Meet 26-year-old Kirsty Schubert; the queen of do-it-yourself brides.
Once engaged to her true love, 29-year-old mechanical engineer Matt Bowering, Kirsty began what she calls a “DIY spree” for their rustic affair. “You name it, I probably did it!” she laughs. Everything from the ring pillow and flowergirl basket to the invitations, centrepieces and venue decor were her creations, including 80 metres of handmade bunting – just to name a few.
“Then there were the handmade fabric flower bouquets that took over 100 painstaking hours to make,” she says. “Each flower was individually cut and melted and shaped, not to mention the painful hot glue gun and tea light candle burns I sustained doing it!”
Kirsty and Matt met online and he later proposed on Kirsty’s parents’ country property. The couple planned to marry at Perth’s Bardon Park on October 5, 2013 however the ceremony was moved at the last minute to Maylands Yacht Club.
“As I turned up unintentionally late at 3.45pm, the rain absolutely poured,” recalls Kirsty. “The guests got drenched and the wedding had to be moved inside the yacht club nearby while I drove around nervously for 20 minutes while they set up inside.”
Kirsty says her DIY wedding was a huge undertaking, but one she does not regret for a second. “We also have spent the past 641 days literally living out of a suitcase while we build our first house,” she sighs. “That includes six house sits, moving house 12 times, looking after seven dogs and living with my parents in between house sits.”
Kirsty even made the groom and groomsmen’s fabric flower button holes.
The bride and groom wrote their own vows and were married by an Irish celebrant with a “wicked sense of humour,” says Kirsty. “We found her via a Google search of ‘celebrant sense of humour’.”
Kirsty’s gown was a one-off dress purchased on sale at the eBridal expo six months before her wedding. “It was completely different from what I ever imagined I would wear,” she says.
The choice of reception venue at Maylands Yacht Club provided the perfect backdrop. “It was a beautiful spot along the Swan River,” says the bride. “It was beautiful to be able to watch the sun set over the river and the city skyline.”
Photos courtesy of Ilkka K Photography.