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A Tiffanys affair
Congratulations Alison and Graham, married at Tiffany’s, on the Sunshine Coast Range.
This is a story about a place really; a place of extraordinary beauty for a wedding. A place that is old and is new, that is borrowed for your wedding day and is blue. So every bride can fulfil the traditional rhyme for her wedding day.
This is a place to treasure. A special wedding venue.
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The view of the Glasshouse
Certainly every time I, as a Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant, arrive at Tiffanys Maleny, it takes my breath away.
Whilst the wedding chapel at Tiffany’s may be quite new, the place is ancient. The spectacle of the Glasshouse Mountains is the backdrop and the main character in this story. Unions have been made on this ridge for millennia, so it is apt that couples choose this magnificent view as the backdrop to their nuptials.
The new Tiffany’s wedding chapel frames the view through huge glass panels, as the backdrop to a couple for their wedding ceremony.
Alison and Graham chose this place for their wedding, a place of unusual splendour, and a magical quality to lend to special occasions such as this.
Flowers by Kelly and her team complemented the chapel, with a bright coloured floral scheme chosen by the couple.
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A special area
On a personal level this place is very special to Alison and Graham.
- Every time they have driven to this area has been a special occasion, a time of personal celebration.
- They had their first picnic outing together at Mary Cairncross Park just down Mountain View Road along the ridge.
- They were engaged close by in Montville.
Their wedding day was a day of extra celebration and sharing with the people they loved. And no-one could be missed out, so they filled the chapel brimful of their friends and family. Every chair
and pew was filled so they could be married at Tiffanys with their closest.
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Tie the knot at Tiffanys
As part of their ceremony they chose to “tie the knot”.
When I asked Alison and Graham their favourite colour they both answered blue. Then Graham clarified his choice as navy blue, and Alison as ocean blue. It is very fitting, that whilst they have much in common, the two blues symbolise that two individuals are also different. Their marriage will be strong from their similarities and gain further strength from their individual differences.
Using two cords, one of navy blue, and one of ocean blue, Alison and Graham tied their lovers knot after the exchange of rings. May their knot never come unravelled.
And that is how they were married, at Tiffanys looking over the magnificent view.
Todays’ story is accompanied not by photos from a professional wedding photographer, but some snaps I took on a glorious day, as they left the Chapel for official photos.[/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1714442880624-c2cd1b8c-75fe-0″ include=”40355,40379,40378″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Creative Wedding Decor
Decorating your wedding day can be such fun. There are ideas for special themes, colours or designs.
Sometimes it is helpful to have a specialist help you, sometimes you just want to DIY the entire day. At a recent wedding at Kenilworth Homestead, Jess co-opted her female family and friends, and they did it all themselves. From bunting to cocktails, through to vintage teapots full of cottage garden flowers, and hand picked crockery from op-shops. Read about Jess inspiration.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”40045″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]
Something rather different
Here is a totally unique and environmentally friendly solution, not yet seen in any Bridal mag, from local cane, coconut frond and festival artist, Kris Martin.
His new wedding and event decoration business called Artisean was recently launched at a wedding on Stradbroke Island.
The business, based in Mapleton in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, uses natural materials such as bamboo, coconut palm leaf and vines top create fabulous wedding arches, aisles and arbours.
Coconut frond wedding decor
Kris Martin, artist and founder of this creative endeavour is excited to bring some of the magic of the festival and event work that he has been doing for over ten years, to the wedding industry.
Along with his partner Alex, and a team of artists, they have been recognised for their dedication to environmental arts through winning the Glossies award in 2012 (for ‘Ship of Fools’ Project, Floating Land, 2011) and 2011 (for ‘Kabi Canoes’ Project, Woodford, 2010).
Here’s a peek at some of the current designs being developed. But Kris will design something all new for you too, made to order. Check out Artisean.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”40047″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_single_image image=”40046″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]
Something elegant in wedding decor
Carly Laczko runs a gorgeous decorating and wedding planning business, CL Weddings & Events, creating beautiful weddings using simple ingredients that together make that ‘wow’ feeling when guests walk into a room.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”40051″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]
Wedding Styling
Wedding styling can be so variant, from sparkling prettiness to elegant dark shades or charcoals and rich red over to fun vibrant colours that pop with personality. The main aim of styling, Carly espouses, is to ensure it reflects the couple and your personalities together as a couple.
Styling themes
Cl Events’ style is so broad, there really isn’t a certain theme that they don’t like! And they specialise in creating a theme with the couples name on it, rather than a ‘modern vintage’ or ‘rustic’ tag. Sometimes the best styles are when they get to make a mix of themes to create unique look.
Carly says: “The décor on your day should be handled much like the way you dress, it should fit you.”
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DIY Wedding Decor
But if it’s DIY you’re into, then check out Jessica and Joel’s wedding decor.
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The girls, did it all. Mum, Aunties, Gran and the bridesmaids all chipped in making all the decor.
It came together over a fun evening the night before the wedding, when the bridal party went to town in a rustic old Barn.
Here is their story:
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Something very French
How about something very French for your wedding ceremony.
You may be French.
You may want a little something French for the sheer chic of it.
You may simply wish to toast your love with champagne.
Whatever the reason there are many French marriage traditions that are delightful. And of course others that you don’t want your friends to find out too!
As a Sunshine Coast Hinterland wedding celebrant I am always seeking new ways to create ritual within ceremony; finding ways to show something, rather than say something. And there are so many multicultural rituals to draw from, and rework to fit two people getting married, like Lucy and Neil did.
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Lucy and Neil had spent a long and memorable holiday in France. They remembered it as a very special time in their relationship; in their burgeoning love.
So when they decided to marry they wished to include something a little French in their marriage ceremony. In fact they had brought some special Champagne back from France, from the real Champagne region where they make the only true Champagne. (Everywhere else produces sparkling wine did you know?)
Champagne and roses
Now in the region of France where champagne is created, the traditional vineyards often cultivate roses at the ends of each row of grape vines. They look wonderful, yes, and smell fabulous when in flower, but it is not for the romance that the grape growers plant the roses.
Why the roses in French vineyards?
The rose plays a special and important role in the production of the grapes. Being extremely sensitive to changes in the soil, reacting quickly to disease or invasion, they are the canary in the vineyard. The same diseases attack the grape vines, but the rose gives an early warning that something is amiss. The grower gets a head start in making the necessary changes. If the blooms are beautiful and abundant, then everything is fine. Should the rose wither or wilt, grow mould or develop leaf curl then the growers know something is amiss and they take action before their grapes are affected. The rose works for its keep!
A partnership between rose and grape
We have therefore a partnership between the rose and the grape. What does this have to do with wedding ritual? We’re getting there….. and read on.
The Rose de Reims biscuits
In the district of Champagne France, there is another culinary tradition. In a typical French style where food is closely linked to every aspect of life, the rose petals are used to flavour special biscuits, les biscuits rose de reims – a crisp sweet treat that melts in the mouth. It is not your usual Sunday afternoon tea cookie. The Biscuits Rose de Reims are twice baked and become crisp and not crumbly, delightfully crunchy without falling apart.
A tradition used to celebrate special occasions is the partnering of the les Biscuits Rose de Reims and real Champagne.
Imagine the crossroads of bubbles and roses.
On a special occasion the biscuits are dipped into glasses of champagne and eaten with the celebratory drink.
Individually they are unique and very special, Rose de Reims and Champagne.
But put them together and WOW! What a pair.
What a pair
Is this the kind of symbol you could have to celebrate your union in marriage?
So having decided on something a little French, where else to be wed than the Spotted Chook Ferme Auberge, a French provincial styled country Inn in Montville on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Range.
Congratulations to Lucy and Neil, married in Montville, with Champagne and Les Biscuits Rose de Reims.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kari is a special person with a beautiful spirit and a unique gift of putting people at ease. She was so adaptable and knew when to step in to help us and offer some creative and fabulous ideas; however, she also knew when to listen to what we wanted. We were a little nervous about the whole process but Kari made us feel comfortable and excited about our ceremony. On the day, Kari created a loving and relaxed atmosphere amongst all of our friends and family and our ceremony was a dream. Both my husband Neil and I agree that the ceremony was the most special part of our day. We are so happy that we worked with Kari as we now have beautiful memories that last a lifetime. Thanks, Kari. Lucy and Neil
Photos by AWPP of Montville
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Handfasting wedding ceremony
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Vintage wedding down at the homestead
…and here comes the beautiful and totally happy bride, Jessica, to her wedding ceremony. The story continues.
Jess and Joel are a relaxed couple who planned their DIY wedding at Kenilworth Homestead on the Mary River. There was plenty of space down on the farm to feel like the rest of the world had melted away. The homestead grounds could accommodate the entire guest list, with onsite cabins, cottages and a long river flat for tents if necessary. But the centre piece for this wedding was the old rustic barn, with weathered boards, old farm features, transformed by this creative couple into a vintage paradise for an evening of fun, games and rock’n’rollin.
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Arriving at the wedding
But I digress, first the ceremony.
Under the huge tree they met to wed.
Jessica arrived on the arms of a proud Mum and Dad. She needed them there so she wouldn’t bolt too fast to her darling Joel. The guests watched with glee as she strolled across from the cottages to the altar under the tree
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Another name for tie the knot
Jess and Joel had told me that they have a very tight knit group of friends, and that family is really important to them. They describe family as a mixture of unconditional acceptance, lots and lots of love and happy chaos; a delightful combination!
So their wedding was planned as a retreat for everyone, not simply a honeymoon for two, although I’m sure they’ll find time for that too!
Since ancient times couples have stood together in a ceremony of marriage. For Jess and Joel’s ceremony they also decided to embrace an age old tradition, with a rope! I rewrote what is sometimes called a handfasting ceremony, in which a cord is tied about a couple’s hands as they take their vows. It is from this tradition that we know of the expression to “tie the knot”. Making it uniquely their own handfasting, we played with words, and wove their vow sentiments into the handfasting format.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”39713″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Handfasting
During the ceremony under the large tree, I wound the cord slowly about their hands as they made their promises to each other. For each line a binding, for each binding a promise, and as the hands were bound together, a set of promises bound their lives and their futures. But once done, the bindings can be unwound for the promises they have made will keep them together, no rope is needed!
Photos by Brisbane & Melbourne based photographer, Elleni Toumpas and a couple by myself!
If you enjoyed this story, you may like the first chapter of Jess and Joel’s DIY vintage themed wedding, down on the farm, by the Mary River.
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Vintage wedding at the homestead
Thank you Jessica and Joel for your inspiration, and congratulations on your marriage. Where does one start with such a delightful vintage style wedding?
Kenilworth Homestead
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Kenilworth Homestead provides a classic farmyard or vintage wedding, with rolling paddocks of horses and animals, a classic barn, a huge tree for the ceremony, a relaxed river for guests camping ground, cabins to stay in, and plenty of vintage farm relics for photo opportunities galore.
Kenilworth Homestead
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DIY vintage wedding elements
Or does one begin with the vintage wedding DIY components; hours of shopping, sourcing, and making with aunties and mums and friends?
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Handfasting wedding ritual
Or does one concentrate on a unique handfasting ritual which was part of their wedding ceremony?
It is simply not possible to cover everything in one story. So today I’ll lead you into the tale with a look at where we found ourselves the day after the storm the night before, on a glorious sunny day out in the country.
Setting the stage for a wedding retreat weekend, we begin at Kenilworth Homestead, by the Mary River, on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, a gorgeous farm setting for a wedding.
Jessica had spent hours with Mum and aunties and friends, sourcing country style fabrics and making bunting. Bunting was strung up around the old barn and garden verandas. Then there were blackboards with handwritten menus, directions for the guests, an enticing cocktail list, and lawn games.
Then a wander inside the rustic barn itself brought oohs and aahs. Hours had been spent sourcing vintage crockery for the table settings, and old enamel teapots for the flower arrangements on the tables. Each table was named for the colour of its teapot! Outside were lawn games; croquet, badminton…and an old enamel bath! And of course the horses. The yard was a playground full of delights, and the stage complete for the entry of a bride.
Photos by Kari with a couple from Elleni Toumpas
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