everyone congratulated the beaming couple.
Then it was off to the reception.
Guests gathered at the Merriwa School of Arts anticipating the arrival of the newlyweds while their photographs were being taken.
Hay bales and fairy lights outside the hall gave guests a hint of the transformation that occurred within.
Commanding a prominent position was the wedding cake – a culinary masterpiece! A 4-tier, chocolate and caramel mud cake painstakingly created by Lesley Constable and lovingly decorated by Fiona.
The cake sat proudly on a rustic ironbark base hewn by Kirby and his father.
Fiona also positioned a small, delicate vase alongside the cake – it was the same vase that featured prominently with her own wedding cake that she shared with her husband James.
The reception was a great country party, although James and Fiona did have mixed feelings about their eight-year old daughter Beth catching the bridal bouquet.
Then it was off to the Maldives for their honeymoon, followed by a new life in Sydney.
Congratulations Emily and Kirby.
The Wightmans would personally like to thank all who attended, making special mention of Ayesha Kiely, Paige McConnell and Kirsten Wright who were magnificent in their provision of food and drinks as well as great aunty Robyn for hand-crafting a special embroidered garter for Emily.
