Kim Armstrong-Egan was looking forward to marrying her fiance Kimberley Egan – the pair initially bonding over their shared first name – at the Maleny Retreat in Queensland.
The area has a breathtaking view over the Glass House Mountains but when the special day finally arrived in July they were devastated to find the weather was forecasting storms.
‘We made the last minute decision to opt for the undercover option for the ceremony,’ Kim, 29, told FEMAIL.
‘Initially I was a little upset over not having the mountain backdrop but we can’t control the weather so there was no use stressing over it. I knew we had a photographer that thrived in the rain,’ she said.
Kim Armstrong-Egan (left) was looking forward to marrying her fiance Kimberley Egan (right) – the pair initially bonding over their shared first name – at the Maleny Retreat in Queensland
And thrive he did. Matthew Eastgate worked with the two women to capture incredible images, even if it meant they were freezing cold by the end of the session.
‘He reassured us through the whole process and after the ceremony when it was pelting down rain, he worked relentlessly to get us great photos,’ Kim said.
‘My wife and I were shivering through them but knew the photos would be worth it, especially with Matt behind the lens.’
Matthew Eastgate worked with the two ladies to capture incredible images, even if it meant they were freezing cold by the end of the session
They chose to host an intimate wedding of just 42 guests and were determined to keep costs low so they could celebrate the true message of the day
‘When we first started dating marriage for us wasn’t an option in Australia so to have come so far and be allowed to legally call Kimberley my wife, and be her wife, that was the bigger picture for us,’ Kim said
Kim, who wore the strapless white dress, met Kimberley, who was in a blush pink gown, on Tinder in 2015 after finding out they shared the same name and a love of dogs.
Two years later they got engaged with Kimberley’s pup FairBear working as an accomplice to hold the ring during a walk in the snow at Mount Hotham, Victoria.
They chose to host an intimate wedding of just 42 guests and were determined to keep costs low so they could celebrate the true message of the day.
Two years later they got engaged with Kimberley’s pup FairBear working as an accomplice to hold the ring during a walk in the snow at Mount Hotham, Victoria
Many of their family members and guests helped to set up the decor, a strategy that would save them hundreds of dollars
‘When we first started dating marriage for us wasn’t an option in Australia so to have come so far and be allowed to legally call Kimberley my wife, and be her wife, that was the bigger picture for us,’ Kim said.
It meant that when minor details – like the rain – threatened to ruin the day the couple weren’t phased.
Many of their family members and guests helped to set up the decor, a strategy that would save them hundreds of dollars.
‘Kimberley and her mother got really crafty with some Harry Potter decorations. My maid of honour made sure I stayed hydrated the morning of the wedding, even when I was simultaneously decorating,’ Kim said.
‘Kimberley and I both picked our dresses from the clearance racks. All up the wedding cost approximately $13,500 with both our families chipping in here and there to help,’ Kim said
‘What was most important to me was walking down the aisle and marrying my soulmate,’ she said
They were in the process of moving homes when the wedding date came and they have since settled, with plans to honeymoon early next year once they save again
‘We let our bridesmaids choose their own dresses and weren’t fussed on the minuscule details. We bought our wedding dresses in Florida when we visited last year to surprise my mum for her 50th.
‘Kimberley and I both picked our dresses from the clearance racks. All up the wedding cost approximately $13,500 with both our families chipping in here and there to help.
‘What was most important to me was walking down the aisle and marrying my soulmate.’
They were in the process of moving homes when the wedding date came and they have since settled, with plans to honeymoon early next year once they save again.