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.

Guest blog post by brilliant Sunshine Coast wedding planner from Wild Heart Weddings. Image by Aimee Catt Photography.

1. Industry Knowledge

Think about this for a moment.  How many celebrants do you know? How many photographers do you know? How many wedding venues are you aware of? Are any of these venues BYO?  Is there a makeup artist on the coast who specialises in lash extensions or airbrushing?  I bet you can’t think of many answers to those questions… A Wedding Planner, however, knows hundreds It is their job to go to networking events, showcases, organise venue viewings, keep up-to-date with all the new suppliers hitting the scene and sift through the gigantic amount of wedding professionals on the Sunshine Coast so that you don’t have to.

2. Timeline

While every wedding is unique and has a character all of its own, most weddings seem to follow a fairly standard timeline. A Wedding Planner will be able to tell you (among many other things):

• When to book a venue so you don’t miss out
• When to book all your suppliers
• When you should send out your “Save The Dates” and your invitations
• When to organise transport and rehearsals
• When you should be ordering your dress

They’ll also plan your big day down to the minute. They coordinate with all suppliers so that everyone is aware of what should be happening at any precise moment. You won’t need to worry about a thing.

3. Budget

This is a big ticket item. Lots of couples simply aren’t aware of what weddings cost and when those quotes start rolling in it’s safe to say most people are a little shocked. A Wedding Planner will put your mind at ease; they will explain why things cost as much as they do, what’s a suitable price and how to save money in some areas. All those beautiful little details add up and it’s imperative that you have someone paying close attention to where the money is going so that you don’t wind up blowing the budget. A good Wedding Planner will track all of your spending and remind you when payments are due. They’ll also end up saving you money in lots of areas you probably didn’t think possible!

4. Time

Planning a wedding takes time. Lots and lots of time. It’s been estimated that planning a wedding takes more than 200 hours (and from personal experience, sometimes even more!). Most couples these days both work full time and finding the time necessary to pull off such a big event is nearly impossible. People get stressed and all of a sudden planning a wedding doesn’t seem so fun anymore.

5. Handling a crisis

Even the very best laid plans can sometimes be thrown into chaos. Natural disasters, personal disasters, family problems, logistical problems, a dodgy supplier… all of these things can and will be rectified by a professional Planner. They have handled all sorts of crazy situations before and they have an infinite amount of tricks up their sleeves to deal with anything you can throw at them. And they’ll do it all with a smile and without breaking a sweat!

6. Support

A Wedding Planner becomes your best friend, your second mum, your confidant, your advisor and your wingman (or wingwoman!). They’ll be able to tell you what colours work well together and how to deal with those family members who can’t take a hint. They can accompany you to tastings, dress fittings, supplier meetings. They’ll hold your hand when you need support, stand up for you so that your voice is heard and will always put your best interests first.  

7. Attention to detail

A Planner can spot a logistical problem from a mile away. They’ll also draw your attention to things you may not have thought about, such as how to transport guests with disabilities, catering for those guests with special dietary requirements, what to do if it rains on the day and how to handle any last minute annoyances which might arise. They’ll ensure everything is exactly where it should be.  

8. Planning a wedding somewhere other than where you live (Destination Wedding)  

How do you plan a wedding on the Sunshine Coast if you live in another state? Simple. Hire a Wedding Planner. They’ll be able to send you links, photos, location and supplier suggestions and they’ll handle all the hard work for you while still keeping you fully informed and involved with the process. All you’ll need to do is show up on the day!

9. Turning your vision into reality

Sometimes it’s hard to put your wedding vision into words. A planner can help you get those visions down on paper. They use tools such as vision boards, Pinterest and floor layouts to help you fine tune your concept and pull it off with finesse.

10. Your sanity. 

This one’s a no-brainer. People can go a little crazy planning a wedding. Everyone has heard of the term “Bridezilla” but it’s not just the bride who can go a little cuckoo. The groom, associated families, and the bridal party – they all feel the pressure. How lovely would it be to let someone else take on all that stress and pressure so that you don’t have to!

The post 10 Reasons You Can’t Afford Not to Have a Wedding Planner appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Today we have a guest blog from Sunshine Coast wedding planner, Emma McGee, director of Wild Heart Weddings

Update: Wild Heart Weddings have now merged with Something For Catering.

Winter is an AMAZING time on the Sunshine Coast!  There aren’t many places in the world where winter means a mild 20 degree day with clear sunny skies and a gentle breeze.  If you ask me, these are prefect conditions for a wedding.  Below are my top 5 reasons you should consider holding your wedding during the gorgeous winter months here on the Coast.

5. Weather

As mentioned above, the weather in winter is gorgeous.  Dry, mild days and crisp clear nights. The boys can wear their suits in comfort, rather than breaking into a sweat every time they move a muscle. The girls can rest assured knowing their beautiful hair and makeup will not melt away in the harsh sun. Your guests can sit through your ceremony in comfort and the chance of someone fainting because of heatstroke is minimal (yes, it’s happened before!)

4. Light

 As you’re all aware, the sun goes down earlier in winter.  This means you are almost guaranteed those beautiful twilight (or sunset) photos with your partner before your reception kicks off.  In summer, you could be waiting until 6.30 or 7pm for that amazing light, whereas in winter, you’re more likely to see it around 5 or 5.30pm. Beautiful light means beautiful photos.

3. Accommodation

If you are like many residents of the Sunshine Coast, who have family and friends travelling from interstate (or overseas) for your wedding, you should certainly consider a winter wedding. Winter is the “off-season” on the Coast and this generally means cheaper accommodation rates.  A big winner!

2. Supplier Availability

Winter is generally a quiet period for weddings. The good news here is that it means your favourite photographer, celebrant or DJ is more likely to be available when you need them!  If you’re getting married in Spring or Autumn you will need to get in very early and be prepared for a little disappointment as the popular suppliers book out very fast during Wedding Season!

1. Pick Your Own Date

Do you have a date that is special to you?  Chances are you’ll be able to have your wedding on that day if it’s during the winter period. As it’s not the most popular time of year for weddings, the chances of you getting your dream venue on a date of your choosing is highly likely. No need to wait up to two years for your favourite venue to be available on your favourite date. 

Thanks to our guest blogger today, Emma from Wild Heart Weddings, Sunshine Coast wedding planner extraordinaire!

A fur stole and a warm glowing light creates a perfect winter wedding look.Loving these gorgeous images? Us too! They are by Sunshine Coast wedding photographer, White Images Photography.

The post Top 5 Reasons to Marry in Winter appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Lara and Tim say hiring Emma from Wild Heart Weddings to help plan their wedding, as well as coordinate the whole event on the day, was the best move they ever made. Knowing they were on a very tight timeframe, it really meant a lot to have cool, calm and collected Emma encouraging them every step of the way, and never once saying it’s not enough time. Instead, she always maintained her composure, giving the bride and groom the feeling of ease they so wanted with their wedding planning. They even saved money by having Emma scope out all the bargains for them. 

Not wanting a traditional wedding, but to simply have a fun and easy day full of great food and dancing, they chose waterfront restaurant, Montego’s On The Bay on Kawana Island. With its own sweet little beach on the bay, the white sandy secluded spot was perfect for an intimate ceremony, and plenty of pretty spots for photos, there was no running around to get to the reception! 

“I hired a wedding planner and coordinator, as I wanted my family and friends to be able to relax and enjoy the day as much as possible.”

“It was overcast and windy, but the rain held off till later in the night, so we couldn’t ask for more than that.”

“We wanted our son involved in the ceremony.  He carried the rings down the aisle in a little sand bucket.  It was really sweet.”

Amazing impressive cupcake tier cake by Sunny Girl Cakes

“We had a DJ with lots of 80’s and dance music. We’re not a very traditional couple, we just wanted to have cocktail party with lots of dancing.”

Lara’s sage advice for future brides

“Don’t stress! The day is over before you even get a chance to blink and when you have time to reflect on it, you don’t want to be thinking of how unnecessarily stressed you were.”

Wedding Secrets Revealed

Biggest Splurge: The reception food and beverages. We wanted everyone to have a good time and a full belly. 

Best Money-Saver: Hiring Emma from Little Owl Events! She helped save money for us on everything. 

Bridal gown: Brides of Brisbane $1500

Accessories: Great grandmother’s engagement ring

Bridesmaid dresses: Purchased online from China 

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Personalised rings

Groom and groomsmens’ suits and shoes: Connor store in Caloundra, roughly $170 each

DIY: Bouquets

Number of guests: 85

Total cost of wedding: $18,000, paid for by the bride’s parents

Lara & Tim’s Hand-picked Team That Made It All Happen

Wedding Planner: Emma McGee, Wild Heart Weddings

Entertainment: Lee Bevington  

Celebrant: Ann Hills Celebrant

Cake: Sunny Girl Cakes

Photographer: Aimee Catt Photography / Caterer: Montego’s On The Bay / 

Makeup Artist: Heather Smith,Tan Addiction / Hair Stylist: Universal Hair Studios, Caloundra

The post Wedding on the Bay, Planned in 8 Weeks! appeared first on The Bride's Tree.