Simone and Corey spent a couple of years planning their Cotton Tree wedding, the key thing they attribute to its success. Having given so much time and thoughtful planning to the day, even an unexpected change of venue didn’t rattle them.

Their organisation allowed for a relaxed day and made way for some seriously sweet details, like the surfboard they had made which became both their ceremony signing table and guest book. 

The local Mountain Creek couple were married in a beach ceremony at Cotton Tree, and followed it up with a reception at Maroochy Surf Club overlooking the ocean. 

Simone has shared all her wedding planning experiences and best tips for those wanting a day as perfectly calm and enjoyable as hers… 

The Proposal

“On NYE 2016 Corey took me for a picnic on Alexandra Headland hill. We then went down for a walk on the beach where he asked me to turn around and close my eyes and got down on one knee. His friend hid in trees and captures the moment, which is so nice to look back on.”

Wedding Planning Priorities 

“After looking at many wedding venues we decided a beach wedding was important to us because we spend so much of our time together there. Good entertainment was also important as we love a good party.”

Stand-out Suppliers

“Mallory Sparkles (photography) is incredible, Natalie Hunter did a beautiful job with our makeup, and Ceri fromEvalyn Parsons (hair) was amazing. Emilia from Bloodwood Botanica is so talented, her flower creations took my breath away. Aaron from Cut a Rug (DJ) was so much fun and really knows how to work a crowd. Maroochy Surf Club was great too, they made everything to do with the planning so easy.” 

Images by Mallory Sparkles Photography

Unforgettable Moments

“There are so many special moments. Walking down the aisle and seeing Corey’s face, our first dance which was different to a traditional wedding dance – it was a Brazilian style of dance called Zouk. And dancing on the beach under the fireworks.”

The One Thing We Wouldn’t Change for the World

“Having our dogs at our ceremony. They are our babies.” 

Simone and Corey’s Next Adventures… 

“Our next goal is to buy our family home and to go to Europe for a holiday.” 

Wedding Secrets 

Biggest splurge: Fireworks 

Best bargain: We bought our cake from The Cheesecake Shop and decorated it ourselves 

Bridal gown: Made with Love Bridal from The Sphere Collective 

Bride’s accessories: Etsy

Bride’s shoes: Betts

Bridesmaids’ dresses: Lulus

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Colette by Colette Hayman

Groom’s and groomsmen’s attire: Myer

DIY: Bombinerres, cake decorating and we got a surfboard made (by Beckham’s Surfboards) and used it as our signing table then got everyone to sign it as our guest book.

Honeymoon: Maldives

Number of guests: 85

Wedding budget: $20,000

Actual cost of wedding: $25,000 

Wedding Songs

Walking down the aisle – Latch by Sam Smith

Reception entrance – You’ve Got the Love by Florence and the Machine

First dance – Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

Check out this Spotify Playlist comprised of real couples’ picks for their songs to walk down the aisle to, and a few suggestions of my own… 

Photography: Mallory Sparkles Photography | Venue: Maroochy Surf Club | Videography: Forever Features | Flowers: Bloodwood Botanica | Cake: The Cheesecake Shop | Table name cards: Wooden Letters Australia | Lolly/mint jars: Etsy | Makeup: Natalie Hunter Makeup Artist | Hair: Evalyn Parsons | Styling: Buzzing Events (ceremony), Creative Bowerbird (macrame arbour), Splash Events (reception) | Entertainment: Cut a Rug | Stationery: Vistaprint | Dance instruction: Absolute Aerials and Dance | Fireworks: KC’s Fireworks | Celebrant: Janelle Watene | Wedding night accommodation: Aqua Vista Resort

The post Simone loves Corey | Cotton Tree Wedding appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

It all started with a simple idea by one creative wedding talent, Kendra Groves of Wild Child Cakes & Catering. 

“Modern Harvest was inspired by my favourite time of the year, Autumn.. Here in Australia the leaves aren’t as golden and the nights not as cool, but we find the beauty in what we are given and that’s what inspired me.” Kendra said. 

Kendra chose one of our favourite places to shoot this Modern Harvest wedding inspiration, the very beautiful untouched Emu Mountain in Perigean. “Long grass caught in the golden hour and dirt tracks leading to nowhere, to me this place encompasses the perfect elopement. A place to get lost and fall in love.” She said. 

Images by Mallory Sparkles.

Autumn Flowers

Flowers by the ever incredible Bloodwood Botanica, somehow managing to encompass quintessential Autumnal beauty in a muted blush pallete.

Stationery + Cake 

Kendra explained her creative process involved taking inspiration from Studio B Couture’s stationery that ultimately spoke to the Autumnal deep toned theme, “When I saw the stationery with its beautiful texture, which played a subtle balance between light and dark, I wanted to encompass this within my cake. Where the cake showed all that was beautiful in a Winters night sky, the florals surrounding showed that Autumn is all about balance, about life and death, night and day, and about the beauty of light and the dark within the season.”

Photography

Incandescent photography was captured by Mallory Sparkles, whose approach to photography involves such care and attention to detail with light analysis above and beyond. 

Beauty + Fashion

Sunshine Brides – Valentina Pintus brought in the modern edge with a striking blood red lip, and smokey eye with some serious lashes. Fox and the Dandelion designed an intricately braided style that would highlight the stunning crown from Crowns + Wreaths with variations with loose curls cascading down the low back dress design. 

The post Modern Harvest | Autumnal Wedding Style Inspiration appeared first on The Bride's Tree.