Coolibah Downs Wedding Photography – Stephanie & Tornike

 

Tell me how you first met?   Groom: Steph and I first met in April in a church where we were both invited. Steph was in Israel and I was in Germany where we met the people that would invite us to a small church 5min walk away from my place. Not knowing any French (French-speaking church) I got put next to Steph with a translator behind us. We got chatting, from there, out of hospitality, I showed our friends and steps around the area and went on top a church with the panoramic view. Long story short, Steph got to stay longer in Brussels and ended up taking a much later bus back to London, our friend had to go to band practice and we were left to hang out alone. Dreading it at first, of giving up my whole Sunday, it became one of my luckiest days! After spending more than 11hours, the whole day together, I finally realized at the end of the trip that I liked her and asked her out. And the rest was history.

Bride: What he said! 🙂 Apart from that, I thought he was handsome from the moment I saw him and it only took a few extra hours to convince him that I was pretty cute too!

It was really a one in a million meeting.  Two people from different sides of the world, meeting different people in different countries that both invited us to be in the same place at the same time to meet and eventually fall in love.

When did you know he/she was the one? Was there something he/she did ?. etc. Groom: Steph captivated me on the first day we met after 11hours of hanging out.  When I shared something that was on my heart and seeing her gentle response, made me want to date her and seeing we could talk through any difficulty made me want to marry Steph

Bride: I knew from the first day that he was an incredible man whom I would love to get to know better.  But I would say that for me it was gradual over those first 6 months seeing how he responded in different situations, his integrity, loyalty, and genuine care and concern for others.

An example of this was when we were at his friend Marjorie’s wedding in July last year, at the end of the night rather than just saying goodbye to those closest to him and slipping out the door (like I would do).  he spends 30 min walking around to every person in the room whom he knew and saying farewell and genuine gratefulness for having the opportunity to share the night with them.  It really blew me away!

As for knowing if he was the one whom I would marry.  I knew from when he came and met my parents in Spain.

My family means the world to me and I really value my parents’ mentorship and wisdom.  So when Tornike booked not just one, but two separate flights (as he wasn’t sure whether he would be able to come for a longer period of time due to his studies) to ensure that he could be in Spain to meet them, and then how much my parents liked him and how they all go on so well, it really confirmed what I was already feeling and I knew that he was the one for me.

About the proposal. Did you see it coming, how long was it in the planning? , how did you feel? nervous, excited, freaking out? Groom: the proposal was originally a concept for after two years which turned into less than a year and from there it became December. In less than 7months dating, I asked Steph to marry me.  I was quite nervous buying the ring but anything after that I have to say went smoothly. 😉 I had different scenario’s in my mind: boat ride on a lake, on top of the church with panoramic view (where we first met), at the beach, a private dinner or the outdoors. I went for the outdoors as  I saw how much she missed being outdoors, so I took her to a small German town surrounded by hills, which provided the right landscape and some warmth on a cold December. On the hill overlooking the whole town, I got my phone installed to supposedly film a video for our family, while at that moment I got on my knee and asked Steph if she would want to make me the luckiest guy and marry me. She said…: to be continued :)… of course, YES!! 🙂

Bride: I had been really sick in the days leading up to the proposal over Christmas, so this was our first day where we could get out of the house and be outdoors (which is my favorite place to be!)

I had my suspicions, but I didn’t know that it was coming, and the shock of the moment when someone gets down on one knee and asks to spend the rest of their life with you, I don’t think you can ever be prepared for that.  My reaction? Full on tear-fest! (characteristically strange as I don’t usually cry over things) Tornike did an incredible job planning it and I was really grateful for the creative idea of filming it, as it has been really beautiful to be able to look back at the video since then and see how happy we both were.

One thing you love most about each other Groom: I love Steph’s dedication and character //  Bride: I love Tornike’s integrity

Besides getting married — what was the one thing you are looking forward to on your wedding day?  Groom: celebrating with friends and family and beginning life in one place (saying farewell to long distance)  // Bride: Amen to that!

What’s your favorite trend for weddings right now?  Bride: haha Tornike and I both aren’t really ‘wedding trend people’ – I have done most of the wedding planning (as it’s in Australia and Tornike has been busy studying) I haven’t gone for any ‘trends’ – just natural, simple and what I thought reflected us the most.  (eg. the reception is at Bond University and the centerpieces are books – both Tornike and I are avid book readers and really value education and personal growth).

 

What inspired your decor or themes?

As per above, I really tried to make it reflect us.

E.g. reception (love of learning and personal growth)

The ceremony (reflecting our shared faith and values) – We really love Coolibah Downs

The decorations (simple and natural – our love of the outdoors/nature and simple elegance)

The dress ( a combination of my own taste and part of my Mum’s wedding dress that she chose with her Mum 30+ years ago)

Choice in a photographer! 🙂  (natural, simple and real – we didn’t want anything crazy fancy and stiff, just memories of an amazing day together with friends, family and each other)

 

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