Olivia Jenkins' Iconic European Wedding : Everything You Need To Know

Olivia Edwards, née Jenkins, officially married George Edwards on 5 March 2022 in a stunning afternoon ceremony at Chateau Yaldara. Keep reading to learn more about what the bride had to say about the event, down to the smallest of details!

On how the bride and groom met:

Olivia met George in a spontaneous turn of events during a 2012 holiday to visit a friend. The two first crossed paths after Olivia made a last minute decision to abandon plans to go out in the city with girlfriends and chose to drive up to her friend’s river shack for a weekend on the water. “I remember pulling up to the river shack close to midnight, dressed for a night on the town, wondering what I had got myself into given I only knew one person out of 30. It was here that I met George and it was love at first sight.”

On the proposal: 

The groom got down on one knee during a family holiday to the Eyre Peninsula. He popped the question on a private beach at the stunning Port Lincoln National Park with a diamond he sourced from France. “George knew that I am very particular about jewellery given I don’t wear any at all, so he opted to propose with a stunning stone and allow me to design my own ring with him together after the proposal.”

The proposal was made even more special due to the fact that both the bride and groom spent years building their own respective businesses leading up to the big day while caring for their two young babies, Henry and Archer.  

On the invitations:

Invitations inspired by the signature Olivia Jenkins Consulting brand kit. Photography by Danielle McPherson.

Olivia couldn’t resist an opportunity to let her CEO spirit shine through a little during the planning process. One of the ways she achieved this was through invitations and wedding stationery (styled by studio.wednesday) in “my company fonts and colours, to bring an element of OJC to the big day.”    

On the location:

“George and I really had our heart set on an open-air wedding. Both of us really love nature and being married under the afternoon sun was the perfect ceremony location for us!”

Nestled in the prestigious Barossa Valley wine region, the stunning venue is known for its history, idyllic rural surroundings, and renowned wineries. “We were really lucky to have stumbled across the amazing venue at Chateau Yaldara by chance. We immediately fell in love. It’s simply breathtaking and has stunning French Chateau vibes.” 

On the big event:

The bride and groom. Photography by Dannielle McPherson.

Chateau Yaldara hosted both an emotional ceremony and a festive reception for the bride and groom. 

“We planned to have the ceremony and reception areas quite close together and opted for an open-air ceremony with round tables, white umbrellas, festoon and fairy lights [put together by wedding party specialists Adelaide Wedding Hire] to create the perfect, romantic feel we were able to achieve on the night,” Olivia explained. Ambient lighting designed by Caso Light N Sound added to the romantic effect.

The bride, groom and their guests danced the evening away to playlists curated by a DJ from premier boutique entertainment company Entertainment Adelaide. 

“It was a night to remember.”

On the food:

And of course, you can’t forget about the food. Guests were delighted with a delicious Mediterranean-inspired menu (catered by Vintage Chef Co) featuring delectable courses inspired by Olivia's European background. Dishes included classics like saganaki and charcoal lamb served with salted roast potatoes.

For dessert, the bride and groom served slices of vanilla and chocolate cake from Adelaide bakery Blossom Car Bakery who created the most stunning crepe paper inspired look.

On the outfits and accessories:

Olivia’s timeless, chic style is reflected in the outfit choices she made for the big day. 

The bride wore a custom-made three-piece Caleche Bridal gown featuring a dress, tulle overskirt and wings that left her guests speechless. She paired it with a pair of Amina Muaddi bridal shoes.

“Caleche Bridal made the whole experience so magical and I felt like a real life princess on the day. I knew exactly what I wanted when I went in for my very first dress fitting and they were exceptional at creating my dream gown and bringing my vision to life.”

The bride wore a custom Caleche Bridal dress on the big day. Photography by Dannielle McPherson.

The bridal party wore Shona Joy gowns in shades of ivory, while the groomsmen looked dapper as ever in cream MJ Bale tuxedos. 

The bride (centre) and bridal party.

The groom (centre) and groomsmen.

As for jewellery, “I took a very simple approach to jewellery on the big day,” says Olivia. The bride donned the "Charlotte" Swarovski pearl headband by @ael.este and a Tiffany & Co bracelet gifted to her the morning of the wedding by her husband. She completed the look with pearl stud earrings, a bridal classic.

On the hair and makeup:

The bride’s goal for her hair and makeup on the big day? “To feel like a real-life princess, of course!” 

To achieve this the bride chose a makeup look inspired by Paris Hilton’s recent bridal glam, done by Adelaide-based makeup artist @nivman, and had her hair styled in the signature Adriana wave by L’oreal Pro Stylist Adriana Marmino. 

The bride’s advice for balancing business and wedding planning:

1. Hire a wedding planner expert or enlist the help of a trusted friend who has been through the process before and can support you with big decisions. “I was very blessed to have three amazing bridesmaids who had all been married before or been part of lots of weddings so they were really able to help me through the process and what to expect,” Olivia says.
   
   
2. Be organised and keep a spreadsheet of information including your budget for the wedding, guest list with who you have sent invitations to and who has RSVP’d (plus any dietary requirements) and seating plans. “This helped to keep me organised in the lead up to the day so I could plan things effectively.”
   
   
3. Leave gaps in your calendar to schedule wedding appointments. “I took a lot of personal time in the lead up to the wedding for dress fittings, wedding planning meetings, shopping for bridesmaid dresses, hair and makeup trials and more, so it’s really important to have time blocked out in your calendar.” Olivia recommends blocking out the week before and after the wedding to give a full two weeks of breathing space for appointments.

The final verdict:

“It truly was the most magical day of our lives. We couldn’t have dreamt of a more perfect day and our vision really came to life on 5 March 2022. We were so happy to have our family, friends and beautiful children there to celebrate our love. Now, it’s time for our next journey as husband and wife - we have BIG plans for 2022 and beyond!”