Maryna Cherednikova
Walking down the aisle hand in hand with the man she was about to marry, 800 Words actress Emma Leonard could hardly believe the moment had arrived.
Five years to the day since their serendipitous meeting at a Sydney bar, Emma and her partner Conor Nix looked out at the smiling faces of their friends and family, and felt a sense of calm wash over them.
Any pre-wedding nerves were gone, the final details of their magical, festival-style wedding were sorted and the couple simply couldn’t wait to say “I do” in front of the people they love the most.
“I was so excited to getdown that aisle!” recalls Emma, catching up with Woman’s Day after their wedding at Bebeah Farm on the Central Coast, an hour north of Sydney. “I saw everyone gathered with a drink, chatting in the shade of the trees, smiling and happy, and it felt like such a celebration.”
Emma might have had a practice run at being a bride when her character Tracey married surfer Woody in the hit local series 800 Words, the show that saw the Aussie actress become an “honorary Kiwi”, but nothing compared to the utter joy, exhilaration and emotion of the real thing.
In a relaxed and jubilant atmosphere, Emma, 38, and Conor, 34, were joined by 100 family and friends, many of whom had jetted in from around the world to be at the three-day celebration of love, with most guests glamping on site to ensure the party kept on rolling through the days.
The festivities started with a welcome barbecue the night before. While Emma made sure she had an early night – “I went home for a cup of tea and a face mask!” – Conor sat up with his mates till 1am, singing and listening to music.
“I was just so excited to see everyone!” he shares.’
The pair woke to a stunning day at the bush-clad rural property and an almost-deafening choir of cicadas.
“They added a jungle feel, which was cool,” smiles Emma, who started her wedding morning with a poolside yoga and meditation class led by one of her friends.
The former Home And Away actress admits she was feeling nervous as the ceremony drew nearer – not for the marriage itself, but for all the little details that had to come together.
“We really wanted to make it a bespoke wedding that felt whimsical and wholesome, but that meant we had a lot to do!” she tells. “Luckily, our amazing friends and family all chipped in with decorating, and my mum Jenny brought a van full of Australian wildflowers from the Blue Mountains.”
Emma excitedly got ready with her bridal party – whom she named her “bride’s mates” as they included her childhood pal Tim Shepherd, who also MC’d the event, and friend Jimmy Sergeant, alongside
her sister Phoebe Leonard, plus girlfriends Sarah Tait and Maria Dogin – and by 3pm, it was time to meet her groom.
Looking stunning in a lace, button-down dress by Aussie designer J Andreatta, she made her way to Conor, who looked dapper in his P Johnson suit.
With a photographer taking special portraits of the bride and groom ahead of the ceremony, it was a moment of calm, and Conor says he was blown away by how beautiful his bride looked.
“That was my favourite part of the whole wedding,” he grins. “Emma looked incredible and it almost felt like it was just the two of us pausing in that moment while everything was happening around us.”
At 4pm, it was time for the couple to make their entrance for their beautiful outdoor ceremony. Family members, including their beloved pooch Luna, walked down the aisle first, before the bride and her groom entered to Hallelujah by Haim.
Unsurprisingly for someone so creative, Emma – who has performed in TV, film and on the stage for over 20 years – wanted a ceremony that was unique, poignant, engaging and entertaining.
Candles were lit for loved ones who are no longer here, the couple flew paper planes over the hill for a very playful element, and MC Tim shared the tale of how the bride and groom’s romance developed.
Emma says, “Tim wrote the most beautiful, poignant and funny love story for us, and he said some very powerful words. There was so much laughter and a few tears too.”
In their self-penned vows, Emma told Conor, “I promise to be a witness to your life – the important things, the brilliant and the ordinary – and to carry your heart along the way.”
While the groom promised, “I vow to always be adventurous with you, explore the planet, the people in it and all the possible experiences that come with keeping your eyes open.”
Once their rings, by Australian jewellers Kate & Kole, were exchanged, the jubilant newlyweds shared a kiss, before dancing up the aisle to Dreams by the Cranberries as confetti rained down.
They then led their guests to the reception area, where Irish band Celtic Tones played and drinks were served from a retro caravan, with beer brewed especially for the occasion by Wildflowers Brewery, featuring a bespoke label with artwork by Conor’s late mum Karen.
As guests mingled, toasts were made, canapés served and lawn games played. At 6pm, it was time to be seated for dinner in the beautifully decorated teepee, which the newlyweds entered to cheers.
Dinner was a Middle Eastern feast by the caterer Jesus Ate Falafel, followed by cake made by Conor’s aunt Megan. The couple say they were blown away by the heartwarming and hilarious speeches.
“I know I’m biased, but I think they were the best wedding speeches I’ve heard,” says Conor. Emma’s dad Mark even wrote the couple a haiku, which read, “Emma finds Conor; love finds a new way
to say, ‘I’m here… all is well.’”
The couple’s first dance was to a cover of I Will Always Love You by Aussie band Parcels.
“We took lessons because sadly neither of us are skilled dancers,” admits Emma. “It was a classic, cheesy slow dance with a lift and some dips – and I have to say, we nailed it!”
The couple were thrilled to be joined on the dancefloor by most of their wedding guests, young and old, and they danced till the early hours, finally calling it a night at 2am.
While the entire day was “just so perfect”, Emma says one of her favourite moments came when she and Conor walked into the paddock to stare at the joyous scene.
“We stood there and looked at the teepee lit up, with all the fairy lights and everyone milling around. It was then we knew our vision had come to life. It was really special.”
And waking up the next day as husband and wife was a magical feeling too. “I get such a buzz saying that I have a husband!” laughs Emma.
After hosting a recovery brunch, the couple headed to MacMaster’s Beach for a few days of rest and relaxation. In April, they will honeymoon in the Swiss Alps. With Emma’s new film Scoby, which stars Kiwi actors Michelle Langstone, Jackie van Beek and Ryan O’Kane, in production, there is much to celebrate.
“I really am on top of the world,” says Emma. “I get tocall the man I love my husband and I am so excited about our future together.”
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