I’ve never had the opportunity to meet these two Brisbane cuties (sadly), but I can tell you one thing for certain: they are one seriously fun duo.  I know this for a fact, because I have spent the last hour gazing at their drop-dead gorgeous wedding and when I tell you it’s one joyous moment after another, it’s an understatement of epic proportions.  From the bride’s pre-wedding portraits with her beautiful pup to the bridal party’s shenanigans (they know how to take a fun-filled picture) to the dance party reception, it’s the kind of wedding you just can’t stop talking about.  (And you won’t.)  See it all captured by Clare Sophia right here.

 

From the Bride… When we started planning the wedding we decided that we didn’t want to be tied down to a particular theme.  Instead we decided just to choose elements that we liked.  Fortunately when everything came together on the day it looked amazing.  I guess we stuck to a similar colour palate for the bridesmaids’ dresses and flowers, but we didn’t incorporate it into the stationery like many other weddings.

I love doing anything crafty, so I relished the opportunity to create our wedding invitations, place cards + holders, menus, booklets and thank you cards.  We also made the most of the talents of our friends and family.  For the ceremony my cousin sang and we had a friend who is a guitarist accompany him.  Another cousin of mine, who created hats and fascinators for some family members for our garden themed engagement party brunch, made my veil and the hairpiece for the reception.

The morning of the wedding Steve and I were the opposite of what would usually be expected of the bride and groom.  I was calm while us girls were being fussed over with hair and makeup, while Steve had a hectic morning which put him a bit on edge for the ceremony.  The boys stayed in a hotel in the city and Steve, who is usually very organized, had to drive to a friend’s place to borrow their iron for his wedding shirt.  Us girls were lucky enough to have my mum and stepdad rushing around doing any worrying for us.  Mum even managed to pack a delicious picnic basket for us to enjoy while we were out having photos.  We would also have loved to involve our dog Bluey in the ceremony, but as we couldn’t I insisted on photos with him in my dress before we left home.  

It was wonderful having many of my students at the ceremony and hearing their excitement when they first saw me.  The whole atmosphere was so magical.  My heart was pounding with anticipation knowing I was walking down the aisle to meet my love at the end, so that we could start the rest of our lives together.  When we proceeded out of the church together all of the children had gathered to blow bubbles and congratulate us.  They were absolutely in awe and followed us around like we were celebrities!

We had so much fun with all of our family and friends at the reception.  In the week of the wedding we had finally decided to name our tables by each of the years we had been together.  We had the perfect number of tables, one for each of our seven years together.  As well as the year number on the table we had a photo from that year and a little description of some important events from that year.  We found it to be a great idea to encourage mingling as most of the guests visited other tables to see the picture and read the description.  They also enjoyed seeing their own weddings and important events mentioned.  The whole day really encapsulated everything that makes us happy. 

Wedding Photography: Clare Sophia Photography | Ceremony Venue: St Thomas Aquinas Church in  St Lucia, Australia | Reception Venue: Hotel Urban Brisbane in Brisbane, Australia | Floral Design: Albert’s Flowers | Reception Floral Design: Romantica Floral Design | Reception Decor: the Bride | Wedding Cake: Deliberately Delicious | Guitarist: Yusuke Akai | DJ: GMSolution | Fingerprint Tree: Karen from Spotted Nest |  Wedding Stationery + Invitations: the Bride | Wedding Dress: Brides Desire | Bride’s Veil + Hairpiece: Carla from 3aletter | Bride’s Shoes: Nat Sui | Rings: John from Hofstays House of Diamonds | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Glenda Hutchinson via Sew Formal | Groom’s Attire: Country Road | Groom’s Shirt + Tie: Herringbone | Groomsmen’s Attire: Rhodes and Beckett | Hair: Michelle, friend | Makeup: Vana from The Brow Bar

You know how to make an already stellar Saturday even more so?  Throw a bundle of pretty, pretty inspiration into the mix… that’s how.  Which is just what we are doing here on SMP Australia with a fab introduction to one of our brand new (+ uber-amazing) advertisers, The Wanderers, an oh-so-talented team of photographers who are all about snapping up your every moment in ways you didn’t even know were possible.  I’m talking drop-dead gorgeous, seriously stunning images of your big day, all captured by people who really care about you and the one you love.  Ready to get to know them and their serious talents?  Let’s go!

From The Wanderers… We, the Wanderers team, love pizza. We love campfires. We love snowboarding. We love Sigur Ros. We love beating the sunrise. We love road trips. We love travel. We love meeting people. We love hearing stories. We love weddings. We love couples, the effort, the small details that are so full of personality… but most of all, we love the Celebration of Love.

Our aim is to capture your whole wedding day tirelessly, producing a body of work that truly re-tells the story of your day. We want to hang out. We want to meet over a beer, we want to hear your big plans. We want to hear how you proposed. We want to hear where the honeymoon is. We want to give you something seriously good. We love everything there is about what we do, and we are going to love working with you.

Welcome to the family, The Wanderers!  We are so happy to have you! xoxo

Style is such a beautiful thing, isn’t it? Because really, everyone has their own signature – and this couple’s signature wedding style is simply unmatched. It’s vintage, yet their own special version, with pretty little memories woven into each moment of their big day. Watching it unfold through the images of David Moore Photography is like the most delicious of treats, and you can devour every last bit of their stylish day right here.

 

From Bonfire Brand… Bonnie Brewster was living in Hong Kong when she met Luke Edwards, an Aussie. Two worlds collided and they fell in love.  Since Bonnie was now dating an “Edwards”, this vintage loving, opp-shopper started collecting old “Edwards” tins. Most of the treasures she found were Tea & Coffee tins, perfect for this caffeine-loving couple. Friends & family would often comment on the tins and it became a great talking point.  Three years later, these unique tins have now provided a great source of inspiration for Bonnie & Luke’s lovely day.   Bonnie created a NEW “Edwards” brand. Their wedding favors became Edwards Tea & Coffee. Inspired and created to represent the next generation of “Edwards” families.  

A great story behind the new Edwards tins; the tins were actually a gift from an Aussie company called Massel Stock. The bride loved the shape and colour of their tins, so she sent them an email requesting to purchase some empty ones. Their reply was “we would love to help an Aussie bride and will give you the tins!” They produced special blank versions of their stock tins and also included a personalized stamp on the bottom!!! Such a beautiful gesture of kindness.

The wedding was also inspired by the couples love of travel.  This can be seen in the illustration created by Lauren Carney Art: The artwork incorporates two worlds colliding along with all the little details: Luke”s running shoes, Bonnie’s suitcase from her move back to Australia to be with Luke, their adventures through France and so much more.The couple wanted a relaxed and cozy feel for their intimate day: with feast-like tables, and minimal formalities, Spicers Clovelly was the perfect venue.

Wedding Photography: David Moore Photography | Wedding Venue: Spicers Clovelly Estate in Montville, Queensland, Australia | Floral + Event Design: Pink & Purple Petals | Wedding Invitations + Stationery: Bonfire Brand | Illustration: Lauren Carney Art | Printing: Bruce from Printing Services | Coffee Tins: Massel | Coffee: DiBella | Signage: Blackboard Artworkx Chalk Art | Dessert Table Styling + Cake of Cheese: the Bride | Wedding Dress: Venita Drennen Designs | Bride’s Headpiece: Designed by the Bride | Bride’s Dinner Dress: The Iconic | Bride’s Shoes: Alan Pinkus | Hair + Nails: Dee Style | Makeup: Natalie Hunter Makeup Artist