Peter & nadia
Turning 30 is a pretty good reason to throw a party, especially coming off the back of two years of enforced social distancing, lockdowns and the fear of the unknown that Covid imposed on people the world over.
Add to that, that your bestfriend is also turning 30, and your best friend has been the love of your life since school days, and the idea of a surprise birthday for those closest to you pretty soon turned into a surprise wedding instead. With just a few people in the know, a Roaring 20s themed birthday party was turned into the perfect wedding celebration, and gave a nod along the way to the blending of cultures which comes from the joining of two families whose heritage includes Greek, Chinese and Italian.
For a couple whose passions include travelling the globe, a destination wedding was always going to be a no-brainer, but the destination wasn’t an exotic island or quaint village in Tuscany, but rather Linnaeus Farm in Berry on the NSW south coast for all the pre-wedding photography, champagne and nibbles, and Far Meadow Cottage, just two kilometres down the road for much of the celebration, including parts of the traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony.
Set in 8 acres of lush valley-floor farm land, Linnaeus Farm provided the perfect location for an enviable portfolio of photos with its lakehouse, trellised olive grove, 200 yr old fig trees and imposing timber arbour leading to a luscious edible garden and imposing, black timber-clad barn. A 360 degree view of rolling, green countryside and the dramatic escarpment of Saddleback Mountain, combined with the majesty of the house and its sophisticated, minimalist aesthetic flooded with natural light, made it a photographer’s dream.
Far Meadow Cottage, not only provided accommodation, but with its beautifully brick paved courtyard leading off the fully provisioned private dining space, it was the perfect spot for the recovery breakfast too. The food from the Argentinian BBQ and wood-fired pizza oven provided the perfect pick-me-up for the body, and gazing out over the paddocks to the vege garden, chicken run and hills beyond was the perfect cure-all for the soul. And had it not been for La Nina and yet more rain, the swimming pools at both properties would have been in full use too!
As for the bride and groom, it was just perfect. She wanted chandeliers and mirror balls and he wanted low stress and good music. They both wanted good food, good wine, lots of laughter and to stage this most important of days at their properties. The ones that have given rise to the Linnaeus Collection.
Their wedding day was the start of a new chapter in their lives and Linnaeus Farm and Far Meadow Cottage are just the start of a collection of properties that are set to change the luxury boutique holiday property market in Berry and the NSW south coast.
We’d love to talk to you about your important event too.
Photography: Elisa Romeo Photography