Musical matrimony: The upbeat rustic wedding of Vanessa & Mark

Surprise trumpets and a live jazz band were key notes in the symphony that was Vanessa Bucca and Mark Cremona’s rustic wedding getaway on NSW’s south coast.

Twenty-six-year-old Vanessa wed Mark, 30, on March 15, 2014 and put total trust in her musician aunty, uncle and two cousins to perform during the Catholic ceremony at St Mary’s Star of the Sea church in Gerringong.

“My aunty sang and my uncle played flute as my dad walked me down the aisle,” says Vanessa, who wore a Brides Closet custom gown. “At the end, they surprised us with trumpets and guitars and an upbeat song to see us out.”

The Sydney couple made a weekend out of the celebrations, escaping the city to the lush pastures of Silos Estate, a vineyard in Berry, two hours down the coast.

Shoalhaven Party Hire provided a marquee to create a semi-outdoor reception space where live jazz band The Aston Martinis entertained the 130-strong crowd.

The band was a chance find by the father-of-the-bride, and the involvement of family was a strong theme in what was largely a DIY event. “I was very lucky as I had a lot of support and help from my family and friends,” praises Vanessa.

It was this trust in others that saw the bride and groom enjoy a stress free day. With regard to wedding suppliers, particularly smaller vendors, Vanessa’s biggest tip is “listen to their advice because this is their passion and they know what they’re talking about. Let them worry about the small things.”

Vanessa describes, “St Mary’s Star of the Sea is a cute little church located on top of the hill in the main street of Gerringong. It overlooks the ocean and has a lovely large green field behind it for photos.”

As an event planner, Vanessa called on many contacts to assist with the wedding, including high school pal Mark Mead who photographed the country celebrations.

“Mark was in charge of the transport and didn’t tell me what it was until a day before the wedding,” recalls Vanessa. “He hired a gorgeous navy and ivory Kombi.”

Photos courtesy of Matthew Mead Photography.