Childhood friendship grows into true love and rustic vineyard wedding

If it wasn’t for boy germs Samantha Walcroft and Michael Hill may have been a couple much earlier on.

The Adelaide pair met as children on family holidays in Normanville, where they became fast friends over beach cricket. “But at this age boys had boy-germs so that was that,” laughs Samantha, 28, of her beau Michael, 29.

“As we got older our annual trip to the caravan park stopped and we lost contact until we later ran into each other on a night out with friends and began to date,” explains Samantha. Five years later Michael proposed and they set a wedding date of December 20, 2014. “We had often spoken about how our ultimate wedding would have to be in a venue with a beautiful, natural backdrop and cater for our love of all things food and wine; Bird in Hand Winery ticked all the boxes,” says the bride.

Their vineyard wedding with 140 guests was a rustic vision of natural décor. “Our style quickly began to take shape as a rustic garden-inspired wedding bursting with colour and rich, raw tones,” describes Samantha. “Moss table runners, silver birch candle holders, rustic wooden boxes and large terrariums overflowing with an array of coloured blooms and succulents under chandeliers of greenery all contributed to creating our rustic garden vibe.”

The couple honeymooned in Bali.

Photos courtesy of Melanie Nelson Photography.

Samantha chose a clean floral look to offset her gorgeous beaded couture gown.

Michael teamed his light grey woven suit with a fun checked bow tie and pocket square.

Guests received printed watercolour invitations from Vistaprint.

“Melanie was an absolute pleasure,” praises the bride of their photographer.

Says Samantha, “By omitting a bridal table and placing ourselves in the middle of the second table we were completely surrounded by our family and friends… we felt the love all day long.”