Monday, 12 May 2025

Sharon and Mark’s Country Style Wedding


The magic of a backyard wedding is that the fruits of all your labour and investment stay with you, adding charm to your home forever.
Sharon and Mark, both tying the knot for the second time, chose a laid-back, fun-filled country-style celebration. Mark, a real-life cowboy and all-round handy guy, transformed their suburban backyard into a rustic barnyard, while Sharon's crafty talents brought in all the charming details.
Mark got to work by dismantling the old chicken coop, levelling the yard, building a retaining wall, and covering the fences and garage with stable-door style palings. He constructed a wooden arbour, scattered hay bales for seating, and hung fairy lights on the decking trusses.
Sharon, inspired by countless YouTube DIY videos, created beautiful floral arrangements from dried flowers and pampas grass. She adorned the arbour and the ceremony area, placing flowers on the arbour, in milk pails and glass jars on every flat surface.
The result was a western wonderland.
As their children, grandchildren, and friends gathered on the deck, Mark and his groomsmen strutted down the aisle to "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" by Big & Rich. The crowd erupted in cheers, claps, and whistles, setting the stage for a lively and joyous wedding ceremony.
Following this, I played "I Knew I Loved You" by Savage Garden as the bridesmaids–Sharon's daughters, nieces, and granddaughters–walked out in sage green dresses. Sharon, radiant in a white boho gown and carrying a bouquet of her own creation, was escorted down the aisle by her son, Harry.
When I asked the guests for their heartfelt wishes for the couple's union, they responded with a hearty "Yeehaw!" signaling a fun-filled, rowdy reception ahead. The ceremony, crafted with Mark and Sharon's input, was lighthearted and sweet, sprinkled with playful cowboy references.
Mark’s vows even included the words, “from the moment we pulled our first calf together..”
The newlyweds rode off into the sunset together to "Beautiful as You" by Thomas Rhett, ready to embrace their happily-ever-after.
Photographer: Ryley Ellison

 

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Friday, 9 May 2025

Wedding at Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)

Rochelle and Nathan pictured an authentic, relaxed, and intimate wedding day, and contacted the team at Elope Stradbroke to make it happen for them.
With sincerity being so important to them, the couple carefully chose the words for their ceremony, and together, we created a ceremony which reflected their time together as a couple, and their plans and dreams for their future. Their vows to each other were also curated with thought and imagination.
Nathan wrote, “Rochelle, your glow is nourishing and warm, and with you, I feel infinite and full of possibility. Your love guides and steadies me.”
Rochelle included, “Nathan, you are creative, logical, have a great sense of humour – you’re a real catch. With you, I will always have everything I need.”
On the morning of their wedding day, showers were predicted, and as the Elope Stradbroke team made the trek from the barge terminal to the ceremony location, rain fell consistently onto the windscreen. Watching the Bureau of Meteorology radar intently, we made the call to delay the ceremony set up until 2pm – a last minute dash in preparation of a 3pm ceremony. As luck would have it, the clouds cleared at exactly 2pm, and Steve set up the wooden arbour and placed out white chairs for guests. The arbour was styled with draping in white and neutral peach, with colourful florals added. The rolling ocean provided an epic backdrop for the setting.
Nathan and Rochelle, always a little innovative, chose to walk in to the ceremony space together, hand in hand. They chose “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys as their entrance song.
The couple chose to incorporate a number of personal touches in their ceremony. To open the ceremony, friend and Nunukul woman, Renee, Welcomed guests to the land. Rochelle’s brother, his baby daughter balanced on his hip, read the poem, “To Love is not to Possess”. The couple also passed their wedding rings around so that each guest could hold the wedding rings, making a wish or prayer for the couple. And incorporating Nathan’s Italian heritage, “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin, was played during the signing of the certificates. The couple honoured their grandmothers by asking them to witness their marriage and sign as such on the official marriage certificates.



After the tossing of (biodegradable) confetti, the couple celebrated with their families, before gathering for some photos which will be a reminder of their beautiful day. The couple were even joined by a kangaroo as dusk drew over the ocean.



Contact the team at Elope Stradbroke to make your island wedding dreams come true.
Coordination: Elope Stradbroke
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An Intimate Celebration of Love and Family at Sure Thing Chapel, Capalaba

In a world where grandiose weddings and lavish venues are splashed all over social media, there is something truly enchanting about a wedding that embraces the beauty of simplicity and family. Such was the case for Sam and Lexi, whose love story culminated in a heartfelt and unforgettable wedding at The Sure Thing Chapel at Capalaba.

After seven years together, Lexi and Sam decided to celebrate their union in a way that truly reflected their personalities. They envisioned a space that would not only serve as the backdrop for their vows but could also host their DIY reception/after party.
In a quirky twist, Lexi asked Sam’s sister to be her maid of honour, and Sam asked Lexi’s brother to be her best man. Sam and her best man dressed at the chapel, in matching cream coloured suits. Sam wore a three piece suit (thankful for the cool air conditioning in the chapel as she sweated in anticipation of the day’s events) with a terracotta tie and a boutonniere. Best man, Mitch, wore cream coloured trousers with a matching vest, and a forest green tie. Both sported sharp, new hair cuts. The pair entertained Lexi and Sam’s son, a spirited three year old, who was abuzz with excitement, and also wore cream trousers with a matching waistcoat.
The guests soon arrived and found their places as 3pm drew near.
Lexi and her bridesmaid arrived in orange Kombi van, Busta. Lexi looked like she had stepped out of Downton Abbey, with her hair pinned up with loose curls at the side. She wore a gorgeous off the shoulder lace gown with a plunging neckline and a cream coloured underlay. Her bridesmaid wore forest green. They brought with them the couple’s baby daughter, adorably cute in a matching little dress.
First to walk down the aisle was Sam’s father, who carried the two youngsters. After her bridesmaid, Lexi walked in on the arm of her dad to a mash up of Jerry Seinfeld and a Brett Young song that the couple arranged.
The couple held hands under the wooden arbour, which was styled with dried flowers in earthy colours and draped in floaty fabric.
Their ceremony was a reflection of their unique bond and the life they have built together. The couple incorporated a lock box into their ceremony, placing their handmade vow cards into the wooden box to be opened on their 5 year anniversary.



As the guests headed outside to congratulate the newlyweds, the function staff at the chapel turned the furniture around to create a funky wedding reception area. The couple and their guests enjoyed a photo booth, lawn games such as Jenga, and the use of the sound system at the chapel. The couple brought along a few beverages, and guests could also BYO their own drinks, which helped to ensure the wedding celebrations were affordable.
While the couple set off to local parklands for photos, caterers fired up their portable stoves in the carpark to nourish the guests with a delicious dinner.
The DIY venue, with its adaptable charm and personal touches, provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of revelry and connection.
Thanks, Lexi, for your review!
“Cheryl was the most amazing and understanding celebrant we had on our wedding day.
She listened to our ideas, made suggestions and created the most unique ceremony for us that was all about us.
I highly recommend using Cheryl for your celebrant, thank you for being amazing!”
Transport and Photo Booth: Kandid Kombi
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Thursday, 8 May 2025

Using Indigenous Place Names on Marriage Certificates

 



Using Indigenous place names on marriage certificates
Recently, a couple marrying on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) requested that the traditional place names be used on their marriage certificates.
I emailed the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Queensland to confirm that this would be acceptable.
This was their response:
“Indigenous place name can be accepted if it is identifiable location in Queensland”
BDM also provided an example.
To ensure that the location was identifiable, I wrote both the Aboriginal name and the European names – Mulumba (Point Lookout), Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) as per the BDM example.
Interestingly, at Point Lookout, there is a Mooloomba Road, and a new sign post reading “Mulumba” – so the spelling is up for discussion, too.
 


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