Maddie and John embracing beside the old stone cottage in the garden at Deux Belettes, Byron Bay hinterland
Van Middleton Photography
BYRON BAY HINTERLAND WEDDING

Maddie & JohnDeux Belettes wedding, Byron Bay

A French farmhouse in the Byron hinterland, vows beneath an ivy-covered wall, autumn rain and a marquee full of lights.

Maddie and John were married at Deux Belettes — the French House — a stone farmhouse tucked into the green hills behind Byron Bay. It's one of those places that doesn't feel like it belongs in Australia at all: rendered walls, timber rafters, ivy over everything, a fountain in the garden and verse hand-painted onto the chimney breast.

It rained, of course. Autumn in the hinterland does that. But the rain came and went between the ceremony and the portraits, and the gardens looked all the better for it — everything green and dripping and glowing under a flat grey sky.

River (Live on Austin City Limits)
Leon Bridges
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Aerial view of the Deux Belettes farmhouse and cottages set among green hills, Byron Bay hinterlandThe stone-and-timber French farmhouse under its old shade tree at Deux BelettesThe gardens and the main house at Deux Belettes, Byron Bay hinterlandMaddie's wedding dress hanging in the light of an attic window, Deux BelettesInterior details at Deux Belettes — the verandah window, a framed floral still life and candles by a stone windowVerse hand-painted onto the stone chimney breast beneath the timber rafters, Deux BelettesJohn fastening his cuffs by the window of the French House, Deux BelettesJohn dressing in the window light of the old farmhouse, Deux BelettesThe groomsmen getting ready before the ceremony, Deux BelettesJohn and his groomsmen in the light of the tall windows, Deux BelettesJohn reading Maddie's letter on the wedding morning, Deux BelettesThe groomsmen looking over old photographs together before the ceremony, Deux BelettesA white rose in the garden, the sitting room and the stone fountain at Deux BelettesMaddie having her hair finished in the attic room, Deux BelettesA quiet moment and tears before the ceremony, Deux BelettesWatching the guests arrive through the farmhouse windows, Deux BelettesMaddie and her bridesmaids in the getting-ready room, Deux BelettesGuests gathering under the marquee on the lawn, Deux BelettesJohn greeting guests before the ceremony, Deux BelettesMaddie being buttoned into her gown by her bridesmaids, Deux BelettesMaddie in the mirror and with her bridesmaid before the ceremony, Deux BelettesMaddie with her bridesmaids in the attic bedroom, Deux BelettesMaddie with her bouquet in the window light, Deux Belettes

They said their vows under the ivy-covered wall with their guests gathered close, then everyone spilled into the courtyard for champagne. A string trio played while the leaves came down.

The string players and autumn leaves on the ground, Deux BelettesGuests taking their seats for the ceremony, Deux BelettesMaddie's bridesmaids walking down the stone path to the ceremony, Deux BelettesJohn waiting at the altar as Maddie arrives, Deux BelettesThe ceremony beneath the ivy-covered wall at Deux BelettesMaddie and John exchanging vows in front of their guests, Deux BelettesGuests watching the ceremony, Deux BelettesMaddie and John beneath the ivy archway and chandelier after the ceremony, Deux BelettesMaddie and John's first kiss as a married couple, Deux BelettesGuests celebrating after the ceremony, Deux BelettesMaddie and John with their guests in the courtyard, Deux BelettesCongratulations and embraces after the ceremony, Deux BelettesMaddie and John walking back through their guests, Deux BelettesMaddie and John greeting guests with the bouquet in hand, Deux BelettesPouring the champagne tower after the ceremony, Deux BelettesMaddie and John toasting with champagne, Deux BelettesGarden roses and Maddie with the two page boys, Deux BelettesThe groomsmen and the bridesmaids in the garden, Deux BelettesMaddie and John walking a leafy garden path under an umbrella, Deux BelettesMaddie and John laughing in the rain, and the wet subtropical garden, Deux BelettesMaddie and John by the old stone cottage in the garden, Deux BelettesMaddie and John in the window light of the farmhouse, Deux BelettesMaddie and John together on the window seat at Deux BelettesMaddie by the tall farmhouse window in black and white, Deux BelettesMaddie and John under the lit archway at dusk, Deux Belettes

The reception ran under a clear marquee strung with thousands of little lights, and it went very late. Congratulations, you two.

Reception details — the lit marquee, place settings, menu and candles, Deux BelettesSpeeches under the marquee, Deux BelettesGuests dancing and celebrating through the reception, Deux BelettesThe plated courses being carried out to the tables, Deux BelettesSpeeches and toasts through the evening, Deux BelettesGuests at the tables during the reception, Deux BelettesMaddie and John cheering at their table, Deux BelettesMaddie and John listening to the speeches, Deux BelettesMaddie and John's first dance under the festoon lights, Deux BelettesThe first dance beneath the lit marquee, Deux BelettesMaddie and John dancing together under the lights, Deux BelettesMaddie and John dancing, and walking out through the archway, Deux BelettesGuests dancing through the night, Deux BelettesFamily and friends together at the reception, Deux BelettesA speech at the microphone during the reception, Deux BelettesMaddie and John cutting the wedding cake, Deux BelettesDancing under the festoon lights of the marquee, Deux BelettesMaddie and John dancing late into the evening, Deux BelettesThe dance floor at the end of the night, Deux Belettes
MUSIC FOR THIS ONE
Leon Bridges — “River”
THE TEAM
Venue — Deux Belettes, Byron Bay
Photography — Van Middleton
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