In our first months after launching The Bride’s Tree back in 2011-12, we organised our very first magazine shoots working with Nicole and the styling team from Splash Events. After a ton of careful planning, the day came for our bright, summer-inspired beach shoot… and the weather was cyclonic. 

At Shelly Beach in Caloundra, we huddled in the back of a truck Nicole Hopkins had packed full of furniture and styling items for our boho-themed shoot. As the rain poured and we stared out at the ominous dark clouds rolled in fast over the ocean horizon. 

Just as we were starting to feel the realisation setting in that we may have to pack it in, Nicole looked at us and said, “Okay, we’re doing this. Let’s get it all ready in here and when there’s a break we grab and run.” 

And we did. 

To this day, it’s still one of my favourite shoot experiences and taught us that no matter what, the show must go on, and when you’re working with ultimate pros like Nicole and her team, it always will. 

Read on to learn more about Nicole’s journey as a wedding stylist who, over the past 15 years has built up her business from a one man show to the Sunshine Coast’s largest wedding and events company. 

Nicole, what does a day in the life of a wedding stylist look like?

My job is incredibly busy and every day is different! I could be meeting with clients, preparing mood boards and proposals – I do love this creative part!

At the same time I’m also preparing for the events that lie ahead, organising suppliers, floor plans, managing the stock selection with the warehouse team, rostering the staff and creating the event schedule which is often minute by minute. Then the action part, where I am very hands on setting up events and you’ll often find my up a ladder and carrying chairs and furniture.

This is hard work, but also one of my favourite parts of the process. It is so exciting seeing a concept come to life and to witness the delight of the client when they finally see what they had dreamed.

Whenever I get time, I’m also always researching new trends and finding inspiration and buying way too much new decor!

Prior to working in the wedding industry, what did you do?

I have always felt drawn to everything and anything creative. After School I started working at the local then ‘Grace Bros’ (now Myer) in the Manchester department with two very strict and hardworking bosses, they soon taught me what working hard and customer service is all about.

I found myself making that department look the best it had ever looked (I was told), making beds, folding towels perfectly and colour coordinating all the linen and displays. It wasn’t long and I was picked up by the Visual Merchandising team and over 9 years worked my way up to assistant manager in one of Sydney’s largest stores and was then selected in an elite traveling team merchandising refurbished and new stores ready for launches and grand openings.

Over those years I studied interior design and decorating at night and completed a Bachelor in Design.

What is one unique thing that makes your business stand out from the crowd?

Share something that’s interesting about you, or something a lot of people don’t realise.

While I’m known as a creative workaholic, it wasn’t all work and no play. I’ve done a lot a travel and spent six years travelling around Australia in a kombi – then ventured overseas for a world trip – surfing and snowboarding around the world. Travel has certainly been a major influence in my work and design style.

How do you like to spend your days off?

My free days are spent with my children and friends relaxing on our beautiful beaches with a bottle of wine, a picnic set up and a grazing platter… followed by a night out in Noosa with dinner and dancing!

 

What can we expect to see in weddings this year?

2022 is shaping up to be an incredible year for weddings and events on the Sunshine Coast. Due to restricted international travel and the natural beauty this region offers, Noosa, the Hinterland and the Sunshine Coast will continue to grow as key wedding destinations.

Our planning department is expanding to assist interstate brides and grooms in creating their dream wedding. Predicted trends… like in 2021, 2022 will still see smaller more intimate weddings and luxurious private dining experiences.

 SPECIAL WEDDING STYLING OFFER

Love the sound of Nicole and her team helping you with your dream wedding day? She has an offer just for readers of The Bride’s Tree blog.

Book in for a complimentary styling consultation and received $50 off all planning packages when you mention this article. Looking for Noosa wedding inspo? www.splashevents.com.au

 

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Rachelle Marian has been running Sunshine Coast styling and hire business, Simply Style Co., with her partner, Mark, since she took the reins of the business in 2019. Rachelle has been working in the wedding and events industry for 15 years, but now is her time to shine as the boss lady she was destined to be! 

Rachelle heads up the family-owned and run business with her keen eye for quality design and thoughtful details, and commissions Mark to make some of their specialty decor, such as ceremony arbours and tables – and bring the muscles! The rest of the styling and marketing team are super supportive. Rachelle says, “We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders and we make a great family team.” 

Read on to hear more about Simply Styling Co. and the woman herself, Rachelle Marian.

What is a typical day like for a wedding stylist?

No day is ever same. The ever changing environment around me is what keeps me thriving! My week is filled with consults withe clients, vendor brainstorming sessions, staff pow-wows, sourcing, scheduling and strategising.

Mid-week events turn into weekend affairs, usually waking early in the morning to do our final check overs and pack the vans. We move quickly and swiftly and installation can take anywhere between one and six hours. This is where the magic happens and everything comes together – I LOVE this part. The before and after transformation is exhilarating. I sometimes catch myself taking a step back and breathing it all in.

Then we’re back again at midnight or the following morning to pack down. Events vary from weddings to private celebrations to large corporate events, hence every day is new and just as exciting as the last!

Tell me about your career as a wedding stylist.

My career spans over 15 years in wedding and event design. I began in the industry at the age of 18 and over this time, I’ve gained invaluable insight, extensive knowledge and incredible relationships on the Sunshine Coast. It has been a life dream of mine to own a business where I could grow intellectually and emotionally. So taking Simply Style Co. on was a huge decision for me and I was so nervous in the beginning, but I have an incredible support team and to be honest I am so proud of myself for taking the leap. I truly love what I do and I thoroughly enjoy seeing the weddings and events come to life with my styling and décor.

What’s new at Simply Style Co.?

We have just launched a brand-new range – The Casa Range! It’s a standout setting hand-crafted with solid teak timber and natural fibres. Perfect for guests to hang out on and will bring a modern feel to any space. We’re always on the lookout and sourcing quality furniture to complement our collection, and this fits perfectly with our values, expectations and will not disappoint. We cannot wait to feature this in our upcoming weddings.

How does Simply Style Co. stand out from the crowd?

I’m a lover of quality design, thoughtful details and the full sensory experience. I’m known to be a passionate stylist and work with a little playful humour. But most importantly I understand life is busy and hectic for engaged couples and although it is exciting and encouraging to have so much inspiration and choice available, it can be overwhelming. I am here to empower and educate couples to plan a day true to them and their story.

Share something that’s interesting about you, or something a lot of people don’t realise.

Most people may not know that my family heritage spans well over 105 years on the Sunshine Coast, mainly Noosa and Tewantin. This is my home and has been ‘home’ to our family for many years. So I guess you could say I am without a doubt “born and bred” on the Sunshine Coast. And in my time on the Sunshine Coast, I met Mark at high school when we were the young age of 16. We have been together nearly 18 years and – our love is still going strong.

Image credits: Lindy Photography, Estella Photo, Graeme Passmore Photography & Film.

Like what you see? Need a Wedding Stylist?

Contact Rachelle at Simply Style Co. to see if she can help you with your wedding styling and decor hire.

The post Rachelle Marian | A-list Vendor Profile appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

The thing I love about wedding stylist and owner of Simply Style Co. Chelsea Bennie’s creative flair is that it bestows an unmistakable sense of occasion, adding interest and well-put-togetherness without overpowering the actual occasion.

At a Simply Style Co. wedding, there are always pretty little things to look at, which peek out at you as unobtrusive little fancies that make you smile, but don’t distract from the task at hand, but facilitate it. You can really get on with the celebrating and feeling the romantic overtones present in Chelsea’s designs unencumbered. 

Learn more about Simply Style Co. in this here link. 

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We were out on a super busy day yesterday with a gah-gah gorgeous styled shoot for our upcoming magazine edition, due out at the end of this month. I started to get nostalgic about one of my favourite shoots we featured this time last year. Let us flashback… 

One of the prettiest styled shoots we have ever featured can be found on the pages of our free online magazine as our cover story for October 2013. It’s full of sparkles and glitter and all things gorgeous. A bunch of our A-list Vendors are responsible for creating this magical wedding inspiration, which makes us all warm and fuzzy inside! 

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A-Listers

Concept & Styling: Rustique Wedding Designs

Décor & Furniture: Moments in Vintage

Makeup and Hair: The Beauty Case

Flowers: Willow Bud

Photography: Ale & Kim / Cake: Cakes by Lou / Stationery: Gemma Lauren Invitations / Suit, Dress & Headpiece: When Freddie met Lilly / Venue: Metro Arts / Models: Laura Robinson & Reuben Chant / Film Processing: Raw Digital and Film Lab

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You may remember a few months ago we held a competition to win a bridal boudoir photo shoot. For our lucky winner, Renee, the two most important things were to use her own bridal veil and to have the shoot take place outdoors. Renee decided on an ethereal feel to her shoot, and as you can see the results are just beautiful – classy, modest and sophisticated.

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Wedding photographer Jodi McDonald found the perfect woodsy Sunshine Coast location and, of course, took these gorgeous photographs.

Trish from TF Makeup did a fabulous job on Renee’s makeup, which perfectly complemented Renee’s luscious locks, styled by Coastal Style Mobile Hairdressing. 

The beautiful floral wreath in Renee’s hair was crafted by Kate Dawes, and gorgeous vintage-style furniture provided by CL Weddings and Events.

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At least that's what lovely Sunshine Coast bride, Jane, found when she enlisted the help of her sister, Hayley Shum of Hayley Wholehearted, for the job of planning and executing her very special high tea bridal shower. from the decorating, to the food, the flowers and of course the tea cups, everything was perfect. The party was full of ladylike loveliness and genuine vintage pretties that had been locked away for years.

Take a look at the pretty and creative styling in these photos by Sunshine Coast wedding photographer, Greg Parsons Imaging and some words from the bridal shower stylist herself, Hayley. 

"We used all my Mum's antique tea cups that were passed down from my Nanna and Grandmother, and a lovely neighbour loaned me some of her vintage tea cups. These tea cups hadn't been used for years as they had been safely locked up in their display cupboards, so it was lovely to get them out and use them for such a special occasion.

 "My mum made a lot of the food and it looked and tasted beautiful!

"Guests were given tea for two packs to take home and matching tea etiquette cards to read so that we had good ladylike manners at the shower- and ladylike we were!

"I bought the flowers from the local markets and made them up myself, picking carnations to match the tissue paper poms. To keep it modern paper doilies were used rather than real ones and they were cut and delicately stitched into long garlands."

Are you a lovely bridal shower lass, or a last hurrah hen's night kinda gal? Let us know in the comments below on this here blog post.

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