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 40th
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!)
