It was Kelly and Justin’s main wedding day mission to have a fun day with family and friends without breaking the bank. Considering they managed to come in under budget, I would say – mission accomplished!

Bride, Kelly, has shared the details of her big day… 

The Proposal 

“We were in Wanaka – New Zealand. Justin thought it would be a great idea to walk up a mountain for our 9 year anniversary at -1 degrees. I wasn’t impressed and let him know about it all the way up. When we finally reached the top Justin proposed.”

True Love

“We met in highschool and have been together for 11 years. Justin always makes me laugh. We couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.” 

Images by Angela Cannavo Photography

The Music

Walking down the aisle – Horrorshow, Walk You Home

Aisle Recession – Troye Sivan, My My My

Reception entrance – J.Cole – Foldin’ Clothes

First dance – Ed Sheeran, Perfect

Father daughter dance – Powder Finger, My Happiness

Check out this Spotify Playlist I created using suggestions from real brides, and a few suggestions of my own… 

Wedding Secrets

Biggest splurge: Our rings

Best money-saver: We had doughnuts instead of a wedding cake

Bride’s gown: Grace Loves Lace 

Bride’s accessories: Veil from Etsy. Earrings from Grace Loves Lace

Bride’s shoes: Pre-owned

Groom’s suit + belt: Tarocash

Groom’s socks: Divvy Up – customised socks with our dog on them

Groom’s shoes: R.M. Williams

Bridesmaids’ dresses: Esther & Co. 

Bridesmaids’ accesssories: Lovisa

Groom’s attire: Tarocash + Connor

DIY: My mum and dad made our doughnut wall

Number of guests: 60

Honeymoon: We spent a few weeks on the coast visiting family and friends. But we wanted to wait and have more time to plan out our honeymoon, so hopefully the end of next year

Wedding budget: $20,000

Actual cost of wedding: $17,000 

Photographer: Angela Cannavo Photography | Venue + catering: The Rocks | Florist: The Posy Co. | Cake: Krispy Kreme doughnuts and gluten free doughnuts from Soul Kitchen Bakery | Favours: Succers For Love | Makeup: Kate Ellen Makeup Artistry | Hair: Coastal Style Mobile Hairdressing | Styling + decor: The Rocks | Celebrant: Sommer Saunder Celebrant | Stationery: Etsy | Entertainment: Spotify | Gifts: Wishing Well | Wedding night accommodation: Coolum Caprice 

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Colleen and James planned their wedding overlooking the idyllic Maroochy River while living, working, studying and raising a man cub in Western Australia. It was a challenge, but they wouldn’t have it any other way! 

Learn why they decided a destination Maroochy River wedding was a must for their big day… 

Planning from Afar

“I actually really enjoyed the whole process and I am not lying! Planning a Queensland wedding from Western Australia was crazy with time zones. I was also working, studying and with a two-year-old – at times it was a challenge, but ultimately fun!”

Destination Wedding

“The Sunshine Coast holds a lot a beautiful memories for us. Our guest literally came from all over and overseas so we wanted somewhere when they could all fly into and have a holiday as well as attend our wedding.”

The Proposal

James had asked my dad, who nearly let it slip just before! It was at the beautiful Glass House Mountains lookout right on sunset… but I was really sick and didn’t even want to get out of the car. I was really glad I did in the end!”

True Love

“James is just such a genuine person, a true gentleman and he will help anyone out. He supports all of my dreams, happily moved from the beautiful Sunshine Coast to the desert of Western Australia for my job and is the best dad to our little boy, Rory.”

 Images by Megan Willis Photography

The Venue

“Annie and John at The Rocks really went out of their way to make everything ran smoothly and the planning was so easy with them. Their staff on the night were beyond amazing too.”

Wedding Secrets

Biggest splurge: Photography and Music – so we had memories and everyone had fun!

Best money-saver: I made my own invitations which was fun and they turned out to be exactly what we wanted.

Bride’s dress: Bridal by Aubrey Rose

Bride’s jewellery: Michael Hill

Bride’s shoes: Novo Shoes

Bridesmaids’ dresses: Atmos & Here

Bridesmaids’ shoes: Betts

Groom’s and groomsmen’s attire: Peter Jackson

DIY: Our invites, our wedding favours were oil jars with my mums homegrown rosemary and mum also made a quilt for the guest registry which was really personal and something to keep forever.

Honeymoon: Hawaii

Number of guests: 62

Wedding budget: $20,000

Actual cost of wedding: $16,000 (not including honeymoon)

Photography: Megan Willis Photography | Venue, flowers, styling + catering: The Rocks | Cake: Chocolate 2 Chilli | Makeup: Kate Ellen Makeup Artistry | Hair: Coastal Style Mobile Hairdressing | Transport: Old Skool Kombis | Entertainment: Scott Vee-Day | Celebrant: Beth Newman | Wedding night accommodation: AirBnb 

Thank you for supporting our A-list Vendors, who were responsible for making Colleen and James’ day so magical… 

Learn more about… Megan Willis Photography + The Rocks + Chocolate 2 Chilli  + Kate Ellen Makeup Artistry 

The post Colleen loves James | Idyllic Maroochy River Wedding appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Penny went into full organise mode when planning her wedding, gaining inspiration from inspiration online blogs, like The Bride’s Tree! She also wanted to put all her trust and faith in the consumate professionals we have here on the Sunshine Coast. For example, one Karen Buckle Photography, who is the lady responsible for the crazy beautiful images you are about to see. Hang onto your floral headpieces, ladies, you are in for a treat. 

“All our family and friends were very supportive but we did much of the planning ourselves or by email and phone. I Googled suppliers and followed their blogs and read their Facebook pages. In the end I went with the suppliers that seemed like they would understand my vision, I didn’t worry about getting three quotes and checking twice. It was about choosing the people I really wanted to work with.”

“We decided on a morning wedding because we wanted to spend as much of our wedding day together as possible, and then planned an after party for later where we could crank up the music and everyone could kick off their shoes and relax.“

Penny & Duane’s

Hand-picked Team That Made It All Happen

Photographer: Karen Buckle Photography

Florist & Decorations:    Ginger Lily & Rose Floral Studio

Caterer: Ebb Waterfront Restaurant

Cake: Eden Cakes & Cupcakes

Makeup Artist: Shima & Gloss

Hair Stylist: Hair by Nicola

Entertainment: Mia Wray

Stationery: The Parchment Place via Etsy

Celebrant:  Weddings with Kristy

Wedding Night Accommodation: Duporth Apartments

“I had a million themes in mind! Wedding blogs were my best friend and I poured over them all. The girls will attest that I had so many ideas; it took a while to scale everything back to a colour palette and feel I was happy with. In the end it came to be lots of white, with touches of colour in the flowers and other accents. Light and elegant was how it turned out.”

“Julia from Ginger Lily and Rose did the most incredible job of interpreting my vision, I wanted flowers everywhere.“

“My dad walked me down the aisle, Mum walked ahead of Dad and I in the place of the Matron of Honour and they both gave me away at the end. It was important to me that mum was a big part of the processional.”

“We really wanted to write and say our own vows to each other and saying them and hearing Duane’s was the most special part of the day. Being able to tell all our friends and family how special my husband is and how much I treasure him was a really precious thing.”

“We always knew we wanted an intimate destination wedding, we wanted to have really good food and wine with a great view and we wanted the ceremony to be really personal to us.“

“We are similar in nature, with the same interests and outlook on life, we have lots of funny little sayings and jokes for each other and we share everything, good and bad. It works because above all we are devoted to each other and hold our relationship sacred.”

“We came to the Sunshine Coast to look at venues Aug 2012 and were just blown away by Ebb, the view, the space and the management were superb, we booked a table for dinner that night, had a fabulous meal and then booked our wedding on the spot!”

Wedding Secrets Revealed

Biggest splurge: My wedding band from Tiffany & Co to match my engagement ring and flowers, flowers and more flowers!

Biggest bargain: I bought a lot online and from Etsy especially.

Bridal gown:  Nicolina, purchased at Something & Love Bridal

Accessories: Various from Etsy

Shoes: Zizi by Florsheim

Bridesmaid dresses:  Made to order from Etsy

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Purchased their own

Groom and groomsmens’ suits and shoes: Suits purchased at Man to Man, own shoes

Rings: Tiffany & Co Novo platinum and diamond wedding band for bride, Dora Titanium and white gold for Groom

DIY: Glass votives with lace for tea lights, frames to display the menus, table numbers, and seating arrangements

Number of guests: 75

“My favourite thing was the custom designed floral fascinators Ginger Lily & Rose Floral Studio made for the bridesmaids in place of bouquets and the table backdrop arrangement at the end of our aisle.“

The post Real Wedding: Penny & Duane on Maroochy River appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Keeping things elegant and simple was their plan from the outset. They achieved this by having a guest list on the shorter side, with just 66 close friends and family members attending. This allowed the newlyweds to spend more time with each guest on the day. Simplicity was also achieved by having their ceremony and reception in one place – Ebb Waterfront Restaurant. No travel, no fuss. And what’s more, their wedding night accommodation was just upstairs at the Duporth Riverside Apartments, which boast amazing views of the Maroochy River. 

Take a peek at Anthony and Tracey’s lovely coastal wedding in these stunning images by Sunshine Coast wedding photographer, Terri Hanlon Photography. 

Tracey and Anthony’s Hand-picked Team That Made It All Happen

Photographer: Terri Hanlon Photography

Florist: Flowerworks

Cake and bombonnieres: Marché du Macaron

Makeup Artist: Mary Munns

Hair Stylist: Lush Cuts and Beauty

Entertainment: 16 Strings String Quartet

Celebrant: Elaine Brosnan

Wedding Night Accommodation: The Duporth Riverside

“We are able to be honest with each other, we respect each others opinions and we enjoy each others company.”

“The wedding day will go extremely quickly, so make sure you make time to stop and take it all in.”

Wedding Secrets Revealed

Biggest splurge: String quartet for the ceremony

Best money-saver: Planning everything ourselves

Bridal gown: Maggie Sottero dress from Brides of Brisbane

Accessories: Swarovski jewellery from Swarovski

Shoes: Jo Mercer shoes from Jo Mercer

Groom’s suit and shoes: Tailored suit and RM Williams boots from RM Williams

Rings: Michael Hill Jeweller

DIY: Homemade Italian biscotti, and decorations

Number of guests: 66

“We wanted a reception location that was modern and offered beautiful views, as well as an outdoor area for the ceremony. We also wanted to have a smallish number of guests so we could spend time with everyone on the night.“

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