When Kat and Rory booked their Barns of Freeling wedding there was essentially a dirt paddock as the backdrop to the ceremony. Simple, rustic, country vibes. Tick, tick, tick. When they arrived the day before their ceremony they were surprised to discover this dirt patch was suddenly a vibrant yellow canola field in full bloom!! What an incredible wedding surprise!
I’ve known Rory for a few years now through the CFS, he’s one of the most affable, happy-go-lucky blokes you’re ever likely to meet, and being completely unaware until the day before his wedding that he was getting an incredible canola field instead of a patch of dirt for his venue is just about the most on-brand thing I can imagine.
The pictures tell a far better story of the day than my words possibly could. Kat and Rory, thank you so much for inviting me along to document your day, it was absolutely unforgettable, even though I didn’t end up getting some ink to remember it by!
Barns of Freeling Wedding Vendors
The superteam who made the magic happen:
Photographer: Simon Bills Photography
Venue: The Barns Of Freeling
Celebrant: Sally Cameron
Videographer: Tom Lane
Dress Boutique: Jenny & Gerry’s Bridal
Make Up Artist: Krista Jade
Hair Stylist: Gaetana Marjas Hair + Makeup
Dj: Calum Mann
Live Music: Sophie Longford
Make Up Artist: Mandy Nash
Engagement Ring: Pike
And for something incredibly unique – Serha Tattoo
Barns of Freeling Wedding Slideshow
Q & A
Tell me about your The Beginning!
21.2.18
Rory and Kat met at the University of Adelaide O’Week. Rory saw Kat on stage in a purple playsuit welcoming the new cohort of Computer Science students. Rory turned to his friend and asked “who is that?”. That friend later introduced them at the networking lunch. Kat and Rory now use this date as their anniversary. Their hearts have belonged to each other since first sight.
14.5.18
Despite the immediate connection and magnetic attraction, Kat and Rory first built up their friendship. Over a few months, they got to know each other and became best friends. Finally, Kat made the first move to kiss Rory.
19.5.18
After their first kiss, Kat told Rory if he wanted to date her he had to wine and dine her. Rory booked Samurai Teppanayki on King William. Rory went above and beyond what anyone had before. After the beautiful meal, they got Maccas for dessert. So started a tradition of exquisite food followed by cheap trash.
20.5.18
Kat found Rory’s wine and dine acceptable, so the pair officialised their relationship. In the early days, this relationship was mainly Kat carrying Rory at university and alcohol-fuelled adventures. Kat drunk Rory’s friends under the table when first meeting them. Rory stole an egg out of Kat’s friend’s fridge.
15.7.18
When Rory went on a family trip to explore the north of Australia, he was heartbroken being apart from his sweetheart. He was so lovesick that Rory’s parents flew Kat out to surprise him. While in Uluru, Kat and Rory saw the Field of Light exhibition. It was walking through the field of lights that Kat knew she wanted to marry Rory. Lights have become a love motif for the couple.
5.4.19
For Rory’s 19th, Kat planned a treasure hunt across Adelaide. Picnic for entree, BRKLYN for pre-dinner drinks, Golden Boy for dinner (with a banana penis sparkler dessert), 2KW for post-dinner cocktails, Koko Black for dessert, Therapy for post-dessert cocktails, and finally the Stamford for nursing their nauseating food comas. Before Kat, Rory had never been wined and dined by a partner.
20.5.19
For their first anniversary, Rory organised a fairytale evening. He surprised Kat with a Gondola ride, complete with a ballad and diamonds. Rory wrote Kat a beautiful song but unfortunately she didn’t shead a tear in the presence of the Gondola man. Rory still hasn’t let Kat live down not crying. Kat now organises anniversary dates and Rory organises Valentine’s dates.
10.3.21
The couple didn’t know it at the time but Kat leaving for Melbourne set in motion the rest of their lives. Kat had asked Rory if she should go, and to not hold her back, Rory told her to. They both thought the distance would reaffirm their friendship, but as we all know, distance makes the heart grow fonder.
9.4.21
Kat flew back to Adelaide for Rory’s 21st. It felt like both forever and like no time at all had passed. While Kat lived in Melbourne, the two called every night. Rory played guitar and sung to Kat on FaceTime. They were as inseparable as ever via their phones. Seeing each other in person again, clicked straight back to inseparable in person.
23.4.21
Despite Kat having work-funded flights back to Adelaide every month, waiting for each month to roll around dragged. Rory booked flights out to see Kat. The two went on “friend dates” and shopping. They went shopping at Chadstone, where they later returned in 2023 to purchase Rory’s engagement present and Kat’s wedding shoes.
7.5.21
On Kat’s next monthly Adelaide visit it was even harder for the two to say good bye. Besides their nightly calls, Rory and Kat were just work robots. They both worked long hours, called, and slept. Rory couldn’t yet work out why his wish hadn’t come true.
30.5.21
Distance made Rory’s heart grow fonder. He confessed over the phone that friends was not his end goal. Kat said she wouldn’t wait around forever for him to be ready. Kat told Rory to take a leap of faith. Rory took that leap.
Both their shooting star wishes came true that day.
30.6.21
Kat and Rory were reunited for the first time since they started dating again. When the pair shared their news with friends and family, no one was surprised. The long distance relationship was hard on both of them. The couple started planning a future with Rory moving to Melbourne.
14.7.21
When Rory and Kat started dating again, they immediately booked flights for Rory to come to Melbourne. Kat had made Rory a beanie and custom ordered Rory’s favourite (discontinued) Glasshouse candle. Unfortunately, covid had another idea…
15.7.21
Melbourne was going into lockdown. Oh well, why not get locked down together in Melbourne? Then Rory got a call from his boss saying he better be in Adelaide on Monday for work. In a last minute decision, Kat decided to join Rory and drive back to Adelaide. She threw together a suitcase, they grabbed the cats, and drove 8 hours with the cats cuddling the whole way.
04.08.21
That one suitcase was expected to last a week…………….
When and where did you get engaged?
18.01.23
From an intricate brief as hinted by Kat, Rory worked with PIKE jewellers to design the perfect ring. After almost a year and a half of secret meet ups, saving and crafting, Rory finalised the design for Kat’s engagement ring. It was a hand-made, platinum, solitaire, set with four claws in a forged cross-over shape.
12.04.23
Rory planned a wonderful holiday to New Zealand. The adventure started in Queenstown. After the action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled holiday, Kat thought she was returning home. Upon looking up the flight in a worry they would miss it, Kat discovered the flight to Adelaide did not exist. Rory then revealed they would be travelling to Auckland.
13.04.23
When Rory and Kat started dating again, Kat told Rory to take a leap of faith. In New Zealand, Kat grew to regret those words when Rory asked her to take a 134m leap of faith. Kat took that leap bungee jumping, along with three canyon swings, jet boating, the Luge, paragliding, and a helicopter flight. Note that Rory didn’t know if Kat was afraid of heights.
17.04.23
Rory woke up upset. The vionlinist he had planned had cancelled. The upset spiralled when the day spa smelt like farts (hotsprings). The couple left for the night and to uplift the mood they spontaneously bought a bottle of whiskey. They headed to their BnB’s private beach. They drank whiskey from the bottle and took photos until Rory proposed.
What style/theme have you chosen for your Wedding Day?
Everyone is in black, except Rory and Kat. We are in white. It is very us, customised, DIY, simple yet elegant.
What are you most looking forward to on the day?
Seeing Rory and the end of the aisle. Getting to marry my soul mate and best friend.
Top Tips!
Start earlier than you think you need!
