Port Macquarie Focus - Weddings 2021 by Focus

WEDDINGS COVER

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Baked by Katie Here at Baked by Katie we create cake dreams! Being a part of a Wedding or special event is not only a privilege but also an important part of the day. With so many choices available in the dessert and cake department, it’s essential to find the right person who can cater to not only the unique style that you’re creating but to deliver a cake that has a real wow factor inside and out. The cake should be a part of your day that’s not going to add pressure but to bring you enjoyment and a little sugar rush. I keep things simple and stress free – because at the end of the day, it’s just cake after all and it should be fun! For me, I love baking and do this full time at our Cafe – Middle Rock Pizza & Eatery. Having my own kitchen allows me the freedom to play and create every day. I’m able to pick and choose cakes and desserts that will fit into your event and leave you wanting more! I spend time on baking and perfecting flavours each week

when needed so that I can give that ultimate taste and keep things fresh! As for decorating, my style is all about a natural approach and using fresh elements – most of all fresh flowers. This is my love and specialty – creating and working with amazing florals to bring you a cake that will leave a lasting impression and a dessert you won’t forget! So let’s get together, eat some tasty dessert and let me make, bake and create a cake you will fall in love with! Can’t wait to meet you xx

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Love is in the air at The Old Cheese Factory The Garden Bar & Kitchen is nestled amongst the historical surroundings of Frederickton’s Old Cheese Factory. With its stunning river views and its rustic charm, we are thrilled to share this beautiful venue with you. Whether you’re planning on holding a cocktail party or a sit-down dinner, The Garden Bar & Kitchen has all the ingredients which go towards making your wedding the most magical day. From a ceremony in The Old Shed, to a waterfront reception in the restaurant, great tasting food and endless photo opportunities. The Garden Bar & Kitchen is a minute off the highway, but a mile from the chaos, located 35 minutes north of

Port Macquarie airport and 1 hour south of Coffs Harbour airport. Your ceremony will take place in the oldest part of the factory, The Old Shed, built in the 1860’s. With its high ceilings and cathedral like feel, The Old Shed oozes character and class. The Garden Bar & Kitchen was built with weddings in mind. Elevated off the ground to capture the 180-degree water view. With its large wrap around balcony and spacious indoor dining area, it’s the perfect place to wine, dine and dance the night away with your loved ones.

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Photos by Seed and Salt photography

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Oceans Elopements of Love

Conscious consumerism may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of weddings. With their shared vision, these nine trailblazing women are creating the shift toward a deeper meaning of ceremony and the love of humanity with an eco-ethical approach.

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i Arly. Flowing into and creating a beautiful new year, Oceans of Love is a new wedding collective on the Mid North Coast. Nine wedding industry professionals collaborating, offering unique experiences with one main goal – happily ever after with a happy Earth. Tell us more about Oceans of Love and the women behind the We're creative movement. and innovative Thank you for and essentially our connecting with us and value is being as ecomain value is being allowing us to share how ethical, sustainable as eco-ethical, our team are eco-ethical and conscious as we sustainable and wedding industry change can possibly be in the conscious as we can makers! We are really wedding industry. In possibly be in the buzzed to offer Oceans early 2020, there were wedding industry. of Love elopements. We a few elopement style are a group of wedding ceremonies that a few industry professionals of us were involved in who have been doing our own thing in and we had so much fun working together, the wedding industry, and had an idea to the couple really benefited from feeling come together and join our shared values a solid team around them on the day. So to offer mindful and conscious elopement this really came from that, the opportunity and micro wedding packages. We’re creative to work together as a community with and innovative and essentially our main shared values, which is a bonus for our

clients, as they feel the buzz of a team that functions well together and is really passionate about how they do business. With each of you sharing a passion of real connection with others and Earth, it seems only natural that you join forces. How has the amalgamation of personalities brought about a cohesive business model? We are all switched on in our own professions and are deeply engaged in green ways in our own business models, and what also helps is that we keep up with current trends. Everyone involved in Oceans of Love are asking themselves ”how can I do better?”, and we really focus and shape what we do around the customer experience journey. We want couples to love what we do as much as we love what we do! I think the integrity and transparency of our business model empowers couples to be conscious consumers. What also needs to be said in this conversation is that we not only focus on ourselves being eco-ethical, but we are focussed on contributing to the shift of the entire industry to minimise its impact. In an eco-ethical approach, not only are two people thinking about the love that they share, but the love of humanity and the love of the world, and I think that is powerful. Continued over...

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Oceans Elopements of Love

This intimate moment means couples have an appreciation of the beauty in the simplicity, and when there is less stuff that clutters the wedding day, then there is more meaning.

We are also a local team and our business model ensures that the local economy is supported. This limits carbon consumption, because we don’t drive hundreds of kilometres to get to an event. We are a team that functions well together and we uphold powerful love vibes so couples feel assured and confident to absolutely own their day. We share a vision to operate our businesses with minimal impact. We do this in our processes by being paperless, using solar energy to power devices, reusing materials where possible, carbon offsetting and giveback initiatives. Essentially, we are locals supporting locals, but we are also trailblazers in not only what we do, but how we do it, and to me, that’s got soul. Ceremony has been a constant on this land for thousands of years. Here, you offer unique experiences, tailored to suit the individual. For those seeking a deeper meaning with their ceremony, please share what’s on offer. 60 GREATER PORT MACQUARIE

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Yes, good point about ceremony being here for hundreds of thousands of years. As humans, we’ve always known the importance of a moment in time where we get to make a mark on our own life timelines. And the thing with that is, if the ceremony is for you, you get to think about how that mark would be best made. Elopements and micro weddings are intimate ceremonies that focus on the couple. This means that we don't put on a performance, the moment you marry is not a Broadway show! And so this intimate moment means couples have an appreciation of the beauty in the simplicity, and when there is less stuff that clutters the wedding day, then there is more meaning. Less is more with our Oceans of Love ceremonies. Extending on from that, there's a little pressure in meeting expectations of certain people or thinking about if the food and drink are going to be okay for everyone, anxiety around speeches or the awkwardness of wedding presents. Eco-ethical elopements are the best alternative to an extravagant

event which can produce excess waste and a large carbon footprint. An elopement can also take away the stress of feeling like you're having to host a party. For me as a celebrant, I find elopements allow couples to melt into their day and smile into the moment more genuinely. In times where restrictions are influencing our lives, we see a shift in couples opting for elopements, and I think this means that the industry has been kinder on the Earth. We are a collective of wedding professionals that offer packages or bundles to couples which includes the Celebrant, photography, flowers and can also include catering, styling and equipment hire, videography, and hair and make-up. We are all eco-ethical and sustainable vendors and ensure couples are making a conscious green choice when they choose an Oceans of Love elopement. This is an easy breezy option to purchase a package or bundle, which limits effort for couples in all the administration side of planning a wedding. Couples don’t have to get caught up in communication with numerous vendors and time making and mapping transactions. We want couples to be able to focus on the important thing, like the meaning and intention of the day. We want couples to enjoy the journey towards marriage, with the buzzed and stress-free vibes so that they can

focus_interview relax, not only on the day, but in the lead up too. There’s beauty in vulnerability and this takes trust and courage. How do you aim to help make people feel comfortable for their day so they can ultimately let go and enjoy their special moment? Ohhhh, great question and here I will share some of my tips. I often hear from couples “we have never been married before, what do we do and what can we expect?”, and when I hear this, it’s a good time to explore how they would like to remember the moment they marry. Some say they want fun, laughter, lots of joy, and for others it’s intimacy and connectedness. With honouring their needs, I guide the conversation into how that memory can be created. I find when couples feel heard when we connect, they start to build The couples trust, let go and are able that we connect to lean into the moment with have big hearts on the day. When we go often overlooked at for humanity and through how the ceremony this time is, what are the world around will flow and what will your shared values? them, and this value happen at different points The reality is that is seen in how we in time, I share tips that you do not need to they can start thinking help to create their mirror weddings that about. This helps with best day ever. you’ve seen on TV or dismantling any concerns or in magazines (totally anxiety they may have. okay if you do!), you For example, precan unapologetically do your own thing. listening to the ceremony songs before the For many couples who have been married day when relaxing helps with feeling reassured before, a common narrative is “we should when hearing these at the ceremony on have just eloped.“ Whilst this won’t be the day. Stopping for a deep breath to take a priority for everyone, if you want your in the moment before reading vows helps ceremony to be framed solely about you with nerves if there are any. I also have a and your love without having to pay for an mindfulness script for the beginning of a expensive party. The word in the industry now ceremony that I offer to couples so they can is that it’s okay to elope, it’s okay to be green feel like they land in that moment before and kind on the Earth, it’s okay to do your own getting married. Sometimes couples will say thing and totally own it. that they’re nervous because the moment What has been the biggest highlight since means a lot to them, and to me that’s starting the business? awesome. Knowing that a ceremony typically It’s a gift to see a couple’s dreams come goes for 15-20 minutes means that it can feel alive and we fill up with gratitude to be able fleeting, and so there are other tricks to also to support them through a sacred moment in dispel any pent up energy from the ceremony, their lives. People are awesome, we are blown but I will save those for a future blog. away with the legends we get to connect For those about to embark on their with. The couples that we connect with have wedding plans, what wisdom would you big hearts for humanity and the world around impart on them? them, and this value is seen in how we help to I think the most fundamental thing that is create their best day ever.

What big dreams and adventures are on the cards for Oceans of Love this year and beyond? This year is going to be an epic with the growing demand of elopements. We’d really love to put Crescent Head and Port Macquarie on the map for eco-ethical elopements. The truth is, we live in the most beautiful location in the world, and we have got it all. We have a plethora of green options, from eco-accommodation, restaurants that support farm-to-plate cuisine and local suppliers, ecotourism, and eco-ethical elopement and micro wedding bundles. The beyond is Oceans of Love being a part of the movement of ecosustainability in the industry. I’d love to see this “movement” become a norm, but we need consumers to help change the industry with conscious consumerism. For anyone interested in finding out more about the business and each individual, how can they do so? Please check us out on our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ oceansofloveelopements/ or visit our website www.oceansofloveelopements.com we love connecting with couples and we love sharing what we do with eco-ethical conscious elopements. Thanks Ladies. GREATER PORT MACQUARIE

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WEDDINGS BY TWOTRIPLEFOUR AT CASSEGRAIN WINES Twotriplefour by Bills, the sister restaurant to the well known Bills Fishhouse & Bar, is nestled within the estate of Cassegrain Wines, on the outskirts of Port Macquarie. With a passionate team of chefs and a wedding coordinator on hand to ensure your day runs smoothly, you can be sure that your wedding needs will be met with quality and creativity. Alongside Cassegrain Wines, a family owned business which has been in operation for more than 30 years, our venue is quite simply a picturesque locale offering distinctly charming spaces to celebrate your wedding. Exchange vows and celebrate the night with your guests in any of our beautiful spaces and create your very own bespoke wedding package perfectly suited to your unique preferences. Contact our Events Coordinator to book a guided tour of the winery and discuss the details of your special day.

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FOXKin &

N I C O L A

B O D L E

Knowing thyself takes many years of ups and downs and FOR NICOLA BODLE, UNDERSTANDING HERSELF AND WHAT VALUES SAT DEEP WAS ESSENTIAL for her business to blossom.

nce choosing to truly reflect this through her business, people with similar values began seeking out her expertise and creativity, and life once again became

purposeful.

Hey Nic. You're the founder of Fox & Kin – an amazing photography business that oozes realness and purpose, but for those that don’t know you, please introduce yourself. Hey! I’m Nic Bodle, a photographer and people watcher, an outgoing introvert, a lover of love, living in Bellingen with my feet in the river and my face in the sun. I have been told that I laugh a lot, and my laugh is very loud and distinct, which is really 66 GREATER PORT MACQUARIE

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handy if you’re trying to Wedding photos find me in a packed bar certainly don’t or café. I believe that look like they used shoes are overrated and to! I’m an advocate there is no such thing for keeping weddings as too many tacos. I simple and eco-friendly to be captured. Wedding am, in general, a very and a vocal ally for photos certainly don’t passionate person, and those underrepresented look like they used to! I’m am quite outspoken an advocate for keeping in the wedding about things I care weddings simple and ecoindustry. deeply about. friendly and a vocal ally for I describe myself as a those underrepresented wedding photographer in the wedding industry. I’ll always stand up for for people who don’t like wedding photos. equality and take action for the planet. We’ve seen a real shift in the last couple of years Take us back to when you first took an in how people approach weddings and wedding interest in photography and how the planning, and I think that shift has been business began. reflected in how people want their weddings I don’t remember a time when I didn’t

There have been highs and lows, as there are with any business, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now and I’m so thankful.

have a camera in my hand. I’ve never had any formal training, it’s just something that has always seemed so natural to me. Long before smart phones and selfie sticks, I would go everywhere with a disposable film camera, documenting little moments throughout my childhood and younger years. I remember the anticipation of waiting to get the film developed, revealing what fleeting moments had been frozen in time. That feeling never gets old! At university and various jobs, I was always known as the person with the camera slung around my shoulder, ready to document it all. It was almost 8 years ago when I was asked to photograph my first wedding. I had no idea what to do or what to expect, and that was possibly one of the most terrifying days of my life. I’d previously never even considered the idea of being a wedding photographer, but after the first few weddings and the adrenalin rush that accompanied them, I was hooked. How has Fox & Kin grown and developed over the years as you have grown and developed yourself? When I first set out to become a photographer, I would take any job I could get my hands on – bands, babies, animals, events – you name it. I just wanted to take

photos but had little direction or drive towards anything in particular. But after a while I realised that I was feeling really disconnected from my work and was being pulled about by outside pressure and expectations, rather than being driven by passion. I realised then that I needed to strip my business back to its roots and rebuild it step by step, focusing on what was really important to me. I stopped taking bookings and worked in bush regeneration for about a year so I could clear my head. Then at the beginning of 2017 I launched Fox & Kin, a brand and business that reflected my passions of nature, sustainability, equality and love. These are the ethos that drive my business and, if I’m ever feeling lost or disheartened, I ask myself how I can serve these values. It’s been mind-blowing to see the growth of Fox & Kin in the past few years. I still have to pinch myself whenever I’m published in a magazine or win an award or get to travel the world to shoot a wedding. There have been highs and lows, as there are with any business, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now and I’m so thankful. It’s also been an incredible privilege to be able to hone my focus with the business and work with people and brands who have similar values, rather than just

saying yes to everything, even if it doesn’t quite resonate. I feel as though those people with similar values are seeking me out too and we’ve been able to create some real magic together! Not only are you creative on the wedding front, you’re also passionate about taking beautiful images of people in intimate moments. What services do you have on offer for those that reach out to you? I love the storytelling side of photography and think that so much of that gets lost when we stage those extravagant shoots in exotic locations with fancy outfits and dancing alpacas in bowties. Don’t get me wrong, I love those shoots too, but it sometimes feels a little more about the scenery or the décor than the couple. I always wondered to myself, what would happen if we just took that all away, stripped it back to just a couple on a couch at home, no props, no distractions, just two people in love. Wouldn’t that allow us to tell a better story? I started offering intimate couple shoots, and at first, people were hesitant. It sounds a little scary, inviting a complete stranger into your home to watch you in your most vulnerable moments. >>> GREATER PORT MACQUARIE

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There was a bit of fear in the unknown, but as soon as I started sharing images from my first few shoots, it absolutely took off. There is so much power in the vulnerability of skin on skin. Just by being physically close to someone we love, our bodies release a myriad of wonderful chemicals that cause us to feel happy, relaxed and in love. We literally produce our own antidepressants by cuddling! So couples often come away from these shoots not only with a gallery of incredible images of themselves, but feeling a renewed passion in their relationship and an excitement for their future together. My aim is to create a piece of art for a couple that they can look back on for the rest of their lives and say “yes, that was us, exactly as we were“. My intimate shoots can take place in your home or in an Airbnb (with the owner’s permission). There is no pressure to take your clothes off or to do anything you’re not comfortable with. I work with couples in the lead up to figure out what they’d like to do during the shoot and what sort of guidance they would like from me. I travel all over NSW for these shoots, but most couples come to Bellingen for a full weekend experience. For people to express their vulnerability and trust in you takes real courage. How do you help people feel comfortable for their shoots? 68 GREATER PORT MACQUARIE

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I work with I think just by being couples in the relaxed I help those around me to relax. lead up to figure out Wedding days never what they’d like to go to plan. No matter do during the shoot how meticulously you and what sort of plan a day, there will guidance they would always be some little like from me. surprise that you never ask as many questions could’ve expected. The as they want from me. trick is brush it off and Most people still arrive to go with the flow. Often, I’ll arrive on a wedding a shoot nervous, and that’s okay. Most people day to a flurry of family members fussing over think they’re awkward and unphotogenic and something unexpected. Anxiety is contagious insist that they hate having their photo taken. and a huge (unspoken) part of my job is But I remind them that a shoot with me isn’t keeping couples calm, so often I’ll smooth just “having your photo taken“. It’s a fully things over before they even realise something immersive experience where you dedicate a is wrong, or I’ll defuse the situation like a day to just being present with the person you wedding bomb disposal technician. love. I don’t ask people to smile at the camera The other part of making people or strike uncomfortable poses. I start by asking comfortable, as you said, is trust. Trust is a questions and observing the way they move huge part of being a photographer and it’s and laugh and play with each other. Then I take not as simple as just asking for it. You need to all those tiny little bits of tenderness and tell a earn it. I gain trust from people by being totally story. open and vulnerable myself from the moment You’re a huge supporter of eco-ethical they enquire and book with me, through to the weddings, something that is emerging delivery of their photos. a little more into the mainstream which I get to know couples really well before their is fantastic. What makes you passionate shoot or wedding day. I ask a lot of questions about this and can you share some insight about what’s important to them and what into the choices we can make that align their expectations are, and I allow them to with this concept?

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Right from the get-go, when I launched Fox & Kin, I knew that my personal values would be the driving force behind the type of work I wanted to do and the message I wanted to send out. I care deeply about having minimal impact on the earth and leaving things better than we found them. I am fairly vocal about ditching wedding ‘must-haves’ or outdated traditions if they no longer carry meaning for you. I am also highly aware of the massive consumption of wedding related ‘stuff’ that takes a huge toll on the earth. When we talk about eco-ethical weddings, we’re talking about how you approach every stage of your wedding planning. Starting with where your wedding ‘stuff’ is coming from, how it’s sourced and where it’s going. As well as how you interact with your community and support local business. It’s not enough to just have eco-confetti anymore. I mean, that’s a great start, but the world is changing, it’s too late to plead ignorance to everything else. Humanity is moving collectively towards a more

business owner I could be, but at the time I sustainable future and choosing to celebrate was in disbelief. minimalism, rather than decadence. The truth I think so many people connect with my is, it is no harder to be married with nothing images because they can picture themselves in than it is with everything. them. The majority of media we consume, both There are ways to minimise your impact at digital and printed, is dominated by particular every step, while still having everything you’ve body shapes, cultures and sexualities, and ever dreamed of for your wedding. In fact, I it’s not reflective of the real and wonderfully am sure you will find it far more sentimental to diverse society we live in. I know I still have a recall the way you felt, and the words spoken, long way to go with my work, but I try really than the material ingredients of what was your hard to focus on representation of those wedding day. who are not usually represented in the media If you’re not sure where to start, speak to we consume. It’s really important to me that your wedding planner or vendors, and ask how anyone can open a magazine and say, “hey, they can help your wedding to have a lighter that person looks like me!“. footprint. You can also head to my website and Another thing that I try really hard to convey grab a copy of the Mindfully Wed E-Guide put in my images is feeling together by Less Stuff and emotion, so I really More Meaning which appreciate you saying is full of great tips to The majority that. When we look get you started on your of media we back at old photos, we eco-ethical wedding consume, both like to be reminded of journey! digital and printed, how people moved, their There’s so much is dominated by feeling behind expressions, mannerisms particular body your images; they and how a place felt. I find pull you in and shapes, cultures it so strange that we as a give an emotional society are obsessed with and sexualities, and connection. photos of us smiling at the it’s not reflective 2020 saw you camera. It’s not natural of the real and named as the top and it doesn’t convey wonderfully diverse emerging wedding anything other than how society we live in. photographer of great you looked (which, the year by Capture I’ll admit, is sometimes Magazine. Obviously the confidence boost we you’re doing something right! need!). Wow, thank you so much. I sure hope I’m Often it doesn’t tell the whole story. I want doing something right! I just followed my my photos to take you back to a moment, gut and my passions and stuck to my values so you can feel everything that’s happening, and here we are today. I’m still learning how so you can be reminded of how that person to take compliments and I’ve always suffered walked and laughed and cried. So you can from imposter syndrome, so I often have a remember the way they looked at you, and you hard time accepting accolades or awards looked at them. I think there’s a lot of power without brushing them off as luck. It was a real in that. shock to be named Australasia’s Top Emerging For anyone interested in learning more Wedding Photographer of the Year by Capture and viewing your work, where can they Magazine, and I remember quite distinctly follow along and get in touch to book bursting into hysterical laughter when I found your services? out, as though my brain couldn’t quite process You’ll find my most recent work on what was happening. Instagram @foxandkin and to dive deeper into Looking back now, I can see that it was a my world and learn more about me, check out result of an insane amount of hard work and www.foxandkin.com dedication to being the best photographer and Thanks Nic. GREATER PORT MACQUARIE

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Welcome aboard! Julie & David here - owners and operators of Port Sailing. We are ‘20 year’ locals of Port Macquarie. Our luxury vessel Seawindow is a 12.5m cruising Catamaran. She was built in Wollongong by ‘Seawind Cats’ – renowned builders of strong, safe, stable Bluewater sailing yachts. “Seawindow” is ingeniously designed for entertaining with a large bridgedeck lounge, cockpit and foredeck areas for relaxing. We are now offering cruises on the beautiful Hastings River. Join us for a sunset cruise, enjoy a lovely French Champagne or cold beer, as we leisurely cruise around the picturesque river, taking in the surrounding landscape, we may even have a visit from the dolphins

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who regularly swim alongside the vessel. We offer private/corporate functions, sailing experiences or simply "Dinner on the River" looking back at the magnificent Port Macquarie Foreshore. Fully catered or BYO steak to cook on the large BBQ. BYO Alcohol. Call us for more information. 0447 734 727

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