Picture this: A whole weekend with your nearest and dearest at a glamorous tropical location, sipping cocktails poolside just before exchanging vows, and laughing the evening away at a lantern-lit reception…this was Lisa and Ashley’s stylish wedding day!
Finding The One
“I spent months searching and was disheartened when going to some of the larger places with hundreds of dresses. Then I met with the designer herself, Moira Hughes, and chose one of the made to measure gowns which fit beautifully and was exactly what I envisaged. Nothing fussy, but something simple and comfortable which made me feel beautiful.”
Wedding Day Style
“I used Pinterest a lot! Given our backdrop was so gorgeous, we could keep the venue design pretty simple – just flowers, lots of lighting using candles, hanging paper lanterns and floating pool lanterns. We stuck to simple colours, metallic and soft pinks and purples.
We also used a wedding stylist who helped us source the perfect items and set the whole thing up on the day, so we could relax and enjoy getting ready.”
The Bridesmaids
“I found the bridesmaids’ dresses very easily on my first trip to White Runway. They had these stunning gold dresses that I originally wanted in a full length style, but eventually realised that in a tropical climate they might not be very practical! The girls looked beautiful on the day.”
Entertaining Guests
“We had guests in the pool, including the groom, up until half an hour before the wedding! For the ceremony, we had an acoustic guitarist who turned DJ later in the night, and he played all our favourite songs. We also had a Sunday pool party, with a delicious pig on the spit.”
Favourite Moments
“Definitely getting ready with our bridesmaids and best men. You really appreciate how much everyone supports you on your big day. Our little nieces and nephews did a gorgeous French poem reading and we also had amazing speeches from our parents and best friends. The day after the Sunday pool party, we spent a night at the resort, just the two of us, relaxing after the whirlwind that was the previous few months!”
Best Advice
1. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If things don’t happen on the day exactly as planned, don’t worry as only you know what you envisioned.
2. If you plan a destination wedding, expect to field thousands of questions in the lead up from guests, so hire a venue planner who will share the load!
3. Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to carry out a million ideas – as long as the venue, food and entertainment are good, people will enjoy your wedding.
4. Oh, and load up on the sparkling wine as ours went in the first hour – lucky we had backups!
Location: QLD | Photography: David Campbell Imagery | Venue: The Elandra Mission Beach | Wedding Planner: Nicole Campbell Weddings | Celebrant: Christine Mills | Dress: Moira Hughes | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids: White Runway | Hair & Makeup: Halo Styling | Flowers: Jenny Rick Flowers | Entertainment: Cairns Wedding Music