Sydney-siders Nat and Tom had one main priority for their wedding – fun! They wanted to laugh all day, and I think looking at their images we can all agree – mission accomplished! I had a lot of fun just looking through their wedding album by Alan Hughes Photography, especially seeing no opportunity to show off a few Dirty Dancing-style lifts go wasted!
About their decision to marry on the Sunshine Coast, Nat said, “I wanted our wedding day to actually feel like a fairytale and you can’t do that when your office is three blocks away. The Sunshine Coast is simply calm and charming.”
Nat generously shared more of their wedding planning details and sage advice for future brides below…
The Proposal
“I’d been travelling for work all year so Tom came to me and said he wanted to spend Christmas Eve just us. The night before he was frantically packing a picnic and whispering with my roommates but I just assumed it was about my Christmas present! Tom took me up to Luke’s Bluff at O’Reilly’s and we set up the picnic. I started pouring the tea without realising that my mug changed with the heat to say “I want to have tea with you for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?”. Before I knew it both our mums and our best friends came barreling down the hill to celebrate with us!”
Standout Suppliers
“Alan and Harry our photographer and videographer were just so much fun. Their work speaks for itself! Cannot thank them enough for the memories we now get to keep! Sandi from Willow Bud did not have an easy task! My brief was that I literally don’t like flowers. She absolutely NAILED it on the day. I was walking down the aisle with a bouquet with the most divine mix of dried natives and what actually looked like angel wings.”
Most Emotional Moment
“We lost Tom’s mum only two months before the wedding. She was such a big part of our lives and of organising the whole day and we all wanted her to be there so badly. Her absence was painful but our families were all there for us. Walking down the aisle was a really emotional moment for the both of us, it’s such an overwhelming feeling and we’ll never forget it.”
The One Thing We Would Do Differently
“We’d probably try and be more relaxed after the ceremony, we were so hyped after it that it would have been good to take a beat and just take it all in. As for all our vendors I wouldn’t have changed a thing!”
Wedding Secrets
Biggest splurge: The dress! I couldn’t find anything else like it!
Best money-saver: We restricted our floral and decorations budget to a minimum and let the gorgeous barn at Yandina Station speak for itself, being particular in our choices of floral and decorative set ups to highlight the rustic appeal rather than going all out on flowers and decorative items that would take away from the venue. Also, it’s crazy how al the small things add up so DIY and Ali Express was a BIG cost saver!
Greatest inspiration: The Bride’s Tree, Instagram and Pinterest
Bride’s dress: Darb Bridal Couture
Bride’s shoes: RM Williams
Groom’s suit: Custom made in Thailand
Groom’s shoes: RM Williams
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Ali Express! The dresses were a bargain!
Bridesmaids’ shoes: Wittner
Flowergirl’s dress: Princessly
DIY: The arbour, menus, bombonnieres, name tags, seating chart and the welcome sign. Ali Express was the HERO for all things DIY; couldn’t recommend it enough!
Honeymoon: South America and New York
Number of guests: 85
Wedding budget: $60,000
Actual cost of wedding: $55,000
Unforgettable Moment
“Our dance was a little wild and very us. We threw in a few of our favourite acro flips and it made it so fun for us and our guests. From there the band really brought the dance floor to life, everybody was up on their feet dancing like maniacs!”
Advice for Future Brides
“Please stick to your guns! It’s your day, people will get over disagreements but it’s your day to remember forever! Take everything as it is on the day, even mishaps can end up being your favourite memory of all!”
Our Next Big Adventure
“Tom and I have a wacky dream of moving back to Queensland in the next 2 years to open a barn styled cafe on the Sunshine Coast… stay tuned!”
Photography: Alan Hughes Photography | Videography:Harrison Hertrick | Venue + accommodation: Yandina Station | Florist: Willow Bud | Cake: Chocolate2Chilli | Makeup: gjmua | Hair: Coastal Style Mobile Hairdressing | Entertainment: Baker Boys Band | Stationery: Paperless Post | Celebrant: Say I Do with Drew
