lovestruck by salt magazine - spring15

A WEDDING FEATURE WITH

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SPRING ’15

62 KEEPING IT REAL Pablo and Lahnee Pavlovich fell in love in Australia’s red centre.

66 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE Allan and Bev Niblett’s love grew around church and dancing. 68 TO HAVE AND TO HOLD Fashionable, must-have products for the loved up. 72 MAGIC MAKER The Van Fine Street Food serves gastronomic delights for wedding guests served from a beautiful caravan.

IMAGE COURTESY OF TODD HUNTER MCGAW, TODDHUNTERMCG AW.COM.AU

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KEEPING IT REAL

e v lo at the centre WORDS LINDA READ

Lahnee Thomas & Pablo Pavlovich

IMAGES COURTESY JUST B PHOTOGRAPHY, JUSTBPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.AU

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FATE PLAYS A HAND in every great love story, but sometimes she’s a little more pushy than others.

And what would Pablo say about her?

In the love story belonging to Pablo and Lahnee Pavlovich, she certainly played a starring role. Thrown together on a road trip to Alice Springs about 10 years ago while both were employed by the same marketing company, neither Lahnee nor Pablo could have predicted the momentous event that was about to happen: that it would be there, in the beating red heart of Australia’s centre, they would fall in love, literally at first sight.

“It’s the first place we looked at,” Lahnee says. “It’s gorgeous.

We wanted something outdoors, and I love flowers and gardens.

When we saw the garden setting, that’s pretty much what sold us.

Lahnee had always had a fascination for Mexican culture, hence the collection of songs in Spanish she carried on her iPod. Pablo, as fate would have it, was Mexican. When Lahnee asked him to translate the songs for her, it was the beginning of their lives together.

“I know it sounds really cheesy, but we’ve actually been living together since that day,” says Lahnee, 28. “I pretty much moved in with him after we got back [to Adelaide] from the road trip, which was two weeks, and then I asked him to move to Queensland with me because my family was there.”

Lahnee says the couple’s connection is indefinable, but she is clear about what she loves most about Pablo, 31.

“Everything,” she says. “He’s so charismatic and caring; he’s exciting and fun. He’s just one of those people you meet and you can’t help but like him. He’s just awesome really.”

“That I’m organised,” she says with a laugh.

Just as they had fallen instantly in love with each other, they also fell in love with Secrets on the Lake at Montville the minute they saw it, as a venue for their wedding in 2012.

“Walking down that garden aisle was pretty special – and seeing Pablo at the end, and all our family – it was really a family affair.”

The intimate wedding ceremony at Secrets was attended by 35 family and friends, including Pablo’s mum from Adelaide and his auntie who came all the way from Mexico for the big day.

The “absolutely beautiful” reception was held at nearby restaurant Wild Rocket @ Misty’s in Montville.

Lahnee, an editor, describes the theme of the wedding as having “a bit of a Mexican twist, with the plan to keep things as natural as possible”. Lahnee’s grandma, Zell Shoesmith, made the stunning, brightly-coloured Mexican-themed wedding cake.

Zell also made the bouquets and floral arrangements using wildflowers from local flower farms. As an added bonus, Pablo is a photographer, and took most of the stunning photos himself.

“He set up his tripod and we went all around the property at Secrets taking photos,” says Lahnee.

Now living in Sydney and running the Spicers Group’s Potts Point property together, the couple’s lives have been further >

Secrets on the Lake Weddings - Receptions - Honeymoons - Accommodation Ph 5478 5888 www.secretsonthelake.com.au Montville

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A symbol of your love for each of

A ring as unique as the one you love

Book your appointment to create your own personalised fingerprint ring today ABOUT THE VENUE

07 5494 3477 Shop 4 Riverside Centre, Maleny www.malenyjewellers.com.au

07 5439 0611 Shop 4 Beerwah Market Place

With a lush rainforest as a backdrop, Secrets on the Lake at Montville has many special spots for the bridal couple to choose from for a unique ceremony. Water views, boardwalks and breathtaking gardens will ensure a day to remember, particularly for couples who crave a natural and intimate setting. Situated on the edge of Lake Baroon, Secrets’ garden has hand-crafted platforms and decks built among water features and lily ponds.

There is also a signing table, picturesque gazebo, bar and romantic swing seat. The Lakehouse is reminiscent of another era and suits as a chapel or venue to host drinks and canapes after the ceremony and is also ideal as a wet-weather venue. There’s also luxury private accommodation on site.

Montville - Sunshine Coast Hinterland

WEDDING DAY ROLL CALL VENUE Secrets on the Lake, 207 Narrows Road, Montville. 5478 5888 or secretsonthelake.com.au DRESS Casar Elegance, Maroochydore casar.com.au HAIR & MAKEUP On Trend, Maroochydore ontrendbeauty.com.au

Vintage High Tea

$29.95

y enriched with the addition of their most cherished achievement so far – a gorgeous four-month-old daughter, Alexa.

Their other daughter, Lahnee adds, is of the four-legged variety – a four-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback called Sookie, who was Pablo and Lahnee’s wedding present to themselves.

With fate succeeding so spectacularly for this couple, it’s tempting to ask for the secret to their success – but the magic between them is not so easy to pinpoint.

“I don’t know how to describe it,” Lahnee says. “We’ve always been very close, and we’ve been best friends as well as partners.

There’s always been something quite special between us.”

• Classic beauty therapy • Bridal make-up • Wedding packages • Girls day out • Spring specials online

5478 6212

www.elementsmontville.com.au www.facebook.com/alittlebeauty 38 Kondalilla Falls Rd Montville

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

LOVE, CHURCH AND

dancing WORDS PENNY SHIPWAY PHOTO BAZFOTO

THE TEWANTIN LOUNGE ROOM of Allan and Bev Niblett takes a person back to a faraway time where men fought in wars, families attended church and love stories were born in dance halls.

It was Geelong, 1955, when the Nibletts shared their first dance, marking the beginning of a lifetime together: 58 years of marriage, four babies and many more dances to come.

Allan is a man passionate about life. He talks of the day they met, while Bev weeps quietly beside him, as the memories bring up so many beautiful, but sometimes difficult, emotions.

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At the tender age of 27, Allan had fought in World War II as a bomb diffuser and later trained soldiers for the Korean War, but he was still yet to find the woman of his dreams. salt

and then the surf event. But while Allan had found the love of his life, there was one more hurdle yet to come.

Allan had no idea his young Irish sweetheart was 10 years his junior.

This did not go down well with Bev’s parents when Allan asked them for their daughter’s hand in marriage, but being the charming man he is, Allan managed to win over Bev’s mother Edna’s heart by reminding her, “Mrs McMahon, when I’m 90, Bev’ll be 80 and we won’t be having much sex then.”

But it was Bev’s father, Mac, who gave Allan the most trouble.

“He said ‘there’s no way you are marrying my daughter’, so I had to come up with a beauty.”

Allan decided he would buy a diamond ring and propose to Bev at church.

“We sat up the back and I put a ring on her finger. We went home and Bev showed her dad.”

“My first girlfriend was a Protestant and in those days Catholics didn’t marry Protestants ... so I thought I’d try again,” the 89-yearold says. “And when I met the father [of the next girl] he said ‘under one condition, you can be anything other than Catholic, otherwise get out’. I was quite broken-hearted.

“I asked God to choose one, and that I would know who it was when I saw her. The next year went by and the next, and the next, and the next.”

But it was third time lucky when he came across Bev in a Geelong dance hall. Allan was visiting his sister whose house backed onto the Palais de Dance – a popular night spot for young people.

Allan spotted his friend inside, and as they chatted he caught the eye of a girl across the room.

“There was this dark-haired, little girl in a yellow dress. I said to my friend Kenny, ‘that’s the girl I’m going to marry’. And I went over to her and asked her to dance. We had another dance and half a dozen dances after that. I then asked her if she would come to the surf carnival at Bells Beach with me in the morning. And she said no, she had to go to church.”

Allan was devastated, thinking his poor luck with love was continuing. As it turns out, though, Bev was a Catholic girl, and with great relief Allan suggested they first attend church together,

Allan says he was just about to get thumped when he quickly explained they’d got engaged in the church.

“Oh, you did, did you?” was Mac’s reply. “From that day until he died, we were mates. He lived with us for 17 years.”

Allan and Bev, who had a health practice together, went on to have three daughters and a son – Laurice, Tracie, Erin and Chris.

They lived in Geelong for 10 years, Echuca for 26 years, and have lived on the Sunshine Coast for 22 years.

Bev says marriage was the last thing on her mind when she met Allan, but she loved his “nice blue eyes” and he was a “fantastic dancer”.

“I love Allan’s truthfulness. He’s kind and he loves God,” she says.

And it was faith that kept the couple through their darkest hours, with Allan defeating death numerous times, having three openheart surgeries and later battling cancer twice. Bev was beside him the whole way.

“If it wasn’t for our faith in God he would never have survived. He is a miracle,” she says.

With the couple getting clearly emotional, Allan says he loves Bev “with all his heart”.

“You don’t see the grey hairs. She has looked after me for 12 years,” he says. “I love her for her heart.”

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TO HAVE AND TO HOLD

RULE BREAKER To think all those years of dreaming, months of planning and a lifetime of memories lead to one day.

But it’s not just any day. It’s the one day you feel like a princess finally living your fairy tale ending. We’ve all heard the story. But what about the rebellious bride?

The confident-yet-carefree type who wants a little less ‘bridal’ and a lot more modern. For the fashionconscious bride ready to make a statement, check out One Day’s spring collection, Love’s Keeper.

Full of modern yet classic and timeless beauties like this rule breaker, the Lilith body suit and skirt. The two-piece drama makes a statement: Lilith’s myth dates back to Christian legend, meaning ‘of the night’.

She is the most famous demon goddess and that’s exactly the kind of bride who wears her: she breaks the rules, she wants to be comfortable and dance the night away. It’s your day. Be the bride you want to be. We dare you. onedaybridal.com.au

photo Erin and Tara Photography

The Lilith Body Suit and Skirt. $6500. Made to order.

E TO HAV AND TO HOLD

Here’s our pick of fashionable, must-haves for that loved up occasion. WORDS LAYNE WHITBURN

Sheer Brilliance

This handmade 18ct gold Argyle chocolate diamond ring is brilliant in every… well, facet. Featuring a pear shape 1.55carat Argyle chocolate diamond with natural yellow shoulder diamonds, it’s been designed by diamond expert Stuart McLean. He and his wife Angeline travel the world every year in search of the best quality diamonds, which is your guarantee of exquisite, custom-made jewellery. Underwoods Fine Jewellers Kawana. 5452 6774 or underwoodsfinejewellerskawana.com.au

Photo Jennifer Oliphant Photographer

PICTURE PERFECT Having a ceremony that flows effortlessly onto the reception allows you to enjoy a stress-free day all in the one location. And what better place to tie the knot? With its beautiful gardens, purposebuilt chapel and gorgeous Queenslander reception venue, Weddings at Tiffany’s is the boutiquewedding venue brides dream of. Think classic, elegant styling in an all-weather location. There are also specialist wedding coordinators on site, and an in-house floral design team, Tiffany’s Flowers, to assist throughout the planning process and on the day. With sweeping views across the Glass House Mountains and Moreton Bay, this picturesque backdrop will fill your wedding album with timeless memories that will never fade. weddingsattiffanys.com.au 70

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TEA-SE OUT STRESS

Don’t let the wedding preparations unleash bridezilla: chill out with Matcha-Sol pure ground green tea. Unlike regular green tea bags, consuming the entire tealeaf gives you 100 per cent of its nutritional wonders. Meaning? Good for the mind, body and sol. With every sip boost your metabolism, revitalise energy, detox naturally, chill out and get focused so you can concentrate on the important things, like saying “I do” to your perfect match. It really is a matcha-made in (tea) heaven!

Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha 40g, $39. matchasol.com

Photo Le One Photography

Photo Maz Photo

All in the one location...

Book your wedding date before the end of Spring and receive a discount of 50% from on-site ceremony & 2 nights accommodation FREE for the bride & groom*

Romantic Ceremony Sites Stunning Photographic Locations Reception Rooms with Breathtaking views Award Winning Menu Options Personal Wedding Coordinator Open Plan Apartment Accommodation Pre & Post Leisure Activities: Hens & Bucks Parties Golf, Spa Treatments, Dining, Tennis, Fitness

GIDDY-UP

Howdy! So Cupid somehow managed to tame your cowboy with his bow and arrow.

Next target? Getting that six shootin’, buck ridin’ bandito out of his chaps and into his wedding gear. Lucky the Bow Bandits have it covered. These handmade ecofriendly bow ties are the perfect giddy-up for any cowboy tie-ing the knot. Finally a charming yet cool accessory you’ll both love. Yeehaw! facebook.com/BowBanditRevolution

Contact the Events Manager on 5440 3333 for more information or email weddings@noosasprings.com.au * Offers ends 30th November, 2015. Accommodation is in a 1 bedroom apartment. Subject to availability

w w w. n o o s a s p r i n g s . c o m . a u Links Drive, Noosa Heads, QLD 4567 P: (07) 5440 3333 I F: (07) 5440 3300 I E: info@noosasprings.com.au

free-range nuptials

In the bag

Even the most radiant looking brides need a touch up. Don’t get caught stashing red lippy in your bra. Keep it classy with Ila Handbags’ gorgeous range of clutches. And with an entire collection dedicated to weddings, you’re sure to find the perfect purse fit for a bride.

With beautiful designs and quality fabric, it’s the prettiest accessory to, well, stash your accessories. ilahandbags.com

Fact: weddings are stressful. Let those nervous butterflies be free in the natural outdoors and relaxed style of the Birdcage, because casual is the new classic. With its vintage décor and recycled knick-knacks surrounded by lush greenery and colourful blooms, you can keep it comfortable. It is all about being basic, but beautiful.

The relaxed setting encourages guests to mingle, laugh and simply enjoy the celebration. Perfect for intimate receptions catering for up to 80 loved ones, there’s also an executive chef on hand creating delicious seasonal menus with the freshest produce and herbs picked from the very garden surrounding the celebration. parklandstavern.com.au/weddings

Sweet Smellers

It’s the maid of honour’s duty to organise the hens. The bridesmaids will hold your bouquet and fluff your dress.

And your sweet, invisible friend Jo Malone will make sure you’re smelling divine! Her range of colognes is beauty in liquid form. Whether it’s a fruity plumb blossom, floral wild bluebell or spicy vanilla and anise, it’s pure elegance in a bottle. And they look just as lovely as they smell. Sweet. jomalone.com.au

COASTING INTO MARRIAGE Looking to break old traditions for a memorable and unique wedding?

Keep the folks happy with these fun coasters from BHLDN. Forget a guest book filled with the same old xoxo kind of stuff: guests can leave their two cents on how to make it as husband and wife. And it’s a great icebreaker: who doesn’t love spilling their relationship secrets? And after a few celebratory bubbles, you’ll love reading over the advice.

Cheers! Set of 8 for $8. bhldn.com

feet first Struggling to find the perfect glass slipper? For those who don’t have a fairy godmother to magically create the perfect fit, we have Grace Bijoux – the fairy godmother to all barefoot brides. With beautiful anklets and foot accessories, your twinkle toes will be the envy of every squished foot in stilettoes. Perfect for those beautiful spring weddings on the sand or in the garden. Keep your feet on the ground while your head is in the clouds, but always keep them sparkling. gracebijoux.spiffystores.com

3X AUS/NZ Colour Technician of the Year Nationally & Internationally Awarded Salon

Shop 4 /166-170 Alexandra Pde Alexandra Headland

(07) 5479 6661 assemblyhair.com.au We proudly use and recommend

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MAGIC MAKER

ELEGANT EATS ON THE MOVE photo Karen Buckle Photography

WORDS AARON WYNNE

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photo Karen Buckle Photography

THERE’S A LOT OF responsibility attached to being in charge of catering for someone’s wedding.

As chef, owner and operator of The Van Fine Street Food, Daniel Baum will tell you that “you definitely don’t want to be the guy who ruined probably the most important day of someone’s life”.

The Van Fine Street Food started as a half-baked idea and a rusty, old, gutted-out caravan. Dan’s wife and successful wedding planner Carly Baum says the business was originally just a project to keep Dan busy: the kind most men have sitting out in their backyards.

“Dan came home with this old caravan after telling me he was just going to look at it,” Carly says. “It was this 1962 old thing that wobbled when you pushed it and when he pulled up in the driveway I was like ‘really, are you sure?’”

Despite not having a definite finished product or end date in mind, Dan began the long process of restoring the van, one painstaking piece at a time.

“It was a slow, handmade process over two years,” Carly says.

“We didn’t really want anyone to know about it because we didn’t have any idea of where we wanted it to go. So every Sunday and Monday that Dan had off he was down in the van, working away.”

The finished product is truly a sight to behold and the idea that the van was once rotting away in someone’s yard is almost unbelievable. Dan has done such a good job on the restoration that it can now sit proudly within any wedding setting, fancy or not, and as word spreads the demand for its presence is growing.

“Weddings weren’t something that we ever really wanted to get full on into,” Carly says. “We kind of wanted to focus on more of the kerb-side or food truck stuff and do festivals or events but the weddings just took over. It really has just taken off.”

The couple works hard on customising the experience to suit individual weddings with everything from service to menus, but perhaps the biggest drawcard for The Van Fine Street Food is that it’s just something different.

“You don’t really see that at weddings, you know – people walking around with a taco, ribs or a little burger,” Dan says. “It’s always the fancy canapés, which we do as well but it’s great to have that little bit of a mix.” >

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The ability to tailor the service has seen Dan catering everything from fine dining to rockabilly weddings. Carly says the reaction from guests when they first see the van is always great.

“Guys love the van,” Carly says. “Most of our bookings have come from the groom. I guess because it can definitely be ‘dude-food’ and girls are always more than happy to eat it. As long as it’s clean, good and not deep fried rubbish, the female side of the wedding will annihilate it no matter what.”

Dan has been a chef since he was 15 and the van has brought him a fresh point of connection with his customers.

photo Karen Buckle Photography

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IT WAS THIS 1962 OLD THING THAT WOBBLED.

OPE NI N G H O U R S LUN C H W E D - SU N

•

D I N N E R W E D - SAT

AVAI L A B L E FOR W E D D I N G S & F UN C T I O N S

Family owned and operated

by Anthony and Aletta Lauriston 11 HA R RY ’ S L A NE BUD E R I M ( O F F L I N D SAY ROA D)

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P 54 45 6661 |

www.harrysonbuderim.com

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“The biggest thing for my cooking in general is the look on people’s faces when they eat something I’ve made,” Dan says. “I don’t see that in the kitchen but in the van they eat it right in front of me. That’s the biggest kick I get out of cooking. It’s like cooking something at home and eating across the dinner table from someone.”

Like many chefs, Dan’s passion for food is obvious but The Van Fine Street Food is more than that. It’s almost like part of the wedding’s entertainment in itself, to the point where guests will often spend the entire night at the van talking to Dan and his team.

“Dan’s unique like that I guess,” Carly says. “Most chefs are just happy in their own domain, they’ve got their team and they are just bouncing off each other. But Dan’s just got that personality where it doesn’t matter whom he’s bouncing off. He really just loves meeting different people and being a part of it all. So I guess he almost has the waiter’s personality rather than the chef’s, but he can cook.”

The logistics of cooking in a van were something Dan had to get his head around at first and he had to find ways to overcome the obstacle of limited space.

“It is challenging prepping everything in the van,” Dan says.

“It’s not like you can just walk from here to there, into the cold room or whatever. But honestly, it’s better because you are always somewhere different. You’re not stuck in a kitchen for 12 hours straight. But that being said we can do just the catering and not use the van at all. So if there is a kitchen on site we can use that too.”

While food trucks may be a trend, for Dan and Carly the concept of customising a wedding to suit the couple’s personalities rather than following the “formula” is not going away any time soon.

“I think the revolution within weddings is simply making it more about what you want,” Carly says. “Where before it was a handful of people saying ‘I’ve got the ability to think outside the box’ it’s now a mainstream thing and people know what they want.”

It’s ironic that from an original idea without much of a plan, the pair has built a confident, down-to-earth business that draws people in. And when pressed on where he sees the business going in the future, Dan’s answer is simple: “I just want to cook what people want to eat.” thevanfinestreetfood.com.au

15 Freshwater Street, Mountain Creek | thelakehousesunshinecoast.com.au | 0400 642 339

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