What inspired you when you were planning your wedding? I was really inspired by pictures of garden parties and French styling. Matt and I both wanted a wedding day that was bright, fresh and really warm and intimate. We wanted everyone to feel like they were a part of it and for it to have a close family-vibe, I think we both envisioned like a really fancy family get together with incredible food and light-heartened vibe. It was important for everyone to feel special, not just us, and the way we did that was by making the whole day special for everyone through attention to detail and choosing a venue with great food.
Did you include any traditions in your wedding? Yes, I wanted to stick to some of the common traditions like wearing a veil and of course having something old, new, borrowed and blue. My dad is walking me down the aisle in my big white dress and I really wanted to say ‘I do’ in our vows. While we did stick to some tradition we also did things ‘our way’ like making the wedding light-heartened by adding touches of humor to our wedding stationary and choosing music that we love to listen and dance to that may not necessarily be ‘traditional’ wedding music.
What was the best advice you received as a bride? No matter what happens, as long as you are married to your fiancé at the end of your wedding day, you’ve done it right. Hearing that really put things into perspective for me as it can be so easy to forget what a wedding is really about and get caught up in the thrill of dresses, makeup and styling options. By remembering that the main aim of the day is for you to be married, it’ll help you keep everything else in perspective and focus on what really matters.
What advice do you have for other brides? Be open-minded and flexible. I have been through so many different versions of what our wedding would be. It’s unavoidable that things have had to be compromised on and changed throughout the planning process. But, two weeks out from the ‘big day’, everything has come together perfectly and I’m completely happy with every aspect of our wedding. There will be things that are out of your control, so relax, take a breather and be open to new suggestions and different options that are available to you. That said, this is your day so it’s important to listen to your heart and not give up the things you really want, just be mindful that not everything will be possible.
Another important piece of advice would be that you don’t have to tell everyone everything. I found when I discussed my wedding details with people I unintentionally invited their opinion and input. This made it hard for me as I found it hard to say no to them or dismiss their ideas. Once I stopped talking to people about details, things got a lot easier because I was focused on what Matt and I wanted, not what other people wanted or thought.
Bridal Party Preparation: Mint Hotel / Make Up Artist: Alannah / Ceremony: Brisbane Botanic Gardens / Wedding Coordination: The Main Event Weddings / Venue: Spring / Cake: Poppy Cakes, decorated by the Bride’s Mother
