1. Make sure that everyone is on the same page. Talk to your future spouse and your officiant and make sure everyone is okay with personalised wedding vows. Some religions require that you use the traditional wording, while others will allow you to write your own, as long as you include certain phrases. You’ll also want to make sure that your sweetheart also wants to do it. While you’re at it, decide together whether you want to write one wedding vow that you will both say, or whether you want to write individually.

2. Answer some simple questions Yep, it’s homework time. Sit down in a quiet space with paper and pen and answer these questions. Even if you don’t think the answer will end up in your wedding vows, still take the time to write it down. It may help you in the long run. If you encounter writer’s block, first try taking a short break. If you’re still having trouble, try speaking the answers into a tape recorder, letting the thoughts flow freely.

• What is the single greatest thing about the person you are going to marry?
• When did you know that you were in love/ know that this person was the one you wanted to marry?
• What does marriage mean to you? Why do you want to be a married person?
• What will change about your relationship once you are married? What will stay the same?
• What is your most favourite memory of your partner?
• When you were little, did you dream of your wedding day or your future spouse? How does that vision match up (or not) with your sweetheart?

‘I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, my faith in our strength together, and my covenant to learn and grow with you ‘

3. Consult the experts Take some time to read through a variety of  wedding vows as well as passages of poetry, love stories, and  famous writing about love print out your favourites, and highlight passages that especially speak to the two of you. Our Favourite Celebrant is Coral Kortlepel and she is happy to give advice when needed. Coral can be contacted at coral@getmarried.com.au

4. Put it all together Go back to the words you wrote before, and highlight passages that you might want to include in your wedding vows. Now is the time to pare things down – select the very best of all the material you have to work with. Try taking a sentence or two from literature, add a sentence or two from the answers to the above questions, and finish with a vow – a sentence that begins “I promise” or “I vow”.

5. If that didn’t work Try filling in the blanks in a simple vow. (Name of your partner), you are my (best friend, one true love, the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, etc.) Today, I take you to be my (wife, husband, lawfully wedded wife or husband, life partner, etc.) I promise you that I will be (faithful, worthy of your trust, worthy of your love, your loving partner, etc.) I vow to (honour you, cherish you, love you, respect you, laugh with you, cry with you, support you in your goals, etc.), (insert here the length of your vow, for example, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live.)

6. Practice, Practice, Practice First, try reading what you’ve written out loud to a trusted friend or family member. Ideally, this person will be someone who is a good writer, and someone who knows your relationship. They may have good suggestions for you, or the simple act of reading it out loud might help you identify places where you can improve. Once you’ve worked out a final version, practice reading it on your own several times to make sure you are comfortable with it. If you can, try to memorize it. But whether or not you memorize well, make sure that you write down your wedding vows on a note card (and give an extra copy to the best man or maid of honor!) so that nerves won’t spoil all of your hard work.

Now take a deep breath … and get ready to say ” I do “

12 months

11 months
Decide what sort of ceremony (civil or church)
Book ceremony venue / church
Meet with celebrants or ministers
Choose your bridal party
Start looking for the dress of your dreams
Start to make enquiries for your wedding service providers – eg; photographer, florist, transport etc …
(if you need help with this please contact your wedding executive for our recommended suppliers list)
Check our wedding website for special offers from all of our suppliers – they change monthly.

10 months
Start to plan honeymoon
Decide on your wedding theme, style and colour palette
Start to look for bridal outfits

9 months
Finalise your wedding gown choice
Enquire about jewellery and accessories
Book your honeymoon
Begin booking your service providers

8 months
Finalise Bridal outfit choices and begin fittings
Plan for a wedding rehearsal or dinner

7 months
Reserve accomodation for your out-of-town guests
If you require assistance with this we have contacts at Accor hotels (Darling Harbour) and also apartments in Sussex St – Sydney Please speak with your wedding team.
Book and confirm your wedding accommodation
If it has been included in your booking we will have booked this for you
Register with bridal and gift registry providers
Save the date email could be sent to guests
Order invites, menus place cards

YOUR HALF WAY THERE
The first few months will fly by …. And its about now that we will start to send you your own checklist, floor plan and menu tasting dates etc …
Your second deposit is due at this time, your wedding team will calculate this for you and send you a reminder
As everything starts to come together, you can watch your wedding come to life before your eyes.

6 months
Send initial invites out to ensure overseas guests and interstate family and friends  can begin to plan to be there with you on our special day
Assist Mothers with outfit selections
Start to fill out the checklist – call us if you need help with any questions
Select and order rings
Start a beauty and fitness regime – you will be the centre of attention and you want to look your very best

5 months
Now is a good time to take a weekend away with your loved one – a pre-honeymoon weekend to share quality time together before things get a little more hectic.
Finalise details with ceremony and reception venue
Touch base with your service providers with finer details

4 months
Confirm all service providers
Speak with your DJ (maybe included as part of your package)
Discuss your music requirements and any music you may need to supply
Think about other entertainment – musicians, dancers, singer, MC
The Dockside Group wedding team has a list of entertainers that we can recommend
Confirm menu tasting dates and times

Your wedding is only a few months away, breathe…
The excitement will be growing and now is the time to fine tune all of the little details that will make your wedding your own.
Remain calm and relaxed, and don’t forget to take time out for yourself.

3 months
Send invites out with RSVPs, ask for special dietary requirements at this time
and whether children will be attending (we will organise high chairs as required)
Consider if you will be giving bon bonierrie
Its time to confirm your cake choice … yummm
Please book an appointment with one of our suppliers to discuss your requirements or organise to to book your own cake and we will deduct this
off your final balance (if included in package)
Once you have done your menu tasting you need to confirm your food and wine choices. If you are deciding to bring extra food or beverages in
now is a good time to make these choices and order ahead of your big day

2 months
Final fitting for bridal gown and bridal outfits
Buy wedding day accessories – lingerie, jewellery, garter
Plan an emergency kit – usually your bridesmaids will put this together for you
We suggest the following ; safety pins, bobby pins, needle and thread, flat shoes or party feet or thongs for those walks with the photographer
to get the perfect photo and for later in the evening, panadol, mints, tissues, make up, mineral water spray for face, foot spray or lavendar oil
for sore toes and feet, hair brush or comb, It is also a good idea to think about the day and organise for someone in your bridal party to organise
some refreshments for the many hours between getting ready, ceremony, photographs and reception. Once you get to us we will have canapes and
drinks ready for you all on arrival and we will assist with any other last minute things that need to be done before you sit back, relax and enjoy your reception.
Enrol to do a few dance lessons (or spend a night at home dancing around the lounge with your very own special moves)
Drink, exercise and rest
Book in any beauty treatments early

1 month
Re-confirm all details for your bookings and service providers
Plan to change financial, address or name changes
Hair and make up trials
Confirm final numbers from RSVP’s and contact any you are not sure of.
Do floor plan and confirm seating arrangements
Book in final details meeting with the wedding team
Send checklist back so we can confirm all details prior to this meeting.

2 weeks out
Its time to write your vows
Hen and Bucks nights or combined celebrations
Have hair colour touched up if required and cut
Think about photo locations and your must have shots
Make a “to shoot” list for your photographer
Purchase Guest book and pen
Consider champagne flutes, cake knife (Dockside group will provide these for you if you do not have personalised ones)

1 week to go…
Wedding rehearsal and or dinner
Have all last minute beauty treatments – manicure, pedicure, facial, waxing tanning etc…
Practise the kiss (every day and night)
Pack for your honeymoon
Deliver all items to your reception – bon bonierrie, spirits, guest list, décor,
Confirm drop off and pick up time with your suppliers (your wedding team will confirm these with you and check all documentation on your behalf)

1 night before
Relax and rest
Your big day is nearly here!!!
Get a good nights sleep

THE BIG DAY
After all the months planning, your wedding day is finally here.
Enjoy every moment as you will be remembering this day and night for the rest of your lives
Have something light for breakfast, drink water or may be a little glass of bubbles to start the day off with a sparkle
Have hair and make-up done
Put wedding dress and shoes on
Prepare to start smiling for the rest of the day!!!
Stop, take a deep breath and get ready to marry the man of your dreams!!!

…. Happily ever after
Even though you’ve tied the knot, there are a few things that need to be done after the wedding.
Ensure you organise for someone to pick everything up on the night and check for lost property, flowers, leftover wedding cake etc …
Send thank you notes
Have your photos printed and framed
Live happily ever after
Send us your favourite photos and give us your feedback!!

Date of Wedding: 24/03/12

How did you meet: At Chris’s 25^th birthday party when I tagged along with some friends

How long did you spend planning your wedding? 8 months

Number of guests: 100

Describe the theme of your wedding and why you chose this theme: Classic, relaxed and fun! We wanted to the day to be a reflection of our personalities

Colour scheme: Black and white with splashes of red

Ceremony location: Hickson Road Reserve, The Rocks

Reception location: Italian Village, The Rocks

Describe the Brides dress: Magnolia Satin Gown with a black beaded accent belt from Dress Sense, Miranda, with sparkly black peep toe heels and a red rose bouquet

Describe the Bridesmaids outfits: Black cocktail dresses by Seduce with black peep toe heels and white rose bouquets

Men’s suits: Black traditional suits with black vests and white shirts. Groom wore striped tie in shades of red, Groomsmen wore black ties – From Spurling Bridal and Formal Wear, Miranda

Photographer: Samantha Halpern and Sarah Story – Jetty Blue Photography

Hair & Makeup: Bride’s hair – Dalliance by Louise Brewster; Make-up – Living Beauty Make-up Artistry, Bridesmaid Hair and Make-up – Living Beauty Make-up Artistry; Hair accessories by Summerblossom

Bonbonniere: Photobooth – Cheeky Memories

Décor

Themes – ethnic inspired themes including Moroccan and Mexican, vintage glamour, nautical, secret garden (including beautiful crockery and silver), beach and natural.

Wedding dresses – flowing soft fabrics with layers of tuille, chiffon , lace, floor-length styles remain popular. A-line skirts (slim at the waist and flared at the bottom). Crystal and pearl embellished bodices remain popular. Shorter trains and veils and silk shawls , pashminas and bolero jackets for the cooler part of the evening.  Bridesmaids choosing one colour but in different tones or designs.

Eco-friendly / green weddings – Couples are choosing organic fabrics, stationery, flowers and  food that has been locally sourced, as well as environmentally friendly invites with natural accents like shells, feathers and driftwood.

Flowers – Roses continue to be the most popular choice however many brides are choosing to go bright colours;  think lilies, peonies, tulips and orchids in an array of bright oranges, blues  and  greens. Brides are moving away from the more formal styles and are opting for a more casual ‘just picked’ look.

For centerpieces brides are choosing to have a variety of vases, style and size per table or filling lots of small vases with different flowers in the one colour.

Wedding cakes – Many couples have moved away from the traditional fruit cake and are opting for exotic  flavoured wedding cakes  or cupcake towers like white chocolate, rose water  and lychee, red velvet  or lemon poppyseed. Couples are choosing  monogrammed letters, fresh flowers and sculptures.  Handmade personalised  figurines of the couple have also become popular as cake toppers. Some include favourite pets and hobbies.

Personalised cocktails – Do you have a favourite cocktail? Brides are matching a cocktail to your wedding theme, offering cocktails like Blue Hawaii or mango bellinis on arrival.

Dessert Buffets and Candy/ Lolly Stations – are becoming popular sweet conclusion to a special night.  They can also be used as bon bonierrie and can be themed to match any colour or style of wedding. Guests love the interaction and choosing their childhood favourites.

Late supper – Many couples are choosing to offer a late supper towards the end of the evening – whether it is trays of warm canapés served with port and liquers, or cheese and fruit with a selection of sweets served from a late night buffet so guests can mingle.

Straight from the stylist! Angelic Events & Design are highly experienced at styling your wedding to create a beautiful theme or atmosphere. Here are the very latest styling trends and tips for your wedding, directly from the experts!

To view more photos on wedding trends view our Theming gallery.

Let’s start by introducing the clever women that make weddings happen at Dockside Group.

Our Cockle Bay wedding team is headed up by the experienced and extraordinary Sally Dolman, Wedding Manager. Sally’s team of lovely Wedding Executives and Coordinators include: Anita, Kate, Kristen, Kristine, Nicky, and Susan.

Down at The Rocks our wedding team is headed up by the wonderful Lauren Zagruski – Wedding Manager. Lauren is supported by Sasha, Wedding Executive and Casey, Wedding Coordinator.

With years of wedding planning experience between them, the Dockside Group wedding team has experienced every type of wedding, from the conservative to the outrageous. They’ve seen bridal blunders and masterpiece marriages; an Indian wedding with a groom on horseback, a wedding that included a tattoo parlour for guests, a wedding that involved a flash mob and many, many more tales to tell.

If you’re a bride-to-be, a bride-has-been or just someone dreaming about your wedding day on the horizon, you’ll find fresh and fun stories right here on our Bridal Blog.

We invite you to join in the discussion and share your wedding stories and advice with us.

How did you meet: We meet through a friend on a night out on the Central Coast and it turned out that our parents were already friends! After 3 dates, we never looked back!

How long did you spend planning your wedding: We spent 11 months planning the wedding since our very romantic engagement.

Number of guests: 160 guests.

Describe the theme of your wedding and why you chose this theme: Elegant and modern. We wanted to always look back on our wedding photos and feel like everything that we chose was timeless (but not outdated!). We kept to decorations based around our colour scheme of mocha and tried bringing this out as much as possible in our flowers with complimentary subtle pinks and ivory. We decorated the reception venue with tall cylinder flower arrangements and candles for an intimate feeling.

Colour scheme: Mocha and ivory. The two colours are so classy and worked perfectly together!

Ceremony location:  We got married at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, Waverley.

Reception location: Dockside.

Describe the Brides dress (include name of designer/boutique/label): Strapless Maggie Sottero A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice had valencia organza and a side waist feature of handmade satin flowers and beaded embellishments. I fell in love with this dress after finding the Maggie Sottero website shortly after getting engaged. When we went dress shopping, it was the dress in the window and I knew it was the one! I felt like a princess in it.

Describe the Bridesmaids outfits (include name of designer/boutique/label): One-shoulder, mocha coloured full-length Dessy dresses from Bridesmaids Only. The dresses had beautiful chiffon flowers for the strap. The team at Bridesmaids only were so friendly and ordered matching ties for our groomsmen and page boy!

Men’s suits (please include description): Hired from Peppers Cremorne, Dan wore a black dinner suit with a wing collared shirt and ivory vest and tie. We found the suits at Peppers to be such a high quality and very clean cut.

Photographer: Gavin Cato was our photographer and he was great in making us laugh and keeping us comfortable in front of the lens.

Videographer: David Edwards was our videographer and we forgot that he was there on the day! He worked wonders and we watch our highlights video every day! Check out their highlights 

Hair & Makeup: Glamorous by Amanda La Monica – I highly recommend her! The make-up was fantastic and Amanda’s presence in the morning was cheerful and a great start to the morning!

Stationery/ bonbonniere: All invitations were done by Personalised Weddings, Earlwood. We made our bonbonniere’s from chocolate hearts in ivory pillow boxes with mocha ribbons, with name tags by Personalised weddings.

Cake: Casa Del – 3 tiered ivory cake with sugar flowers to match the bouquet. Ivory ribbon was around each tier, with Swarovski crystals wrapped around the ribbon. The cake was beautiful with tiers of caramel mud, Alaska mud and fruit cake!

Flowers: Best Buds provided our flowers and they were exactly as I pictured them. They were delivered to me fresh on the day and smelt amazing!

Entertainment: JD Entertainment for the Lebanese drums and DJ Maestro.

Transport: Eternal Classics – The bridal car was a convertible jaguar, and the bridal party had two-toned Bentleys. The service on the day was perfect and the driver made sure we had enough food in between the ceremony and reception to keep us going! Definitely value for money.

Honeymoon: 5 weeks to LA, Mexico City, Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Miami and Thailand. We had a very relaxing honeymoon by many beautiful beaches!

Describe your day: Our day was simply a dream come true, as cheesy as that sounds! It went so quickly and we found ourselves stopping every so often to take it all in and enjoy not only the big, but also the little and precious moments throughout the day.

Rain in the morning didn’t scare us away, as the sun came out just before the ceremony started. The ceremony was so beautiful and personalised as Dan’s uncle was the celebrant!

The moment when we had our photos taken after the church was not only fun, but gave us a chance to spend quality time together at Centennial Park and have our first together as our own family!

The reception was an absolute ball! We had a Lebanese twist with drummers presenting us as we entered the room. Gabby’s side of the family is Lebanese, and Dan’s is part Lebanese, so fun was had by all! All of our hard work and planning definitely paid off and we did not want the day to end.

What were your favourite parts of your Wedding Reception:

The Lebanese drummers and dancing that kick-started our reception celebrations was a treat. All of our guests got in to it, young and old! Watching all of our close friends and family in one room smiling, dancing, laughing and being so happy made our reception so memorable.

Every bride and groom tells you that you may not get a chance to eat at your own wedding, but in this case we made sure we did! From the food tasting, we knew everyone was in for a treat and we wanted our first meal as husband and wife to be delicious and memorable – Dockside offers exactly this!

We cannot pick just a few parts of our reception that we loved the most, as we loved it all! The food, the dancing, fireworks, the spacious balcony, the attentive service, the modern room and great company made for a night that may never be topped and was truly unforgettable!

Any Tips for Future Brides & Grooms:

Breathe. The day goes so fast and the many times we spent fretting about little things that we didn’t even look at on the day was not worth it. Trust in your preparation and in Dockside to look after you on the night (which they will!) and just enjoy the special moment that you and your partner will have together on the day as you worked hard for it and deserve it!

Also, don’t forget that you have family and friends to turn to for advice and opinions. Above all, plan what you’ve always dreamt of (as it’s best to follow your gut instinct) and enjoy creating gorgeous memories on the day!

Is there anything else you would like to share with our Dockside Group Brides and Grooms:

Date of Wedding: 25^th February 2012

How did you meet: Luke and I meet through mutual friends in high school, have been together nearly 10 years, since I was 16 and Luke was 15 years old. We have been inseparable ever since.

How long did you spend planning your wedding: We have been planning our wedding for around 16 months.

Number of guests: 155

Describe the theme of your wedding and why you chose this theme: For our wedding we went with an elegant and fun theme, to make it a very relaxed reception and fun for everyone to enjoy the night, it’s about celebrating.

Colour scheme: Coral & Neutral tones

Ceremony location: St Patricks Cathedral, Parramatta

Reception location: Dockside

Describe the Brides dress: Amazing La Sposa Gown by Pronovias Sposa, optical White, with pleats & gathers multiple tiers gown. Sweetheart & pleated neckline with Swarovski crystals underneath bust area and crystal buttons down the back.

Describe the Bridesmaids outfits: My bridesmaids dresses were by Paco, Chiffon material, one shoulder beaded strap, which flowed from under the bust. They were Mango colour which really stood out against my white dress and the boys black suits. They all looked amazing.

Men’s suits: The boys wore Black suits which they brought from Roger David, Slim fit with very fine pin stripes, white pins stripe shirts. Groomsmen wore black vests with Mango tie and hankie matching the bridesmaids and groom wore white vest, tie and hankie. Pageboy also wore slim fitted suit, with white shirt and black vest and tie.

Photographer: Inlights Photography

Videographer: True View Videography

Hair & Makeup: Rebecca Jayne

Stationery/ bonbonniere:  Invitations and all Stationary were done by First Impressions and for bonbonnieres, the guys we had Stubby Holders made and ladies got a Crystal ball wine stopper.

Decorations/Candy Buffet: By George Event Hire & Design decorated our room and set up candy bar when we walked into Dockside it was exactly how we had ever imagined it.

Cake: Our cake was a 6 tiers cake = Looked absolutely amazing and tasted beautiful and was made by Cakes by Mel.

Flowers: Bridal party and bridal table flowers were done by Garlands Florist all bouquets were roses white and Mango colours which had crystals through-out. They were perfect!!

Entertainment: DJ Maestro and we also had a photo booth which is excellent, everyone gets involved and some great photos come out of it!!

Transport: Alvira Limousine Hire – Super Stretch Chrysler 300c Limousines for bridal party, CLK-Mercedes Convertible for Luke and I & we also had for Harley’s leaving us.

Honeymoon: Hawaii for 2 weeks.

Describe your day: Our wedding was truly amazing and unforgettable. We will cherish very memory of the day forever. A lot of time goes into planning your wedding day over the 16 months and I wouldn’t of asked for anything more!!

What were your favourite parts of your Wedding Reception: From the moment we arrived at Dockside we loved everything. Room looked sensational, speeches were unforgettable, food was beautiful, and all our family and friends had fun and danced the night away. To top of the night we had the fireworks on the Harbour as well which looks unbelievable.

Any Tips for Future Brides & Grooms: Don’t’ stress, this is one day of your life for you both to enjoy, the lead up can be stressful at times, but it’s all worth it. Enjoy the day and if on the day things don’t go to plan go along with it, because you can’t change it on the night and no one would even know. Take a step back and look around because it all goes too fast SO ENJOY!

Is there anything else you would like to share with our Dockside Group Brides and Grooms:  A big congratulations, you won’t be disappointed with dockside group, don’t be afraid to asked question because they are always willing to help. Lastly we would like to thank Kristine for making our wedding so hassle free and enjoyable. We cannot thank you enough for your organisation and efforts. Also a BIG THANK YOU to Sally who was amazing on the night, she made sure everything happened and NO stress was involved, and all the staff at Dockside you should be very proud of your wonderful service. THANK YOU.

Date of Wedding:

How did you meet: We met through work, we worked for the same company.

How long did you spend planning your wedding? We spent 9 months to plan the wedding.

Number of guests: 85 guests

Describe the theme & colour scheme of your wedding and why you chose this theme: We chose Baby pink as our colour theme as  I love the colour it gives it a real girly theme.

Reception location: Waterfront, The Rocks.

Describe the Brides dress: Its a Maggie and Sottero Adorae ivory Strapless mermaid type of dress with a train purchased at Abbey bridal.

Grooms suits: Mohamed wore a Hugo boss gray suit with a pink shirt.

Photographer: Moonlight Professional Photography.

Hair & Makeup: Hair by bella kemps creek, Kim Kindrat make up.

Stationery/ bonbonniere: Bonbonierre was made by the bride. We purchased tea light holders and I have put a ferrero rocher chocolate inside with silver heart chocolates. I tied it with a pink ribbon which is the same ribbon on the invitation which I also made myself. Instead of printing the tags, I bought a self inking stamp and stamped the tag.

Cake: The cake was made by Casa Del.

Flowers: Waratah florist in Earlwood.

Entertainment: We had a magician who was also the MC from Showcase entertainment.

Honeymoon: Honeymoon was at Malaysia and Singapore. 7 nights at a beautiful resort in Langkawi, the Westin Hotel and 2 nights at Marina Bay Sands Hotel at Singapore.

Describe your day: The day turned out perfect. We were relaxed and had a ‘let’s have fun on our wedding day’ attitude.  Although it rained, it only rained when we were indoors, it stopped during our location shoot which was very lucky.

What were your favourite parts of your Wedding Reception: We have no favourite parts of the reception as we enjoyed every part of it. The food was enjoyed by all and the service was fantastic. The decorations turned out more beautiful than expected!

Any Tips for Future Brides & Grooms: Don’t stress! Make sure to enjoy your day and night as it only happens once in a lifetime. You don’t want to remember your day being angry just be happy! If you’re happy you’re guest will be happy with you.

Date of Wedding:

How did you meet: Studying Personal Training

How long did you spend planning your wedding? Just over a year

Number of guests: 150

Describe the theme of your wedding and why you chose this theme: I didn’t have a theme as such but we knew we wanted lots of bright colours and beautiful flowers. So you could call it a ‘Spring’ theme.

Colour scheme: The Bridesmaids wore mint.

Ceremony location:  St Peter Chanel Church Woolwich

Reception location: Star Room

Describe the Brides dress: Fitted, silk and organza dress by Steven Khalil.

Describe the Bridesmaids outfits: N/A

Men’s suits: Suits from Spurling

Photographer: The Girl in the White Dress www.girlinthewhitedress.com

Hair & Makeup: Hair by Johnny Rizzo 0410 226 921 and Makeup by Norah Raslan Makeup 0403 343 134

Stationery/ bonbonniere: CS Designs  – Chantelle Saide 0432 112 385, made the bonbonniere on my own J

Cake: Slice of Cake http://sliceofcake.com.au/

Flowers: http://www.lazytulip.com.au/

Entertainment: JD Entertainment http://jdentertainment.com.au/ and http://www.soundagents.com.au/

Transport:  http://www.royaltyweddings.com.au/

Honeymoon: 1 month in the USA and Caribbean travelling to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, Miami and Anguilla

Describe your day: It was incredibly fast and filled with love and happiness. We were surrounded by all our loving family and friends. We experienced for seasons in one day with our location shots completely drenching us and our bridal party.

What were your favourite parts of your Wedding Reception: The grand entrance and the continuous dancing throughout the night and the cheeky kisses from my Husband.

Any Tips for Future Brides & Grooms: Plan your wedding in as short time as possible that leaves less room for being fussy and indecisive. Don’t sweat the small things as they are virtually meaningless on the day.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our Dockside Group brides and grooms:  Don’t let the day whiz by you, slow down and soak it all in!

Date of Wedding:

How did you meet: We worked together at Big W.

How long did you spend planning your wedding? About 10 months.

Number of guests: 180

Describe the theme of your wedding and why you chose this theme: Elegant, simple, candlelit.

Colour scheme: Neutral, muted tones.

Ceremony location: Dockside, Cockle Bay

Reception location: Dockside, Cockle Bay

Describe the Brides dress: Bought from Dress Sense Miranda, Martina Liana –  Ivory gown with Alencon Lace in Champagne with Parisian Silk Accents In Ivory

Describe the Bridesmaids outfits: Bought from P & S Michael. They were a cocktail length Oyster coloured satin one shouldered dress with a big fabric flower on the shoulder.

Men’s suits:  The “Manhattan”. Black with a black satin trim lapel dinner suit. White shirt, black vest & black satin tie.

Photographer: Sutherland Shire Photography – Greg Ford

Hair & Makeup: My sister, Cecilia was our Hairdresser and I was the make up Artist

Stationery/ bonbonniere: We handmade the invitations. I wanted them to be like opening an old fashioned letter. We had a cameo style seal on the envelope and the paper was the colour of the bridesmaids dresses.

Cake:2 Teir Square Chocolate Mud iced with Chocolate Ginash –CasaDel

Flowers: I had 3 open Vendela Roses with lace binding from my Mum’s wedding dress . The girls had a single rose with black satin binding to match their shoes.

Entertainment: James from TJ Maestros – He did a fantastic job!

Transport: 1965 VW Split Screen Kombi from Sydney Split Screens for us girls and my Mum & Dad and a Black BMW for the boys from All Districts Limosines

Honeymoon: We are having a delayed honeymoon toAmerica early next year. We can’t wait!

Describe your day: Amazing! The best day we have ever had! It was relaxed and fun with lots of laughs and a few tears.

What were your favourite parts of your Wedding Reception: Walking in as husband and wife, eating the beautiful food and having everyone in one place at one time

Any Tips for Future Brides & Grooms: Take a moment during the night and just stand back in a quiet place and just watch. Even if it’s just for a few seconds. Don’t sweat the small stuff it goes to fast to worry! Trust the professionals and let them do what they are great at, they organise more weddings than I could ever imagine and have heaps of experience!

Is there anything else you would like to share with our Dockside brides and grooms:  It is the best day we have ever had and in the end the only thing that matters is that it is the day that you and your husband wanted! Oh and eat dessert! We forgot about ours cause we were having too much fun.