We have a spot of advice for you today, which has come from a woman very much in the know. Suzanne Riley is a savvy Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant, who always looks the part, so be sure to heed her advice, lovely brides…

So there is a list for everything!! But don’t we just love lists, we get everything done perfectly and we can tick things off! LOVE IT.

Its not every day we wear a lush gown,  have a room full of ladies helping us get ready and are preened from head to toe, so here are some tips to make the lead up to your walk down the aisle, flow as smooth as silk.

Here’s a common sense approach to getting dressed on your wedding day. Before you even reach for the gown, tick off this checklist. 

Holding your wedding here on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, the weather can be quite hot and sometimes sticky, so getting ready in air-conditioned comfort is something that can be pre-planned and is well worth the forethought.  This makes the process much more comfortable.

Here goes…

• Air-conditioning is on
• Your hair is perfect
• Teeth Cleaned
• If you have had your veil fixed by your hairdresser, then you will already have your veil attached if not, you can leave the veil until after the gown is fitted
• Pantyhose and shoes on – saves bending and creasing the dress or negotiating the gown if you put your shoes on first
• Underwear all in place
• Your makeup is complete – all powders (anything that can mark the gown) put away
• Deodorant on and dry
• Insect repellent on
• Sunscreen on
• Favourite fragrance on
• Jewellery can be fitted after the gown just in case of snags

wedding dresses available on the Sunshine Coast

NOW all of that is done…..  here are the last ‘must check’s’

• Do you need to go to the loo? This is your last chance realistically before you get to your reception so take advantage of one last visit!
• Any pets have been taken outside – we don’t want paw prints or claw pulls in the gown before we leave the house.
• Have something small and simple to eat, with nerves and excitement you may not have an appetite, but try to have something small, a sandwich, maybe have a protein drink or a small energy bar at least on hand and make sure you have ‘something’.  Your breath will smell sweeter, your blood sugar will thank you, you will probably find you are less emotional and there will be no fainting at the wedding.
• Many clean hands for the next step…. so everyone wash your hands, we’re about to tackle to gown….
• First choice for dress fitting is STEP INTO your gown if possible….. make sure your heels are securely on the floor and not on your gown at all before your gown is pulled up.  If your gown must be fitted over your head, wear a makeup saver over your hair/face whilst you’re being fitted into your gown.
• If your gown has a large separate underskirt, put this on first and fit the dress over your head.
• If your gown has many buttons or lace up ribbon, make sure to leave plenty of time for this as it can take longer than you imagine.
• If you need a nibble or to freshen up your makeup after the gown is fitted, protect the gown with a clean sheet, towel or makeup saver
• Final check….. Do you have your ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’?
• Take a deep breath!

Now you’re good to go.

Above images by Emma Nayler Photographer

Suzanne Riley has invaluable wedding knowledge by the basketfull. If you would like to learn more about this lovely lass and her wedding celebrant services here on the Sunshine Coast, you find all you need to know right here. 

The post To-do list before you even think about getting into your wedding dress appeared first on The Bride's Tree.

Amanda and Trev were highschool sweethearts, who fell truly, madly, deeply and hopelessly in love over exchange of sweet childish love letters. Those same love letters are the ones Trev bundled together in a vintage jewellery box for Amanda to open on her wedding day morning. How she turned up to her wedding ceremony without puffy eyes, we will never know! 

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This beautiful couple had a long engagement of four years before they finally tied the knot at gorgeous Sunshine Coast hinterland wedding venue, Flaxton Gardens. It was a perfect day, with their ceremony overlooking the gorgeous hinterland, which they say was their favourite part of the day. Kristy Ellis of Weddings with Kristy was their wedding celebrant, who engaged their guests and helped them to have the emotional, yet fun ceremony they had always wanted. 

We absolutely adore the colour scheme Amanda chose – the fresh white with hints of blue and coral are simply stunning and perfect for a Sunshine Coast wedding. We particularly love the florals by Ginger Lily & Rose Floral Studio with its nod to the colour theme in such a creative and intricate fashion. Love, love, love! 

Enjoy these beautiful photos by Sunshine Coast wedding photographer, NKN Photography.

“My advice to other brides is to use reputable and professionals for your wedding suppliers, their creativity and professionalism is worth every cent and you are less stressed for it.”

“I wanted a fresh, timeless look that had a modern palette using coral, white, grey and light blue.”

” As our children are very young it was important to us that our wedding was captured on film using a professional videographer that we thought would capture our personalities and our special moment as a family so we can all watch together and so that our children can see the commitment we have made to each other.”

“Our ceremony was the most special part of the day. It was so personal but fun at the same time. It was everything I had always imagined and it went perfectly.”

“Our very clever seven year old son (who was six at the time) read a beautiful and funny poem at the start of our ceremony which introduced what a wedding was all about and what our guests would be experiencing throughout our special day. Our guests loved it and were in fits of laughter, some were even crying.”

Wedding Secrets Revealed

Biggest Splurge: Videography and photography

Best Bargain: I bought my wedding shoes for $50 at Williams on sale

Bridal gown: Anna Campbell, Ivory Collection, ‘Grace’ Dress, $1099 From Eve Boutique

Accessories: Samantha Wills ‘Come Away With Me’ earrings and Pearl Bracelet

Shoes: C Est Bon $50.00 Williams Shoes

Bridesmaid dresses: Bariano One Shoulder Twist, $299.00 from Hoe Boutique

Bridesmaids’ accessories: Samantha Wills Amour Noir Earrings, $75 each from Eve Boutique, they wore their own shoes

Groom’s suit and shoes: Always Habit Paddington, $650.00

Groomsmens’ suits and shoes: Roger David $275 each

DIY: We made a chalkboard sign the day before our wedding of our love story and our children illustrated it  with pictures of themselves playing guitars and love hearts. We also had homemade cookies as bonboniere and a cool drink coaster that had “Eat, Drink, Dance – To you and to yours“,  and our names and our wedding date written on it.

Number of guests: 80

Wedding budget: $25,000

“My husband surprised me with a beautiful pearl bracelet and had a vintage jewellery box filled with love letters we had written each other over the last nine years. As I was in school when I met Trev some of them were so funny and childish. I really appreciated this as Trev isn’t the most emotional person I know.”

“The weather was amazing, not a cloud in the sky. There was a slight breeze however which made for great photos of my veil floating in the soft wind.”

“We decided to swap the standard sit down entree to cocktail food out on the terrace which gave us more time to mingle with our guests, the food was amazing, all our guests have complimented this aspect to our wedding. Then we moved inside the Winery Room to our mains which were Twice Cooked Pork Belly in a soy jus and Pan Roasted NorthTerritory Barramundi, we had a Cherry Ripe Chocolate Mudcake by Sunny Girl Cakes for dessert with a traditional top layer of fruit cake which we have kept for our first year anniversary, this was served with coconut Icecream and raspberry coulis”

Amanda & Trev’s Hand-picked Team That Made It Happen

Venue and catering: Flaxton Gardens

Photographer: NKN Photography

Florist: Ginger Lily & Rose Floral Studio

Cake: Sunny Girl Cakes

Celebrant: Weddings with Kristy

Makeup Artist: Makeup 4 Brides         

Hair Stylist: Hair 4 Brides

Videographer: Sunshine Coast Videography

DJ: Moove It DJs / Stationery Supplier: Invitation Designs By Eliza

The post Family Wedding at Flaxton Gardens 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.“

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