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Esther & Jonny

They say that every little girl dreams of their wedding day and knows what they want it to look like…but not this girl. I’ve never been one to have a secret book full of ideas and pictures of my dream wedding. Our wedding was planned from interstate using modern technology – from websites, to Instagram, emails and phone calls. All in our short five month engagement! Why drag it out when you’ve found the one you want to spend the rest of your life with?!

Jonny and I met in 2007, young and carefree, when we fell madly in love. Faced with a challenge early in our relationship, Jonny departed overseas on a trip planned before we had even met! A trip that had no end date being his first year out of school. I encouraged him to go as it was something he had wanted to do for a long time. A month passed before he arrived (unannounced) on my doorstep!!! Needless to say, we fell more deeply in love from this moment and became inseparable.

We dated for a few years before life saw us part ways as we “set each other free”. We had years apart before our paths crossed again. Before long we started dating again. Like no time had passed, yet a lot of time had passed!

Jonny proposed at the end of 2015, at a lookout overlooking the ocean at his hometown were we shared our first kiss! With tears in his eyes, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! In shock that this was the moment I had been waiting for, I said YES!!! It wasn’t long before the wedding planning begun!

I found suppliers and venues online and used Instagram for research. However, when it came to the dress, I knew I wanted a dress from Grace Loves Lace. The only thing I had to do was pick one! My experience at their Gold Coast showroom was perfect. With a champagne in hand, I tried on dresses that I had selected online prior to my booking. With the help of my mum and sister, I chose a completely different dress that was not on my list to try. It is true that you cannot truly tell if a dress suits you until you try it on! I chose the ‘Alexandra’, a classic yet modern dress with its low back detail, long train and sexy split at the front of the dress.

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My hairdresser Jacinta of Coastal Style Mobile Hairdressing was amazing! I found her on Instagram and she made hair styling look like a breeze.

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Our wedding morning was fun and relaxed. My bridesmaids and I stayed in a villa at Noosaville after they had flown in from around the country (making this time extra special).

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I opted for all white when it came to the flowers. I think white exudes beauty and elegance and class. Susan from Exclusive Wedding Flowers did all the arrangements, including those at the reception and ceremony.

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My make-up artist was found through a friend. Her name was Toni and she was organised, punctual and professional in her approach. Exactly what you need to make your wedding morning relaxed and stress-free!

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The boys got ready up the road from our villa at another property and boy…don’t they look handsome!

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Our ceremony was held at the beautiful Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort. We got married on the plateau overlooking the stunning Noosa hinterland. I recall arriving at the ceremony (out of sight of any guests) and feeling content, relaxed and excited. Content because I was about to marry my best friend, relaxed because the morning had been seamless and excited to see my groom and all our loved ones who had travelled from near and far to be there for us!

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Our ceremony was one like no other!! When I reached Jonny at the end of the aisle, he calmly told me that my mum was not there yet. She arrived shortly after and so I signalled to my bridesmaids to start again. There was no way my mum was going to miss this moment! Besides, it’s not everyday a bride gets to walk down the aisle twice, right?!?!

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After being congratulated by guests, the bridal party were given golf buggies complete with white wedding ribbon to dash around the golf course and get some beautiful shots!

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After some fun with the bridal party, Jonny and I were whisked away to a local beach to capture a few intimate sunset photos before the reception. Rebecca Colefax was our photographer and she was absolutely amazing. She was professional and experienced and made us feel at ease throughout the day. She goes above and beyond and produced some beautiful photos which we will cherish forever. I think picking your photographer is as important as picking the dress!!!

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We had our reception at Noosa Waterfront Restaurant and Bar, right on the Noosa River. A picturesque location which I found at last minute, suggested by a friend. Their service was faultless and the food outstanding! Splash Events organised the lighting and other decorating details that are best left to someone else so that your guests can enjoy the day with you!

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The stationery, name cards and menus were made by Emily Hendry (a friend from home). Our beautiful wedding cake was made by TOME who I found on Instagram. She creates phenomenal cakes that also taste delicious! Decorated with gold leaf and more white flowers, this encapsulated a little of me too – class, elegance and sophistication.

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The speeches were hilarious, honest and heartfelt. I don’t remember being bored at any moment but I guess I am a little biased since it was our wedding.

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The night ended with another little surprise, ducks!! At the perfect moment, they walked over to our photo and got their five seconds of fame. All in all, our wedding day was everything we hoped for and more!!

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Ms Chinoiserie Says: Congratulations Esther and Jonny – what a beautiful wedding; your gown was stunning! I can’t believe you planned it all in five months!