Southern Serendipity: A Vacationing Aussie Meets His Soul Mate in Memphis

Amelia and Andrew, the soon-to-be Mr. & Mrs. Reynalds, pose for the camera before the ceremony.

Amelia bought her wedding dress, by Watters, after she and her three matrons of honor made an appointment at The Barefoot Bride in Memphis. She wanted to spend some time with them and get a feel for the dresses. “I had absolutely no intention of buying my dress that day,” she jokes. “I had appointments at two other stores later in the year. I knew immediately when I tried it on that it was the one.”

Amelia’s “something old” was her mom’s garter. Her “something new” was her wedding dress, and her “something borrowed” was her jewelry, a pair of earrings and a pearl bracelet, which she got from her cousin, Emily.

Amelia’s “something blue” was her engagement ring, a sapphire stone in a vintage setting that is modeled after the engagement ring Andrew’s grandfather created for his grandmother.

Bridesmaids were given 901 hoodie shirts from the bride.

Amelia and Andrew share a fun moment after his first look at his bride-to-be on their wedding day.

The Hardin House was hired to assist with planning and decorations as well as the florals, which included floral crowns and boutonnieres.

They opted for hues of white, cream and neutrals, giving Amelia the bohemian feel that she was looking for.

The couple exchanged traditional vows on October, 1, 2016, in an intimate backyard wedding at the home of a family friend. Friends and family from near and far attended, including nearly half making the trek from Perth. Knowing the couple well, Amelia’s best friend’s father, Tim Goldsmith, officiated and tailored the ceremony to them.

Amelia had three matrons of honor and seven bridesmaids including high school, college and nursing school friends, Kappa Kappa Gamma sisters from Ole Miss, childhood friends and her dear cousin. Each bridesmaid selected her own dress.

Andrew’s best man was his best friend from college, and his seven groomsmen included friends from Australia and Amelia’s brother. Andrew’s sister, Emma, and Amelia’s friend, Garrett, were both asked to read meaningful excerpts during the ceremony.

During cocktail hour, bacon-wrapped potato bites with a Creole dipping sauce and a Memphis mixture of skewered kielbasa, cubed cheese and pepperoncinis were served.

Amelia and Andrew entered the reception as Mr. and Mrs. Reynalds and shared their first dance as husband and wife to “All This Time” by OneRepublic. They chose the song because Amelia says the lyrics — All this time, we’ve been waiting for each other; All this time, I’ve been waiting for you — really hit home. She says it was very fitting of their journey and their story.

Amelia selected “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival for her father-daughter dance, because she says they are both fans of the band. He gave her Creedence Clearwater Revival’s greatest hits album in college, and they have bonded over that music ever since.

Andrew and his mum danced to “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison.

The seated, family-style dinner began with a pear and mixed green salad and parmesan-cheddar biscuits. The main course included Lexington-style chicken and rosemary-garlic pork tenderloin with a caramelized drizzle. Sides were creamy grits with bacon, cheddar and chives and a fall vegetable hash with butternut squash, carrots, Brussels sprouts and red onion. Southern peach iced tea and herb-infused lemonade were also served.

Guests were seated under clear tents and cafe lights at family-style tables set with elegant formal place settings of gold china and white linens along with centerpieces of candles and greenery that beautifully complemented their surroundings.

Oh My Ganache! Bakery made the three-tier wedding cake with layers of strawberry, chocolate and vanilla with white buttercream icing.

The groom’s cake was a tiramisu cake with cream-cheese icing, decorated with purple and white, the colors of Andrew’s favorite football team — the Fremantle Dockers.

Guests were asked to select a postcard and leave a special note for the bride and groom.

At the end of the evening, guests sent Amelia and Andrew out with a sparkler sendoff. The couple loaded into a bus with their friends and family and headed to Silky’s to continue their celebration.

The couple currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but will be moving to Perth this summer.