Oasis Magazine - The Wedding Issue 2019

ISSUE 1 2019 | 2020

to have and to hold

T a ke me I’ M YO

URS

YOUR ULTIMATE WEDDING GUIDE

LOVE

is in the air..

Like a blushing bride and a grinning groom, I am beaming with excitement to bring you ‘To Have & To Hold’, Oasis Magazine’s first ever Annual Wedding Compendium.

Who doesn’t love a wedding? There are sooooo many things to love about them.

The colors, the smells, the weather, as they set the perfect atmosphere for the biggest, most important party of your life. And I have loved putting together this magazne, and seeing how so many local couples have incorporated their personalities into their celebrations.

There’s loads of hot tips inside this mag — from conversations you should be having before you tie the know, and how to find the perfect wedding dress and we’ve also listed the best dates to have your wedding.

for a complete bargain. This was in contrast to my husband who spent about ten times the amount of my dress on his completely immaculate Armani suit.

I didn’t carry flowers - there was no need in my opinion , as the surrounding scenery was natural perfection. Our reception was void of a structured seating plan or a plated meal, as we opted for cocktail party food to be circulated all evening. We didn’t even arrange a cake, although a wellmeaning relative was having none of that, and arrived on the wedding day armed with a (completely delicious!) Profiterole Stack.

And although these days, the things I’ve listed above are not at all uncommon, thirteen years ago they were. We answered many concerns from family and friends about why we weren’t doing things like everyone else, but it was totally worth the interrogations to celebrate in a style that reflected both our personality, and the holiday paradise of Port Douglas, that we both love so much.

Wedding trends have certainly emerged over the years. These days, the words “personal” and “unique” are bywords of most weddings. But back in 2006, my husband and I chose to do things our own way, and the reception wasn’t quite so welcoming!

We remained stubborn: why should we change who we are for one day, when this True to our spirits, we wanted our is the one day that should express exactly wedding to be a reflection of us - namely who we are? Weddings are all about a huge party. And party we did! One honouring who and what you love. hundred of our favourite people enjoyed the spectacular view offered by We’ve now planned this Wedding St Mary’s By The Sea in Port Douglas, Compendium to capture all that our whilst drinking bubbles on a cool July region and it’s best vendors have to offer afternoon and listening to a jazz quartet. your wedding. With any luck, it helps spark your imagination and expand your A very rowdy nine minute ceremony idea of what’s possible on your own big followed, before we descending upon day. Enjoy yourselves. And please, stay Salsa Bar for a night of laughter, music stubborn! and dancing. We didn’t have a bridal party - just our two best friends as witnesses.

Here’s cheers to beautiful weddings in 2019 and beyond! Enjoy the issue, and Never one to conform to fashion rules, I good luck with your wedding planning!! wore a gold sequinned number that I’d rescued from the very back of a clothes rack, and subsequently picked it up

Cheers, Jules xx

ISSUE 1 | 5

WHAT’S INSIDE ISSUE 1

Publishers Note Kooky Wedding Gifts Ultimate Wedding checklist I Do...nate

05 08 10 12

Real life Proposals Rachel & Michael Maddison & Paul Jessie & Brett Danielle & Cameron Shaye & Kyle

16 18 20 23 24

Choosing your Celebrant It’s got a nice Ring to it Conversations you need to have before you say I do

26 29 82

Invitations

Invitation etiquette 2019 Invitation Trends Save the date

Style

32 33 36

Perfect Wedding Dress Wedding day Hair & Makeup Creating your perfect Wedding Venue Styling Trends

40 45 48 52

P hotography Sass Studios Photography

59

Real life Weddings Rhianna & Beau Keonie & Peter Rachel & Brett Robyn & Eric Cheyenne & Thomas

66 70 72 76 78

ISSUE 1 | 7

QUIRKY Every bride and groom is original, which means so too should your gift to them. We’ve scoured the city to find some of the quirkiest bequests for the loved up couples.

Eggplant & Poppy | Teal Towel | RRP $28.00

Eggplant & Poppy | Large Scratch Map | RRP $42.00

Eggplant & Poppy | Instant Party Balloons | RRP $6.00 a packet

Eggplant & Poppy | Table Tiles | RRP $29.00

Eggplant & Poppy | Luggage Covers | RRP $49.00 8 | www.oasismagazine.com.au

Eggplant & Poppy | Personalised Wedding Blocks | RRP $60.00

Eggplant & Poppy | Shower Wine Holder | RRP $25.00

Eggplant & Poppy | Yes Dear Button | RRP $16.00

Eggplant & Poppy | The 30 Day Slow Down, Enjoy Life Challenge | RRP $20.00

Eggplant & Poppy | Digital Travel Scale | RRP $24.00

Eggplant & Poppy | Shower Beer Holder | RRP $25.00

Eggplant & Poppy | Life Changing Foods Cook Book | RRP $65.00

“The difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary”

GIANT ILLUMINATED LETTERS FOR ANY OCCASION www.fullylit.com.au 0416 912 477 info@fullylit.com.au

ISSUE 1 | 9

Ultimate Wedding CHECKLIST

Some brides will have been planning their weddings since they were young girls. Others may have just started since meeting “the one”. Despite all these years of dreaming, it’s still overwhelming when you start listing the endless things to do. Fear not, we got your back! Put your feet up as we take you through the step-by-step guide to planning the 12 months before your wedding. And don’t stress … you’ve got this!

TWELEVE MONTHS OUT

SIX MONTHS OUT

1. THE BIG REVEAL Go public! Make it #FacebookOfficial! Tell your friends and family about your engagement in the most amazing way you can think of and make sure you enjoy every moment while at it. It will be great fun to organise an engagement party with friends and family.

1. BOOK EARLY Avoid disappointment by booking your preferred venues and suppliers as early as possible.

Ceremony and reception venue, accomodation, celebrant, caterer, photographer and videographer, and hair and makeup artist. Once this is confirmed, you can start to plan the finer details.

2. BUDGET Let’s talk about money, baby! This is the point where you sit down and discuss the wedding budget with your fiancé. You both need to agree on the amount you are willing and capable of spending, this will ultimately serve as a guideline onward.

2. FIND YOUR #FITSPO There will never be a day when you are photographed more than on your wedding day. So it makes sense that you want to be presenting the best version of yourself.

You may choose to spend the six months before your wedding honing in on one particular aspect of your appearance. Getting into a healthy health and 3. THE THEME Behind every truly spectacular wedding is a well beauty regime at this time is important to help create planned theme. It’s the benchmark for planning a that bridal glow. And while we all know that beauty is successful wedding. So get cracking on planning what only skin deep, we are all for doing whatever is takes to make you feel the very best you can on your big day. you want your day to look like. And have fun!

3. GUEST LIST Did someone say minefields? This is a delicate topic. Are you actually inviting great Aunt Mabel who you haven’t spoken to since you were 12 years old. As much as you may feel obligated to invite everyone you have ever spoken to, remember your guest list should be a reflection on your life as a couple, and take into consideration the size and type of wedding you have 5. SAVE THE DATE Surprisingly, this will be one of the toughest decisions planned. you make. Picking a day that’s convenient for the most important people around your life comes with lots of 4. LET’S GO SHOPPING considerations - including weather and availability of It’s time to get your squad together and do some your preferred wedding suppliers and venue. For more retail therapy. You’ll love their advice when it comes to help, head over to Page 36 where we’ve collated some choosing your wedding dress, their bridesmaid outfits of the dates you may want to consider when selecting and for dressing the men. And of course, don’t forget your wedding day. And once you’ve chosen the date, your ring and accessories. make sure you let your favourite people know, so they 5. HONEYMOON can block out that date on their calendars.

Your honeymoon is the ultimate reward for effort.

It’s your chill time after twelve months of intense planning. Choose a place that suits your budget and goals, and don’t forget to book early! And then get excited, knowing you’ve got a cracking holiday planned after the big day!

4. #SQUADGOALS It’s time to assemble your armies. The posse. The entourage. Over the next twelve months, you’re gonna need them more than you could ever imagine!

Tell your besties that you want them involved. It’s the ultimate display of love!

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THREE MONTHS OUT

THE WEEK BEFORE - SHIZZ GETTIN’ REAL!

1. CONFIRM DEETS You’ve made huge headways with all your planning, and now it’s time to finalise all your plans. Confirm and reconfirm everything, including your seating arrangements, decorations, flowers and cake.

1. GET PRETTY! A day at the Spa. A relaxing massage. Mani and Pedi’s.

A facial. A spray tan. Take some time to really pamper yourself. You deserve it!

2. SAYING I DO Now it’s time to unleash your inner writer. There are no rules to writing vows - it just needs mean something to you. It may be poetic, romantic, meaningful, or quirky.

Whatever you choose, make sure it’s special to the two of you.

3. THE LOGISTICS While this one detail is often not considered until towards the end, it’s really important to consider the logistics. How are people going to get to your venue.

Is there a distance between the ceremony and the reception? Where will travelling guests be able to stay?

ONE MONTH BEFORE 1. ERMERGERD ITS ACTUALLY HAPPENING! Hens and Bucks Parties are a rite of passage for couples, as you celebrate the remaining days of your single life. You may choose to have a traditional “pub crawl” style bachelorette party, complete with tiaras and feather boas, or you may choose something more aligned to your style. A weekend away at a spa retreat with the girls, or dinner and a show. As with everything you’ve planned for your wedding, this should be a reflection of your individual style. Whatever you plan, make sure you have a brilliant time!

2. CALL ON YOUR TEAM! Make sure your wedding party have a timetable of what is expected of them, and at what time they need to be doing it! And make sure you and your fiance familiarise yourselves with your vows.

THE DAY BEFORE 1. TAKE IT EASY! Honestly, now is the time to chill out and enjoy all your friends and family who have come to celebrate with you. If it’s not planned now, don’t worry about it! Eat well today, drink plenty of water, and make it a priority to get a good nights rest. Everything will be just fine!

WEDDING DAY 1. BE TIME AWARE Today’s the day the last twelve months of planning will fall into place. Stay focused, and trust in yourself and your planning. You’ve got this!

2. BREAKFAST Make sure you have a good breakfast, even though your nerves may not want you to! It’s going to be a long day, and you’ll need all the energy you can get!

3. RELAX, SMILE, AND ENJOY You’ll be talking about this day for the rest of your life.

2. BE PREPARED Make memories, and if things don’t go to plan, just It’s time to bring everything together. Double and shout “Plot twist” and roll with it! triple check all the bookings, compile all the legal paperwork. Book the final fittings for your outfits.

Finalise all the accessories. When it comes to weddings, you can never be too prepared.

ISSUE 1 | 11

I Do ...nate

At their 2018 wedding, the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle asked guests to skip the gift and instead suggested their preferred charities guests may wish to make donations to. After all, if there’s one couple who probably don’t need a new toaster or kettle …

But this trend is not just for Royalty. More and more newlyweds are requesting “no gifts please”. If you already have everything you need, requesting a charity donation is beautiful way to celebrate your special occasion, allowing your guests to give in your honour, and do good!

Traditionally, wedding presents were given to help the engaged couple set up their new, shared home.

However, as it is now almost expected for modern couples to live together prior to getting married, it’s often the case where they are combining two fully furnished homes into one. Couples today tend to have enough “stuff”.

And while Wishing Well weddings were popular in the 00’s, the 20-teens are seeing community-spirited couples more likely than ever to forgo wedding gifts in favor of donations to their favorite charities.

Local couple, Luke and Josie Dunn, did just this when they tied the knot in 2016. “Anyone who’s ever planned a wedding knows the infinite number of decisions that must be made. From the type of flowers to the flavour of cake; the list goes on and on.” Josie explains. “But for Luke and I, not all choices regarding our wedding were difficult to make.”

“The easiest and absolute best decision that we made was asking our guests to donate to our favourite charity, COUCH, in lieu of giving us gifts.”

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“We didn’t need or want anything other than to marry each other in the company of our friends and family, and using our special day as an opportunity to give back, just felt right for us.”

A survey conducted in 2016 by an American Express discovered that couples spent, on average, $35,000 to cover the costs of their big day. Their guests spent, on average, $180 on a gift if they were family members and $120 if they were friends.

choose to support those organizations. If you are passionate about world peace, ending hunger or the environment, you could consider donating to larger international organizations such as the Red Cross or Oxfam.

Once you’ve settled on a cause, do some research.

Make sure your charity of choice is a registered charity or non-profit organization. Find out how much of your donation will go towards research, marketing, fundraising, and administration. Also, check to make Josie and Luke’s wedding ended up raising an sure your donations are tax deductible. incredible $11,000 through the generosity of their wedding guests. “Raising that money in conjunc- Alternately, you may want your guests to be able to tion with getting married brought even more joy, choose the charity they would like to support with your excitement and purpose to our wedding day. It gave us gift. Provide them with your preferred charity, or a list even more reason to celebrate.” of charities you’ve researched, and ask them to let you know which one they chose. All of that in mind, Josie explains that they wanted to support a local, make sure you let them know how thankful you are for registered charity and as the couple have many friends anything you receive. and family who have been taken, threatened and affected by cancer, COUCH seemed an obvious choice. Tell Your Guests: The best way to inform your guests that you will be supporting a charity in lieu of “Luke and I have had the privilege of knowing COUCH wedding gifts is on your invitations. It is not good pioneers, Charlie and Pip Woodward, for many etiquette to insist they donate to your chosen charity, so be years, so we knew that any funds we raised would prepared to accept gifts from those who choose not to be used judiciously and for the cause. We wanted to participate. support Charlie Woodward’s dream of building a Cancer Wellness Centre right here in Cairns.”

You can let them know that you will donate any gifted items if they would rather not support your Technological advances have also made it chosen cause. Let them know that your life is full of easier for couples, from millennials to older adults, love and laughter and you want to share that with those to replace wedding gifts with charitable who have greater needs than your own. With all the donations. Given the vast amount of money spent on blessings in your life, and on your special day, to give weddings each year, this shift could move the charitable to those in need would help you begin your marriage needle in a positive way. And when guests can click with full hearts. online boxes for wine glasses, vases, china sets, silverware and silver picture frames, it is just as How Much Should You Donate: Do not ask your guests simple to add a link to a charity of the couple’s choice. to donate a specific amount of money. Instead, allow them to choose how much they can give and offer to When asked if they had any doubts about their help them make the donation. Offer them the option decision, Josie is adamant. “We absolutely of donating anonymously. To encourage donations, you recommend and encourage others to incorporate could set up a donation match game, where you match fundraising into their wedding plans.” each donation your guests make with a special activity at your wedding. For example: For every $100 donated, HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: the bride and groom will have to share a kiss at the Choose Your Charity: If you are considering head table or dance with the donor. asking your guests to give to charity in lieu of gifting you with a wedding present or cash, the first step is Tax Deductible Donations: Make sure to provide your choosing the charity. This can be a daunting task. guests with information about tax-deductible donaCauses abound, and both of you should be passionate tions. If you are collecting the donations yourself, be about what you choose to support. sure to ask the organization to provide receipts for your guests. Do not donate the money and make a Begin by looking close to home. Is there a cause tax deduction for the total amount for yourself. If your that is close to your hearts already? Has a loved guests would prefer to make an anonymous donation, one been impacted by an illness, or have you lost ask them to donate directly to the organization. Make someone you love to heart disease or cancer? it easy for your guests to get involved. If they insist Perhaps you are an animal lover and would like on buying you a wedding present, youcan register at your gifts to help save animals in need. Or you may a store that supports your preferred cause, or donate be interested in combatting global warming or the items purchased through your registry to a charity. protecting the Great Barrier Reef. Local causes may offer a great meaning for you. Your gifts could sup- You may also prefer to use mycause.com.au or port your local school or send an underprivileged child karmacurrency.com.au to make it easier for your to camp. If you were a Scout or Girl Guide, you may guests to donate.

ISSUE 1 | 13

Y

our wedding proposal will no doubt be remembered as one of the biggest, most exciting and most memorable moments in your life. There’s a fair bit of pressure to get it right. So it is important to remember that the perfect proposal is what is perfect for the two of you. Over the next few pages, take some #inspo from the innovative ways some local couples have popped the question.

REAL LIFE

Proposals

EVERY DAY LOVE

Rachel & Michael

“

I’ll never forget the night I met Rachel Ramsay. prepped and everything was going to plan. However, I had rushed to the Supermarket after work to I was a nervous wreck, and Rachel could see right get fresh basil and that night my life changed through me. forever.

She kept her cool, despite believing that I was about I saw her near the cucumbers. She caught my eye and to propose to her on top on a secluded mountainsmiled. I returned her smile and walked right out of top, just the two of us - Rachel’s worst nightmare, the store. Then something stopped me. Literally dead apparently. in my tracks. I knew I had to talk to this tall, gorgeous woman who smiled at me.

We ordered our coffee and at precisely 9.19am, we got back into the car to drive to the airport. At 9.21am, I I found her standing in the Dorritos aisle, with a jar of received a phone call from my boss. salsa in either hand. I took her name ... she took my heart.

“Michael, I need you to get some supplies to store on the mountain site. Can you please go to Coles on your I remember Rachel once laughingly telling me she way to the airport?” wanted me to propose to her in Coles. I laughed and said ‘no.’ I’m a romantic, after all, yet Rachel had Coincidence? I think not. This gave me the perfect planted a seed in my mind. excuse to go to Coles and Rachel didn’t suspect a thing.

Over the months, I planned this unique Coles engagement.

Months after choosing her As we entered the supermarket, I said “Let’s get some engagement ring together I asked Rachel if she would chips to leave up there.” Rachel became overly excited like to accompany me on a work trip up t o Lamb’s and ran to the chips aisle exclaiming, “Yes! Let’s get Head. the party packs.”

We would travel via helicopter, something Rachel has “No Rachel, let’s get some Dorritos.” never done, and she could spend the day with me up there. Her response: “Why? It will be so boring. Do But Rachel explained how that was a silly idea they have aircon up there?” because once the packet was open they would have to all be eaten at once.

She fought and fought, until the point I had to plead with her to come, she she quickly became aware that “Rachel! I really want Doritos!” I insisted.

I was planning to propose to her on that day - October 16, 2017.

Rachel inadvertently returned to the very spot we had first met two years prior. As she stared at the rows of I had arranged for my Mum to come down and look identical chip packets, she looked back at me and said after the kids for the day. The staff at Coles were “Well, go on, grab some!”

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She really was making this difficult!

red roses and a box of chocolates. Rachel could not contain how surprised and shocked she was. The “Is there nothing you see that you want there, Rachel?” amazing staff at Coles had spent the morning cleaning and polishing the aisle. Little did she know, there was She was very confused, but then she saw it ... a more. customized price tag stuck onto the shelving reading, ‘Rachel Ramsay, Everyday I love you more and more. When all the commotion had settled, Rachel looked My baby, will you marry me?” at me and said, “Wait ... so we’re not going on the helicopter?”

When Rachel re-tells this story from her perspective, she explains the complete and utter embarrassment I told her that yes we were - I still had work to do! of reading the ticket, seeing me in the corner of her When we got to the airport, the pilot met us at the door eye get down on knee and realise, “Holy shit! We’re in and he asked, ‘Two pax for Lambs Head?’ as the pilot the middle of Coles on a Monday and my boyfriend is took my tool bags and packed them in the aircraft. proposing to me.”

Rachel sat in the front and looked around as we flew Then my plans really fell into place. straight out to sea - the exact opposite direction to the mountains. The pilot explained to her that air traffic As Rachel stood with her hands over her mouth in control had directed us out to sea to get around some complete and utter shock, she began to hear our song low cloud. playing on the inhouse sound system.

Then, the helicopter began hovering over a sandcay, She heard the yelling and laughing of my two kids, Rachel looked around confused. “Welcome to Lamb’s Siena and Lincoln. She turned around to see a crowd Head” the pilot laughed. of our family members pouring into the aisle.

We spent the rest of our magical day snorkelling When Rachel finally turned back to me, I tried to place and laying on an isolated sandcay with an amazthe ring on the wrong hand and mumbled “Will you ing packed lunch. Oh, and how did Rachel have her marry me?” swimmers, you wonder? I had packed them in my tool There were tears of joy, and hugs from random bag, of course! strangers congratulating us. I gave Rachel a dozen

ISSUE 1 | 17

KINDER SURPRISE Maddison & Paul

“

On April 6, 2016, it was just a normal day at Uni, on a normal afternoon, followed by a normal dinner. While I was cooking dinner, I noticed two Kinder Surprises in the fridge. Paul and I would often get one each when we went shopping - as a little treat to ourselves, so I didn’t think it was anything out of the ordinary to see them in the fridge.

After dinner, Paul asked if I’d like a Kinder Surprise.

Of course, I said yes!

He got them from the fridge, but as he did, he dropped one on the floor, so it was slightly crushed.

I don’t mind crushed chocolate - after all, chocolate is chocolate! So I said I would have that one.

When I have a Kinder Surprise, I always make sure I eat all the chocolate first, then I open up the prize section.

This time, instead of a finding a little plastic toy inside, there was a diamond ring and a tiny note that said “Marry me?”.

It turns out Paul had finished work early, and had gone

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to buy a few Kinder Surprises, in case he needed a few attempts.

He then carefully pulled apart the chocolate, took the toy out, and replaced it with my ring and the note. He then carefully put the whole thing back together and re-wrapped it.

He is very clever and it meant a lot to me, as it was personal and meaningful to our relationship.

It was without a doubt the best prize I have ever found in a Kinder Surprise.

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HEAD OVER HEELS Jessie & Brett

“

After weeks away in Melbourne training for a new however I had my final exam the following day, and I job, I arrived back to my hotel after a hard day really wanted to study. of training, only to find my then boyfriend, Brett, waiting in the hotel lobby for me.

After a bit of coercing and encouragement from my colleagues, we went to dinner at a beautiful restuarant I was so surprised to see him, but also a little with some good friends we hadn’t caught up with for confused, as I was due to return home in just two more a few years. days.

He told me he had been missing me and he couldn’t Todd McKenny was dining at the table right wait any longer to see me. beside us. Brett took me outside for a photo, which was unusual as he was never the one to He asked me to have dinner with him that evening, instigate a photo. But aside from being pleasantly

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surprised, I still didn’t suspect a thing.

While we were outside, Brett became really serious.

He took the time to tell me that we could get through anything that life throws at us, and that we could get through anything together.

shocked that I almost fainted!

I remember feeling like I was watching us from a distance. I kept repeating “Is this real? Is this really happening? Are you really being serious?”

He continued to tell me, so sweetly, how much I meant As we reentered the restaurant, the waiters to him and that he wanted baby Jessie’s & Brett’s one greeted us with glasses of champagne. The customers day. Obvioulsy, I told him how much I loved him too. applauded and Todd McKenny congratulated us.

And. Then. It. Happened.

Needless to say, I was a bit tired and hungover the next He got down on one knee and proposed. I was so morning for my exam!

ISSUE 1 | 21

Laura Halv rsen L aurra Halv rsen

From Love at First Sight Until Love at Last Sight and Every Significant Moment In Between.

Authorised Marriage Celebrant and Justice of The Peace (Qual) Weddings Vow Renewals Funerals | Memorials | Ashes Scattering Baby Naming Ceremonies Life Celebrations

Phone|0432 658 952 Email|Laura@LauraHalvorsen.com.au Web | www.LauraHalvorsen.com.au

HOOKED ON YOU Danielle & Cameron

“

My fiancé, Cameron and I really enjoy the great outdoors and we especially love fishing in the inlet, on the reef and also off our beautiful beaches.

Cameron had been talking about a very special fishing spot on Kewarra Beach that he wanted to try his luck on. So, one very early Saturday morning, he suggested we check it out.

Even though, at the time I really wanted to sleep in, Cameron assured me that I didn’t have to go ... but I may feel bad afterwards, if he was taken by a crocodile.

With that thought lingering in the air, I reluctantly got out of bed and got ready for our morning fishing trip.

Little did I know what Cameron had planned!

When we arrived at the spot, Cameron suggested I take our toy poodle, Astro for a walk on the beach while he organised the fishing rods.

As I returned from my walk, Cameron passed me a beautiful bright pink fishing lure and suggested I used it.

Written on the lure were the words ‘Danielle will you marry me?’ On the other side was “Hooked on You!” With tears filling my eyes, he got down on one knee, and said ‘Danielle, will you be my fishing partner for life?’

And, of course, I said ‘Yes!’ We then spent the morning together flicking lures up and down the beach not worried that we didn’t bring home any fish because I already had the best catch of my life, my future husband.

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PICTURE PERFECT Shaye & Kyle

“

We have been together for almost 7 years and always talked about going on holidays but we never actually booked any and made it happen.

Kyle has had a fear of horses for as long as I’ve know him and he never wanted to lay his hand on one. It wasn’t until we started watching a tv show he started to realise that they aren’t that bad!

So we were hanging out one night and I googled horse trail rides in Australia and found Peter Cochran Horse Treks and we finally got the courage and booked a 5 day horse trail ride and camping for 4 nights in the Snowy Mountains.

Kyle faced his fear for me and went out of his way to learn how to ride a horse by getting horse riding lessons every week leading up to our holiday. I grew up with horses so it wasn’t a problem for me but I felt so special knowing he was doing this for me.

On the 3rd day of our trip in the snowy Mountains, we were on a 5 hour horse ride to one of the old homestead, surrounded by nature and wild brumbies running free. Little did I know he was carrying a box with a ring in it the entire way and everyone on the ride knew about it but me!

We were sitting down having lunch and I kept harassing him to take some photos with me because the view was just picture perfect but he kept telling me to wait. Finally he said okay let’s go get a photo and handed his phone to one of the staff to take. He walked me down, pretended to take a photo with me and then got down on one knee in front of everyone and had memorised a perfect speech and asked me to marry him! It took me a minute to realise what was happening and I said YES! He jumped up and I gave him the biggest hug with tears rolling down my face and the lady had recorded the whole thing! Every time I watch it it just give me the goosebumps! We all then had a glass of champagne to celebrate and rode our horses back to camp. Not only did he go on this holiday to begin with, he spent months memorising what he was going to say to me, went shopping for a ring with my best friend, asked my family first and told all of his friends because he was so excited and did all of this without dropping any hints. Looking back at photos it feels like such a dream!

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Because it’s your wedding, it should be unique.

Imagine exchanging your vows in a romantic gazebo surrounded by tropical rainforest.

Imagine pre-dinner drinks overlooking the trees from wide timber verandahs.

Imagine the wonder as your guests step through elegant French doors to the stunning heritage-style reception room with 25 foot ceilings.

Imagine expert planning and innovative catering.

Imagine your wedding at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort!

Call or email TODAY and we will send you our fully-inclusive Wedding Kit.

E: weddings@cairnscolonialclub.com.au | T: 07 4053 8873 18-26 Cannon St, Cairns QLD 4870 | W: www.cairnscolonialclub.com.au

Gina Miles MARRIAGE CELEBRANT

GinaS Cairns Tropical Weddings

www.ginascairnstropicalweddings.com 0417 753 371

Looking for a inspiring fun-loving Celebrant who has a wealth of experience, easy to talk to, affordable listens, creates, delivers and very flexible passionate unique fun-loving Celebrant with a wealth of experience, who brings passion and a dynamic approach to your special day.

I love to see that pure joy that shines through on a wedding day and feel the energy in the air of pure love, it is truly magical. I listen, create, and deliver keeps it playful, modern and memorable, shows warmth, affordable, committed to uniqueness, capturing lifelong memories. Nothing is too hard and almost anything is possible! aI’d love to chat to you about your dreams and wishes for your special ceremony, for all occasions I am happy to meet for an no obligation-who knows where that may lead us?

I am able to officiate for, Civil Marriage, Renewal of Wedding Vows, Commitment Ceremonies, Name Giving Ceremonies, and Funerals.

Why a couple should write their own vows

Remember every couple and every wedding is unique The joy and love you feel for your spouse, strengthened by the warmth and support of your friends and family, is a feeling you will cherish forever. Your wedding vows/promises sum you all up with all of your love, dreams to your partner and set the stage for your wedding. Vows are essentially the forever promises you are committing to by saying “I do.”

but ensure all your promises are true to you and your partner’s relationship.

It is a real opportunity to tell YOUR STORY, give your family and guest an opportunity to see what makes your marriage tick, and to show meaningful sweet words to the person who means the most to you in this world.

Think of your vows as a short a love letter. You might When writing a vow never make a promise you know open by sharing something about your first meeting. you can not keep. They remind people why they are Then, share what you love about your sweetie (you can there. include cute and funny reasons) and how your beloved makes you feel. Highlight the things you look forward Whether you are using religious vows or all vows that a to experiencing and building together.

Civil Celebrant officiate must start off with the words.

Guidelines to Marriage Act 1961 Sprinkle in promises you want to make on your wedding day. You can combine broad promises along “I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, with more specific ones. Broad promises consist of A.B. (or C.D.), take thee, C.D. (or A.B.), to be my lawful things like, “I promise to always support your dreams,” wedded wife (husband or spouse)”… whereas a specific promise is more personal such as, “I promise to always kiss you goodnight.” Mix it up “I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded husband/ 26 | www.oasismagazine.com.au

wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith [or] pledge myself to you.”

darkness, and pain to reach for our joys, our hopes, and always with honesty and faith.”

“I promise to love and care for you, and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love. I will always be honest with you, kind, patient, and forgiving. I promise Ask yourself these key questions. Sit down with pen to try to be on time. But most of all, I promise to be a and paper, or at your computer, and jot down your true and loyal friend to you. I love you.” thoughts as you consider these questions: “I believe in you, the person you will grow to be and the • How did you meet and what made you fall in love? couple we will be together. With my whole heart, I take • What do you love about each other? you as my wife/husband, acknowledging and accepting • What does getting married mean to you? your faults and strengths, as you do mine. I promise to be • What are some of your dreams and intentions for faithful and supportive and to always make our married life? family’s love and happiness my priority. I will be yours • What story do you want to share about your love? in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. I will dream with you, celebrate with you, Your answers can provide unique insights that can be and walk beside you through whatever our lives may blended into your vows. bring. You are my person—my love and my life, today and always.”

ROMANTIC WEDDING VOW SAMPLES: “I vow to have the patience that love demands, to speak “You have been my best friend, mentor, playmate, when words are needed, and to share in the silence confidant, and my greatest challenge. But most when they are not.” importantly, you are the love of my life and you make me happier than I could ever imagine and more loved “I promise to grow with you and build with you a better than I ever thought possible. You have made me a life each day as we learn from each other to be patient, better person, as our love for one another is reflected kind, giving, and to always cherish each day together.” in the way I live my life. So I am truly blessed to be a part of your life, which as of today becomes our life “I vow to love you as you love me, through all hardship, together.”

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IT’S GOT A NICE Words: Katie Nicholls Diamond rings have been considered the ultimate symbol of love and loyalty for thousands of years.

The first ever diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy by Archduke Maximillian of Austria in 1477, and they’ve been going strong ever since!

Diamond rings, I mean. Max & Mary are long gone.

Ring TO IT

Zircon Another great choice for the non-traditional bride is a zircon. No to be confused with the lab grown cubic zirconia, a zircon is a naturally occurring stone.

Zircon can be found in a wide range of colours blue, green, orange, brown, red - but the colourless zircon is one of the most brilliant non-diamond gems available! The flashes and sparkles of a zircon are similar to that of a diamond, so for many centuries, there was a lot of confusion between the two. Zircon is known as a grounding stone that inspires, motivates, opens the heart, and brings compassion to the wearer.

So, as tradition would have it, we are led to believe that diamonds play a very important and non-negotiable part in the journey to marriage. But what do you do if you’re just not a traditional kinda gal? Maybe, in your case, diamonds aren’t a girl’s best friend. Do you go sans ring just because you don’t like the stone you’re Sapphire expected to wear? Nonsense!

Although sapphire isn’t usually thought of as a I recently spent some time browsing through traditional choice for brides, it has a lot of history with Run Jewellery, a gorgeous fine jewellery store some very traditional people! Royal families began located in The Pier Cairns, and fell in love with their to favour this stunning gemstone in the early 15th extensive range of rings. Their pieces sparkle and century. The most famous sapphire engagement ring shine more than enough to make you bid farewell to is the one that was given to Princess Diana by Prince your old friend Diamond, and say hello to a bright new Charles. world of ring possibilities. Allow me to help you think And while sapphire is well known as a blue stone, outside the ring box with three of my favourite did you know that pure sapphires are actually white. In fact, You can find a sapphire in every gemstone alternatives to diamonds. colour of the rainbow, including black, giving you the freedom to create whatever type of sapphire ring Aquamarine If you like the look of a diamond but just wish it had a your heart desires. Sapphire is one of the four main little more character to it, an aquamarine is the perfect precious gemstones. It stands among ruby, emerald, substitute. Aquamarine is widely known as an icy blue and diamond, as one of the most sought-after gems stone but it can range in colour from sea-foam green in the world. Sapphire represents romance, truth, and to a very light almost colourless blue. The aquamarine commitment - the perfect symbol to display on the is said to possess healing properties and is believed to prime real estate that is your ring finger. increase courage, happiness, and youthfulness in the wearer. If you’re a bride who desires these qualities, an aquamarine engagement ring may be just the ring for you.

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Experience the difference

PERFECT FOR WEDDING TRANSFERS | PHOTOGRAPHY | GIFTS INFO@NAUTILUSAVIATION.COM.AU | 1800 88 HELI (4354)

WWW.NAUTILUSAVIATION.COM.AU

Invitations

InvitationETIQUETTE We all know wedding invitations can be a massive headache ... but they don’t have to be, oh no!

We’ve put together the ultimate step-by-step guide for how to deal with them. Everything from etiquette to timelines and what exactly to include with your wedding invitations. You’re welcome!

ENGAGEMENT PARTY RSVP CARD Getting engaged is so exciting and you’re forgiven for The response card allows guests to indicate whether wanting the world and its Granny to celebrate with you. they can make it or not. Top tip: Number each card and create a spreadsheet with your guests’ names and But, beware the engagement party trap! Etiquette their corresponding numbers so that if a card returns states that you only invite future wedding guests to with an illegible name, you can easily find out who it your engagement drinks, so don’t get carried away! belongs to.

Not inviting them to the main event after they’ve partied hard with you and maybe even bought you a gift, might be mega awkward. If you have no idea of your numbers yet, make your engagement drinks a nearest and dearest affair.

SAVE THE DATES These go out anywhere between a year and three months before the wedding. If you have guests traveling from abroad or if you’re having a destination wedding, send them as early as possible.

This is also a great way of letting certain people know that they’re not invited.

DRESS CODE This will usually be written on the main invitation, but if you have to expand on it for any reason, you’ll need to include extra information. For example, if you’re having a rustic barn wedding or a ceremony on a cliff side, you may need to advise on appropriate footwear.

DIRECTIONS If your venue is in a rural or obscure part of the country, or indeed, if it’s a destination wedding, you should include a directions card. You can only rely on Google Maps for so long, and your guests may run out of coverage or phone battery, so it’s handy if they have physical directions.

INVITATIONS Traditionally, invitations go out about six to eight weeks before the wedding, which gives guests plenty of time ACCOMMODATION to finalise any travel or accommodation plans.

Depending on how many rooms your reception venue offers, you may need to include extra If it’s a destination wedding, send them much earlier accommodation options. Detail nearby B&Bs and (like, at least four months before) as your guests will hotels and perhaps their going rate per night. This need to book flights and book time off work. will be especially helpful for any guests traveling from out-of-town.

RSVP The ideal RSVP deadline is roughly two to three weeks before the wedding. This will allow you plenty of time to get final numbers to your venue or caterers (usually one week before the wedding), and to get cracking on your seating chart.

TAXI NUMBERS If your guests aren’t staying at your reception venue, provide them with a card of local taxi numbers. They can ring ahead and pre-book their travel to and from your venue.

THE AFTER PARY WEDDING INVITATION Are you have ‘day two’ celebrations? An after-party? If The most important bit, this will detail the date, time so, provide your guests with details including the locaand your ceremony and reception venues. tion, timings and any specific dress code information.

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What’s Trending ...

I

n 2019, Brides might have the most options of wedding invitations ever with all the different papers, textures, colors, embellishments and attachments, packages, all mixed and matched, but paired so cohesively. Foil is still a big favourite, it gives your stationery that extra glam. Vellum paper is another, it works well by itself or paired with other paper textures. Envelope liners, wax seals and printed details on envelopes instead of the traditional handwritten are more favourites that help finalise the overall design. You can seriously go crazy with the variety of materials that we have to work with today. That’s why we love our job!

- Bec & Jodie www.twosistahsdesigns.com

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Save the date

BEST & WORST DATES TO HAVE A WEDDING To choose a wedding date is one of the most important factors that cannot be overemphasized when planning for your big day. Certain dates may turn out to be best, and some may be worst. Here are the best and worst wedding dates for your nuptials.

WEATHER

Wherever you live on the globe, you’ll need to consider the weather when choosing your wedding date.

Here in FNQ, our winter times are the favoured time for weddings, given the milder temperatures. Up here, June, September, and October are months at the top with the most predictable and consistent weather forecast.

And while the idea of a sun-soaked summer wedding may seem perfect, a wedding between December and April does have some downsides. Keep in mind that if you plan your dream wedding during this time, Mother Nature may gate crash the party, with her friends Cyclone, Humidity, Wind and Tropical Downpour. So it’s really important to have a Plan B in place.

HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF IMPORTANCE

Certain wedding dates are almost completely offlimits. Those include Christmas day and Easter Sunday. Hold you wedding on any of those days, and you may well find that you and your groom are the only ones in attendance. So make sure you make your choice of dates wisely. We’ve put together a list that may just help you when considering the big date.

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2019

Friday, July 19 - Cairns Show holiday Sunday, September 1- Father’s Day Saturday, September 27 - Football Grand Finals Thursday, October 31 - Halloween Monday, November 11 - Remembrance Day Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Day Thursday, December 25 - Boxing Day Tuesday, December 31 - New Years Eve

2020

Wednesday, January 1 - New Years Day Tuesday March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day Friday April 10 - Good Friday Sunday April 12 - Easter Day Saturday April 25 - ANZAC Day Monday May 4 - Labour Day Sunday May 10 - Mother’s Day Friday, July 19 - Cairns Show holiday Sunday, September 6 - Father’s Day Saturday, September 26 - Footy Grand Finals Saturday, October 31 - Halloween Wednesday, November 11 - Remembrance Day Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Thurssday, December 25 - Christmas Day Friday, December 25 - Boxing Day Thursday, December 31 - New Years Eve

VERY SUPERSTITIOUS ...

While not everyone is superstitious, the following are the list of some of the weird and wonderful superstitions for you to plan your wedding day around.

JUN: Named after Juno, the Roman Goddess of Mar-

riage - so it’s pretty self explanatory why June is such a favourable month amongst smitten brides.

OCT: Avoid a spooky surprise on the last Thursday

FEB: If you’re a huge romantic, then why not pick one in October 2019, and Saturday October 31, 2020. Unof the most romantic days of the year to get hitched.

Valentines Day - February 14 - will fall on Friday in 2020 and Sunday in 2021.

MAR: The Ides of March marks the date that

Julius Caesar was killed. Sunday March 12, 2020 is a date to avoid if you have a thing for ancient Roman history warlords.

APR: April Fools Day will fall on a Wednesday in 2020

and Thursday in 2021. Avoid this one if you don’t wish to be the open to some pretty wicked gags at your own wedding.

less you are a Bride of Frankenstein, Halloween isn’t the most romantic holiday of the year.

And don’t forget, with 2020 being a leap year, you have an extra day to choose from, February 29th. Whilst this would give you a very unique anniversary, it can be also considered bad luck! Greek culture believes that February 29th is very unlucky, especially for weddings.

September 13, 2019, ,December 13, 2019, March 13, 2020 and November 13, 2020 are dates to consider for those of you who would believe in the mystery around Friday the 13th. Spooky!!

www.cairnsfloralsupplies.com.au

07 4052 1868

21/223 Hartley Street Portsmith Qld 4870

@cairnsfloralsupplies

@CairnsFloralSupplies

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Style

DRESSES | STYLING | BOUQUETS

FINDING THE PERFECT

Wedding Dress

Gender profiling aside, many young girls plan their wedding dresses from a very young age, thanks to fairy tales and their “happy ever after” themeing. So when it comes time for shopping for your perfect dress, many women have a firm idea in mind about what they want. But, keep in mind; your vision may not match your budget, your wedding type or, ultimately, your adult body shape. So here’s a guide to help you shop for your wedding dress.

DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET You should have a number in mind when considering what type of dress you will buy. Keep this number in your mind when shopping. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or distracted by a salesperson, so know your number and stick to your guns.

DETERMINE THE FORMALITY OF YOUR WEDDING Is it a cocktail party or a backyard BBQ? A church ceremony or a gathering of friends at the beach? The style of your wedding will ultimately dictate the type of dress you purchase. You wouldn’t wear a dress with a long, heavy train and intricate beading to a beach wedding or a simple sun dress to a very formal wedding. Match your attire to your setting.

Beach and outdoor weddings call for a more casual dress in a lighter fabric. A more formal wedding calls for a more sophisticated dress with lots of delicious embellishment.

DETERMINE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE Do you normally wear very classic, simple clothing?

Or, do you wear the latest fashions? And are you most comfortable in blue jeans and t-shirts? These details will play a massive role in finding the perfect wedding dress. You may want to stick to your casual style or step it up a notch for your big day. You may want to wear a classic dress and step away from the trends for a day.

Whatever you decide in style, make sure it is something you are comfortable wearing. And just like finding your perfect partner, you’ll know the right dress when you find it.

TRY ON LOTS OF STYLES Don’t be glued to one style of dress. Something you haven’t considered could be the dazzling dress you never dreamed of. Consider these tips in when looking for a dress to match your body shape.

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FLATTER YOUR BODY SHAPE NECKLINES High necklines only work for certain body shapes. If you are petite or don’t have a long neck, steer clear of high-neck styles.

DRESS SHAPE Ask your sales consultant for direction on what works for you body type. A very tall bride may not want to wear a straight, slim dress. This may call more attention to your height than you prefer.

Look for options that balance you on top and bottom.

A-line dresses are universally flattering. Draw your attention to your best features and away from your worst. If you have larger hips, look for a dress that skims them rather than hugs them. If you have a larger top than bottom look for simplicity at the neckline and embellishment at the hip. A great option for you is a halterneck.

LOOK FOR DETAILS A simple dress can be perectly complimented with a pretty veil or tiara. And consider adding a shawl or bolero to a strapless dress, for the moment when the sun goes down and the temperature drops a little.

And for a completely knock-out look, consider wearing a bustle under a dress to create some serious drama.

And what about accessories - gloves or a fascinator can bring out your personality and create a stunning look.

DON’T LOOK AT SIZE No two women are exactly the same, so assume that your dress will need alterations. So don’t worry too much about loose straps or a dress that’s too long.

They can be easily fixed by a handy dressmaker. And remember, wedding dresses tend to run small, so when trying them on, start up in size because the dress can be altered down. It’s obviously very difficult to alter a dress that’s too small for your body.

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Crowning G lory HAIR & MAKEUP

No doubt, if you’re reading this, then you’re on the first few steps of researching for your big day, so I’d like to extend my congratulations to you!

CELEBRANT DETAILS

Hair and makeup tends to be the last thing on the list when booking a wedding. However, this shouldn’t be the case. As most artists receive bookings roughly twelve months in advance, especially for significant dates, it’s important to do your research and gather quotes early so you don’t end up feeling rushed.

VENUE FOR GETTING READY If this venue is different to where the ceremony will take place, let your stylist know how long is needed to get to and from.

When booking your hair and makeup artist, there are a few things they need to know. Here is a quick checklist to have on hand when contacting your desired provider.

YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION GROOM’S NAME DATE OF WEDDING If this hasn’t been decided, just let your stylist know the month. That way they can let you know what dates may already be booked out. Make sure you include the day if it isn’t going to be on a Saturday.

TIME OF CEREMONY This is to give your stylist an idea of what timing on the day will be like. Personally, I like my brides to be completely finished at least an hour before the ceremony. However, this can change drastically if there is a distance to travel from where you are getting ready to where your ceremony takes place, or if you plan on having pre-photos before putting on “the dress”.

VENUE FOR CEREMONY

PHOTOGRAPHERS DETAILS Many industry providers have worked alongside each other for many years! It’s always nice to know who you are working with. Some photographers like to arrive early, so it’s nice to make sure you’re ready for them.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REQUIRING HAIR & MAKEUP To be able to quote effectively, we need to know what you want for each bridesmaid, mother, and grandmother. This includes length of hair, thickness, and potential styles. Each stylist is different in how they like to receive and store this information. We love Pinterest boards and we ask our brides to see theirs!

When planning you hair and makeup, it’s great for us to see the entire vision of the wedding so we can visualise it with you!

At Blended Hair, we understand that it can all be very overwhelming. We offer a complimentary consult which can be booked from our Facebook page. During this consult, we can talk about any concerns and get you on the right path for your big day.

Em xx

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Creating your perfect CAIRNS WEDDING

Wedding venues are usually booked by excited couples months in advance so deciding on your perfect venue should be high on your list of priorities very early on in your planning.

Cairns is home to a vast array of wedding venues from international five star hotels and romantic beaches to jaw dropping rainforest settings. Every month we are seeing more and more unique locations being suggested and utilized in FNQ. Wedding days are about creating a unique experience for the happy couple, and should include things that you and your partner want and love. The venue is a vital ingredient in getting making your dream come to life!

DIY Weddings As many couples become more aware of their wedding budget, DIY elements are creeping into modern receptions. Cairns has many fantastic independent wedding planners however most venues still offer basic wedding planner packages.

Many brides now look for a venue where they can simply pay the hire costs then arrange the catering, flowers, cake and entertainment themselves.

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Natural/boho Natural settings and country styled elements were huge in 2018 and this theme is still incredibly popular this year with tropical, native florals and natural versatile items being the main feel. Shabby chic and boho looks are also very popular but have reached a more elegant, formal take with vintage table-wear, mix and match colours and texture, glasses and opulent gold accents.

Clean, simple styling Tradition and refined, clean and simple is still out there with beautiful styling plans. We’re expecting more brides to tone their wedding look down and keep things clean and classic. Think: minimal wedding dress designs, lots of fresh whites and greens, elegant updos and sophisticated styling details.

The Venue at AJ Hackett If you are looking for a totally unique venue with ultimate natural backdrops and stunning world heritage rainforest then The Venue at AJ Hackett is the place to visit. Whether you want to do everything from start to finish yourselves or make the most of a dedicated wedding and events planner – the choice is yours. With three different areas to utilize – rainforest, terrace or downstairs bar – any and every style can be achieved to suit your vision and budget.

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RESTAURANT RESTAURANT CATERER NATIONAL NATIONAL2018 2018

www.salsaportdouglas.com.au www.salsaportdouglas.com.au

OF OFTHE THE THEYEAR YEAR YEAR YEAR

National Winner

BEAUTIFUL . NATURAL . PERFECT

Our top five

VENUE STYLING TRENDS

Put your own unique stamp on the most love and fun-filled day of your life! We give you our take on what we think will be the biggest trends for FNQ weddings in 2019.

WORDS: Kirra Garvan | Northampton Events VENUE DECORATION

The venue, and your chosen style should be a reflection of who you and your partner are, and your choices should foster love, laughter and fond memories. More and more we are seeing couples get creative with their choice and style of wedding venue.

MINIMALIST MONOCHROME STRUCTURES

With a focus primarily on black and/or white, adding a wire mesh backdrop or arbour to your ceremony can not only be visually stunning in its own right, but it is semi-transparent and quite minimalistic, so as not to detract from the view behind you. It’s also a florists’ dream for creating stunning floral installations. Using black or white mesh structures means that no matter what your chosen colour palette, these structures will act as a neutral canvas for whatever you have planned for them.

Whether it’s a modern hotel-style venue, or a beautiful blank canvas property, such as a cane farm or plantation estate the focus is on stunning photo backdrops and vistas, vast spaces to bring in beautiful marquees or open air cocktail and lounge areas, and the ability to party on late into the night, there are so many ways to adapt a venue into your own unique, pinterest-worthy style. These structures come in a range of shapes and styles, from square mesh, to circular mesh, Most hotel venues will allow you to bring in your own wireframe arbours and mesh plinths/display strucstyling and furniture to transform their existing event tures… the possibilities are endless. Just like the spaces. neons, consider relocating these items from the Ceremony to the Reception to maximise value and save on cost - they can also be stunning photo backdrop walls.

Expert Level Tip: Combine a white or black mesh backdrop with a custom neon for the ultimate photo wall or bridal table backdrop!

CUSTOM NEONS

Custom neons are at fever pitch right now, and this trend won’t subside anytime soon. I mean, when you combine the ability to have a custom-made sign with unique meaning to the both of you, with the bright, eye catching glow of a neon, that’s yours to keep forever ... it’s a match made in neon heaven!

A neon can be the perfect statement piece to really give your wedding a totally unique ambience. Consider relocating it between ceremony and reception so that guests can pose for a photo with it later on in the night!

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EVENT FURNITURE & DECOR HIRE

SOMETHING FOR EVERY OCCASSION.

Services

GEOMETRIC DESIGN

An ever-increasing trend in the styling industry is geometric design elements. Whether it’s hexagonal, triangular, chevron or abstract, geometrical shapes in furniture and design structures just work.

A popular example of geometric styling is the hairpin table collection. Available in a range of colours and interchangeable with varying size legs and table tops, you can create the perfect combination of cocktail, dining and lounge furniture in your choice of black, white or timber.

When it comes to wedding arbours, geo design can create stunningly unique frames for your vows.

Image you both framed by a bold white or timber triangle arbour, with the beach or the mountains filtering through in the background?

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Dining Chairs Dining Tables Bar Stools Cocktail Tables Bench Seats Lounge Packages Service Bars Arches & Arbours Backdrop Walls Display Structures Artificial Trees Umbrellas Event Lighting Marquee Letter Lights Neon Signage Acrylic Signage Wishing Wells Dinnerware & Glassware Serving Platters Drink Tubs & Dispensers Rugs & Cushions Props & Signs Baskets & Crates

AND MUCH MORE......

Call0417 635 202 @NORTHAMPTONEVENTS.FNQ

@NORTHAMPTON.EVENTS

ACRYLIC

From wishing wells to table numbers, custom signage and favours. Acrylic has quickly become the hottest trend in the wedding must haves for 2019.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to using acrylic in wedding styling. One of our favourite acrylic items is acrylic plinths. They are versatile and can be used for anything from cake displays or even a unique ceremony arbour when exchanging vows.

HELLO@NORTHAMPTON.NET.AU

WWW.NORTHAMPTON.NET.AU

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F

inding a professional photographer to capture all the intimate, emotional moments as the day unfolds is arguably one of the most important elements during wedding planning. Before you begin, have an idea of style of wedding photography you’re after and your estimated budget and always book an in-person consultation.

P hotography P hotography

SASS STUDIOS PHOTOGRAPHY Ben and Cath are Sass Studios photography, living and loving the relaxed casual life in the tropics. Capturing life’s most precious micro moments.

They have been photographing weddings over the last 10 years and fell in love with each other, photography and Port Douglas all around the same time. It’s been an amazing journey of kids, travel and thousands of photos. They’ve met so many beautiful people that inspire them to keep documenting wedding day stories.

Each and every one is unique and so very precious.

All their clients receive a premium service with the option of one or two photographers and include comprehensive coverage and a full collection of high resolution image files. We are completely crushing on this selection of images of their work. Enjoy! www.sassstudios.com info@sassstudios.com 0406 515 858

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I

f you look back at the weddings you’ve attended, what you generally remember is not the centerpieces, or the flowers, or even the dress. Chances are, what you remember is the emotion.

The bridesmaid who started crying during her reading; that bride or groom who just couldn’t stop grinning as they said their vows.

It’s all about the love. Join with us as we revisit the wedding days of some loved-up locals.

REAL LIFE

Weddings

Rhianna & B eau

“

Beau and I got married in Malanda on the Atherton Tablelands, Malanda, on the July 21st, 2018.

We first met at Schoolies on Magnetic Island back in 2009, when we were both 18 years old. He was from the Tablelands and I was from Townsville. I was shy and him being quite “out there”, we have been complete opposites from the start. But in this case, it seems opposites really do attract!

We stayed friends after schoolies, and Beau moved to Townsville in 2012. Friendship eventually turned into more, and in 2016, when Beau was offered an employment opportunity back on the Tablelands, I moved back with him.

As Beau is a dairy farmer, we had an elegant, dairy farm wedding to showcase both our walks of life and many of our guests say it is one of the most unique weddings they have ever been a part of.

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Keonie & Peter

“

We got married on September 19, 2015.

We had our ceremony on a the beautiful property on Dempsey Street in Gordonvale, which is owned by a close family friend.

With picturesque views of Walsh’s Pyramid, we then had our reception at the Cairns RSL Club on the Esplanade, surrounded by 75 of our favourite people.

The trip from Gordonvale to the Cairns Esplanade provided our photographer with so many opportunities to capture some amazing photos.

It was such a perfect day with beautiful weather, and we were delighted to have photos taken in the local sugarcane paddocks, at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal and also in front of the Cenotaph at the RSL Club.

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Rachael & Brett

“

Like so many great Cairns romances before us, Rachael and I met at Gilligan’s. We started dating a few months later, and in time we bought a house and adopted a dog.

We got married about seven years later at Whitfield House in Edge Hill. It was exactly what we wanted.

The venue had a rainforest, outdoors feel, but also had so many undercover options.

Rachael spent the morning of the wedding getting ready with her mum and bridesmaids inside the

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beautiful property, while the groomsmen and I had a few beers before the ceremony.

When it came time for the ceremony, neither of us were nervous ... it was pure excitement.

We were married outdoors in the gardens of Whitfield House, in front of about 80 of our closest friends and family.

After the ceremony, we had a big beautiful reception inside, where everyone danced the night away and had a fantastic time.

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Robyn & Eric

“

I purchased my wedding dress from The Leukemia Foundation stand at a Wedding Expo held here in Cairns in 2017 for $100.

The dress was then transformed over the next sixteen months, into a stunning hand-sewn, crystal-beaded dress. There were over 400 beads used on both the front and back of my dress, as well throughout the train.

The vests were purchased as part of a three-piece-suit from our local Lowes store. However, Eric thought they didn’t meet our colourful theme. So he spoke with Raelea Connolly-Neal from Raelamo Arts in

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Yarrabah, about transforming the plain vests into works of art representing the respected community elders of Yarrabah who officiated along side our wedding party.

The vests depicted our close connections with the Yarrabah community. Each panel of art represented the person wearing the vest, which included the King of Yarrabah and the Bishop himself.

Our day was filled from start to finish with those special moments provided by South Pacfic Bridal, Hilton Cairns, the Yarrabah community and our family members, and was captured by our photographer, Helen Yelavich photography.

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Cheyenne & Thomas

“

Our relationship moved fast in comparison to others but that was the way we liked it. After our first date, we were engaged within 6 months, had bought a house within 8 months, married within 18 months and are now pregnant with our first baby due in May 2019.

Thomas & I wanted to marry each other because well, put simply, we just wanted to be married to one another! We discussed our “wants” for the day (which, luckily for us, were the same “wants”) and decided that neither of us valued or wanted a traditional wedding. A traditional wedding seemingly went against everything that we were, so we decided to ELOPE! Wait for it….

Just the two of us! No family, no friends, no stress, no drama, no anxiety – perfect! But where?

As I had been to Melbourne before and loved it, I floated this idea to Thomas – the best coffee in the world, the alleyways, the hidden bars, the G, the trams, the food, the cold weather, the beautiful old buildings – turns out, I had him at “coffee” and didn’t need to riddle off the rest. So, Melbourne it was!

Planning an elopement in Melbourne was very simple – all we needed was the celebrant, the wedding get-up and a photographer. The one thing we didn’t plan on (being from FNQ and all) was how bloody cold Melbourne is in August and how uncomfortable this would be in a strappy wedding dress at 6:00pm! I felt like we were getting married in Antarctica!

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While the first two days in Melbourne were cold and miserable, we woke up on our wedding day to a beautiful sunrise and a few extra degrees on the forecast (a good omen I thought). We got out of bed, got dressed and made our way to Queen Street Markets, via tram, to buy a bouquet of flowers for the photo shoot. One of my favourite things out of the whole experience was being able to hand pick my own flowers on the day and, if I’m being totally honest, they were absolutely gorgeous. Despite the joys of sunshine, we were both very nervous for the day ahead. Can you imagine the nerves if we were having a traditional wedding!?

married! After the legalities were over, we made our way to a bar around the corner and had hot chips, popcorn chicken and beers – perfect!

When it was time to make our way to the celebrant, we took a quick selfie in the hotel room, ordered the uber and off we went to get hitched. The celebrant was lovely as were the two witnesses but I guess they would be, given we paid them $50 each to be present.

It was all over in 30 minutes and just like that, we were

We finished the day with a romantic dinner at an Italian Restaurant in Degraves Street. The remainder of our holiday was spent wine tasting in the Yarra Valley and road tripping up the South Coast of NSW. Our wedding day was perfect for us and the whole trip only cost us $2,500.

Now that we had enough liquid courage, it was time to meet our photographer, Elsa Campbell. I cannot explain how incredible Elsa was at capturing moments and making us feel comfortable during sometimes awkward kisses on random South Melbourne streets. Even the locals were amazing, wishing us well from the car windows “you two look wonderful, congratulations!”.

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Conversations you should have BEFORE YOU SAY “I DO”

We all know that communication is the key to every successful relationship, and it seems none more so than in marriage. Here at OasisHQ, we have put our heads together and came up with the top four chats you should have before you tie the knot. So take some time out to relax, and get chatting about your future together.

TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED That is the question! And if you the answer is yes, should your babies have two legs, or four?

But seriously, the discussion of offspring is something every couple needs to talk about at some point in their relationship. You and your fiancé should be on the same page about children. If you want kids, how many and in what time-frame? How you wish to raise them also needs to be a topic of discussion, as well as discipline styles. You should also talk about your individual religion and beliefs even if they vary between the two of you, deciding on how you influence your children in that regard is super important. Talking about these things before you get married, will bring you a world of peace down the line.

your individual debts and how you will manage this obligation as a couple.

COMMUNICATION IS KING ... AND QUEEN Solid and respectful communication is the foundation to a happy, healthy, and long lasting marriage. Learn to communicate effectively before you get married, and then continuing to build on these skills during your marriage, and you may just find you can weather any storm!

JOBS By the time the engagement comes around, you should have a pretty clear idea about the kind of person your partner is, both to live with and personality wise. you So now is the time you should set in stone expectations of each other as a married couple.

You really do need to start talking about what your household is going to look like after you are married.

Who will be delegated which specific tasks? Will one person do certain jobs, or will you share the load?

Think about jobs such as paying bills, shopping, walking the dog, cleaning the house. Will you take turns at cleaning the sink? Will one of you stay at home with the children, while the other works? Is there any pet-peeve that is a complete deal breaker?

MONEY MONEY MONEY Must be funny, in a rich man’s world. (Sorry - I had an ABBA moment) Given it is listed as the number one reason of divorce in Australia, year after year, having open and honest discussions around money is one of the most important things couples should do before getting married. You and your future life partner need to talk about how you will combine incomes and share expenses. In a marriage, one person is usually responsible for paying the bills each month. The two of you should be aware of the other’s spending habits. You should also talk about how much Having these conversations early will allow you to money will be put into savings, retirement and other kickstart a lifelong habit of communication, and that’s investments. And you should definitely talk about gotta be a good thing!

Have an event coming up?

Save by purchasing your own alcohol that your guests can pour themselves! Connect up to 6 kegs of your choice of beer, cider, cocktails, wine & soft drinks, etc. Utilise the rear with ice buckets in the booth for champagne and premixed bottled drinks. Enjoy the 55” flatscreen TV located ontop of the roof for slideshows, promotions, music videos or even the footy!

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Ph: 0448 142 040 Email: hello@kombikegcairns.com.au W: kombikegcairns.com.au

Fitzroy Island Resort Great Barrier Reef QLD

Blue Sky Photography

Begin the next chapter of your life together on the idyllic, sun-kissed shores of Fitzroy Island, a heritage-listed national park ideal for a romantic Tropical North Queensland wedding.

Blue Sky Photography

Just 45 minutes by the Fitzroy Flyer from Cairns lies Fitzroy Island – a tropical paradise of rainforest and pristine beaches within the calm, sheltered waters of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. Choose from a number of picturesque ceremony locations including Welcome Bay Beach, the manicured lawn surrounded by a lush tropical garden or the secluded Nudey Beach which has been named Australia’s Best Beach for 2018.

The team at Fitzroy Island has a wealth of experience in creating stressfree dream weddings, from the strategic pre-planning stages down to every last ceremony and reception detail on the big day.

WEDDING PACKAGE INCLUSIONS: • Venue hire and setup at a location of your choice • Three course, buffet or stand up menu • Chair covers and table decorations • 3 nights accommodation in a Welcome Bay Suite including breakfast • Ferry transfers on the Fitzroy Flyer ACCOMMODATION: Stay in Fitzroy Island Resort’s boutique accommodation.

Your guests can choose from a diverse range of accommodation types including Suites, Studios and Cabins.

The resort’s facilities include a large lagoon pool with swim-up bar, a dive and adventure centre, a cinema, national park walking trails, the chic Zephyr à la carte restaurant, and relaxed dining at Foxy’s beachside bar and bistro.

PRICE: Wedding packages start from $1,500.

www.fitzroyisland.com/weddings 07 4044 6718

/FitzroyIslandQueensland

resort.events@fitzroyisland.com

@fitzroyisland

Memories

by Adams