Ruffles & Cake | Edition 13 | May 2016

ruffles & cake

REAL COUPLE

E LYC E & S T E V E

E D I T I O N 13 / M AY 2016

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE TRUE CELEBRATION THAT WEDDINGS ARE ABOUT

INSIDE THE ROMANTIC WEDDING OF

Chantelle & l l i e 'N O n i t s Ju PLUS MEET FIVE COUPLES WHO MIX WORK AND PL AY READ OUR TOP TIPS FOR SETTING A BUDGET YOU CAN STICK TO BE INSPIRED BY FOUR REAL WEDDINGS + MUCH MORE

2 0 1 5 B E ST N O N DA I LY P U B L I C AT I O N | Q U E E N S L A N D M U LT I M E D I A AWA R D S

Introducing our brand new function centre full of atmosphere with a unique, rustic charm.

WEDDINGS | ENGAGEMENTS | BIRTHDAYS | SOCIAL & CORPORATE EVENTS + MORE

68 MCILWRAITH STREET SOUTH TOWNSVILLE OR GROUND FLOOR ALLURE HOTEL & APARTMENTS PHONE: 0401 178 652 | EMAIL: INFO@ALLUREEVENTS.COM.AU

The Fashion Gallery 157 Stanley Street, Townsville Phone 4721 2330

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CONTENTS + EDITOR'S NOTES

EDITOR'S NOTES

CONTENTS

DRESSES WE LOVE MEET CECELIA + DOUG

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6.

Hello everyone, and welcome to our first edition for 2016!

Not only did 2015 see two inspiring editions of Ruffles & Cake print, but incase you missed it; we also topped the cake by taking home the coveted award of 'Best Non Daily Publication' at the 2015 Queensland Multi Media Awards in November. It was also the year we gave away our second major wedding giveaway in the lifetime of our publication, seeing Nina and Gavin win a Pop Up Wedding in Port Douglas this July thanks to The Elopement Collective!

ALLURE EVENTS

I've spent a lot of time thinking before planning this edition about what I'd enjoy reading (especially being engaged myself!) - I wanted inspiring real weddings with lots of pictures and honest, quality advice you'll actually absorb.

And I think we've nailed that one on the head. I'm also really excited that this edition has a great mix for everyone.

Whether you're the curious reader who's stumbled across Ruffles smack bang inside the Townsville Bulletin, or you're engaged and have been hanging out for our latest edition; our pages are the perfect light-hearted Saturday morning read for each of you. You'll be sure to notice a familiar face or two, as well. We're so excited to chat to Cowboys player Justin O'Neill and wife Chantelle about their special day, who of course are gracing our cover this edition, check out more from their day on page 34! Oh, and because we love supporting young, up and coming local talent, be sure to grab your free poster on page 22 by the super talented Emily Ingham, who's stopped by to take over our pages with her beautiful artwork (hint: page 22 as well!)

CHANTELLE + JUSTIN O'NEILL

L I Z + PA U L

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6 | Dresses we love Simplicity + Texture 8 | He Said – She Said Meet local couple Elyce + Stevie 12 | The Secret Garden Real chats with the lady behind the blooms, Claire Hampton

We aren’t shy in thinking our publication is pretty great - but we want you to shout it out, too! Share it, tag us; go to town on Instagram. We love seeing you enjoy Ruffles!

Don't forget to use #rufflesandcakemag. I hope you love this edition as much as I do! As always - happy planning! x

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22 | Where to tie the knot Back to basics advice on the three usual locations to say I do

16 | How We Work Meet five couples who work and play together

24 | Forever kind of love Meet local duo Cecelia + Doug

20 | Allured by Allure Townsville's newest venue

28 | Real Weddings Four seriously inspiring, real weddings

26.

A RT IST TA KEOVER | MEET EMILY IN GH A M T Age 20 My happy place is My bedroom. I love that place! Would always wear lipstick Would never change anything. I believe everything happens for a reason. Makes you the person you are today. Most creative when I'm happy and enjoying life. Inspired by My mum of course. And CJ Hendry. All time favourite artwork too many to pick a favourite! What’s ahead of me Head to Melbourne to study design and continue my dreams.

@rufflesandcakemag

@nickevansphoto

26 | FREE Emily Ingham Poster Artist Takeover

@emilyingham1 lipstickandrouge

ruffles & cake

@_bambis_

ruffles & cake

34.

14 | Indebted to Love Our advice on sticking to the dreaded 'B' word

Skye Bree Editor and Creative Director @sbcreativeco_

24.

EDITION 11 / AUGUST 2015

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE TRUE CELEBRATION THAT WEDDINGS ARE ABOUT

rufflesandcake

V I S I T W W W. R U F F L E S A N D C A K E . C O M . A U

P U B L I C AT I O N D E S I G N

SUBMISSIONS

ADVERTISING

C O N TA C T U S

SB Creative Co. hello@sbcreativeco.com.au

Interesting story idea or ah-mazing real wedding? Email us at

Jocene Abberton jocene.abberton@news.com.au ph. 4722 4425

Ruffles & Cake 2/2 Blackwood St, Townsville City ph. 0447 370 087

@rufflesandcakemag

inside >

PLUS FOUR REAL, LOCAL AH-MAZING WEDDINGS

submissions@rufflesandcake.com.au

COPYRIGHT RUFFLES & CAKE © 2016. RUFFLES & CAKE IS A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION. WHIST EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PUBLISHED WITHIN OUR MAGAZINE, NO RESPONSIBILITY NOR ANY LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR INACCURACY FOR SUBMISSIONS BY ORGANISATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS AND/OR PRINTERS ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS IN RUFFLES & CAKE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER.

TOP 5 TIPS FOR SAYING I DO IN GOOD HEALTH AND GOOD SPIRIT LEARN TO HONEYMOON GL AMPING ST YLE + MUCH MORE

READ OUR ONLINE E D I T I O N S A N Y T I M E AT RUFFLESANDCAKE.COM.AU

06 | DRESSES WE LOVE

SIMPLICITY + TEXTURE

Dresses we love Simplicity + Texture Local find

Anya Gown Jennifer Gifford Designs jennifergifforddesigns.com

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Local find

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Local find

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1 | Sadie One Day Bridal onedaybridal.com.au

4 | Portafino Wedding Gowns by Melinda In-store

2 | Roxanne Wendy Makin Design In-store / BellaDonna Bridal

5 | Rose Alfred Angelo In-store / The Fashion Gallery

3 | Francis Grace Loves Lace graceloveslace.com.au

6 | Verdelle Grace Loves Lace graceloveslace.com.au

E LYC E & S T E V I E

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HE SAID / SHE SAID STEVIE | 29 MC of King Social and Sales Consultant

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Occupational Therapist

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08 | REAL COUPLE

09 | REAL COUPLE

E LYC E & S T E V I E

" I came home one Friday evening from work and thought Elyce might like to go to the movies.

I asked her if she would be interested, only to get her annoyed response of “Can we stay home? The Broncos are playing the Cowboys tonight.”

- STEVIE

HOW WE MET

T H E F I R ST D AT E

THE FIRST I LOVE YO U

He said – It was New Year's Eve in Cairns. We were introduced by a mutual friend on the dance floor where I was no doubt luring Elyce with my moves.

He said – I don’t know if we ever really dated. She did help me explore areas of JCU library as she studied and I Myspaced.

He said – All I know is that I try to make sure I say it every day – whether I'm leaving the house for work or just before we go to sleep.

She said – This one is a little embarrassing. I met Stevie in Cairns at a New Year’s Eve party at Gilligan’s. A mutual friend introduced us and it just so happened that it was about to strike midnight. Well, as tradition goes, you must kiss someone when the clock strikes 12, and we have kept that tradition ever since!

She said –We are probably the most unconventional couple you will ever meet! We didn’t really have a first date, and if we did I’ve completely forgotten what it was (sorry Stevie). We have a lot of mutual friends, so we just ended up hanging a lot. I think the first time we were actually considered an item was at Stevie’s younger brother’s 18th. That’s when I met his family, so things were clearly getting a little more serious then.

She said – Is it bad that I don’t remember? There have been countless “I love you's” over the years and we manage to say it every day so the first one is irrelevant.

T H E F I R ST VA L E N T I N E S

He said – I hate the stupid day and Elyce knows this. One year however, I was smart enough to take the advice of one of my groomsmen, Kieran. He suggested I take the food route with three types of oysters; natural, kilpatrick and some with passionfruit puree (which we had recently had on a trip to Cairns). The oysters were accompanied by white and dark chocolate covered strawberries, along with a note saying, 'I hate this pretend day… But I love you, so you win'.

She said – Our Valentine's Days have always been low key; we never make too much of a fuss. Stevie actually refers to Valentine's day as 'Pretend love day'. In saying that, I have scored some awesome V-Day gifts and gestures. One year Stevie made me the most delicious oysters and chocolate dipped strawberries. I guess I can’t ever really remember a disastrous V-Day so that has to be a plus, right?

FINDING THE ONE

He said – I came home one Friday evening from work and thought Elyce might like to go to the movies. I asked her if she would be interested, only to get her annoyed response of “Can we stay home? The Broncos are playing the Cowboys tonight.”

She said – I can’t ever really remember a time when I didn’t think Stevie was ‘the one’. We did roll through some interesting times when I was at Uni and Stevie had just started an apprenticeship. We shared one car, we were dirt broke and we were both reasonably young and naive. But we never really argued and certainly never disappointed each other, so if anything, that probably brought us close together.

10 | REAL COUPLE

E LYC E & S T E V I E

" ...the way that Stevie makes me laugh. Sometimes we laugh at the most ridiculous things, and it is usually exactly what I need at the time.”

- E LYC E THE BEST MOMENTS

He said – We’ve been so lucky over the years to have had such an amazing group of close friends to share our lives with.

Together we’ve watched each other play sport, travelled on holidays, had BBQ’s, dinners and beers. It’s been ten years but it’s just the beginning which is exciting.

She said – After so many years I’ve lost count! Stevie and I always talk about the great things we have been able to do over the years, particularly celebrating significant life events of our friends, including engagements, weddings and recently – babies! But I would have to admit some of my fondest and proudest memories have been watching Stevie achieve everything he has strived for with the band King Social. When we first met he would get embarrassed and wouldn’t even tell me when a gig was coming up, and now, well he owns that stage. And what you see is exactly what you get – a genuine, straight up hardworking guy!

THE SMALL THINGS YO U LOVE

He said – People may think Elyce is tough but she’s really a massive softy. She loves animals, she loves her family and friends and would do anything for them. She’s completely selfless.

She said – That would have to be the way that Stevie makes me laugh. Sometimes we laugh at the most ridiculous things, and it is usually exactly what I need at the time. Otherwise I would have to say the way he treats people. Obviously he doesn’t do that for my benefit, but it is the quality I love most about him. He is genuinely the nicest guy and would do anything for his family and friends. And just for the record – I am as tough as nails.

THE PROPOSAL

THE WEDDING

He said – It started rocky, but then it couldn’t have worked out any better. Elyce’s wonderful Mum lives on Magnetic Island and we often spend time in Geoffrey Bay. Our amazing friend helped me put together a deep timber photo frame with a proposal note inside. I then had my soon-to-be brother-in-law Nathan to head down to the beach and set up a picnic I had put together, with champagne and the framed proposal ready for Elyce to 'stumble upon' when we went for a walk down the beach. Unfortunately, Elyce fell ill from a seafood lunch we’d had earlier that day and refused my invite to come on my romantic walk! So we postponed it to the following day and thankfully it all still went to plan.

He said – The wedding is coming along well... We’re having it at the Heritage Tea Rooms at Herveys Range which is a beautiful location. It’s going to be cold but how often can you say that for a NQ wedding. I can’t wait to see everyone who’s travelling.

She said – Oh the proposal… this one I won’t forget! Stevie and I were on the island visiting mum for Christmas. I had ruined his initial plans of proposing the day before by eating seafood and having a rotten allergic reaction. Feeling slightly better the next day, Stevie convinced me to go for a walk down to Geoffrey Bay. My brother had conveniently gone to the corner store and our friends Tim and Teish decided they would come for a walk as well. Half way down the road Teish ‘forgot’ her camera and Tim needed to ‘use the toilet’ so they went back to the house. Stevie and I continued on down to the beach where we came across a picnic blanket which had some champagne, two glasses and a wrapped present all laid out. The rest is exactly how you would imagine. I unwrapped the present and inside was a photo frame that read – “You’re already as crazy as a Mitchell, so hurry up and let’s make it official. Will you marry me?” Stevie was down on one knee and I was in tears. I tried to tell him to stand up, so I could kneel, I was so confused! It was absolutely perfect!

Tim, Teish and my brother watched the whole thing unfold and took some great pictures. Talk about a detailed plan of action! A moment I will never ever forget.

She said – We are having our ceremony and reception at Hervey’s Range Heritage Tea Rooms and our style is a laid back forest/garden. We are hoping to enjoy the cool evenings Townsville has to offer in June, so we also have some amazing fire pits ready to go! The wedding is just around the corner for us now, so we are pretty much ready to go, apart from those last minute things!

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1 2 | R E A L C H AT S

THE SECRET GARDEN

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Where did it all start?

My mum is a florist and used to own a business here in Townsville back in the day. I learnt almost everything I know from working alongside her! Funnily enough though I was never really interested in pursuing a career in floral design then.

Fast forward to 2012 when a friend of mine was getting married in Canberra. I jokingly said I could do her wedding flowers for her - I mean, how hard could it be?

We headed to the Sydney Flower Markets (be still my beating heart -that place is amazing!) where we just picked all the flowers she liked. When we got back to her place, I was quietly panicking; thinking that I may have bitten off more than I could chew on one of the most memorable days of her life. But her confidence in me saw me create my first wedding bouquet. I enjoyed every minute of it, and thankfully, she loved it too! It was actually the Sydney Flower Market that got me thinking about doing something here in Townsville; the variety of flowers was unlike anything I had seen here before and they were all reasonably priced.

MEET

CL AIRE HAMPTON Floral designer at The Secret Garden, doughnut aficionado and full time mumma bear to two sweet baby cubs.

Two years ago I started out with a floral market stall offering organically unstructured bunches of what was considered 'different and unusual' blooms, wrapped in brown craft paper and tied off with jute twine. I wanted the blooms to shine and I believe glossy, coloured cellophane distracts the eye.

I then introduced the '$30 daily delivery deal'. The concept didn't really take off (which admittedly had me a little disheartened). After moving to the other side of the country from my husband’s work - and then back again seven months later with a newborn and toddler in tow - I had a fresh drive to reestablish what I had started. So, after a little rebranding and brainstorming, The Secret Garden we know now was reborn!

What does a typical day look like for you?

Absolute organised chaos! I work from home with the girls and my whole business day is planned around their schedules. But somehow with lots of snacks and hands on involvement from them, we make it work. They love coming to the wholesaler with me every morning and actually help pick the flowers and join me on deliveries for everyday bunches in the afternoons. I'm most

productive at night, so that's when I get to all of my emails, to do lists and wedding quotes (which seems to work out for a lot of people as I find myself having plenty of after hours Facebook chats with brides about their blooms).

What sets The Secret Garden apart?

Flowers are often viewed as a luxury or for special occasions but I want to show that simplistic and seasonal designs can be both beautiful and affordable.

I operate on the basis of offering a different selection of fresh seasonal blooms each weekday, which can be ordered in three different sizes with the prices all inclusive of delivery. This makes for a fuss-free ordering experience and also reduces waste due to a supply and demand ordering system. I also collaborate with other small local businesses to add a little edge; like doughnut day for example. Get all over that if you haven't already.

All time favourite blooms?

Oh man, that's a tough one; it's like asking me who my favourite kid is. But, it would have to be blushing brides.

Trends you’re lovin’?

For sure natives are back in a big way and I love it! The variety of tones, textures and forms means they can be adapted to suit any style. I love that there is something for every taste, and I might upset a few brides here but there is no place for Gerberas or dyed flowers anymore.

Done. Finito. Over.

‘In a nutshell’ advice for brides-to-be?

Simplicity always wins. It's easy to get caught up and want it all, but your wedding day should be a reflection of you and your lover so that when you look back on your photos you still wouldn't change a thing.

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14 | ADVICE

INDEBTED TO LOVE

It’s the dreaded ‘B’ word that no bride is keen to discuss. But setting (and sticking to) a wedding day budget is an art —that when managed can make all the difference in achieving a happy ending to your fairytale day.

Words Sarah Bell

So how should you go about setting an accurate budget for your big day (note: the inclusion of the word ‘accurate’) — and more importantly, how do you stick to it?

GE T C RU NC HING E A RLY

It’s vital that you and your partner decide on a fail proof system of keeping track of your spending early on in the piece. Keep a close eye on the dollars coming in and the ones going out with a good old-fashioned spreadsheet. Within the spreadsheet, have a column for estimated costs versus actual, so if something comes in under budget, you know you’ve got a little bit of fat to spend elsewhere. Make sure you’re realistic about what you and your partner can afford, taking into consideration what your parents might be willing to contribute. Also, think about creating a separate account for your wedding expenses so it’s easy to see where things are at, at a glance.

BR AIN DUMP AND BE RE AL ABOUT THE FIGURES

$

o your boy has finally popped the question and the wheels are in motion for your big day—date is set, bridesmaids chosen, style decided. Huzzah!

Now what? That knot you feel tightening in your stomach isn’t cold feet. It’s the looming reality that despite how enchanted you envisage your big day being, there’s absolutely nothing enchanting about the amount of money it’s likely to set you and your man back.

According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the average amount couples spend on their wedding day in Australia is $36,200—and considering that’s on par with what you’d expect to pay for a reasonable house deposit, suffice to say, working within your means is pretty key to making sure life post-nuptials is not laden with stress due to money woes.

INDEBTED TO LOVE

The wedding budget has always been considered one of the most important components within the wedding planning phase. After all, the size of a couple’s budget influences everything from the size of the guest list to the size of the bride’s bouquet.

But what’s the point of having a budget when time and time again costs seem to blow out? The fact is: wedding day budgets are fairly non-negotiable. After all, returning home from your honeymoon only to be met by an ugly figure on your credit card statement is akin to getting smacked in the face with a smelly, wet sock straight after you’ve had a facial.

When you pull figures out of thin air for your budget, the only person you’re fooling is yourself. Take the time to brainstorm all the tiny details of the day and then research actual costs for these components. When you see it all in front of you too, you’ll be able to decide what’s worth the money and what can be compromised.

PRIO RIT IS E A ND T RIM

Consider the last couple of weddings you’ve been to. What awesome things do you remember about the day? Chances are, the things that stood out to you then are the things that are important to you now. Have you and your partner write a list of the top two or three non-negotiables (ie. live band at the reception, brilliant photography, arriving on a speedboat). Once you know what’s important to each of you, prioritise spending more on those things. Everything else can take a backseat.

CO NS IDER T HE B IG PIC T U RE— B E YO ND YO U R B IG DAY

It’s important to discuss with your partner what you want the 12 months post-wedding to look like. Do you want to go on a big holiday to Europe? Buy a new car? Save a deposit for a house? Start a family? Knowing what the big picture looks like will help you say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to certain things when planning your wedding day. Let’s be honest, if saying ‘no’ to personalised bonbonnieres means an extra week in Italy, are you really going to think twice about ditching them? No signora!

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1 6 | F E AT U R E

HOW WE WORK

Photo SB Creative Co.

How we work Mixing work and play has always been a touchy topic, but Ruffles chats to couples who have found their sweet spot—working together and still madly in love.

How did you meet? On a night out with mutual friends (that’s the diplomatic answer…the real one is at a nightclub!)

How much ‘shop’ do you allow yourselves to talk at home? Too much, especially at BAS time! Damien hates questions like “on the 17th what did you purchase for $21.50?” He usually replies with “I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday so good luck with that!”

Are there any subjects that are out of bounds?

Damien: No, we are always giving each other life advice…especially Kirsty! We really are best of friends though so there is nothing off limits and it's never uncomfortable no matter what the topic. Kirsty is a great listener. I am a real estate agent so she kind of has to be!

Most peculiar habits of the other: Kirsty: Whistling a tune or singing out loud when he has headphones on at his computer. Damien: Tripping and falling over the same piece of step tread from the tea room to the back office that has been there from the day we moved in...

I think we are up to six or seven times now! And this is despite the big yellow piece of tape that highlights the hazard.

KIRST Y + DAMIEN KEYES & CO. PROPERT Y

What are the greatest challenges you’ve had to work through in terms of being business partners?

Setting up a new company from scratch in a time when the climate was already challenging, as well as the uncertainty of how it would all pan out would have to be right up there. We completed our office fit out with a vision in mind rather than a budget and we were both either stubborn enough or perhaps ignorant is the better word, to see it through. We were ecstatic with the finished product then suddenly realised that we had both become pre-occupied with it and our resources were completely tapped out, so Damien had to shift the focus back to sales quick smart. For that first year, we pretty much lived deal to deal so there were some lessons learnt there! Looking back at what we did as a couple,

it just gave us enormous confidence in other areas of our life. We head into projects now (be it a renovation, fundraising for charity, business idea etc.) and pretty much if we can convince each other that it should work then we are both 100% all in; no questions asked. That is a huge part of our success as a couple, without a doubt.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Damien likes to go to the gym at 5am and I am addicted to podcasts, so I’ll listen to them while getting organised for the day ahead.

Who’s a better cook? Damien: Kirsty, although I do a lot of the simple stuff like a BBQ that we throw together most nights. But when Kirsty pulls out her recipe book and has time on her side, she is unstoppable! She has wowed many a guest when we have had dinner parties (which unfortunately is not often, given all the commitments we have at the moment).

What’s the one piece of advice for making it work as business and life partners? Patience! Kidding… I think knowing each other’s roles in both business and also life and respecting each other for what they do by showing appreciation from time to time in absolutely key. Also, actually say the words… after all, we often assume the other half appreciates what we do but it goes a long way when you actually show it. The other tip is to take time out for each other regularly and reconnect as a couple.

We often find when times get tough and you are both burning the candle at both ends and being pulled in many different directions all at once that things can get stressful and you just need to step back for a moment.

The other ‘things' will always be there, so don’t react every time a new ‘thing’ drops in front of you. Make time to have dinner together or even just sit up and chat about nothing in particular; as long as it’s not work related - that’s the main thing.

1 7 | F E AT U R E

JESSE + KENNY

HOW WE WORK

reason with each other and agree to disagree or listen and see the other's point of view. It really depends on the day and how stressed we are. We are both very head strong but have agreed to run certain areas of the business and trust each other's instinct if it is 'their' area.

MY HANDSOME

Are there any subjects that are out of bounds? Nothing is out of bounds because we are a team. Whether it’s our business relationship or personal relationship, we believe to achieve success you really need to lay it all out onto the table and work things out together.

"Nothing is out of bounds, because we are a team."

Most peculiar habits at work? Kenny: Jesse often takes up to three hours to drink a small coffee. Jesse: Kenny tweaks my ideas or designs just enough so they become his ideas.

What are the greatest challenges you’ve had to work through in terms of being business partners? Kenny: Deciding who has to do the house jobs after a massive day at work that has been both mentally and physically exhausting.

- JESSE + KENNY

Who’s in charge of cooking dinner after a big day? Whoever steps through the front door first is on dinner duties.

How did you meet? Kenny: Jesse was the new girl in town and I happened to finally bump into her. Jesse: We met camping with family friends when we were teenagers. It was Easter weekend in the Riverland in South Australia, 2002.

How long have you been ‘Jesse & Kenny’? We have been Jesse and Kenny for almost half our lives. We met quite young; I was 16 and Kenny was 18. We really have grown up together and have shared in one adventure after another. We’ve travelled around Australia, become miners, appeared on Channel 9’s ’The Block’, and now we are creating a business that we hope continues to grow into something that we can be really proud of.

How do you go receiving advice or feedback from your partner? At first we think the other doesn’t know what they’re talking about. After a bit of fun and competitive bickering, we

How do you like to relax? We love heading down to the Strand with Xena, our wolfhound-x in the back of our van so we can just have a bit of time out to re-energise as a family.

How do you find a balance between your personal and professional lives? We are still very much in the building phase of our business so there isn’t much of a personal life to be honest.

We are very lucky if we get a full day off together and if we do, we head out for breakfast or lunch somewhere so we can enjoy what Townsville has to offer.

What’s the one piece of advice for making it work as business and life partners? Accept from the beginning that you’re going to have highs and lows and that’s okay. Choose what areas each person has the final say on so that you both know what areas to focus on and what areas you can trust the other to focus on.

SAR AH + C AMERON CAMERON & CO.

How did you meet? We met on the blocks of the Tobruk pool at a swimming carnival and were competing in the same relay. Cameron heard a cheeky voice behind him giving him an education on how to swim. Later down the track we bumped into each other in Melbourne during first year university and the rest as they say is history.

How long have you been ‘Sarah and Cameron’? Since June the 13th, 1983.

What was it that attracted you to one another? Sarah: Cameron and I were hedonistic as young people and we both loved travel, food and wine. We had similar family upbringings and shared a sense of humour. Cameron: Sarah has a cheeky personality, good looks and a joie de vivre.

Favourite thing about working together? We can combine holidays with conferences. Sarah: We get to share lunch and if I forgot to bring it he will always have something. Cameron: Being a family business it’s good to have the support of your spouse at work.

How do you like to relax? Friday lunch is a favourite pastime; it’s the beginning of the weekend and time to sum up the week as well as making future plans.

What are the greatest challenges you’ve had to work through in terms of being business partners? Coordinating family and business priorities often involves sacrifice.

Who’s in charge of cooking dinner after a big day? We take turns at cooking. It usually works out who is at home first. We take the 'mystery box' approach, you look in the fridge and pantry and see what you can create.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? Stumble out of bed in the dark and get ready for exercise and/or the day.

Has your personal life ever accidentally crossed over into your work life? Sarah: I will have to admit that I am Cameron’s worst client in the dental chair. The minute I sit in his treatment room you can see his blood pressure rising, but he has to stay as professional as possible smiling through gritted teeth. And then come the jokes and double entendre which breaks the ice for whoever is lucky enough to be assisting him on the day!

How do you find a balance between your personal and professional lives? We work our week Monday to Thursday, with slightly longer days so we're able to have Friday to get jobs done, travel, go to conferences or lunch.

What is your ideal holiday or favourite escape together?

We travel to eat and drink and meet interesting people. We sometimes go 'off the beaten track'; like Crete in the Greek Islands where the culture is unscathed and there is history.

What’s the one piece of advice for making it work as business and life partners? Having your own job descriptions helps.

Respect each other like any other team member.

1 8 | F E AT U R E

HOW WE WORK

BRITT + JOSH THE ELOPEMENT COLLECTIVE

"Josh had called me the night before and told me that he had been in love with me for the past five years.

The next day, it was like I knew! "

How did you meet? Britt: I had first connected with Josh through his Facebook fan page, which I messaged after I realised that he had resigned from the radio station that I listened to on my drive to work. I wanted to encourage him, and I wanted him to know that someone noticed he was gone. It was the most innocent email I’ve ever sent, and to be honest, I never really wanted to hear back.

Josh and I met in person a few weeks after my eighteenth birthday. It was over B grade Italian food on the Gold Coast and the iPhone had just been released and seemed to get more of Josh’s attention than the $210 Sass and Bide top I had bought for the occasion. Fast forward five years, after half a decade of pure friends zone, world travel, ex boyfriends and countless postcards- Josh confessed that he'd been in love with me since day one!

What’s Britt's most peculiar habit at work? She always has to have candles burning, they smell lovely but I don't understand it.

How long have you been ‘Britt and Josh’? We have been Britt and Josh since December 3rd 2011. Josh had called me the night before and told me that he had been in love with me for the past five years. The next day, it was like I knew!

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Instagram, Facebook and emails? We know, it's bad. It's one habit that we're trying to break- we've been talking for months about not having our phones by our beds.

How much ‘shop’ do you allow yourselves to talk at home? Oh my gosh, way too much. That's the thing about the industry that we're in- yes it's business and yes you have to be professional but you also have to pour your heart and soul into every social media post, every phone call, every email and every wedding. There is no such thing as an off day- we're 24/7!

How do you go receiving advice or feedback from your partner? We both suck at this. We are both so strong willed and pig headed- but this works for us. It's a journey and we can only get better and better.

- BRITT

Josh's most peculiar habit at work? He can only do one thing at once.

Who’s in charge of cooking dinner after a big day?

Our local take out! They know our order off by heart, we usually call when we're on our way home from an elopement.

How do you like to relax? Breakfast is our thing. We have our favourite cafe that we go to, and even if we can only squeeze in a quick bite together before rushing off to start our day, it sets things off right! We both thrive off quality time together.

What is your ideal holiday or favourite escape together? We are overseas six times this year for elopements- we always try to sneak in a little together time too while we can. As corny as this sounds, it's not the destination that matters- it's just fun exploring a place together... but if we had to choose, New York.

What’s the one piece of advice for making it work as business and life partners? Britt: Pick your battles.

Remember that one of your roles in life is to love this other person whole heartedly- this helps when you want to punch them in the face! Josh: Know your 'why' so that when you and your partner are arguing about the 'what', one of you can remind the other why you're here.

M E L + H A R RY T H E S P I R I T E D G OAT

How did you meet? Melissa was a manager at a cafe.

She went on holidays and when she came back, Harry was the new guy!

What’s your favourite thing about working together?

I think it's easier. We work together really well as a team and a lot of the time we just do things without talking about it. Harry: I rely and trust Mel more than anyone in the world, so it makes running a cafe much easier... and we are terrible at being apart. Melissa: Harry makes me feel relaxed and calm and I get the occasional kiss during work.

How do you go receiving advice or feedback from your partner? It's hard sometimes but we both have our strengths and weaknesses, that's why we make such a good team.

Most peculiar habits? Mel: Not really a habit, but even after all these years Harry is still not a very good morning person. Harry: Mel doesn't really have any odd habits. She can be a perfectionist though.

What are the greatest challenges you’ve had to work through in terms of being business partners? I guess it's just the balance of making the business work and having a normal and enjoyable personal life together as well. The stress of running a business together can sometimes be overwhelming, but we have always made it work.

Who’s in charge of cooking dinner after a big day? I cook most of the time at home but Harry is a better cook at work and loves bringing out the big guns on special occasions.

How do you like to relax? We love spending our evenings having a few drinks and winding down on our deck with friends. We are also both pretty active and enjoy keeping fit.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Whether we are going to work or having the occasional day off, it's always having a coffee!

What is your ideal holiday or favourite escape together? We have had so many amazing trips, including backpacking around Europe for six months! But I think our favourite escape is a hiking holiday in Tasmania. We love it down there.

What’s the one piece of advice for making it work as business and life partners? Learn how to forgive each other after a bad day at work and make sure you take the time to realise the amazing things you have achieved together.

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20 | STORY

ALLURE E VENTS

Words Geoffrey Knight Photo SB Creative Co.

ALLURE EVENTS When it comes to weddings, Townsville is one the world’s best destinations. We have the Great Barrier Reef and Magnetic Island on our doorstep to lure wedding guests from interstate, we enjoy over 300 days of sunshine every year for those perfect wedding photos, and we have some of the best restaurants and venues to enjoy the finest food, wine and of course great company. But what we’ve never had is a wedding reception venue quite like Allure Events… that is, until now.

When you walk through the doors of Allure Events, you’re met with a sentence painted on the wall above a plush velvet chaise-inspired lounge. It says, “Simple elegance with a suggestion of sexiness. Nothing vulgar, darling.” That, in a nutshell, sums up Allure Events.

“There’s a number of traditional wedding venues in Townsville, but Allure Events offers something completely new and different,” said Kalvin. “We wanted to create something unique, something that personifies romance and style and passion, but a place where people can have fun and enjoy themselves as well.”

With its French villa-inspired interior design and idyllic lighting, Allure Events embodies a chic, rustic charm. It’s the perfect blend of “cosmopolitan cool” and modern fairytale romance.

“We were after a secret French garden look, something contemporary and romantic,” said Wes. “We put together a collage of images that inspired us that we gave to our designer. We sat down and worked together to achieve the look we wanted, but it was also important to give ourselves the ability to change the look to suit different needs and requests.”

“If the rustic, romantic garden isn’t what you want, we’ve designed the room so that we can easily re-dress it,” added Kalvin. “The decorative foliage can be removed, the painted screens can be swapped over and the whole room can be transformed.”

Inside, Allure Events is the type of venue that feels spacious yet intimate all at once. It can seat up to 160 guests comfortably, or cater for a maximum of 250 for cocktail events.

As destiny would have it, Crown on Palmer – Allure Event’s sister venue which Kalvin and Wes now also own and manage – was where the two friends first met. A mutual musician buddy introduced them, and three years later the pair decided to join forces and become business partners,

and now they’re running both Crown on Palmer and Allure Events.

“We’re very hands on,” said Kalvin. “That’s the big difference between us and other wedding reception venues.

When you want to organise your special day at Allure Events, you won’t be talking to an events manager, you’ll be talking with us, the owners. We can discuss food and drinks menus to suit your needs. You want your wedding day to be perfect in every way. It’s our job to make sure that happens.”

Kalvin’s can-do attitude and energy is infectious, while Wes’s calm and friendly nature is warm and inviting. The combination makes for the perfect business partnership.

“He’s the one with the business brain,” said Wes of Kalvin.

“And he’s the people person,” responded Kalvin in return.

Once the two young entrepreneurs had committed to opening the venue, there was no stopping the Allure Events train from moving full steam ahead.

“We opened on December 6 last year and we were still getting things finished off to the last minute,” said Kalvin.

“We had our first function at 6pm and at five minutes to six the plumber was still here, but the client was so adamant to host the first event at Allure that there was no stopping us.

It was a huge success.”

Talking to these two young business owners, “no stopping us” seems to be the mantra of their working relationship.

“We have big plans for both Allure Events and Crown on Palmer,” said Kalvin. “This end of Palmer Street is one of the most beautiful spots in Townsville. It’s a destination venue right on the water. We’ve got lots of room, we’ve re-imagined the way we serve food, and we’ve got great staff who love working here.”

“The backdrop for that special day is incredible,” added Wes. “It’s all about champagne, good friends and when the early evening light hits the water and the Townsville skyline, it’s just magic.”

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22 | ADVICE

WHERE TO TIE THE KNOT

Artwork Emily Ingham

WHERE TO TIE THE KNOT Let's go back to basics and chat about the three most obvious wedding ceremony spots for you to make it official, with a look at what makes each one awesome or… not quite so awesome.

Words

@joshuawithers

He’s the man behind “married by josh” a.k.a. Josh Withers; a fun, young celebrant wholly passionate about marriage and equally passionate about weddings being awesome.

THE CHAPEL

OUTDOORS

INDOORS

Which emoticon is most often associated with getting married? You guessed it: the chapel. Whether or not you call yourself a religious person, the chapel isn’t at all the worst place to be married.

The great outdoors, hashtag this is Australia, the earth part of that great line “down to earth”, can be and has been home to many a great celebration. Australia lays claim to some of the best land girt by sea that this planet has to offer, and you’d be crazy not to consider standing on some of it to make yourself a husband and wife. Worldwide they call us the lucky country because most things we can stand in front of are naturally beautiful. You can position yourself, your celebrant, and your witnesses in front of an ocean, a lake, a river, a beach, a tree, a forest, a hill, a view, or a field; and you’re pretty much guaranteed a ripper photo. Only a crazy person wouldn’t consider putting a park or public space on their wedding invite.

You may consider yourself a beach bunny at heart, but I’m willing to bet that at night you go home to a building with at least four walls and a roof. The concept of protecting ourselves from the elements isn’t a new one and it’s not a bad idea to celebrate your nuptials inside a building.

There’s something special about framing your big day inside the four small walls of a first world era building; that’s equal parts character and tradition. And even if you’re not the kind of person to say grace before your meal, the chapel will still appeal to you for its inability to be rained out, the possibility of air-conditioning and because it’s just plain cute.

For those of you who find yourself in worship on a Sunday morning, you may gravitate to the church or the chapel because for you, that’s where all of life’s important events happen. If it’s a non-denominational chapel, then you might be lucky enough to bring your own civil marriage celebrant to create a meaningful not-so-spiritual ceremony for you, however, you’ll find may chapels are married to a church, a minister, or a community group and because of the various spiritual affiliations you might not have any choice in who gives you permission to kiss each other. I would only choose a chapel if I could bring my own celebrant and if its character and personality was louder than its “I used to be a church” vibe (or maybe, it still is one!)

However, that crazy person has probably thought about the general public walking past, other parties and celebrations impeding on yours or Mother Nature having one of her moments where she spills a thundercloud on us. Even worse, the sun joins the ceremony completely unencumbered and within miniutes your red skin is in stark contrast to your white dress or shirt and we’ve had to call an ambulance for Grandma Smith’s heatstroke.

The great outdoors can be your best friend or your worst enemey on your wedding day, so my tip is to find a location that is as equally awesome as it is shaded. If there’s a risk of rain, (particularly through the wet season) make sure that you have a Plan B, and that your Plan B is just as awesome as your Plan A. In a worst case scenario, chat with your reception venue. Maybe it can serve as a suitable Plan B.

Maybe you’ve completely ditched tradition and you’re having your ceremony as the start of your reception.

Or, maybe you're opting to walk down an aisle at your favourite café or restaurant. Not only would it make your day unique and special to you as a couple, but it's a surefire way to make sure they always have your wedding anniversary business alongside the benefit of all of your guests being able to find the location on GPS. Parking is probably going to be easier and your vendors will appreciate not having to get checked for skin cancers on Monday morning. Plus side? Saying I do inside usually keeps you from having to worry about the weather getting involved in your plans, and prevent the general public strolling into your wedding too.

The downside? Indoor venues can sometimes lack airconditioning and good lighting. Talk to your photographer before your day and make sure the room will be a comfortable temperature. The only other thing to worry about is which indoor space you’ll find and what are you going to stand infront of. I might be a sight for sore eyes as your celebrant but there’s the whole rest of the room you might need to decorate.

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24 | REAL PEOPLE

CECELIA + D OUG

Words Geoffrey Knight Photo SB Creative Co.

CECELIA + DOUG MARRIED 53 YEARS

What’s the sign of true love? Is it a dozen red roses on Valentine’s Day? Is it romantic candle-lit dinners or trips to Paris? Or is it the ability to stay happily married, through the good times and the bad, for more than 50 years? For honest, hard-working Kirwan couple Cecelia and Doug Cannon, it’s definitely the latter.

“We met in Mt Isa in 1962,” said Doug, a matter-of-fact Aussie bloke who remembers the dates like it was yesterday.

“The following year we got married, and the year after that we had our first son.”

then you worked at the mines from Monday to Friday, and everyone would end the week with a night at the pub.”

“In those days that was the norm,” added Cecelia, her words following straight on the heels of Doug’s. “You got married young and you had a family.”

In a town that thrived on sporting events and social gatherings centred around the mining industry, Cecelia and Doug’s paths were fated to cross. They dated for a short while, but when it came time to propose, did Doug get down on one knee? “No,” was the simultaneous response from both Cecelia and Doug. Followed by a laugh. Followed by Doug defending his chivalry.

When we sat down for a chat and a cuppa with the Cannons, it was obvious from the get-go that Cecelia and Doug are one of those couples who can finish each other’s sentences. Indeed, as the conversation flowed, the story of their decades-long romance went back and forth like a tennis ball in a match that’s already reached a score of “love all”.

Although the couple have lived in Townsville for the past three years, it is Mt Isa that has been the main setting for their 53-year long marriage.

Destiny brought the pair together when Cecelia, originally from Charters Towers, and Doug, originally from Melbourne, both ended up in the outback mining town.

“I was working as a pay clerk for the Cummins and Campbell’s store,” said Cecelia, before Doug chimed in with a laugh. “And I went to Mt Isa for a holiday and ended up working in the mines for 56 years,” he added.

In true Aussie style, the place where they met was, of course, the pub. Cecelia was a spirited young 18-year-old girl, while Doug was a hard-working young man of 25 at the time. “It was a Friday night when we met,” said Doug. “Back

“Then Sunday would be the football,” added Cecelia, “and we’d all go to the kegs on Sunday night.”

“We did phone her mum and ask for permission though,” he said, instantly restoring our faith in good old-fashioned romance.

The wedding itself was an event that needed all the help they could get from family and friends. “My aunty and her two friends did all the cooking,” said Cecelia. “My wedding dress was made by a dressmaker near the picture theatre.

It was a beautiful embossed satin dress with a long train. It cost over a hundred pounds. That was a fortune back then.”

“It was more than the whole wedding cost us,” Doug piped up. “There was no honeymoon, we couldn’t afford that either.”

In fact, it was only as recently as 2012 that Cecelia and Doug finally took their first big trip overseas. “We went to Scotland, and the first night we were there it snowed,” said Doug. “Cecelia had never seen snow before.”

“It was beautiful,” Cecelia recalled with a smile.

Doug has long left the mines and the couple are happily retired, although they both enjoy giving back to the community and spend time together volunteering at Townsville Hospital every Thursday and Friday.

So after being together for so long, Cecelia and Doug must know a secret or two about true love. “The key to true love is…” said Cecelia, thinking carefully about her answer for a moment or two. “Well, it’s sort of like that Kenny Rogers song. You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em… and know when to walk away.” Not that either Cecelia or Doug has ever walked away from their marriage. In fact, when they decided to wed they promised each other to always stick together.

The farthest Cecelia has ever walked away from Doug is to the garden when she needs to let him cool off.

“Arguing gets you nowhere,” said Cecelia. “You have to learn to forgive each other. When he gets cranky I just leave him be for a little while and he’s fine.”

“She’s got a good nature,” Doug admitted graciously. “I love her smile.”

“You just have to listen to one another,” Cecelia said. “We don’t walk around saying we love each other all day long. He doesn’t have to buy me boxes of chocolates. The fact that we do things together and enjoy each other’s company… that’s all we need. That’s love.”

i saw that you were perfect and so i loved you. then i saw that you were not perfect and i loved you even more.

-

unknown

ruffles & cake Artwork by Emily Ingham

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28 | REAL WEDDING

IVY + KYLE

IVY +

KYLE

MAGNETIC ISL AND

LOCAL WEDDING

– There was so much love in the room, we'll never forget that.

THE ENGAGEMENT

THE VIBE

OUR ADVICE

Kyle and I met years ago when I was working at City Beach, but it wasn’t until some time later that I got the courage to ask a mutual friend to introduce us officially.

We spent the day at the Townsville Cup together and went to dinner that night. The rest is history really! Kyle proposed when we were on holidays in Bali visiting Nusa Ceningan Island for a couple of nights. It was rather sweet, we were overlooking the sunset and the crystal clear water of the quaint Le Pirate, when Kyle got down on one knee and proposed.

We're a fairly relaxed pair so we wanted our wedding day to channel that. This is why our decor was a relatively neutral palette; it included lots of greenery along with timber finishes. Kyle has always had a love for the water and particularly being out on the ocean, so Peppers Boardwalk on Magnetic Island was a perfect choice for the ceremony and reception. Magnetic Island has always been a favorite holiday location for both of us, so now that one of the most special days of our lives took place there it's just that bit more special to us both. Our reception was more entertaining than we could ever have imagined. Our MC Lorrelle had the guests in fits of laughter. The speeches were light-hearted and incredibly thoughtful. There was so much love in the room, we'll never forget that.

Our priest, Fr Dave, summed up the meaning of marriage perfectly as he presented us our first wedding gift, a spanner.

The gift is a reminder that love and marriage takes work, compromise and constant adjusting. Not every day of marriage will be perfect and this spanner will serve as a special reminder of the commitment we've made to one another.

Also, be sure to remember to soak in the moment. Take in how much you love your husband or wife and how amazing you feel in that very moment. Take the time to really look at everyone, and think about how much they mean to you.

P H OTO G R A P H E R A N D R E W R A N K I N P R I E ST F R DAV E L A N C I N I C E R E M O N Y + R EC E P T I O N P E P P E RS B OA R D WA L K R E STAU R A N T & B A R , M AG N E T I C I S L A N D F LO W E R S F LO W E R S BY F LO U R I S H C A K E J UST P E AC H Y B R I DA L G O W N C A L EC H E S H O E S TA R G E T B R I D E S M A I D S J C R E W R I N G S J E W E L L E RY BY D E S I G N A N D T I TA N I U M K I N G S G RO O M S SU I T R O G E R DAV I D H A I R + M A K E U P B E AU T I Q U E H A I R LO U N G E

29 | REAL WEDDING

IVY + KYLE

30 | REAL WEDDING

L I Z + PA U L

L I Z + PA U L L AKE TINAROO

LOCAL WEDDING

– We decided that we really wanted our ceremony to be about both of us, equally.

THE ENGAGEMENT

THE CEREMONY

FAV O U R I T E M O M E N T S

Paul proposed to me on Christmas morning while lying in bed. I thought I was the most awesome girlfriend ever when I gave him an ipod (back when they were the size of a brick and phones weren’t big enough to hold music) and then he presented me with a box and behold, the most beautiful ring (designed by Paul) was revealed. Tears of joy flowed… all day long. We were enagaged about four years before getting married, which was perfect for us because we wanted to travel and experience engaged life together first.

We're so really happy with how intimate and personal our ceremony was.

We decided that we really wanted our ceremony to be about both of us, equally. As such, we decided that the entrance to our ceremony would be from both ends of the marquee with the boys at one end, the girls at the other, and we would meet in the middle. Paul’s mother walked him down his half of the aisle to meet me. My father walked me down my half to meet Paul. Everyone was seated, including our bridal party, while Paul and I stood facing each other, hand in hand, under a beautiful hanging greenery draped chandelier with our closest friends and family surrounding us. It sounds crazy to say but the air felt like it was engulfed with love.

Our entire day was beautiful and very personal. Traipsing across the opposite side of the world and being exposed to so many aspects of life we had never experienced made us value and appreciate where we come from and particularly those who are closest to us. With that in mind, we wanted the day to be about enjoying the good company we keep and good food and wine, all while having an intimate, fun and relaxed atmosphere. The canapés after the ceremony were a cheese-lover's dream, the s’mores favours were a piece of “us” from our lives abroad (also the best thing known to man) and the confetti being tossed as we kissed was purely magical.

P H OTO G R A P H E R C O L I N H O C K E Y C I N E M ATO G R A P H E R PAV E Y F I L M S C E L E B R A N T L E S L I E T Y E - PA R S O N S C E R E M O N Y FA M I LY L A K E H O US E [ P R I VAT E P R O P E RT Y ] R EC E P T I O N T H E LO D G E , T I N A R O O L A K E R E S O RT C E R E M O N Y ST Y L I N G + S I G N AG E T W O S I ST E R E V E N TS + ST Y L I N G R EC E P T I O N ST Y L I N G C R E AT I V E D EC O R AT I O N S B R I DA L G O W N B LUS H B R I DA L B R I D E S M A I D S S H E I K E J E W E L L E RY S A M A N T H A W I L L S G RO O M S SU I T H A R RY R O S E N B O U Q U E TS, B U T TO N H O L E S A N D B LO O M S AT R EC E P T I O N B U D ‘ N ’ B LO O M [ C E R E M O N Y BY FA M I LY F R I E N D ] M A K E U P M I N I ST RY O F M A K E U P H A I R G LO H A I R ST Y L I STS

31 | REAL WEDDING

L I Z + PA U L

32 | REAL WEDDING

B RY D I E + D A N E

B RY D I E + D A N E THE STRAND

LOCAL WEDDING

– Don’t get caught up in the things that don’t matter. To us, it was never really about the wedding as much as the commitment we were making to each other.

THE ENGAGEMENT

THE VIBE

OUR ADVICE

It all happened on route to Bowen, which we visit often. We had stopped for lunch in the Whitsundays (nothing out of the ordinary) but followed lunch with a walk along the beach.

This is when Dane dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. I was so shocked that I don’t think I actually said the word yes! I think I had him worried. He knows I don’t like being the centre of attention, so he thought he'd made sure nobody was around. Turns out, we were right in view of the entire restaurant we ate at and they all cheered and applauded us as we headed back up the beach!

We wanted to keep our day authentic, fun and low key. It was front of mind for us that we just wanted everyone to enjoy the day. We also kept the details to a minimum to make sure we weren’t stressing on the day and could just enjoy ourselves. Our ceremony was short and sweet; our celebrant was fabulous and made sure it was exactly what we wanted. It was simple and to the point. People who know me [Brydie] know that traditional weddings are not my thing. I had a lot of ideas for a different, slightly offbeat dress but couldn’t really pinpoint what I wanted. Turns out, my dress was the only dress I tried on and I didn’t even see it until after I’d purchased it! It wasn’t too formal, it was practical, and it was unique; which is all I really wanted from a dress. For our reception, we had a cocktail style set up, which I think worked so well. Everyone was up, mingling and dancing and we got to spend time with everyone easily as we weren’t stuck on a table isolated from the rest of our guests. As far as the decorations went, we had festoon string lights draped over the deck which looked so cool, as well as personalized coasters that we used as Save the Dates scattered on the tables. We would have this style reception over a sit-down dinner all over again - it was perfect.

Stress less! Keep it simple. There will always be hiccups and things will go wrong, but there is always a solution. It's quite funny (or it is now, it wasn't at the time) - we lost our original venue three months out and our photographer three weeks beforehand. But it all worked out perfectly in the end. Actually, think it worked out better than we could have planned in the first place!

Ultimately just remember what the day is about, and don’t get caught up in the things that don’t matter. To us, it was never really about the wedding as much as the commitment we were making to each other.

P H OTO G R A P H E R A B E A R A D E E R A N D A F OX C E L E B R A N T W E D D I N G S BY C K C E R E M O N Y B U R K E ST R E E T H E A D L A N D R EC E P T I O N P I C N I C B AY S U R F L I F E S AV I N G C LU B C AT E R I N G E S S E N T I A L LY F R E S H ST Y L I N G E D E E V E N TS F LO W E R S + H E A D P I EC E F LO W E R S BY F LO U R I S H C A K E PA P E R A N D ST R I N G B R I DA L G O W N LO V E R T H E L A B E L B R I D E S M A I D S R E V I E W, F O R E V E R N E W, H O US E O F F R A S E R J E W E L L E RY S A M A N T H A W I L L S G RO O M S SU I T Y. D. & R O G E R DAV I D T I E S A S O S M A K E U P B E AU T Y B L E S S I N G S BY N I C X H A I R G LO H A I R ST Y L I STS

33 | REAL WEDDING

B RY D I E + D A N E

3 4 | F E AT U R E W E D D I N G

CHANTELLE + JUSTIN

CHANTELLE + JUSTIN C O O M B E YA R R A VA L L E Y

F E AT U R E WEDDING

- Justin took a moment to squeeze my hand and whispered, “you look so pretty." We both had tears in our eyes and I couldn’t stop smiling at him.

THE ENGAGEMENT

T H E D AY

T H E AT T I R E

We were in Fiji for a holiday and New Years celebrations. We spent New Years dinner at a magical gala setup around the Hilton Pool, with Fijian dancers and a buffet of marquees with chefs from all around the world. Our dining table was front and centre of the gala. Justin said “you know how you saw a psychic last week and she said that you have two massive changes coming…. do you think that moving to Townsville is one of those?” I replied, “Yeah guess so, I’ve got nothing else I can think of." Then Justin said “well I have the second change for you”…. I could see out of the corner of my eye he was down on one knee with a box. I completely froze and couldn’t turn around! “Babe, babe, please turn around babe." I turned around and he was still on one knee. I started crying. He said “Will you be my wife?” I said “of course” and gave him the biggest hug. I was in complete shock; I was so happy and couldn’t stop crying. It’s the best feeling in the world. I couldn’t believe he had been organizing this for months without me knowing!

We kept everything very elegant and formal. Mostly shades of white with fresh green foliage. We wanted everything to be personal and have significance. Our bridal party was all family members; my sisters and Justin's brothers. Our theme was a timeless, classic vibe; a theme that wouldn’t date and we could still appreciate in years to come. We were married at Dame Nellie Melbas Estate in the Coombe Yarra Valley; the location has just an overwhelming awe the second you drive through those massive gates. During our ceremony, we chose to say traditional wedding vows, framed by a flower wall filled with beautiful blooms from mahogany gum to amy lou roses. As we held hands, Justin took a moment to squeeze my hand and whispered, “you look so pretty.” We both had tears in our eyes and I couldn’t stop smiling at him.

For our reception, we had four long tables of 120 guests. The tables were covered in 40metres of beautiful flowers.

Being a retired ballerina, I've had the opportunity to wear many corsets, costumes and evening gowns. It was important to me that I felt like a ‘bride’ and for me that meant wearing a traditional, extremely extravagant yet simple gown. I always knew I wanted the ceremony couture gown to be all about ‘the fit’ and to have zero bling. Justin had his suit custom made, and I didn’t have any say! He had a vision and knew exactly what he wanted. He didn’t want me to see his suit until I saw him down the aisle. For our reception, I’ve always dreamt of doing a choreographed bridal waltz, and Justin and I did exactly that! We practised in the lounge room a few times and created choreography as we went along.

We had a few big lifts, pirouettes and tricky footwork so I needed a second dress that looked amazing and was practical; it featured ¾ sleeves, sheer French lace bodice with intricate hand beading; the skirt was soft tulle, fitted with a slim belt.

P H OTO G R A P H E R LO ST I N LO V E P H OTO G R A P H Y C I N E M ATO G R A P H E R P U R P L E R I B B O N W E D D I N G S C E R E M O N Y + R EC E P T I O N M E L B A E STAT E , C O O M B E YA R R A VA L L E Y F LO W E R S D E B B I E O ' N E I L L B R I DA L G O W N S JA N E H I L L S H O E S M I C H A E L KO R S G RO O M S SU I T TA I LO R S M A R K H A I R + M A K E U P M O N I C A G I N G O L D C A K E S W E E T BY N AT U R E STAT I O N E RY LU C K Y LU X E H E I R LO O M D E S I G N

3 5 | F E AT U R E W E D D I N G

CHANTELLE + JUSTIN

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