Evening wedding at Mowbray Park, East Brisbane

The thought of planning a traditional wedding with a seating plan, alternate drop meals, and a garter toss just didn’t fit with Steph and Curtis’s vision. Instead, they contacted the team at Elope Brisbane and booked the Simply Elope package with just the essentials – celebrant and photographer.

Steph and Curtis decided on a 7pm ceremony, to coincide with their anniversary time, so the hunt was on to find a ceremony location in Brisbane with night lights. Mowbray Park at East Brisbane alongside the Brisbane River was the perfect location, with the giant Fig trees decked in fairy lights providing plenty of light and ambience for the occasion. The heritage park looks over the river to the Story Bridge, which is also lit up at night, and provided gorgeous backdrop for the photos.

Steph grew out her golden hair and curled it for the ceremony. She looked gorgeous in a J’Adore sparkly purple evening gown, topped with a black wool cross over. Silver heels completed the look. Curtis was matching in a smart grey suit with a purple tie. He managed to include his lucky Meerkat socks to top off the outfit.

The couple organised a pre-wedding photo shoot in the afternoon to enable them to have some daylight snaps, then met their families at a Kangaroo Point bar for a sunset drink. Once the sun set, the families headed to Mowbray Park and were relieved to see the area had plenty of parking available.

The winter evening was crisp and clear, and the park looked magical. Steph and Curtis exchanged their marriage vows under an ancient fig tree, watched on by just their closest family. Their mums witnessed their signatures on the marriage certificates, and after a couple of family photos, the newlyweds and their parents drove off for a celebratory dinner in the city.

We loved working with this genuine couple and were so pleased we could bring their wedding vision to life.

 

Ceremony Venue: Mowbray Park, East Brisbane

Photo Shoot Venue: Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha

Photographer: Romana Saeheng

Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry

 

Brisbane backyard winter wedding

Saturday's backyard wedding had it all – a huge white marquee, a bagpiper, a beautiful bride, a groom in a kilt, a unified family, flower boys tossing petals down the aisle, a drone, and a gum tree edged yard bathed in winter sunshine.

Karolina and Connor first met at the gym, where they were instantly attracted to each other. They set about organising a date, and found that they had an immediate connection. Connor was drawn to Karolina’s vitality, and Karolina appreciated Connor’s sincerity. Before too long, they became a couple and soon couldn’t imagine spending their life with anyone else.

Connor and Karolina planned their wedding for 70 guests on the acreage property of Connor’s parents. The whole family pitched in with the mowing and landscaping, and they set up a marquee with long tables styled with gum leaves and Baby's Breath. A platform with a circular arbour was constructed for the ceremony, and this was styled with Pampas grass. Cable drums were upended to create standing bars, and festoon lighting was strung across the yard in readiness for sunset.

The ceremony begun with a striking note as Connor’s dad strode down the aisle playing the bagpipes. Next, Connor’s mum walked down the aisle accompanied by two of Connor’s brother. Next, groom Connor made his way down the aisle wearing the family tartan to the applause of the gathered friends and family. After hugs all around, the family took their seats and Connor stood at the front of the ceremony space to await his bride.

Next, Connor’s younger brother and Karolina’s brother danced down the aisle scattering flower petals to “Snowship” the Thomas Jack remix. They were followed by Karolina’s mum who carried the small son of the couple – also the ring bearer.

Finally, radiant bride Karolina walked into the ceremony on the arm of her dad to “The Rope” by Lane 8.

We were blessed with a sunny Brisbane winter afternoon, and guests enjoyed the warm rays as they witnessed the sweet, funny and personal ceremony of the couple.

Within a half hour, the formalities were dispensed with and the guests enjoyed Mimosas as the afternoon cooled.

A legal marriage ceremony in Australia needs only three sentences by the celebrant and one each from the couple. The remainder of the ceremony can be whatever the couple want it to be, and I’m so glad couples have such novel ways to celebrate their wedding day in exactly their own way.

Photos by Vaughan Harris

Surprise wedding at a backyard birthday party

Surprise backyard wedding at a birthday party

With Allan and Erin both approaching milestone birthdays, they decided to throw a birthday bash for friends and family. And after 9 years, three children and a home together, they decided to also celebrate by finally marrying.

The couple set up the yard with wine barrels as high tables, industrial bar stools, and festoon lights from Freeman's Party Hire at Capalaba. Singer/guitarist Jamaal Sugars set the relaxed vibe for the party as the guests arrived in country/western glam dress.

Erin’s sister, previously a marriage celebrant started the speeches by announcing the surprise wedding, and she told the story of the couple’s meeting and falling in love, before handing over to me for the legal aspects of the ceremony.

Allan and Erin were attracted to each other as soon as they first met, and their chemistry still sizzles after their years together. Allan dressed up for the surprise ceremony by adding a jacket, and Erin slipped into a long sleeved, silver sequined mini dress. Jamaal played Paul Simon’s, “You can call me Al” as the couple walked over to the ceremony area, which was designated by a row of bamboo flare torches.

The guests all were delighted to witness their friends marry, and after a simple and legal wedding ceremony, they partied into the evening.

Venue: Backyard

Hire: Freeman's Party Hire

Music: Jamaal Sugars

Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry - Marriage Celebrant

Photographer: Captured by Sarah

(certificate blurred for privacy)

 

Micro Wedding at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha

 

After making the decision that they were in it for life, Mandy and Adam pictured a simple but elegant wedding with just their closest family present.

Mandy and her lifelong bestie, Maddi, prepped for the ceremony together, before arriving at the ceremony location in a sleek, black car. Mandy wore a beautiful white lace dress from @White Lily Couture, and Maddi wore a slinky midnight blue slip dress. Both had waves in their hair. Mandy takes care of her beautiful fair skin and looked luminescent  - a timely reminder of the importance of sun protection (I’m vowing to put this into practice more often now!)

Mandy and Maddi walked into the ceremony to “Across the Stars” by John Williams – a nod to Mandy and Adam’s shared passion of all things Stars Wars.

Deb from Miss Weddings had set up a white circular arbour with blue florals and white Americana chairs in the ceremony space at the Palm Tree Lawn at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha.

Adam was looking super dapper in a crisp navy suit with a white shirt and a navy tie. His hair and beard were freshly trimmed, and he smiled as he caught sight of Mandy walking down the aisle towards him.

I loved working with this quirky couple to create a ceremony which reflected their personalities. We included a quote from Lord of the Rings, a reference to building Lego models together, a mention of the couple’s haughty  cat, Salem, and goals of coffee drinking on the balcony together.

It wouldn’t be a Mandy moment without a Taylor Swift song, so Adam’s first concession to his new wife was walking back down the aisle to “Paper Rings” by Taylor Swift.

After their intimate ceremony, the couple and their guests enjoyed cupcakes to reenergise during a photo shoot around the gardens.

Ceremony Venue: Palm Tree Lawn at Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha

Coordination: Elope Brisbane

Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry

Photographer: Romana Saeheng

Styling: Miss Weddings

Flowers: Little Miss Flower Shoppe

Cupcakes: Cakes by Simone

Dress: White Lily Couture

Wedding at Cascade Gardens, Victoria Point

Making your wedding day unique and memorable does not necessarily involve spending up big.

Second time rounders Letitia and Andrew wanted their ceremony to be relaxed, family focused, and semi traditional with a fun twist.

They set up the ceremony area at Cascade Gardens with an arbour and chairs and were pleased to see that the local Redland City Council had freshened up the paths and gardens around the gazebo so that everything looked wedding ready.

Andrew and Letitia’s sons escorted their grandmothers to their seats, and then walked down the aisle scattering flower petals from their bum bags to the Flaming Lips song, “Do you realise”. Andrew followed the lads down the aisle to the ceremony space.

Then all eyes turned as Letitia and Andrew's daughters walked down the aisle to “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac. They were followed by bride, Letitia, who wore a cherry red, sequinned, slinky, Jessica Rabbit style dress. Va va voom!

After I had told the story of the couple’s meeting, first date, and their subsequent falling in love, Letitia and Andrew made their vows to each other, which were so personal, genuine and moving.

As they were introduced as husband and wife, guests randomly stood and started singing along to the recessional song, “So happy together” by the Turtles. I’ve always wanted to be part of a flash mob choir, and although I wasn’t invited to sing along, I joined in by grinning deliriously! It was such a euphoric moment. Can I insist that every wedding have a flash mob singalong?

Ceremony Venue: Cascade Gardens Victoria Point

Celebrant: Cheryl Landsberry

Photographer: Joanne Mason Brisbane Photography

Livestreaming: Ian at Stream Machine

Choir: Freedom Train Community Choir (check them out – fabulous vibe!)

Reception Venue: Victoria Point Sharks Sporting Club

#FlashMobChoir