Ruth & Dirk

NUMBER OF GUESTS: 340

Our love story began… at Dirk’s sister’s themed 21^st birthday party back in 2016. He was the life of the party. The man who would have you in stitches laughing. At the time, I was still studying my engineering degree and under immense stress so the idea of being in a relationship was the last thing on my mind. I’ll never forget, however, how dashing he looked dressed up in a Police costume. I distinctly remember Dirk adding me on Facebook a few days later but over the course of that year, there was no contact.

The next time we saw each other was at Dirk’s sister’s engagement party in March 2017. We have no doubt that his sister takes a lot of credit for bringing us together! Towards the end of the night, I found myself sitting next to Dirk amongst a group of friends. His wit and charisma continued to pull me in but as I left to return home, I said goodbye assuming I wouldn’t see him again. How wrong I was. Dirk had been on a mission to talk to me at some point in the night and it wasn’t going to stop there.

The next morning, I (finally) received a Facebook message that sparked the start of our friendship. My initial impression of him as a laid-back larrikin was much too shallow. I discovered what a well-grounded, intelligent, respectful, loving and serving man he was. And thank goodness he invited me over for dinner one night. His amazing cooking skills and hospitality were the cherry on the cake! He was a keeper!

The proposal was…held at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane on the evening of Valentine’s Day, 2018. To disguise the proposal on such a day was the best set up. We had already discussed plans to get married but Dirk’s eagerness to have the engagement ring personally designed meant that it would take 6-8 weeks before a proposal would be on the table. At least this is what he “told” me.

Dirk’s cunning nature made it all too easy for him to “lie”. The jeweler had the ring ready in 4 weeks and there kneeled Dirk, under a beautiful oak tree interwoven with fairy lights, proposing to Ruthie. It was magical.

We wanted our wedding to be…a day of celebration with family and friends. They all played a significant role in nurturing us as individuals and helping us grow in our relationship. We held the ceremony in a beautiful 1866 heritage-listed church in Ipswich. It included a beautiful steeple with a bell that rang out as I arrived. The architecture was stunning – there was no need to cover it with excessive embellishment.

The reception was held in a big tin barn with exposed wooden beams holding it together. The plan was to bring the outside in, so the ceiling and tables were covered with foliage and cranberry-coloured flowers with a touch of royal blue and silver from the linen napkins and tableware. Antic Edison light bulbs and candles hung from the ceiling and created a romantic and intimate space as people ate dinner.

A dance floor was included with fairy lights strung along the walls and ceiling, and disco lights to set the mood. It was picture perfect.

My dress was…truly beautiful. I was strongly recommended to visit Luv Bridal given the large variety of dresses they offered and their amazing customer service. They did not disappoint! This was the second dress I tried on and myself, along with my older sister (Maid of Honour) immediately fell in love with it. With less than five months left before the wedding, there was a rush to purchase one soon. It was an answer to prayer when Luv Bridal reported that they would be able to have the dress made and delivered by the end of May.

When Dirk first saw the dress as I walked down the aisle, he was overcome with emotion. In his words, “she looked beautiful in every way. Her veil hung to just below her waist and her train fanned out behind her. She was every bit graceful and elegant.”

The best moment of the day…would be the hardest to pick. Both of us cannot fault one thing. A few of the highlights included seeing each other for the first time at the end of the aisle. The look in both our eyes as we read out our vows was unforgettable. Spending time with all the guests and seeing them enjoy their time was also so rewarding.

During the reception, our fathers and siblings gave speeches which filled the room with laughter and joy. It was such an enjoyable night and to top it off, we took it to the dance floor and performed our first dance. We felt so loved and blessed by everyone’s generosity, well-wishes and kindness.

The soundtrack to our big day was…the playlist from Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol 1 and Vol 2). Both of us wanted the wedding to be uplifting and joyful. What could be better than some Mr. Blue Sky, Lake Shore Drive and Bring It On Home to Me to get people excited?

We’d like to give a special mention to… our family, our reception caterer, Brian and our wedding event stylists (and afternoon tea caterers), Annette and Lynette. We felt supported every step of the way and humbled by their willingness to go the extra mile to make the day run smoothly. They all put so much love and attention into what they did and always valued our vision and what we were after.

The love quote that resonates most with us as a couple is…”We love because He first loved us” ~1 John 4:19

This quote comes from a passage in the Bible. It continues to be a wonderful reminder that our love for each other should be shaped by the love that God shows us. It is more than just a feeling. It is a sacrificial and unconditional type of love – a love declared and promised no matter what situation or challenge we face.

One unusual thing about our big day was…incorporating a game during the reception. We decided to print out two ridiculous pictures of us and send it around the tables where they then had to come up with a caption (or meme) that sums up the picture. We absolutely loved what guests came up with. We were left in stitches!

As a married couple we most look forward to…findings ways to serve our family and friends. We love showing hospitality and our new-founded passion with making pasta from scratch has given us an incentive to invite people over to share a meal and show our appreciation.

We also look forward to eventually starting a family which we have no doubt our dog, Borris, would be over the moon about.

The best advice we can give to other couples about to get married is… to never forget that you are a team. If you work together and support each other, planning a wedding will be a piece of cake! Your family and friends are also there for support so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need an extra pair of hands. And on the day, it is officially your day off so make sure you relax and take it all in as it goes so fast! If all does not go according to plan, it may just be the thing that makes your day that extra bit memorable and special.