Friendly Facebook stalk leads Joanna and John to waterside wedding

By:
Content Team
/
Updated on: March 16, 2022

A good old fashioned Facebook stalk brought former classmates Joanna Brodie and John Sullivan together again.

The Sydney-based couple first met and became friends at TAFE, before John, 28, moved overseas. After reminiscing over their higher education days, Joanna, 31, and a friend decided to “track down” some of their fellow former students – including John.

“After six months of chatting online John invited me over to travel with him and a group of friends around Europe and this is where our love blossomed,” Joanna says.

A few years later John proposed while the couple were on a weekend getaway, which sparked the beginnings of a rustic-themed waterside wedding in Sydney.

“We really wanted our wedding to be one big party and something which was just us,” says Joanna. “We picked Hunters Hill Sailing Club, which was a blank canvas situated on the water and allowed us to organise, decorate and plan exactly what we wanted.”

The couple wed at St Peter Chanel church on October 9, 2015 in front of 107 family and friends before the celebrations moved to the sailing club. Lawn games were played on the grass overlooking Cockatoo Island and live music provided the perfect soundtrack to the laid-back waterside wedding.

Inside the clubhouse, food was on shared platters down the middle of the table to create a family feel, surrounded by candles and flowers.

“Our wedding was special and unique to us, we designed and made everything ourselves,” Joanna says.

Photos courtesy of Wonderlust Studios.

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_007

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_009

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_008

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_004

 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_006

Joanna’s pretty engagement ring was sourced from Michael Hill Jeweller.

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_007 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_005

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_012

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_013

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_001 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_002

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_003

Bow ties were the order of the day when it came to John and his groomsmen’s stylish suits.

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_004

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_014

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_015

Joanna chose navy blue with lace detail for her bridesmaids’ dresses.

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_016

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_011 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_012

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_019

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_020

Vintage cars provided a classic touch to the couple’s waterside wedding.

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_021

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_022 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_023

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_025

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_026

“We are best friends. It’s just doing the little things together every day which see’s our love grow stronger,” Joanna says.

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_024

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_028

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_029

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_030

Joanna has simple advice for other couples planning their big day: “Don’t stress,” she says.

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_027

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_031

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_021 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_024
Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_025 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_023
Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_022 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_026

Lawn games were a fun touch to the waterside celebrations, and even the bride and groom got involved!

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_039

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_040

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_041

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_029 Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_SBS_028

Joanna_John_Waterside-Wedding_045

“We left the sailing club via a sparkler exit onto a water taxi which took us through to the city for a night at QT hotel,” Joanna recalls.

Video by Box & Dime.

Featured Suppliers:

Bomboniere Bomboniere: Homemade

Brides Accessories Brides Accessories: Swarovski

Brides Gown Brides Gown: Marry Me Bridal

Brides Shoes Brides Shoes: The Iconic , Siren

Bridesmaid Shoes Bridesmaid Shoes: Own shoes

Bridesmaids Accessories Bridesmaids Accessories: Piyama Co

Bridesmaids Dresses Bridesmaids Dresses: Review

Caterer Caterer: Piquant Catering

Celebrant Celebrant: Father Lex Keys

Ceremony Music Ceremony Music: Playlist

Ceremony Venue Ceremony Venue: St Peter Chanel

Entertainment Entertainment: Green Jam , Luis Isaac , DJ Steve Frank , Yard Party

Flowers Flowers: Mandy Costin

Gift Registry Gift Registry: Wishing well

Grooms Attire Grooms Attire: M.J. Bale

Grooms Shoes Grooms Shoes: Florshiem

Groomsmen Attire Groomsmen Attire: M.J. Bale

Groomsmen Shoes Groomsmen Shoes: Florshiem

Hair Hair: Clara Bow Hair

Honeymoon Honeymoon: Europe

Invitations Invitations: DIY

Makeup Makeup: Felicia Matteo Black

Photographer Photographer: Wonderlust Studios

Reception Venue Reception Venue: Hunters Hill Sailing Club

Rings Rings: Michael Hill Jeweller

Transport Transport: 1930 Packards

Venue Decor Venue Decor: AVA Hire , The Vintage Way , Bunnings , DIY

Wedding Night Venue Wedding Night Venue: QT Hotel Sydney