1 May, 2018
We sat down with YouTuber Jess Holsman a few weeks after the newlywed returned from her honeymoon, to talk all the details from her beautiful wedding in the Yarra Valley. Jess’ bridesmaids were stunning in head to toe Forever New Ever After for the event.
How did you and Adam meet?
It’s so funny to think back to when we first met each other just over 8 years ago. While technically we met at a mutual friend’s birthday party one night, Adam and I had been in the same room several times and never crossed paths! In fact, he went to my year 12 formal as another girl’s date and he even remembers noticing me leaving another friend’s party a few months before we actually met.
How did Adam propose?
I always love to get outdoors and be amongst nature, so the way Adam proposed was perfect! There’s a little park around the corner from where we were living in Melbourne at the time and he secretly organised with my best friend Alana to set up a picnic in a semi-private area of the gardens. Little did I know that she was hiding in the bushes playing paparazzi, capturing the moment Adam got down on one knee to ask me to marry him!
What was the planning process like?
I think both Adam and I can agree that I like to be super organised and often took control of the wedding planning process! Both of us have very similar taste in style and we seemed to have no trouble agreeing on the decorations, flowers, band etc. We began planning for the big day well in advance so we could minimise any last minute stress and really enjoy the process at our own pace. When choosing the venue, we decided to head out to the Yarra Valley for an afternoon and scout the nearby wineries. We did have our heart set on Zonzo Estate though. In fact, the first time we went there we remember overhearing the couple sitting next to us saying how they were married at the venue and come back each year on their anniversary to celebrate, only now they also bring the kids. For us, it was a sign that this was the place we wanted to have our wedding and so finding the right venue was an absolute breeze.
How would you describe the wedding style you chose?
Being situated in the Yarra Valley amongst the wineries and rolling hills, we wanted the style of our wedding to complement the beautiful backdrop of the venue. We went for quite a relaxed and somewhat boho-chíc vibe, with bridesmaids wearing long flowing dresses and groomsmen forgoing the formal ties and bow ties.
Tell us a about the format of the day starting with the ceremony:
We always liked the idea of an outdoor ceremony and the view from the lawn at Zonzo Estate was too beautiful not to be married outside! It was such a magical moment to be situated under the large wedding canopy decorated with native Australian flowers and foliage and surrounded by our closest family and friends. The ceremony began at 4.30pm and the bridal party arrived in style in 2 kombi vans. We wanted it to be really fun and something quite different to the traditional limousine arrival many people are used to. The vans also made for some amazing photos post ceremony and even captured our ride to the ceremony on video which was fun to look back on.
and the reception?
The reception took place in the main dining hall and we had two long tables for guests to be seated around. One of the main reasons we chose to have our reception at Zonzo Estate – apart from the beautiful scenery! – was the incredible food and the way they organised a shared Italian feast. Food was placed down the middle of the long table for guests to share and it added a really relaxed, warm and intimate feel to the night. The flowers were lush and full of native Australian blooms and foliage, with large hanging installations decorating the ceiling and smaller jars scattered down the tables. Once main course was cleared we surprised guests with dessert and music playing in the barn adjacent to the dining room. Guests poured in to find a DJ, singer and saxophone player, as well as lots of delicious treats to eat!
Where was your honeymoon destination?
We decided to have a mini-moon following the wedding and stayed for three nights at one of the most beautiful, serene and relaxing places I’ve been to in Victoria, called Botanica Editions. It was a little house situated amongst a large garden with a running creek and we woke up each morning to the sound of birds chirping and squawking. It was the perfect way to unwind and take in what was a very big day! A couple of weeks later we went on our honeymoon to one of our favourite places – Byron Bay. We wanted to avoid the hassles of overseas travel since we have travelled a lot together already and wanted our honeymoon to be an opportunity to fully relax and enjoy some quality time, free of any distractions from work. Daily swims in the ocean, great food, sunshine and lots of long walks – it was just what we needed!
Jessica Holsman + Adam Serry, 4.03.2018
Photographer: Angela Miller, Indigo Blue Studio
Wedding canopy: Chuppah by Georgeous
Florist: Debbie O’Neil
Venue: Zonzo Estate, Yarra Valley, Victoria
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