Animal magnetism: Zoo proposal leads to Camille and James’ rustic glam wedding

A camping trip with a difference set the scene for James’ romantic proposal to girlfriend Camille.

The Sydneysiders, both 25, were on a ‘Roar and Snore’ at Taronga Zoo when James got down on one knee.

“It was a freezing cold day and was really windy, but it was perfect for cozying up in our ‘luxurious’ tent together. I had no clue he was planning to propose,” Camille says.

The pair first met in 2012 when they were introduced by a mutual friend. Camille says they hit it off straight away and were “instantly attracted to each other like magnets”.

When it came to their rustic glam wedding, the bride says they wanted to create a charming rustic setting that still exuded elegance.

They wed on the lawn at Vaucluse House on August 26, 2017 surrounded by 135 family and friends. The venue was simply decorated with a flower-covered arch, white carpet aisle, candles and classic white chairs.

The reception followed at Watsons Bay Hotel’s Sunset Room.

“We also went for a rustic yet glamorous feel here too, so a bit of hessian mixed with splashes of golds and David Austin roses with ranunculus,” Camille says.

“We didn’t want it to be your average rustic-themed wedding, we wanted to put our own twist on it and I absolutely loved how it ended up looking. I did a lot of the decorations myself, and purchased a lot instead of hiring as I’m a bit of a bargain shopper.”

Camille says something they loved most about their rustic glam wedding was that it was “so us”.

“Everything about it was who we are,” she says.

“We’re both quite laid back, love to have fun, and just love spending time together and with the people we love. We never put a huge amount of pressure on ourselves because we always knew that our day would be everything we wanted, and that made it so easy and so fun.”

Photos courtesy of Pure Image Photography.

There was a rustic vibe to couple’s celebrations, thanks to the bride’s styling skill and keen eye for a bargain.

Camille is full of praise for celebrant Janine Croan for creating a special, personalised ceremony.

Camille describes finding her mermaid-style strapless dress at Brides of Beecroft as “love at first sight”, while her bridesmaids also looked beautiful in glamorous gowns from Bridesmaids Only.

Camille encourages future brides to make sure they take time to “take it all in”. “Taking photos really gave us an opportunity to stop and have our ‘Oh my gosh we’re married, how amazing is this?’ moments,” she says.

The couple’s wedding cake was the perfect mixture of rustic and glamorous with a glam gold base layer supporting three tiers of naked cake.