With just their celebrant, photographer, videographer and two witnesses, they made their way to Point Cartwright to be married. You can see in their photos by Emma Nayler Photographer, theirs was a meaningful, intimate ceremony all about their love for one another and their family.

Vendors

Photographer: Emma Nayler Photographer

Videographer: Nick Hargans Media

Celebrant: I Am Celebrant Sam

Florist: Suncoast Flowers

Hair + Makeup Artist: With Love Creative 

Bridal gown: Rue De Seine

Flowergirl dress: Miya & Ma

Lisa, describe how the day of your elopement went.

We cooked a bbq lunch at home with my sisters and cracked a bottle of champagne. I then left to get ready at my friend’s house and my hair and makeup lady came there.

Dan and the kids got ready together at home with my two sisters. It was nice for them to be a part of the day even though they weren’t coming to the elopement. My friend drove me there, and we had a simple ceremony that the rain was kind enough to hold off for!

It then rained on and off, and we got lots of photos and popped some champagne. Once it was all done, we picked up take away Thai on the way home and didn’t even see the New Year in!

What was something important to you that you simply had to include?

I wasn’t phased about anything being an absolute necessity. I wanted it to be as simple as possible with no fuss. It was important to me that everyone there was chill and casual about everything. I was so lucky to have a photographer and celebrant I already knew, and my videographer was recommended and so easygoing as well!

Share a special moment from the day.

Our son read a beautiful poem he wrote with my sister during the ceremony and it was really nice. I also loved watching the kids play in the rain on the rocks during photos. I felt so grateful to have such a beautiful family.

Did you have a honeymoon?

No honeymoon! Lots of people asked if we would do a honeymoon, but when you have a beautiful family and live at the Sunshine Coast, I always say, “my life is a holiday!”

Who did you invite to be part of your day?

My friend Rose, who I met when I first moved to the coast. I have a lot of friends, so it was hard to not involve them all, but we decided one person each! Dan’s mum, Lucy, was also there. We didn’t tell her until the day before!

The post Lisa + Dan | Elopement at Pt. Cartwright appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

We are the lucky ones. The Sunshine Coast is heaven on earth, where the sun sets with a warmth that makes all it touches glow and gleam.

Bridal fashion and beauty for brides of the Sunshine Coast so often sees natural and unassuming meet the height of glamour and style. Much like the bridal looks designed for this photo shoot alongside the river at peaceful Mudjimba.

Perfectly relaxed waves and loosely styled pony tails and upstyles were teamed with natural bronzed makeup for coastal bridal vibes.

Model Tahlia sparkled in Chosen by Kyha, while Caitlin flounced in a full-skirted half bodice gown by local dressmaker, Marilyn Crystelle Bridal.

The Crew

Photography: Emma Nayler [Photographer] 

Concept + coordination: Sass & Niki’s Wedding Hair

Hair: Sass & Niki’s Wedding Hair

Makeup: Makeup Artistry by Lauren

Bouquets: Willow Bud

The post Coastal Bridal Vibes | Fashion + Beauty appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

At Shelly Beach in Caloundra, Rachel and Jacob were captured in all their engagement bliss by the one and only Emma Nayler Photographer. I had a chat with Rachel all about her engagement shoot and 2020 wedding plans. 

Rachel, where did you have your engagement shoot and why did you choose this location? 

We chose to have our engagement shoot at Shelly Beach in Caloundra as it’s somewhere we love going for walks in the afternoon to chat after we finish work for the day.

How did you feel being in front of the camera? 

We were nervous as we’d never had professional photos taken before but Emma was so lovely and she quickly made us feel at ease!

How did you find your photographer, Emma Nayler, and what made you choose her? 

Emma was actually the first vendor we decided to book! I found her on Instagram and loved how she was able to capture the special, candid moments of other’s wedding days and knew we had to have her photograph our wedding. I would have changed dates just to make sure we had her on our day!

Do you have plans for your engagement photos?

We plan to frame and hang some of our engagement photos up in our new home once it’s built.

Images by Emma Nayler Photographer 

Did you have to postpone your wedding due to Covid-19? 

We did. We were really hoping to still go through with our wedding on the original date but as soon as we found out that Jacobs’ family from New Zealand wouldn’t be able to make it we decided we would wait until next year as it was really important to us to have them there.

What will you do to celebrate your would-have-been wedding day? 

We decided to have dinner at one of our favourite restaurants on the Sunshine Coast to celebrate our would-have-been wedding day.

Tell us about when Jacob proposed. 

We were staying on the Gold Coast for a night and Jacob proposed while we were walking on the beach after a really nice dinner he’d booked. I had a sneaky feeling he was going to propose as he seemed really nervous all night but I was still surprised when he did!

Where will you be getting married? 

We will be getting married at The Rocks Yandina. As soon as we viewed the venue and the relaxed, rustic scenery we knew right away it was the perfect fit for us!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?

Being surrounded by our closest family and friends to share our special day together.

CONTACT EMMA NAYLER TO FIND OUT IF SHE’S AVAILABLE TO BE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AND YOUR SUNSHINE COAST ENGAGEMENT SHOOT.

The post Rachel & Jacob | Shelly Beach Engagement Shoot appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Grace says the storm that started from 5:00am on her wedding day to Nick didn’t phase her whatsoever, even when it continued all day long. She put down her calmness to be a lot to do with her faith in Sunshine Coast wedding photographer, Emma Nayler, who she knew would capture her day beautifully, no matter what. That’s why she booked her date around Emma’s availability. 

Grace shares her wedding day story below… 

Our Highest Wedding Day Priority

Second to our photography, we put our guests as high priority. We wanted to make sure no one left hungry and everyone danced the night away. Our caterers and entertainment were a huge part in making this work.

The Most Unforgettable Wedding Day Memory

My dad seeing me in my dress for the first time. His reaction was absolutely priceless and something I will cherish forever.

Our Biggest Wedding-planning Challenge

Sticking to the budget was definitely a challenge. All our vendors were worth every cent though and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Images by Emma Nayler Photographer

Our Stand-out Vendors

Emma Nayler Photographer – We picked our wedding date around Emma‘s availability. I had never imagined anyone else doing my wedding photos and it was the best decision we made.

Branch and Blossom, our florist – The flexibility and advice they gave was second to none in helping us achieve the florals we dreamed about, within our budget.

MCP Film – This was a huge decision for us as we weren’t sure if we would stretch the budget for film, but MCP not only filmed for us, but Jessica corrected my makeup and Mickey fixed the boys ties. They really blended to be a part of the bridal party.

Music

Walking down the aisle: If This Is It – Newton Faulkner

Bridal party entrance: You Make My Dreams – Hall and Oates

Our first dance: From The Ground Up by Dan & Shay

Check out this First Dance playlist, curated by me using songs from real weddings, and a few of my own suggestions… 

Things We Wouldn’t Change for the World

I wouldn’t change a thing about the day (honestly!), but I would definitely take more time to enjoy the planning process. Looking back, that was some of the most exciting times – meeting new vendors, taste testing cakes, picking out flowers, choosing the venue!

Our ceremony was perfect. We chose a non-traditional ceremony, and our celebrant made our ceremony entirely personalised. It was inclusive of our guests and if they weren’t laughing they were crying. We received so many compliments about our ceremony and we felt so comfortable sharing our story with our friends and family thanks to our celebrant.

The Most Emotional Moment of the Day

Meeting Nick at the end of the altar. Finally seeing each other for the first time after all the wild weather we had and just being able to take a moment to check in on each other and realise we were finally getting married. It definitely felt surreal.

Wedding Secrets

Biggest splurge: My wedding dress! I had a particular designer and price in mind but I had a moment when I put something on that just felt right! Cliché, I know, but it actually happens!

Best money-saving decision: Re-purposing our flowers. Our florist was amazing at designing our floral arrangements so that they could be repurposed during the reception for styling. Our arbour flowers were used on the bridal table and tables ends and the various bouquets were placed in vases throughout the reception.

DIY: Stationary and signage! At the time I worked in Graphic Design and printing so I was able to design, print and hand-make all our stationery. We also set the outdoor reception styling ourselves using our own outdoor furniture, hay bales, crates and lighting.

Bride’s dress: Ferrari Formalwear – ‘Adara’ by Wilderly

Veil: Ferrari Formalwear

Shoes: Nine West

Groom’s and groomsmen’s suit: Ferrari Formalwear

Belt + shoes: Tarocash

Cufflinks: David Jones

Ties: Connor

Pocket squares: Handmade

Rings: Michael Hill Jeweller

Bridesmaids’ dresses: Show Me Your Mumu

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Lovisa

Bridesmaids’ shoes: Novo

Honeymoon: Hamilton Island

Number of guests: 85

Wedding budget: $30,000

Actual cost of wedding: $40,000

Advice for Future Brides and Grooms

Don’t fret the weather! Our photographer managed to create the most amazing shots with the weather we were dealt on our wedding day. We had storms from around 5:00am that morning and carried on all day. My mum still can’t believe how relaxed I was as it stormed all day, but it honestly never bothered me! I just couldn’t wait to get down the aisle and see my man!

Our Next Big Adventure

We absolutely can’t wait to start a family so our next step is to renovate and sell our house so we can buy our dream family property. A nice house on a piece of land just like we were raised on.

The Crew

Photographer: Emma Nayler Photographer | Videographer: MCP Film | Venue: Yabbaloumba Retreat | Florist: Branch & Blossom | Cake: Jessie & Co. | Entertainment: John Veloso Music | Wedding planner: L&L Co Events | Catering: Beauty and the Beard Eats & Events | Favours: Cooloola Colour Graphics | Hair + makeup: Hair Review Gympie | Dance instruction: Bronwyn Molloy Dance Centre | Celebrant: Kath Tilly Marriage Celebrant

Thanks for supporting our A-List Vendors below, who made Grace + Nick’s day so magical…

The post Grace loves Nick | Country Style Wedding appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Anyone who’s met Emma Nayler Photographer for even five minutes knows she’s a dog lover. So of course she was the natural choice to capture Bree and Adam’s Sunshine Coast engagement shoot featuring their three fur babies, Molly, Baxter and Goose. Since they have been forced to postpone their wedding due to Covid-19, Bree and Adam wanted to make sure they got in a beautiful family shoot with all the kids. 

I had a chat with Bree to learn more about her fur babies, how she enjoyed the shoot, and how they celebrated on their would-have-been-wedding day. 

Bree, your fur babies are adorable! Why did you simply have to involve them in your shoot?

Who’s who and what are their personalities?

What was your experience like shooting with Emma Nayler?

Have you had to postpone your wedding due to Covid?

How did you celebrate your would-have-been wedding day?

Contact Emma Nayler to find out if she’s available to be your wedding photographer and your Sunshine Coast engagement shoot.

The post Bree + Adam | Sunshine Coast Engagement Shoot appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

13 years in the wedding industry has taught wedding photographer, Emma Nayler, an awful lot and she has developed some seriously beautiful and grounded feelings about what some may see as a superficial industry. It’s her wholehearted approach and calming nature that people are drawn to – that is after they’re first attracted by her stunning work. 

I first met Emma well before the birth of The Bride’s Tree. She was one of my first connections to the wedding industry, so when I came up with the idea for The Bride’s Tree, Emma was one of the very first people I sought out as a sounding board. Her support and positivity was a huge encouragement, so needless to say she’s a much adored member of our Bride’s Tree family. 

Emma was kind enough to share her wisdom, her fave spots on the Sunshine Coast to walk her two sausage dogs, and her surprising hobby interest that was almost her very different career! 

Scroll for a peek at some of Emma’s impressive work, and a special offer she has kindly extended to readers of The Bride’s Tree. 

Emma, do you work with a team or are you a one-woman show? 

It’s all me baby! I’m behind the screen emailing and doing all my own admin, editing, image selection, social media and marketing and on your wedding day I will be the one there snapping away! It’s hard and a lot more work than I think most people think it is, but I love all the different elements of running my business and would rather take less bookings and put my all into each one than to outsource things and lose the personal touch I like to think I give to each little thing in my business.

What is one unique service or offering or element that makes your business stand out from the crowd?

This is a hard one! Something I do hear from my couples time and time again is that I make people comfortable. They might come to me because they love the photos I take, but they stay and book because they feel good about working with me, and that it feels like they’re just hanging out with a friend.

In more practical terms, something that is a bit unique to me is that I don’t only just offer set hourly packages, because I don’t want my couples to try and cram their day into 4 or 6 or 8 hours. I allow a time frame for pre-ceremony photos and from there, depending on your chosen package, I’ll be along for the ride until either the start of the reception or the dance floor is pumping. I don’t want my couples watching the clock or worrying about me leaving before the first dance because things are running behind.

You have a completely free day to hang out on the Sunshine Coast. Get out about! Where are you going, what are you doing and who are you with?

There are so many ways to spend a day on the Sunshine Coast, but if it’s a sunny weekday I’m likely spending the day at the beach getting some sunshine with my girlfriends and a cheese platter. If it’s a magical work free weekend, I’m walking my dogs at Golden Beach or Point Cartwright (both spots chosen for the high volume of doggos) with my husband and then going on a date night with him to Copperhead Brewery or il Vento for some incredible wood-fired scampi pizza.

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER JUST FOR THE BRIDE’S TREE READERS

The next three couples to book 2020 weddings before the end of August 2019 will receive a free upgrade to full day coverage for the price of my essentials package! That’s an $1100 saving on your wedding photography! Mention this article to secure your upgrade. See the packages. 

The post Emma Nayler | A-List Vendor Profile appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Brisbane couple Amy and Duncan can’t fault their hinterland wedding at specialised venue, Flaxton Gardens. Their elegant wedding fashion and styling incorporated rich burgundy florals as a standout feature, bringing colour and romanticism into the mix, ideally suited to the lush winery location.

The bridesmaids wore chic navy gowns, while the bride and groom were dressed in classic sleek black and modestly embellished white for a timeless wedding style. 

The Location

“It is such a beautiful spot. And the Sunshine coast Hinterlands reminds us of where we grew up. Also a lot of our guests travelled from interstate so it is close to an airport, with lots of accommodation nearby. Mariana and the team at Flaxton Gardens were so great to work with.”

Dream Team 

“Everyone was amazing!  My florist Sandi from Willow Bud created the most beautiful flowers and was so fun to work with! Emma Nayler, our photographer, really worked her magic on the day and really made us feel so relaxed. And my dream team in the morning Sally Townsend Makeup Artistry and Evalyn Parsons did everything so perfectly and made my morning so easy and calm! All of these suppliers listened to what we wanted and really looked after us!” 

Wouldn’t change a thing… 

“For all the world I wouldn’t change doing everything we wanted, a wedding is a big expense but to us it was worth it. There is no feeling of, ‘oh I wish I did this.’ It’s such a special time in your life. We had the best day.”

Images by Emma Nayler Photographer 

The Proposal

“I had organised a birthday party for Duncan with a friend of ours, and as Duncan nervously cut into his birthday cake, he pulled out a little black box with a ring inside, I was very surprised and of course said yes!”

I’ll never forget…

“Arriving at the ceremony and feeling a mix of both excitement and nerves. Then seeing Duncan and feeling so so happy to be marrying him in front of our family and friends, they all mean so much to us. The love you feel on the day is incredible. “

Wedding Secrets

We splurged on: Having Emily Marguerite play at our Ceremony, she is such a talented musician and did such a great job.

Money-saving decision: Doing our own bombonnieres, but they ended up costing us more.

Bride’s dress: White Lily Couture

Bride’s accessories: Molten Store

Bride’s shoes: Shoes of Prey

Bridesmaids’ dresses: White Runway

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Colette by Colette Hayman, Lovisa

Bridesmaids’ shoes: Nine West

Groom’s and groomsmen’s attire: Institchu 

Flowergirl’s attire: Ollie’s Place and Myer 

Honeymoon: England, Scotland and France

Number of guests: 72

Wedding budget: $30,000

Actual cost of wedding: Let’s just say it was more than $30,000… 

What’s next for Amy and Duncan? 

“We’re just going to enjoy our newlywed life. We had such a good time on our honeymoon, so we would love to do more travel. We also love doing things around our home and spending time with our fur baby, Monty, who one day may have a baby brother or sister. ” 

Photography: Emma Nayler Photographer | Venue: Flaxton Gardens | Flowers: Willow Bud | Makeup: Sally Townsend Makeup Artistry | Hair: Evalyn Parsons | Cake: Coast Wedding Creations | Entertainment: Emily Marguerite | Transport: Mystic Mountain Tours | Stationery: Paradise Invitations and The Sundae Creative | Celebrant: Merlin Coughlan | Master of ceremonies: Brendan Annikan | Wedding night accommodation: Flaxton Gable + Flaxton Gardens

Thank you for supporting our A-list vendors, who made Amy + Duncan’s wedding so perfect…

The post Amy loves Duncan | Timeless Wedding in the Hinterland appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

The Sunshine Coast is nothing if not versatile. When thinking of our region, many immediately conjure images of our perfect sandy shores, clear waters and ocean horizon. However drive just a little ways inland and you will find sprawling country hills and wide open spaces. Rustic rural settings for your wedding are aplenty in these parts. 

Yabbaloumba Retreat is one such location where an elegant rustic country wedding can be achieved. A farm stay wedding venue set on 200 acres of picturesque nature, and a charming barn with rustic distressed features and plenty of space for a large wedding reception.

Today’s shoot took place inside the barn, showcasing how elegance can meet the rustic seamlessly for a formal country wedding. Floral arrangements and installations by The Orange Blossom are the focus, drawing your eye immediately in their grandeur. 

Images by Emma Nayler Photographer

Styling

Fresh, elegant and crisp as perfectly ripe red apple. Again bringing in the white orchids for continuation of style, along with classic tall white candles, roses and gumnuts for a touch of the Australian bush. A nod to the rural setting, offsetting the corrugated iron lining the walls of Yabbaloumba Retreat’s barn. 

Anna from Made to Match Events styled the shoot, and explains the inspiration, saying, “The inspiration behind this shoot was all about bringing back the natives to enhance the surroundings of Yabbaloomba. We went with a classic palette of white , green with additions of red apples and rustic wood . We wanted to create a country feel but with a warm presence.” 

Pie Station

Nothing says homemade country wedding like a golden topped pie.

 “To add a twist we created a Pie Station! An abundance of apples and layers of different baked pies ranging from apples and strawberries.” says Anna. 

Flowers

Chonnie from The Orange Blossom designed and constructed the impressive floral installations with full foliage of rustic leaves and that pop of clean, crisp white orchids, and cheeky red berries peeping through as an interest piece. 

The Dress

From Erin Clare Couture‘s new 2018 Collection, the Aria gown is covered in 3D lace embellishments and pretty details. Sheer v-neckline, back detail and train, and silk buttons. 

Hair and Makeup

Messy, textured curls adorned with fresh flowers teamed with a soft brown smokey eye and glam red lips. 

Photography: Emma Nayler Photographer | Flowers: The Orange Blossom | Styling: Made to Match Events | Location: Yabbaloumba Retreat via L&L Co. Events | Dress: Erin Clare Couture | Hair: Sass & Niki’s Wedding Hair | Makeup: Natalie Hunter Makeup Artist | Pies: WildChild Cakes | Jewellery: Cherrywood Designs

Thank you for supporting our A-list Vendors, the creative geniuses behind this rustic country wedding shoot… 

Learn more about… Emma Nayler Photographer + The Orange Blossom + Made to Match Events + Sass & Niki’s Wedding Hair + Natalie Hunter Makeup Artist + L&L Co. Events/Yabbaloumba Retreat + Erin Clare Couture

The post Elegant Wedding Inspiration in a Rustic Country Setting appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Today’s crazy beautiful engagement shoot is brought to you by the lovely folks at Emma Nayler Photographer. Actually just the one folk – one person. It’s Emma. It’s Emma Nayler, she’s the person. 

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Emma photographed gorgeous Lorina and Brenden at Bli Bli, the place to be if it’s dreamy long grass and a perfect sunset. Well, why wouldn’t you? 

The post Engaged: Lorina & Brenden at Bli Bli appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Cassie and Paul were living in Western Australia in the lead up to their Sunshine Coast wedding, so they enlisted the help of wedding planner, Emma McGee, from Wild Heart Weddings to plan their beautiful marquee wedding from top to bottom. 

The couple had the benefit of the bride’s parents’ Diamond Valley property to utilise for their wedding day, with plenty of space to erect a marquee. I’m going to confess something. Until this wedding came into my hot little hands, I had never heard of Diamond Valley. A little investigating unturned that it is located out the back of Eudlo. So basically it’s about as close to “the country” as you can get on the Sunshine Coast. Seeing these amazing photos of the lush greenery by Emma Nayler, I think I may need to take a little drive! 

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The bride gave Little Owl Events a clear direction for her wedding style: modern elegance. This was achieved beautifully with clean clear glass vases, chrome details, and a polaroid photo booth with a fun backdrop of pastel ribbon streamers.

The marquee itself looked absolutely incredible with fresh flower chandeliers and paper lanterns and lots of ceiling drapery, giving a look of grandeur and simplicity at the same time. The bride also did her part to uphold the modern elegant feel with her bridal fashion and hair styling, 

“My brother Mitchell and Paul’s close friend, Daniel, were the witnesses on our marriage certificate. They were not on the bridal party so this was our way of making them feel involved.“

“The bride’s mum handed the bride’s wedding ring to the groom. And the groom’s mum handed the groom’s wedding ring to the Bride.They felt very special.”

“Handwritten letters together with a luxe lipstick were given to the bridesmaids. Engraved flasks were given to the groomsmen.”

Bridal party photos were taken on and around the bride’s parents’ beautiful Sunshine Coast country property

“My nanna contributed towards my wedding dress.”

“We had a musician play the acoustic guitar while we were having photos done and the guests were eating canapés and drinks then a DJ after dinner.”

Polaroid photobooth guestbook!

White framed chrome for signage is an on trend modern touch

“Invest in a wedding planner if you can. Wild Heart Weddings were amazing, there was no stress and they planned my wedding from start to finish.”

Floral chandeliers make an impressive statement under the marquee

Long tables with symetrical and simplistic styling of florals in clear glass and tea light candles speaks to the elegant modern theme

Funky tattoo sketched three-tiered cake

Wedding Secrets Revealed

Biggest splurge: Flowers, and so worth every cent!

Best money saver: DJ and musician were personal friends

Bridal gown: Hobnob Bridal (WA) $2,200 (including alterations)

Accessories: my own earrings

Shoes: PINK (brand) $100

Bridesmaid dresses: Forever New $100

Groom and groomsmens’ suits and shoes: Cashmere suits made in Phuket $250 (three piece suit including tie and shirt)

Rings: RAND Diamonds (through Mazzuchellis) $12,000

DIY: Our wishing well (hat box) and table numbers. We were living interstate – Western Australia at the time so DIY was difficult.

Number of guests: 100

Wedding budget: $35,000

The Dream Team

Wedding Planner: Wild Heart Weddings

Photographer: Emma Nayler Photography

Florist: Ginger Lily & Rose Floral Studio

Decorators: Splash Events

Cake: Ideas In Icing

Marquee hire: Perry’s Sunshine Coast Event Hire / Rentals: Perry’s Sunshine Coast Event Hire (tables and chairs)Caterer: Village Bakers  / Bombonnieres: Yallingyup Candle Co / Makeup Artist: Jacqueline Foster Makeup / Hair Stylist: Rocaverde / Stationery Supplier: LaLa Design (WA) / Celebrant:  Big Love Weddings / Wedding Night Accommodation: ASPECT Caloundra / Extra rentals: Illuminated Rentals

The post Real Wedding: Cassie & Paul in Diamond Valley appeared first on The Bride's Tree.