Wedding at Wilson Outlook Reserve with a reception at Green Beacon Brewing

2023 has been the year for couples just doing weddings their own way. Georgia and Declan love a refreshing beer on a warm Brissie afternoon, and their favourite spot is the Green Beacon Brewing at Teneriffe. So, of course, they decided to hold their wedding reception there. With a cold beer or two on hand.

After some wedding prep at the The Calile Hotel at Fortitude Valley, Georgia arrived in the zesty orange Kandid Kombi.

Mel from Miss Weddings styled the ceremony area with a hexagonal arbour, which suited the geometric backdrop of the city skyline. The blue skies were reflected in the Brissie River as the guests looked out over the Story Bridge.

Georgia was dressed in a slim fitting dress from Grace Loves Lace at Burleigh, and she looked naturally beautiful with a couple of soft curls and natural makeup.

Preceding Georgia's entrance (to Appointment by DMA'S) walked her grandmother, tossing flower petals. How sweet!

Declan and Georgia's brief for their ceremony was "relaxed, light, and festive" so I told the story of their first meeting while working at the Story Bridge. Georgia noticed that Declan was handsome, likable, and funny. Declan noticed that Georgia was pretty, capable, and strong-willed.'

They soon became a couple - to the delight of their friends and families who saw them blossom and support each other as they grew up together.

Their wedding day was held on their ten year anniversary!

After the ceremony and some photos, the revellers made their way to the Green Beacon to celebrate.

Contact the team at Elope Brisbane to do your wedding just how you want to.

Photos by Romana Saeheng Photography and Graphic Design

Coordination by Elope Brisbane

Styling Miss Weddings

Transport Kandid Kombi

Flowers Little Miss Flower Shoppe

Celebrant Cheryl Landsberry - Marriage Celebrant

Videography Dan Hodgson Freelance

HMUA Silk Hair and Makeup

Dress Grace Loves Lace

#realwedding

#brisbanecitywedding

#brewerywedding

Surprise Wedding at Surprise 40th Birthday Party

Aaron and Raju were so impressed with the team at Elope Brisbane when they were guests at the beautiful wedding of Albany and Zach earlier this year, that they engaged the team to help plan their surprise wedding.

In a sneaky plot twist, Raju invited guests to a surprise 40^th birthday party for Aaron at Brisbane’s Byblos Mediterranean Restaurant on the Brisbane River at Portside Wharf. Guests arrived in the afternoon for drinks and appetisers, and enjoyed “surprising” birthday boy Aaron. Photographer, Romana Saeheng, was on hand to capture the group as they enjoyed cocktails by the River, and Aaron did a passable job convincing friends and family that he was totally surprised to see them all there.

However, behind the scenes, Aaron and Raju had lodged their Notice of Intended Marriage over a month earlier, had shopped for blazers, and written some absolutely heart-felt vows to each other.

Imagine how surprised their guests were as functions staff pulled open the curtains to the function room to reveal an intimate ceremony space styled with candles and vases of flowers on plinths styled by Mel of Miss Weddings. Aaron and Raju had donned their jackets with boutonnieres and stood at the front of the ceremony space beaming cheekily. Guests gasped, squealed, and cheered as they realised what they were about to witness.

After the mania settled a little, and the guests were seated, Celebrant Cheryl Landsberry played the song, “Everything has Changed by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, and announced that Raju and Aaron were about to join their lives in marriage. The couple adapted the Bob Marley reading, “He’s not Perfect” and Cheryl told the story of the couple’s first date and subsequent affection as they inadvertently fell in love. Raju and Aaron put quite a bit of thought into their wedding vows, and guests were mesmerised listening to them speak, emotion filling the room.

After exchanging wedding rings, some cultural elements were added to the ceremony reflecting Raju’s Nepalese heritage, and then the couple were pronounced partners for life.

After some excited congratulations, the couple joined guests back on the boardwalk for a sunset photo shoot and celebrations long into the night.

Surprising your guests at a birthday party or engagement party is a really fun way to be married. Contact the team at Elope Brisbane to assist with your surprise wedding planning.

(NB – Under Australian law, the couple who are marrying must both consent to the marriage – neither of them can be surprised on the day!)

 

Cruise Ship Wedding

Couples who investigate marrying aboard a cruise ship soon find that there are certain criteria involved. The wedding ceremony is usually held while the cruise ship is docked in port, before the ship sets sail. Most often, all the wedding guests must also be cruising. Guests are not permitted to attend just the ceremony and then disembark. The celebrant is able to board the ship (under a watchful eye to ensure we don't stow away!) and then is accompanied back down the gang plank immediately after the ceremony.

So what are your options? Pre-Cruise Wedding Ceremonies are becoming a popular trend. Couples who don’t see the need for an expensive traditional wedding are opting for a relaxed morning wedding ceremony, followed by an afternoon cruise ship boarding for a honeymoon or reception.

Paisley and Gary were married in the morning at Cabarita Beach near their home, with just their immediate families present. After a breakfast of champagne and cupcakes, they headed off to the port to board a cruise ship for a week long vacation. I’m not sure what they planned first – the holiday or the wedding! But either way, it was a relaxed and enjoyable way to celebrate their marriage.

Earlier this year, Elyse and Todd also chose a morning wedding. Their ceremony was at New Farm Park in Brisbane. After their morning wedding ceremony, Elyse, Todd, and their little daughter boarded a cruise ship for a relaxing week away. 

 Kristen and Brody enjoyed a morning wedding ceremony at The Pavilion, Mount Tamborine, followed by a breakfast reception. Later that afternoon, the newlyweds and their families headed to the docks to start their reception / family holiday / honeymoon cruise.

Sounds pretty good to us!

#weddingbeforecruise

 

Theo's Baby Naming Ceremony

What are the rules of a Baby Naming Ceremony?

Do the parents need to be a particular religion?

Do the parents need to be married?

Do the parents need to be a couple?

The answer is that there are no rules for a Baby Naming Ceremony. As a non-legal and non-religious ceremony, the ceremony can be created to suit any family situation.

Can there be Godparents? Yes, of course. Or you can choose to call them Mentors, Guardians, Aunts, Guideparents, of Fairy Godmothers.

Sarah chose to ask 5 special people to be Theo's Guideparents. We chose a special piece of music to play, Sarah sourced some Monarch butterflies for the Guideparents to release, and she hired an arbour for the ceremony space.

Your baby naming ceremony can be anything you want it to be.

Your day, Your way

When Leonie and Shane met online on a heavy metal music forum, they each knew that they had found a kindred soul. After meeting in person, they decided never to part.

After learning that the metal band, Slipknot, were headlining metal music festival Knotfest in Brisbane, the couple decided to combine their wedding celebrations with a trip to the music festival.

Planning their wedding, Shane and Leonie knew that their would be an unconventional one.

Tattooed Shane didn't want to wear a suit and tie, and instead wore an open shirt with skull motif. 

Leonie chose a gorgeous macrame white dress with a pale pink lining.

It was no surprise to their guests when Leonie and Shane chose songs by Shinedown for their ceremony. The lyrics rung true, as after a medical episode, Leonie actually did literally save Shane's life.

”You saved my life, not once but twice

You keep me free from falling

You saved my life, make it all alright

When I don't feel like talking

You make sure I always see the daylight”

We had a last minute venue change as the skies above clouded over, but luckily, the clouds quickly dispersed and we were able to snap a few pics of the event.

If a traditional wedding isn't your style, and you're more of a rock chick, you can still do your wedding day totally your own way. 

 

All the guests wore Dusty Pink, Eucalyptus Green, and Gold

In sheer coincidence, after my post yesterday about the guests all wearing navy blue, white, and cream at a wedding, today's wedding guests were invited to wear dusty pink, eucalyptus green, and gold.

 And the effect was stunning against the leafy backdrop of Redland Bay Golf Course. I also wore dusty pink and eucalyptus green florals. 

All the Guests wore Navy Blue

I asked Kristen and Brody about the colour scheme for their intimate wedding at The Pavilion at Mount Tamborine. They replied that the wedding colours would be navy blue, white and beige.

So, as is my custom, I dressed to suit the theme, and didn’t wear a fluoro striped kaftan. I donned a navy blue fit and flare dress from Review Australia.

To my surprise, all the guests were dressed in theme too – which looked absolutely striking!

Beige makes for an easy choice for menswear, one of the most popular casual wedding looks being chinos (which are beige!) with a crisp white shirt.

For a small guest list of close family members, asking the guests to wear a particular colour palette can make for really effective photos. I'm hoping this idea catches on!

Venue: The Pavilion Mt. Tamborine
Coordination: Elope Brisbane
Photographer: Romana Saeheng Photography and Graphic Design
Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry - Marriage Celebrant 

One of our micro weddings on North Stradbroke Island last year had a similar idea, with all the guests deciding to wear neutral colours.

Venue: Point Lookout

Coordination: Elope Brisbane

Photographer: Romana Saeheng Photography and Graphic Design

Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry - Marriage Celebrant 

Lovelock Ceremony with Bonsai Tree

Thinking of a unique idea for their Bayside wedding ceremony, C and M found a Bonsai tree to create a lovelock ceremony. They purchased this engraved padlock online and secured it around the mini tree to create a piece of memorabilia of their wedding day.

Wedding at Rainforest Gardens, Mount Cotton

Rainforest Gardens is located atop Mount Cotton in the Redlands, south east of Brisbane city. The property features over 20 acres of tropical gardens, with a purpose-built wedding ceremony platform which overlooks a lilly padded pond with fountains. Timber benches are terraced into the hillside for guest seating. The gardens are always shady, even on a very warm Brisbane summer day. A new pavilion has been constructed in the event of rainy weather, and the venue also provides a built-in sound system for ceremonies.

Gorgeous bride, Katie, and her handsome man, Jerome, are absolutely besotted with each other. Their excitement and passion gave a real buzz to their wedding day and guests were uplifted to see two such genuine humans seal their joyous connection.

Placing the wedding ring on her husband's finger, Katie looks thoughtful , aware of the life changing moment they are creating. 

Woohoo - the kiss - the moment the guests have been waiting for - the release of all that nervous energy as the couple finally celebrate their official status as newlyweds.

Photos by Kimberey Lee Photography

Celebrant at Rainforest Gardens Cheryl Landsberry

 

Wedding on Russell Island

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands offer a unique lifestyle in South East Queensland, with an emphasis on community, living life at a slower pace, and fishing.

The four Bay Islands, Russell Island, Karragarra Island, Lamb Island, and Macleay Island, are accessible by water taxi from the Banana Street Wharf at the Redland Bay Marina. The adult fare is currently $9.60 each way for those who are wondering.

T & L live on Russell Island with their children, and decided they had waited long enough to be married. Their wedding planning, like most events on the Island, was a community project, with friends and neighbours pitching in to organise transport, music, and decorations. The ceremony was held on the verandah of the local RSL Club, with the locals all dressing up and turning up with a commitment to celebrate.

The children of the couple formed the wedding party, and in true island style, wore Hawaiian shirts and tropical print sarongs.

I had to dash for the water taxi back to the mainland, but I believe there was Karaoke and a mighty good time had until the late hours.

 

New Farm Park micro wedding

Hanna and Nick wanted bright flowers and a relaxed vibe for the intimate ceremony, inviting just their immediate families and a handful of friends. They asked the team at Elope Brisbane to create a low key, fun, and memorable ceremony for them. 

Hannah and Nick's first home together was at New Farm, and so New Farm Park had a special significance for the couple. They decided to marry under one of the huge Fig trees at New Farm Park.

Steve from Kandid Kombi picked Hannah up and delivered her to the ceremony space in his colourful orange Kombi Van, Busta. Mel from Miss Weddings styled a hexagonal shaped white arbour with brightly coloured flowers and foliage, and set up Americana white chairs. Celebrant Cheryl Landsberry told the cute story of the couple's meeting and led them through a sweet and simple ceremony.

Hannah was ethereal in a beautiful lace and tulle wedding dress with blush underlay from When Freddie met Lilly. In this job, you get to see a lot of gorgeous dresses. But this one might just be the new favourite! Hannah carried a bouquet of natives from Little Miss Flower Shoppe.Nick wore a sage green suit. This colour is so appropriate for a garden wedding, and we're really loving it.

Photos by Romana Saeheng

Contact the team at Elope Brisbane to coordinate your relaxed and fun wedding at New Farm Park

Venue: New Farm Park

Coordination: Elope Brisbane

Transport: Kandid Kombi

Styling: Miss Weddings

Flowers: Little Miss Flower Shoppe

Photographer: Romana Saeheng

Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry

 

New Farm Park Elopement

When Elyse and Todd were thinking about the vision for their wedding, they knew they didn't want a traditional wedding. Musician Todd is more at home in denim than a tuxedo, and Elyse couldn't imagine herself in a white, frilly dress, so they settled on a red and black wedding theme.

Elyse looked absolutely stunning in a red wedding dress, and their daughter wore a matching red flower girl dress. Elyse's bridesmaid wore black, as did the parents. The group met at New Farm Park with celebrant Cheryl Landsberry and photographer Romana Saeheng from Elope Brisbane. 

They exchanged their legal marriage vows before setting sail on a honeymoon cruise.

We were thrilled to receive a 5 star rating from Elyse, "I highly recommend Romana and Cheryl! Romana is amazing with photos and has a fun and bubbly personality, and Cheryl was a lovely celebrant. We loved how she helped create an intimate ceremony for us. Thank you ladies so much!"

 

Brisbane backyard wedding

Jessica and Jean-Pierre's relationship started as a holiday romance - that didn't end with the holiday. Both from different continents, Jessica and Jean-Pierre met at a full moon party in Thailand. No sooner than they arrived home from their holiday, they were making plans to reunite.

The couple set up home in Brisbane, and, after seventeen years together, decided to host a relaxed and intimate backyard wedding for family from interstate and overseas. Instead of spending their savings on a wedding venue, the couple invested their funds (and time) into transforming their backyard into a pretty and functional lawn. Mel from Miss Weddings set up an arbour with chairs in the couple's backyard transform it into a wedding lawn.

In a very unique touch, the couple attached the string tied around their wrists at the full moon party to a handfasting ribbon for their ceremony.

Venue: Couple's own backyard

Styling: Miss Weddings

Photographer: Romana Saeheng Photography and Graphic Design

Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry - Marriage Celebrant

 

Getting married at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha

 

Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha is a shady and tranquil wedding location close to the centre of Brisbane. There are three ceremony areas that can be booked. This photo shows the popular Palm Tree Lawn, which is a small, private area overlooking a pond.

The lawn can be booked for weddings at a cost of $185.90 per hour, with a minimum of two hour hire fee.

Follow the link below to book the wedding lawn at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha.

https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/council-venues-and-precincts/parks/using-council-parks-for-activities-and-events/park-bookings-and-consents/park-booking-sites/brisbane-botanic-gardens-mt-coot-tha#booking

Seven advantages of a City Wedding

 Brisbane City Wedding

There are so many advantages to a Brisbane City wedding!

1/ This spectacular outlook
2/ Abundant accommodation options for your country cousins
3/ Easy transport options including the free City Hopper Brisbane River water taxi
4/ Pick up last minute supplies - Bandaids, buttons, and Beroccas
5/ Post reception party locations - nightclubs, craft brew houses, and wine bars
6/ Morning after breakfast get togethers by the sparkling Brisbane River
7/ No vendor travel surcharges

Contact the team at Elope Brisbane to coordinate your stylish Brisbane City wedding

Renewal of Vows Ceremony

As a marriage celebrant, I spend much of my time immersed in happy events. But life isn't all good times. The natural ebb and flow of life sometimes requires a more bittersweet ceremony.

A and B would have been celebrating their 30 year wedding anniversary next week. However, B received a health diagnosis late last year which sent his family into a tailspin. Instead of surrendering to their grief, the family instead decided to fill B's last weeks making as many memories as possible.

A and B decided to renew their wedding vows at the 29.75 year mark instead, and invited their friends, siblings, and adult children to witness their vows to each other in a simple backyard ceremony.

After so many years of raising their children together, A and B had a lot to be thankful for. They thanked each other for their loyalty, commitment, and adoration, and promised to love each other until the very end.

It was so very poignant to tell the couple's story and spend time with them on that very special afternoon.

 

Redland Bay Farm Wedding

Real Wedding - Redland Bay farm wedding

My first ceremony for 2023 was early in the New Year. Like many school teachers, Donna chose the school holidays for her wedding date. Daniel was keen for a private area, without onlookers, and so they chose a private farm in Redland Bay for their micro wedding. Inviting only immediate family ensured their wedding would be affordable. The brief was for a relaxed and enjoyable day with a family focus.

Donna and Daniel hired to team at Elope Brisbane to source a suitable venue. Redland Bay, just on the outskirts of Brisbane, still features some rural areas, with creeks, gum trees, and lush grass. This property even has an authentic tractor for those farm wedding photos.  Mel from Miss Weddings styled the ceremony area with a bamboo arbour and bamboo guest chairs. The colour palette was neutral.

Donna walked down the aisle to Love Someone by Lukas Graham. She looked radiant and relaxed in a long white gown, carrying a bouquet of white flowers. Their nephews were armed with bubble guns which created a fun and light walk back down the aisle.

The couple promised to live life valuing each other as equal partners. And isn't that what it's all about?

Real Wedding

Location: Redland Bay, Brisbane

Coordinator: Elope Brisbane

Photographer: Romana Saeheng

Stylist: Miss Weddings

Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry

Cake: Cakes by Simone

Brief: Casual, intimate, genuine, family focus

 

2023 Wedding Trends

 

The wedding trend I'm noticing for 2023 is the "doing whatever the heck I want to" theme.

In the almost fifty years that Civil Celebrancy has existed in Australia, couples have been encouraged to do things their own way. 

The mantra of  "Your Day, Your Way" is the very underpinning of a civil ceremony. 

This year, though, couples are really embracing their range of choice.

My 2023 Real Wedding blogs (soon to be underway, I promise) will reflect the diverse ways that couples are celebrating their union. For an appetiser, check out these wedding cakes.

The brief for the first cake, created by Petal and Peach Bakery, was mystic and dragons.

Yesterday’s cake was a combined effort from local cake artists Cakes by Simone and Cakes By Paulie. The brief was toadstool, raccoon, and goose!

Nailed it!