All posts by: Bride Columnist

After a relaxing night including a massage, facial and hot bath; I woke up feeling oddly relaxed. I got up early enough to have plenty of time to get ready. I received a wake up call from my photographer to be sure I will be ready for hair and make up. My hair and make up artist was also the photographer's assistant. I had a light breakfast and had my hair and make up done. I had some music on to help me relax and had a good laugh. My florist called in about a problem with my flowers; the exact colour I wanted wasn't available but something similar was. I was anxious to see what the bouquets will look like. While my two bridesmaids were getting their hair and make up done (my half sister and sister-in-law), mum prepared a filling lunch for us all. We all had a break and ate, which helped me relax some more. Then the flowers came and they were gorgeous! I was so pleased with how perfect they were. Then it was time to put the dress on, and that's when the nerves begun. I couldn't get the dress done up completely becaue I felt I couldn't breathe. With the help of my mum and sister; it was on well enough. I needed to hide when my groom and the groomsmen came to pick up the buttonhole flowers which made me more nervous. After taking some photos at home, we headed off to the ceremony, early enough to have some photos taken before the ceremony. As I walked into the chapel, I was so overwhelmed with nerves, I couldn't see anyone. Apart from some trouble with the music, the ceremony was perfect. The reception was perfect. Our wedding was perfect.

Waking up on the morning of our wedding, we were faced with the newspaper headline - "Hottest day in Sydney in 86 years" - it was due to be a scorching 44 degrees in Coogee that day, which is where we were getting married. Arriving at the church with my dad was everything I had hoped it to be (apart from the lack of air conditioning!) and to see all of our family and friends there was amazing. Between the church and our reception, the heat was almost unbearable, but everyone was in high spirits and we got some spectacular photos overlooking the water at Coogee. Our reception was incredible - We had it held in the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach. Guests had cocktails and canapé’s on the pool deck and then were escorted into the ballroom. The ambience was fantastic - the food was incredible - and I had just married the man of my dreams - what more could a girl want? Our first dance was to Michael Jackson "Remember the Time", and I shared a special dance with my father to "My Girl" by the Temptations. After a wonderful night of dancing, drinking and special memories, our Bridal Party came back to our Suite at the Crowne Plaza, and we all walked down to the beach for a swim at 2:00am. The perfect way to end a perfect day. Getting married on our 9 year anniversary together was something we had always wanted to do, and the day is something we will never forget!

Our perfect day began with David sending me flowers and a card saying that he couldn't wait to marry me. My bridesmaids and I got ready at my parents house and the boys stayed in a hotel close to the venue. After having hair, make up and photos done at the house, we were picked up by a black Chrysler Limo. Nerves were settled with a bottle of Moet & Chandon - compliments of my maid of honour. The boys were waiting at the ceremony site in the Fitzroy Gardens after being dropped off by a red Mustang convertible. I was honoured and blessed to walk up the garden path with my dad to the most beautiful love song which Dave had written and recorded for me. It was such a thrill to see everyone I knew smiling back at me as I walked up and then to see my husband to be looking so proud and excited. Our ceremony was full of laughs and fun including two special live music performances from friends and family members. After the ceremony we had photos taken in the gardens and at iconic Melbourne locations. We returned to the Fitzroy Gardens for our reception at the Pavilion Restaurant. David and I shared our first dance to Michael Buble's – Save the last dance, which was choreographed to include a fusion of Merengue, Rumba and Cha Cha. Our guests were shocked to see that my dress had miraculously gone from a full length ball gown style wedding dress to a short knee length cocktail dress. (I purchased two!) At the end of our amazing day we were picked up by horse and carriage to be taken away to our honeymoon suite to spend our first night together as husband and wife.

We were married and held our reception on board the Pontoon is Sydney Harbour. The day was perfect

We wanted a relaxed wedding because thats how we are. Nothing too formal. My dream has always been to get married on the beach and we thought it was the perfect setting for us. We decided on Rye beach on the Mornington Peninsula. The day was a bit overcast but it was perfect. It was my dream wedding. Us and all our guests were barefoot in the sand on the waters edge. It was a small wedding of 70 people but that was just what we wanted. We got some beautiful photos on the beach and on the boat ramp. Our reception was at the Rye hotel across the road and it was amazing! The room was so beautiful and i was so proud that i had put it all together. Alot of our guests left early due to work and other things and it ended up just being myself, my new husband and our bridal party dancing the night away right to the end. It was the best day of our lives.