Natacha + Christopher

real life wedding inspo

venue Royal Hotel Queanbeyan phone (02) 6297 1444 email functions@royalhotelqbn.com.au web www.royalhotelqbn.com.au

At first apprehensive about planning a wedding, Natacha and Christopher found that it actually turned out to be easy and fun! This was in part due to the short four months they gave themselves which demanded more decisive decisions and less agonizing over details, but also thanks to their ability to prioritise what was important to them.

Natacha and Chris, born and raised in Melbourne and Sydney respectively, met each other through a mutual friend in Brisbane, where they both lived and worked at the time. Their relationship took off quickly and after two and a half years together, Natacha was instantly brought to tears when they “casually” went ring shopping and came across “the ring”. With a European holiday on the horizon, Natacha was hopeful of a proposal in Paris, the City of Love. Unfortunately, their Paris trip didn’t eventuate due to strikes and riots at the time. A proposal in the Swiss Alps was still a possibility, but it passed and still no proposal. Their romantic Tasmanian holiday planned for early 2020 was derailed due to COVID, so between lockdowns, they managed to book an Airbnb in Maleny, Queensland. “Chris was so nervous and awkward that day that it was very obvious what was going to happen,” Natacha remembers, “he bizarrely said, ‘what a special day’, while we were sitting on a very normal and not special bench in the local town. Anyway, it was a very easy yes when he asked” she says.

Due to border restrictions they decided to wait until late 2021 to start planning their wedding. They had originally decided to give themselves the usual 12 to 18 months to plan, but once they started, they got really excited and decided to just go for it! They found that deciding on a winter wedding in four months’ time brought some benefits their way also. Canberra wedding suppliers were quieter at this time, so they were able to book in almost every supplier they wanted. Top priority was given to their search for the perfect venue. Something beautiful, local and easy to work with, where everything could be done on site were their criteria. The Royal Hotel Queanbeyan ticked all of the boxes! Makeup for Natacha took a lot of thought and research, as did Chris’s suit. Their photographer and musician were also important aspects they considered in their wedding planning. Tiffany Alexandria Photography was chosen as their photographer and Chicago Charles, their musician. Says Natacha, “We did a pre-wedding shoot and found that really useful in deciding what poses felt natural compared to the ones that made us giggle so much that we ended up with double chins in the photos. Tiffany had a list of photos we wanted on the day and was really obliging of all the guests and careful to not be intrusive.”

Working to a budget within a short time frame made it necessary to exclude what they considered to be extras. For Natacha and Chris, these excluded extras were bomboniere, videography and a bridal party. One thing they made sure to include for their guests though was great food. “We know the pain of being a hungry wedding guest, so we also paid close attention to the portion sizes” they reveal. The chef also designed a grazing table with roving canapes for the cocktail hour that by far exceeded their expectations. As their day drew closer, their prewedding celebrations got underway with a hot air balloon ride together, followed by dinners with friends and family as they arrived in Canberra.

Guests arrived from Darwin, Townsville, Melbourne, Sydney and regionally for their wedding. Greeting their guests together, Natacha and Chris found that from the moment they started arriving, everything from the architecture, attentiveness of the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan staff, to the food and beverages, received glowing reviews. “The staff at the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan, in particular Bianca and Matt, exceeded our expectations. Bianca took every change, question and random request in her stride, and also gave us wonderful advice that made the day run smoothly and lots of fun.” Initially wanting an outdoor ceremony, they eventually decided on having it indoors to reduce their stress on the day in case of rain or cold weather. Their ceremony included an acknowledgement to their parents and when they read their vows to each other, they turned off their microphones so only they could hear each other’s vows. Their “silent vows” made it feel much more personal and intimate. Natacha had wanted a colourful dress and rainbow flowers originally, but Chris was not so keen and preferred a more traditional colour scheme. Their stylist managed to find a compromise. “The styling of the venue was beautiful and made us and the night feel so special” they remember. Their night turned into an awesome party with guests dancing all night from 8.30pm to 11pm. Natacha and Chris didn’t expect their guests to be dancing so hard all night, and their only wish is that it could have gone on for longer! Their friends created a tunnel for them to dance through at the end of the night, with their musician, Chicago Charles matching the energy of the room. They remember feeling so loved as they danced amongst their friends. “We loved everything about the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan.” With the whole top floor to themselves, it was very private and they loved that they were able to walk a hundred metres to the bridal suite at the end of the night.

They remember feeling so loved as they danced

They have so many special memories of their wedding. “We love that we maximised our time together and our time with our guests. We achieved this through a family dinner the night before, the first look, and then greeting our guests together, and limiting the couple photos away from the venue between the ceremony and reception” they recall. For a couple who were at first apprehensive about the idea of planning a wedding, even toying with the idea of eloping, Natacha and Chris are now so glad that they followed through and planned a wedding that reflected them as a couple. “It ended up being an awesome party that we didn’t want to leave at the end of the night!”

Natacha and Chris’s wedding advice: “Don’t be afraid to simplify your day (if you want), make it your own and cut out traditions if they aren’t meaningful to you. Pick vendors that are going to enhance your day, not add stress or drama. Don’t feel pressured into booking a vendor if you’re not 100% after sleeping on it.”

Wedding Date: 13th August 2022 • Number of Guests: 53 • Photographer: Tiffany Alexandria Photography • Gown: Arietta Australia, from Angelic Inspirations in Canberra • Rings: Michael Hill Jewellers • Accessories: Family antique pearls • Makeup: Danh Doan • Groom’s Suit: Custom suit - Black Tie by Xavier • Wedding Stylist: Rebekah at This Space Weddings • Wedding Coordinator: Bianca at the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan • Ceremony: Royal Hotel Queanbeyan • Celebrant: Judy Aulich • Reception: Royal Hotel Queanbeyan • Theme: Color theme was burnt orange, sage green, blush pink and some red accents in the bridal bouquet. • Entertainment: Chicago Charles (musician) • Florist: Peony and Pearl • Cake: Ciao Cakes (Queanbeyan) • Wedding Song: First dance - instrumental version of Home, by Edward Sharpe. Aisle walk - Here Comes the Sun. End of night departure song - Slice of Heaven. • Menu: Grazing table and canapes pre-reception, 2 course dinner & wedding cake for dessert.