Tamika + Tim

real life wedding inspo

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“It was the middle of Winter and I swear Killarney was the coldest place on the planet that night.” Caving in to the insistence of her friends, Tamika found herself at the Killarney rodeo with them, though it took some convincing to keep her there. “I nearly left halfway through and again my friends convinced me to stay and warm up around the fire pit.” Fortunately, she agreed because she says, “that’s where I spotted a very good looking Cowboy at the bar.”

When Tamika heard footsteps behind her, she turned around ready to pose for the photo, but instead found Tim down on one knee with the biggest smile and a gorgeous diamond ring! “He asked me to marry him and I ugly cried with happiness. He had set the phone up on video and caught the entire moment, so now we can relive it any time we like.” Asked if she had enough time to plan their wedding, she laughs, “Yes, almost too long.” They had one and a half years to plan, but she says she was extremely organised and had the entire wedding pretty much planned in six months. “I couldn’t wait to marry Tim, so it was very painful. But at the same time it was nice to not feel rushed or time sensitive.” Putting their heart and soul into every detail, she says their main focus was matching their vendors with their own personalities and style. “And they all 100% did, couldn’t have asked for better vendors.” Born and raised at Jimbour Station where her father Karl was the station manager, the wedding venue they would choose was never in doubt. “I had dreamed of getting married there ever since I could walk as it was the place I called home and held such a special place in my heart” she says. “I was the last of my family to be married at Jimbour House.” While every single one of their vendors went the extra mile, she says, “We couldn’t have done it without our Jimbour family. The staff at Jimbour who I obviously have known majority of my life were amazing to us.”

I will never forget my husband’s reaction as I walked down the aisle to him

When the day of their wedding finally arrived, it was perfect. A beautiful sunny day with the slightest bit of wind. “I will never forget my husband’s reaction as I walked down the aisle to him” she recalls, “the photo will speak for itself – it was the most amazing, surreal feeling.” Her memory of the first look with her dad will always hold a special place in her heart also. “A typical farmer who never shows emotion, cried when he first saw me in my wedding dress.” Having all of their loved ones in one place to celebrate with was “beyond special” says Tamika, remembering also the special moment she shared with her mum after getting into her dress - knowing that it was a once in a lifetime experience. Like all weddings of 2020, the effects of COVID restrictions were keenly felt. Due to border restrictions, their original photographer from New South Wales was locked out of Queensland, so two weeks out from their wedding, they found themselves on the hunt for a new photographer.

Bird and Boy Photography came to their rescue and she says, “they were more than we could have ever asked for. They were so easy to work with and captured our day exactly how we imagined it.” Their celebrant, Kate from Third Wheel Love Co, was another “huge, huge stand out” she says, “just so amazing, lovely and down to earth to deal with,” as was their florist, “Dalby Florist” who spent months and months planning their florals. Going with a western/boho theme, their dried and preserved flowers worked perfectly thanks to Helene, whose persistence trying to source the flowers during COVID paid off. Everyone loved their wedding singer, Nash, and their videographers were just the best, she says. “They had so many unique visions that we would have never even thought of and when we watched our teaser, we were mind blown that that was OUR wedding! It was epic!” So many of their guests said it was one of the most love filled and beautiful weddings they had ever been to, which meant the world to both Tamika and Tim. A fun addition to their wedding was a sweet table with Tim Tams. Tamika explains, “my nickname is Tam and my husband and I make TIM TAM, so it was only fitting.”

Tamika and Tim spent their first night at the bridal suite at Jimbour House after their long, amazing, emotional and exhausting wedding day came to an end. The honeymoon they had originally planned to America and Canada had to be cancelled due to the ban on international travel, so they planned to go across to Esperance in Western Australia instead – but that too had to be cancelled when the state borders closed! In the end, they stayed at Ramada by Wyndham at Marcoola Beach on the Sunshine Coast for a week, enjoying the couples massages at Soul Ocean Spa. They then travelled further north, visiting family at Mackay and Airlie Beach. “Coral Beach at Shute Harbour is a must see” says Tamika, “it’s a quiet little coral beach only accessible by boat or foot.” Asked if anything surprised them at their wedding, they reply, “how quickly the day went. People always warn you how quickly the day goes, but you don’t really understand until it happens. So much planning for one day, we just wished we could relive it 10 times over.” Looking back, Tamika says “all of the hard work is SO worth it. To be able to walk down the aisle to my husband on a day that we have created together was just the best feeling.”

Tamika’s wedding advice: Take time throughout the day to just stop and take it all in. Look at all of the guests, listen to the band, look at the decorations and venue that you have spent the last year and a half planning. And finally, take some time for just you and your new husband or wife – it’s such a hectic day and it’s so nice to just be still and appreciate your partner and how far you have come.

Wedding Date: 3rd October 2020 • Theme: Western/Boho• Number of Guests: ~84 • Wedding Song/Dance:Prayed for You by Matt Stell• Photographer: Bird and Boy Photography• Videographer: Mitch Birchall Studios • Bridal Gown : Zavana Bridal from Luxe Bridal Lounge • Bridesmaids Dresses: ASOS • Rings: Prouds Jewellers and Michael Hill Jewellers • Accessories: Amelie George Bridal, Rose Ranch Wear and ASOS• Hair & Makeup: Chantel Hart HMU• Grooms Suit: Connors• Groomsmen’s Suits : Connors• Ceremony: Jimbour House• Celebrant: Third Wheel Love Co• Entertainment: Nash • Florist: Dalby Florist • Cake: Made by sister in law, Maddie• Bomboniere: Tim Tams•