a wedding feature with
SUMMER ’13/14
60 KEEPING IT REAL Jacqui and Luke Humble share their very personal story. 66 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE Ossie and Lurline Apps have been married for 69 years and have shared a lifetime of love. 68 TO HAVE AND TO HOLD Fashionable must-have products for the loved up. 72 MAGIC MAKER A design wizard makes brides’ dreams come true. image courtesy of Jack VENABLES, Dontsaycheese.com.au
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Keeping it Real
Sunshine after Rain
WORDS ALEX FYNES-CLINTON PHOTOS sunlit studios
Jacqui Robinson
&
Luke Humble September 22, 2012 Noosaville 60
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It’s a sultry September afternoon and rain is bucketing on Noosaville’s picturesque waterfront. But this is no ordinary stormy Sunshine Coast spring day. In place of dark skies and ominous cloud shines bright and beautiful sunlight. It’s the perfect storm for bride and groom Jacqui Robinson and Luke Humble. “I arrived by the water in a gondola and as soon as I got out the rain stopped,” Jacqui says. “I love the rain and the timing was just perfect. It gave everything this beautiful shine.” The storm on Jacqui and Luke’s big day was a perfect metaphor for their whirlwind romance. Engaged in six months and married nearly a year later, the couple met after Jacqui interviewed for a graphic design position with Luke’s burgeoning branding business. UK native Luke says he knew Jacqui was the one from the moment he met her. “It sounds like something out of a movie, but I just knew,” he says. “There was a spark from our first meeting. Soon after, I had a few friends I was going out with each weekend and I invited Jacqui to come out with us. “That night we spent the whole night talking. We went to a friend’s place and talked on the couch until the sun came up.” A few short months later, after the pair stayed in touch through lengthy solo stints in Europe, Luke was planning to put a ring >
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Wedding day roll call Ceremony Chaplin Park, Noosaville reception & CATERING Noosa Waterfront Restaurant & Bar noosawaterfrontrestaurant.com.au Photographer Sunlit Studios sunlitstudios.com.au Gown The Bridal Centre, Brisbane Bridesmaids’ dresses Bridesmaids Only bridesmaidsonly.com.au Makeup KJ Artistry kjartistry.com.au 62
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on her finger. Luke says Jacqui thought the proposal was a joke until her husband-to-be pulled a ring box from his pocket. “I went and checked out a beach, found the particular spot and timed our arrival for the sunset at five past five,” Luke says. “I walked her out onto the beach, got down on one knee and started pouring my heart out and she kept on interrupting me – she thought I was joking. Then she realised I was serious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bigger Cheshire Cat smile.” With such creative professional backgrounds, it is little surprise Luke and Jacqui cooked up a raft of surprises on their special >
Flowers Blooms of Noosa bloomsofnoosa.com.au Celebrant Natalie Banner fromthismomentceremonies.com.au Videographer Sunshine Coast Videography sunshinecoastvideo.com.au
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PLAYLISTS Ceremony Paperweight – Joshua Radin & Schuyler Fisk The Promise – Tracy Chapman Bloom – The Paper Kites People Help The People – Birdy Only Love – Ben Howard This Effect – Roland Blackman Marry Me – Train Processional Pachelbel’s Canon – Angels of Venice First Dance You and Me – Lifehouse
A breathtaking location for your magical day
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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL YOU NEW SALON
day. Delicate crystals hung from tree branches, guests flew in from all corners of the globe and a raft of whacky dress-ups lay in wait for reception-goers to snap themselves in. “We bought a digital polaroid camera, a whole bunch of props and set up a corner where people could take photos,” Jacqui says. “We also provided an exit survey for guests. It’s a form where you fill out questions like ‘where do you think the couple will be in five years time’ and ‘favourite part of the ceremony’. It was a snapshot that we really enjoyed reading back on afterward.” The couple even kicked off their first dance to a little-known1960s cult classic. “There’s a song called Hard to be Humble,” Luke says. “With my last name being Humble, we threw a sidewinder and kicked off our first dance with it. Everyone burst out laughing. “It faded out after 20 seconds and then we went into our first dance song.”
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Jacqui and Luke took part in a romantic European ceremony on their way over the bridge to their reception at Noosaville Beachfront Restaurant.
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“We had a padlock engraved with our names on it, locked it to the bridge and threw the keys over to the water,” Luke says. “It signifies the locking of everlasting love.”
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FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
war romance leads to endless
love WORDS AARON WYNNE
When Ossie Apps returned home from World War II after being away for three years, he could hardly wait to be reunited with his fiancée Lurline Warner. His plan was as simple as it was romantic: show up unannounced where Lurline was stationed with the Australian Women’s Army Service in Townsville and surprise his beautiful wife-to-be. The only problem was, she didn’t recognise him.
Ossie’s grandfather, settled on a picturesque piece of land on the Maroochy River. The property is now where Ossie, now 89, and Lurline, 89, call home along with their street, Apps Road, named after Ossie himself. The couple has been married for 69 years and are proud they have managed to remain in the area. “The place was obviously so different back then, but the little church we were married in is still there,” Lurline says.
“Everyone was so excited that he was back after so long and the people I was working with told me to leave, go back home and get married,” Lurline says. “Obviously I didn’t let on that I didn’t even recognise the guy at first.”
They first met at a dance at the Yandina School of Arts when they were in their teens. Ossie was a soldier on compassionate leave from New Guinea to see his father, who was very sick, and Lurline was playing in a dance band with her brother.
The pair returned home to Yandina and were married just two weeks later.
“There were a lot of soldiers around the area at the time on leave just like I was,” Ossie says.
Ossie’s cane farming family has a long history in the area after migrating from Maclean, New South Wales in 1909. With seven restless boys and in the search for rich farmland, Ned Apps,
Lurline and Ossie ooze an endearing no-nonsense attitude and this seems to have remained a constant throughout their long marriage.
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“He couldn’t believe it when we told him we were on our honeymoon.” Ossie and Lurline went on to have three children – Melvin, Rodney and Shaneen, all brought up on the same patch of land Ned Apps settled on all those years ago. Standing atop the property’s ridgeline, it’s easy to imagine why Ossie’s grandfather selected this spot for his home and why Ossie and Lurline have never left. The three-hectare property shows off beautiful panoramic views of the Maroochy River and south towards the hinterland, although the grass “needs a good drink at the moment”, as Lurline points out. “Our son and I organised to have the old farm house that was on the property moved in one piece on the back of a truck,” Ossie says. “It was a big job at the time but good to see the old house is still going.” The pair, never one to kick up a fuss, lived in the garage for almost 12 months whilst the current house was being renovated. “I enjoyed it to be honest,” Lurline laughs. “We had a good little set up and there wasn’t too much to keep clean although every now and then I did throw the old dish water over someone walking past the garage door by mistake.” Lurline now spends most of her time in the yard tending to her fruit and vegetables. “The only reason it took us a couple of weeks to get married after we came home was because it took that long for the minister to get his paperwork sorted out,” Lurline laughs. “Although I will say I think my mother must have known what was going to happen because she had already started making the wedding cake before we were even home. “And on the wedding day we had 100 people crammed into the church and anyone that couldn’t fit in was watching through the windows.” Whilst Ossie doesn’t say much he can’t help but grin as Lurline recounts their early days. “We even picked up a hitchhiker on the way to our honeymoon,” Lurline says as Ossie chuckles. “It was pouring rain and this poor chap was standing on the side of the road and helped us open the old railway gates at Cooroy. We couldn’t just let him stand there and get soaked, so we let him jump in the back.
“We just love it here,” Lurline says. “We have a lot of memories and never want to leave.” The property has even played host to three weddings over the years. “People just love the garden area and head down to the river for photographs and all of that,” Lurline says. “A bit different to our wedding! “Our photographer could only take two photos, one of us and one of the family because that was all the film that he had.” And when asked how they have managed to maintain a happy marriage for almost 70 years, Lurline replies with a typical nononsense summation of their time together. “Ossie was always working so hard in the cane fields with his f ather and I was always so busy looking after the kids,” she says. “To be honest, we never really had the energy to start a fight with each other.”
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TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
Colour it up If you’ve seen one bouquet you’ve seen them all … or at least that’s what it feels like sometimes. But Liz Smith from A Sculpted Leaf says the trend this season is moving away from all-white bouquets and embracing pastels with pops of hot pink or purple. Since summer is all about having fun, she suggests mixing up different foliage and a variety of blooms. And whilst brides are sticking to traditional bouquets, flowers are a really great way of adding colour to your big day, so colourful pomander balls and flower crowns are hot like a sunrise. The best blooms to use? “Lisianthus blooms come in a variety of colours and have good longevity, and stephanotis is making a big comeback, especially in flower crowns,” Liz says. asculptedleaf.com.au
words CELESTE MITCHELL
e v a H o T and to Hold
Here’s our pick of fashionable, must-have products for that loved up occasion.
chooSING shoes
Disappearing i n k Tattoos: They can be amazing works of art or regrettable reminders of that time in your life when downing Vodka Cruisers was, like, so classy. You don’t have to go under the needle to get some tasteful and memorable-in-a-good-way, wedding day ink. Designer Pepper Baldwin creates delicate, vintage-style temporary tattoos and can whip up a bespoke range from scratch or incorporate your pre-existing designs or illustrations. You might not want to sign your partner’s name across your heart for real but a little bit of (fake) ink might just help seal the deal. pepperink.com.au
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If you’re going to make a fashion statement with your shoes it may as well be an exclamation mark, right? We’re head over heels for these Jimmy Choo designed Tartini stiletto suede pumps, encrusted with hundreds of dazzling pavé crystals for the ultimate in wedding day glam. Think 120mm super skinny heels (4.7” old school speak) with a sleek silhouette and always-in-chic pointy toes, perfectly suited to any style of dress you care to pair. Order online at Jimmy Choo’s bridal boutique and shine on baby. jimmychoo.com
Instant images Let’s face it, disposable cameras are more trouble than they’re worth and trying to compile everyone’s happy snaps of your big day is just another ‘to do’ that you shouldn’t have to worry about. Put the word out to your guests to download Capsule, so everyone’s smartphone photos are automatically compiled into an album that everyone can enjoy. You can also use a special hashtag to pull in Instagram shots. Once you’ve giggled and ‘ahh’ed over your favourites, you can download the images in high resolution, and print to your heart’s desire. trycapsule.com
Mane games Achieving your dream hair by your wedding day doesn’t need a Commando-style training regime, but Mel and Jenny from Dot & Birdie have a few smart tips that will guarantee you lush locks, worthy of your own shampoo commercial. Rule one: regular trims and treatments in the months leading up to the big day. Maintenance is everything, so as well as keeping a regular date with your stylist, a nourishing home hair care program with some quality products will do wonders – this is not a time for the old 2-in-1. Highlights will enhance any texture in your style, whilst richer solid colours are perfect for extra gloss and shine. dotandbirdie.com.au
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e To Hav and to Hold
Stop-traffic
gorgeous There are not many days when you get to make as dramatic an entrance as your wedding day (save for that high school reunion when you totally owned it and stared down that bully from Year 8), so you want a dress with serious impact. Rachel Gilbert’s second-only bridal collection offers all of the best parts of her eveningwear designs, and so much more. Her effortless mix of structure and classic lines, combined with elegant fabrics and intricate embellishment adds a little bit of a rock star vibe to every gown. The slinky skirt and slight peplum flick of her Harlow gown is so stoptraffic gorgeous, you’ll be looking for an excuse to wear it again and again. rachelgilbert.com
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Innovative invitations If you’re not too keen on spending hours and hours (or a big chunk of your budget) on your invitations, local designer Michelle Weller’s “Off The Rack” range provides all the beauty of bespoke design, with the ease of a click and buy shopping experience. With eight key designs to choose from, you can pick and mix the pieces you need and Michelle will customise to suit. The Plantation Collection just screams summer beach wedding and incorporates a cute RSVP postcard to make it easy-as-pie for guests to respond. standtalldesign.com.au
Caravan of love The name is Jenkins. Mr Jenkins. And this is one smooth operator you’ll want to add to your wedding guest list. An adorable, restored 1952 caravan by day, Mr Jenkins transforms into the coolest mobile bar you’ve ever SEEN with plenty of Instagrammable accessories. Mr Jenkins can roll up and park at pretty much any event space and tailor a package to suit your special day. He’s fitted with a solid wood bar, two large ice sinks, two small bar fridges and a cute little leather seating area, complete with crystal chandelier. You provide the booze. Mr Jenkins provides the service (and plenty of cute vintage touches). hellomrjenkins.com
Splash Events
STYLE and grace Even die-hard city slickers would have to agree nothing beats earthy country styling for a romantic wedding feel. Nicole Hopkins from Splash Events has the following tips to make sure your rustic-inspired wedding is at its most glamorous: • Use your location for inspiration — a space where the creative senses meet a blank canvas. • Use lots of textures such as natural linens, burlap, vintage vessels filled with natures organics and garden hand-picked floral. • Incorporate elegant chairs, high cocktail tables and lounges. • Think sweet, diverse, heart-warming, romantic and glamorous, gracious, earthy and relaxed. splashevents.com.au
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MAGIC MAKER
Custom-made
dreams words AARON WYNNE portrait photo ANASTASIA KARIOFYLLIDIS
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Judy Copley was wearing a $33 dress on her own wedding day – and now she is rapidly building a name for herself making handcrafted bespoke gowns for others. Whilst the beautiful dresses are the result of countless hours sat perched at a sewing machine in Caloundra, it’s the dreaming and planning phase that really excites Judy. “I’ve always created and designed basically for as long as I can remember,” Judy says. “I enjoy sewing but for me that’s really a necessity for what I do. It’s the design process that I love and really can’t get enough of.” Judy might work with high-end products, but she could not be more down to earth. Her smile is infectious and she openly says, “I do gowns better than I do words”. Raised in the Northern Territory, Judy says the laid-back lifestyle there couldn’t be further removed from the work she does now. “It’s very casual up there and I guess there’s not a lot of glamour for a little girl growing up,” she says. “Maybe it’s a subconscious dream I’ve always had to work with glamorous dresses like I do. To be honest, I just love it.” Creating a dream dress for a bride-to-be is an onerous responsibility, and whilst Judy says she is conscious of that, it’s not something she worries about. Photo by Adriana Watson
“I probably should be scared more,” she says. “I know it’s one of the most important pieces a woman might ever wear in her life >
but I don’t know, I just don’t really focus on that. I go to these weddings and look at the flowers and think ‘wow I would hate to be in charge of that’ but for some reason creating the dress doesn’t have that effect on me. I just do it.”
Noosa’s North Shore
hidden treasure unveiled ...
Judy originally pursued her love of design by making things for herself as a young woman along with her sisters and her kids. She started out designing clothes but found it was far too competitive and not commercially viable. “With regular fashion and clothes it’s just so tough, you know,” she says. “The internet has made things so cheap and it might take me a few hours to make something along with all the materials and you can just buy it online for next to nothing.” Creating one-off wedding gowns was different and Judy says she is glad to have carved out and settled into a niche. “You know, I make everything myself with my own two hands,” she says. “They come to my little studio, we can sit down and talk through features and they can come back for as many fittings as they like. “Things that take time are not really around that much any more I guess because most people want everything right now. As long as there are people who still want that kind of bespoke dress, there will always be a market for what I do and what I produce.” The ability to customise everything from the design itself right down to the thread used to hold it together is special. “I did one gown that has 1400 fresh water pearls all individually attached to the dress,” Judy says. “I can hand dye lace and ribbons and use heirloom laces to give every dress that personal touch. “I made a dress for my niece where we incorporated my mum’s hand-knitted lace and her grandmother’s ribbon off her nightie, which really made it personal and something she can treasure.” It is clear these are more than just dresses to Judy. She takes on a real sense of responsibility and pride with every design and says it’s “not because she has to but because she wants to”. As her business, Judy Copley Bridal, continues to grow she is conscious about not losing the personal touch that her clients love. “It’s tough because I really don’t want to lose that one-on-one relationship I can build with the women who come and see me,” she says. “Some gowns can take months to create and that means endless fittings so I can really get to know the clients and I feel like we become good friends.
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“And I’ve been lucky, I’ve honestly never had a ‘bridezilla’,” she says with a smile. Judy says she never really expected her business to “take off like it has”. Her clientele is now spread throughout Queensland and she has even started to gain interest and enquiries from the United States. “Word of mouth is everything in my business and it has really taken me such a long way already,” Judy says. “I don’t really understand the online side of it that well to be honest but that’s where a lot of my interest internationally has come from. People just seem to share pictures and one of my designs got 3000 likes on a US site which has led to a lot of enquiries.” Despite all the attention, the original “little dream” Judy had for her business doesn’t seem to have wavered. “I really want to keep doing the bespoke work that I do now but also look at producing a limited edition range as well,” she says. “It will mean I’ll have something that I can reproduce a bit easier, faster and at a cheaper price. “I also really love doing the fashion shows and photo shoots that I do now, but it is getting really busy at the moment so it will be interesting to see where everything goes.”
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Photo by Lindy Yewen
As Judy looks around the room at the dresses on racks and piles of bridal magazines, it’s clear that no matter how big the business gets the personal design will also be at its heart. “I’ve always just tried to do it right,” she says. “More than anything I don’t want to let anyone down. The girls that come in here have all really trusted me. That’s honestly such a privilege and an honour when you think about it.” FOR EXTRA SALT visit saltmagazine.com.au to see more images of Judy Copley’s dresses.