Lauren says one of the most emotional moments of her wedding day was when guests performed The Haka in tribute to her groom, James’ Maori heritage. Lauren and James loved the wedding planning process, getting super involved by doing lots of DIY for their wedding reception at Noosa Boathouse. The bride was kind enough to share her story with us below… 

Our Biggest Priority

We wanted to ensure that our guests had an absolutely amazing time and got to experience as much of beautiful Noosa as possible. Our guests travelled from all over Australia, including Western Australia and Victoria, the Gold Coast and New Zealand, and for pretty much all of them it was their first time visiting Noosa.

Moments of High Emotion

The day was full of emotion – seeing James get so emotional as I was walking down the aisle, having James’ Dad open our ceremony with a Maori prayer. The Haka and speeches were very emotional too.

Images by Alan Hughes Photography

Why James is The One 

Loving him is easy. He’s my best friend. He is kind-hearted and loving, sensitive yet strong, dedicated, determined, and most of the time, patient!

Our Next Adventure

We’re getting stuck back into renovating our first home and will hopefully buy our second home soon!

The Music

We had a lot of songs from our favourite Aussie and New Zealand bands, including Ocean Alley and Six60. Benny Hanna did an amazing job playing a mix of acoustic sets and DJ-ing at the Boathouse.

A Simple Proposal

It’s pretty simple really, James and I were back home in Perth (my home town) for a holiday and on our final morning, at my parents house, just as we were waking up he got down on one knee and asked the question. We had designed the ring together, so I knew it was coming, I just didn’t know when!

Greatest Challenge

Probably putting together our guest list!

Wedding Secrets

Biggest splurge: It would probably have been the boat cruise from the ceremony in Noosa Heads to the reception in Noosaville. I also surprised James and our guests with Wheel & Spoon (a gelato cart) at our ceremony.

Biggest money-saver: Probably using a bunch of furniture from the Noosa Boathouse and all of the DIY I/we did!

Planning resources: The Brides Tree certainly helped! Instagram and Facebook were also really beneficial. Deciding on the Noosa Boathouse for our reception early on in the planning process and checking out their recommended vendors was a great place to start. I also attended a Sunshine Coast Wedding Open Day early on in the planning stages to meet vendors I was interested in.

DIY: Stationery, decorations, grazing board for the boat, family photo display, wishing well, photo booth props, dessert table, cake topper, “Better Together” backdrop frame, wooden easel. 

Honeymoon: Fiji

Number of guests: 80

Wedding budget: Honestly we didn’t really have a budget. Not because I wasn’t budget conscious, purely because I had no idea what to expect in terms of how much anything would cost. I did a lot of research and gathered a number of quotes from vendors before locking anything in. 

Actual cost of wedding: Close to $40,000 

Check out Lauren and James’ Noosa Wedding Highlights Film

Photographer: Alan Hughes Photography | Videography: Sunshine Coast Videography | Florist: The Orange Blossom | Venue + catering: Noosa Boathouse | Gelato van: Wheel & Spoon | Cake: Chocolate 2 Chilli | Favours: Coolaz Stubby Holders | Transport: Noosa Ferry | Hair stylist: Evalyn Parsons | Makeup artist: Makeup Artistry by Lauren | Styling: Style Le Aisle | Entertainment: Benny Hanna | Celebrant: Celebrant Sam | Wooden sign: The Spoken Shop | Wedding night accommodation: Sandcastles Noosa 

Thank you for supporting our A-list Vendors below, who made the day for Lauren and James… 

The post Lauren loves James | Noosa Boathouse Wedding appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Brooke and Chris’ wedding day was a long time coming. After 13 years together, and an 8-year engagement, the bride buckled down and got their perfect Noosa River wedding day planned from start to finish in just four months. 

Their day started at the picturesque Noosa River-front Resort, Culgoa Point Beach Resort, where they got ready overlooking the longest stretch of private beach in Noosa, seeing the occasional friend or relative SUPing past, Pelican perched on the bridge, or Brush Turkey coming right up to say hello on the ground floor room patio. The bride also got to take a sneaky peek as the florist and stylist set up right outside for their ceremony with a Hamptons feel.

The couple took their 85 guests on a river cruise before docking at Noosa Boathouse Restaurant for their reception, which was beautifully decked out with creative floral installations. 

Lee from Life and Love Photography was there to capture the day. 

 “I bought Chris a watch and he had a charcoal drawing commissioned by David Filer from South Africa. The drawing is something very close to my heart and was very special.”

 “We were both very relaxed and wrote our own vows. This made it very personal and light-hearted.”  “We decided to do something different and have the photographer take photos at the ceremony and then join everyone on the Catalina river cruise, which was in-between the ceremony and reception, and take photos of all our guests enjoying themselves. We have the best photos, which I was able to provide copies to the guests.”  

Menu

Entree

Salt and Pepper Calamari with Tomato Nam Jim

House-made Gnocchi with Slow-roasted Lamb and Mint Labna

Main

Fillet of Beef, Potato Bake, Mushrooms and Green Beans

Macadamia-crusted Barramundi, Green Beans and Cherry Tomato Salad

Dessert

Wedding Cake – Chocolate & Salted Caramel Cake

  “I used my mother’s homemade Irish Cream recipe filled into beautiful glass bottles to serve as one of three bombonieres.”     “I started planning in April 2016 (four months out) and I wanted a Hamptons Style with lux finishes. Nicole from Splash Events was fantastic to pull this all together.”    “I loved reading The Bride’s Tree and I also used Pinterest for ideas.”

      “We met when Chris was a mechanic in Noosa and I took my car in to be serviced to him. The rest is history…”

Wedding Secrets 

Biggest splurge: Reception and flowers.

Best money-saver: We didn’t have any groomsmen or bridesmaids.

Bridal gown: Marilyn Crystelle Bridal

Accessories: My mother’s grandmothers’s opal ring. Earrings and bracelets from Lovisa

Shoes: Tootsies Shoes, Sunshine Plaza

Groom’s suit and shoes: Custom made from Tailors Mark, Melbourne

Rings: Bensons the Jewellers

DIY: I used my mother’s homemade Irish Cream recipe filled into beautiful glass bottles to serve as one of three bombonieres. 

Honeymoon: Melbourne for Melbourne Cup

Number of guests: 85

Wedding budget: $40,000

Who paid? We paid for our own wedding. 

 “We enjoy each other’s company and share our precious time together. Chris works overseas so he isn’t home very often.”

Photographer: Life and Love Photography | Venue + reception venue: Noosa Boathouse Restaurant | Wedding Planner: Splash Events | Florist: Willow Bud | Caterer: Kitchen Shed Noosa | Bombonnieres: Etched wine glasses by The Glassware Company | Makeup Artist: Sally Townsend Makeup Artistry | Hair Stylist: Glamba Hair | Decorators: Splash Events | Entertainment: Ryan Giles | Stationery Supplier: Wedding Paper Divas | Celebrant: Natalie Skye, The Sunny Celebrant | Wedding Night Accommodation: Culgoa Point Beach Resort

Thank you for supporting our A-list Vendors, who helped make this Noosa River wedding so spectacular… 

 Learn more about… Noosa Boathouse Restaurant + Splash Events + Sally Townsend Makeup Artistry + Willow Bud + Life and Love Photography 

The post Brooke loves Chris | A Noosa River Wedding appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Exactly one year to the day after they became engaged, Renai and Paul married at Hidden Grove, and then 104 of their family and friends joined them for a reception at Noosa Boathouse Restaurant. The date they chose, also happened to be Renai’s Nan and late Pop’s 60th wedding anniversary. Aww! 

Renai and Paul’s bridal fashion and styling is to die for. Alan Hughes Photography caught every special moment along the journey of their very special wedding day. 

Most Special Part

Being able to share our wedding day with my lovely Nan and late Pops 60^th wedding anniversary.

Honeymoon

We are off to Thailand. We didn’t go on a honeymoon straight away, firstly so I could extend the ‘wedding process’ as long as I could and to relax the week after with family and friends who were still here.

Family Helpers

My mum and sister helped with everything, we had weekends together dress shopping and planning which was so memorable and helpful! My sister Carly helped me out with all aspects, I could not have done it without her.

Group Holiday

We had family and friends stay up here with us on the coast for about two weeks… most amazing two weeks of our lives to have everyone we love with us for so long.

Bride’s Best Advice

Get an amazing photographer, we love being able to look back at those memories. 

Wedding Secrets

Bridal gown: Maggie Sottero ‘Lavina’

Accessories: My mums earrings, my birdcage fascintor by Ivie White Designs 

Shoes: Betts shoes

Bridesmaid dresses: Bridesmaids Only in Double Bay NSW

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Earrings from Lovisa and the girls wore their own rings.

Groom’s and groomsmens’ suit and shoes: Hired from Johns Formalwear 

Rings: Grooms: Michael Hill, Bride: NY2K in Cotton Tree, designed to have my Nan’s diamonds from her wedding band put in there. 

A-list Vendors

Photographer: Alan Hughes Photography

Venue: Noosa Boathouse Restaurant

Florist: First Class Functions

Decorators: First Class Functions

Cake: Faye Andrews from Gympie / Hair Stylist: Halo hair Mooloolaba / Entertainment: Radio Club Band / Celebrant: David Ayling

View Renai & Paul’s full wedding album.

The post Real Wedding: Renai & Paul in Noosa appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

After meeting online through dating site, Oasis.com. Vicki and Ed became best friends and fell in love. They faced one major challenge in their new relationship. Ed is one of Australia’s heroes, serving our beautiful country in the Royal Australian Air Force. Vicki says spending long periods of time apart can be really hard, but they work just as hard to make it work. 

////

When planning their wedding, they chose to have a military theme, with Ed wearing his ceremonial uniform and the eight medals he earned for his service in Afghanistan. 

Vicki and Ed were married at the Noosa Boathouse restaurant on Noosa River, and Lee from Life and Love Photography was there to beautifully capture every lovely moment. 

Skype Wedding Planning

Ed was in Afghanistan when I planned the wedding so I would show/explain ideas over the phone and Skype so he still felt involved.

Boys Will Be Boys! 

Ed and the groomsmen went jet skiing 10 minuets before they were due to have photos done before the wedding! I was furious!

The Whole Party

We involved the Bridesmaid’s and Groomsmen’s partners in our bridal party photos which we all had fun with.

Gifts for Everyone! 

Ed bought me three Pandora charms, one was wedding rings together and the other two were dogs to represent Bella and our new puppy we got on the Sunday after our wedding…(we are crazy dog people.) I bought Ed a new watch and the bridesmaids a custom made bracelet the colour of their birthstone.

Wedding Secrets Revealed

Biggest splurge: Not so much a splurge, but a treat…the Noosa Dream Boat. Our arrival to the wedding.

Best bargain: Photographer, Absolutely amazing and friendly and creates beautiful photos with an awesome price tag!

Bridal gown: Exquisit Bridal Wear, Redcliffe – $1,300

Accessories: Veil: Free with purchase of dress, Bracelet: Pandora, Head flower: originally part of the belt but I used it in my hair instead

Shoes: Nine West -$70

Bridesmaid dresses: Myer – $116 (down from $200+)

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Bracelets – can’t remember price – Crystal Wedding Boutique

Groom’s suit and shoes: Work uniform, shoes broke as he walked down the aisle!!

Rings: Michael Hill Jewellers, approx $800 each wedding band

Number of guests: 60

Wedding budget: $18,000

A-list Vendors

Photographer: Life and Love Photography

Venue: Noosa Boathouse

Transport: Noosa Dreamboats

Cake: Eden cakes and cupcakes / Bombonnieres: Candy King, Sumner Park / Makeup Artist: Tanielle Jai MUA / Hair Stylist: Holly Sharpe / Decorators: Crystal Wedding Boutique / Entertainment: Chris and Chris / Celebrant: Unforgettable Moments by Linda Scholes / Wedding Night Accommodation: Regatta Riverfront Apartments

See the rest of Vicki & Ed’s wedding album by visiting our inspirational Pin Boards. 

The post Real Wedding: Vicki & Ed in Noosa appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Jaimee and Matt were married at Casuarina Gardens after a 14-month long engagement. 78 of their family and friends were in attendence to witness their joining as a married couple by gorgeous celebrant, Shona Anderson. Then they hopped on a boat and sailed away to their dream wedding reception at The Noosa Boathouse Floating Restaurant, which hugs the Noosa River. 

////

Wedding stylists and decorators, Splash Events, were responsible for the pretty styling, adding a sweet and unique flair to the day. A real stand out for us in this wedding is the bride’s fashion, which includes a pair of the most gorgeous shoes we have ever seen!

This lovely couple enjoyed the fun and relaxed wedding day they dreamt of and it was all captured beautifully by Chesterton Smith Photography. 

“Our family and bridal party were amazing, and would help out whenever asked, but the most important thing was having us together to pick the dresses, such a special, memorable day!“

“Matt had his brothers and I had my sister in the bridal party. We then asked Matt’s sister and my brother to do readings.”

“Our mums signed the bridal register (but this was a secret until our celebrant asked them to come up). And another little special touch to the ceremony was that we acknowledged our parents and grandparents and their many happy years together as married couples which came to a total of 268 years.“

“We had photos with family and friends at Casuarina Gardens. We then walked down through the pathways into the beautiful trees for bridal party photos before going to Little Cove for our beach shots.“

“Matt’s parents paid for the bar tab and my parents were very kind enough to give us money which covered the Reception and the Event“

” We wanted our wedding to be fun and relaxed and we just wanted to have a great time dancing the night away, so the music was very important to us and we were lucky enough to have our friends play at the ceremony and reception which was a big hit with all of our guests.”

“We wanted our wedding to reflect who we were as a couple and although it didn’t have a particular theme, it was simple, classic with attention to detail and everyone would say very ‘Matt and Jaimee’ “

“We had the following menu: Entree – House made gnocci with roasted pumpkin and mushroom pesto. Main – Eye Fillet on Potato Gratin with pancetta wrapped beans and red wine jus. Dessert: Wedding cake as dessert with berry compote.”

Wedding Secrets Revealed

Biggest Splurge: Wedding bands and the entertainment

Best Bargain: The stationery was designed by a friend, who is a graphic designer

Bridal gown: Karen Willis Holmes, Paddington $2500

Accessories: Karen Willis Holmes, Paddington $150 and Silver Shop, Toowoomba

$300

Shoes: Mimco, Brisbane $250

Bridesmaid dresses: Bariano, Hoe Boutique Brisbane $330

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Forever New and Lovisa $35

Groom’s and groomsmens’ suits and shoes: Studio Suits and Windsor Smith $350

DIY: The name places, which took me a very very long time. I made every guests name out of wire and attached it to a wooden peg, which I spray painted the same champagne colour as thebridesmaid dresses and then attached a small star fish and diamonte. These were very appreciated by the guests as a keepsake of anamazing day.

Number of Guests: 78

Total Cost of Wedding: Almost $30,000

A-List Vendors

Photographer: Chesterton Smith Photography

Celebrant/Other Officiary: Shona Anderson

Decorators: Splash Events

Caterer: The Boathouse Floating Restaurant

Florist: Blooms of Noosa / Cake: Sugar Dream Cakes / Bombonieres: Factory21 / Transport: Gondolas of Noosa / Makeup Artist: SallyR Makeup / Hair Stylist: Aleesha Darke / Entertainment: Mick Lindsay and Jimboss

The post Boathouse Wedding appeared first on The Bride's Tree.