Leah O’Halloran and Patrick McInerney prove that the first spark of attraction can happen at the unlikeliest moments.
“Our first time speaking was a phone interview, Paddy in the UK and me here in Perth, however, I swear it was legit and he secured the job on his own merits!” Leah, 32, recalls. “Little did we know at the time, that was the beginning of our story.”
It was a few months before the pair actually met, when Paddy, 34, packed his bags and travelled across the world to live and work in Perth. “The rest as they say is history,” Leah says.
While the couple never wanted a huge celebration, their garden wedding was the perfect opportunity for Paddy’s family and friends to make the journey Down Under. “We were fortunate enough to have 27 friends and family travel over from the UK and another six from interstate,” Leah says.
The couple wed at Aqua Resort in Busselton Western Australia on November 14, 2015 in front of 63 family and friends. “We hired four double-storey beachfront houses for our guests to stay, the garden was large enough to divide into ceremony, cocktail and reception space. This meant our guests did not need to move,” the bride says.
However, being located three hours from Perth brought its own challenges for novice wedding planner Leah. “The requirement to arrange absolutely everything from tables, chairs, lighting and glassware and the desire to personalise the wedding all presented their own challenges, however, we can honestly say it was totally worth it!”
Photos courtesy of Tameika Brumby Photographer.


Thoughtful picnic baskets helped tantalise guests’ tastebuds while keeping with the garden wedding theme.


Leah describes her garden wedding as the day she got to marry her best friend.


Leah has some simple advice for future brides planning their wedding: She says it’s important to get the groom involved in the big day and not to sweat the small stuff.


Leah’s elaborately beaded gown meant she kept her accessories simple with a pair of classic earrings.