It is that time of year again when the annual Ballina Bridal Expo is on. I decided that I wanted to do something a little different this yearso I held a photo booth set up at my booth which turned out to be so much fun. Thank you to all that came and visited me on the day and I hope to talk to you again soon. xx

Chrissy met John when she was working at LJ Hooker as the Property Manager when she first moved to the Snowies, John was one of her tenants, they hated each other! Chrissy was always ringing him to chase his rent! When Chrissy went to Fisk and Nagle she discovered that her coworkers were friends with John and so over a “zillion” text messages and a tonne of flirting they finally realized that they were meant to be together and started dating. A year later, exactly, they were engaged!

As they had guests coming from all over the world John & Chrissy wanted to incorporate everything they loved about living in the Snowies so  decided to go for a casual, country wedding on John’s family’s farm. As Chrissy and John both cared for orphaned animals they also wanted to show their passion for caring for wildlife they decided that instead of spending money on bombonieres they donated all of the money to L.A.O.K.O. (Looking after Our Kosciuszko Orphans) a wildlife rescue group based in the Snowy Mountains region. However the most important aspect to their wedding was “to keep it casual and fun, just like our relationship!”

They had the ceremony in their favourite spot on the farm. I must say it was one of the most unique Bride entrances I have seen. We were all standing in the middle of the bush eagerly awaiting the Bride’s arrival when the theme song of Jaws started. We looked around and saw a vintage, bright purple Chevy drive into the clearing. John & Chrissy had written their own vows and they were full of interesting promises, a few laughs and a lot of love.

After the ceremony we went for a drive around the Snowy Mountains, stopping at various locations along the way for some fun snaps of the Bridal party. They were such a crazy bunch; we had a lot of good laughs. Eventually we ended up at Chrissy and John’s favourite restaurant Roses Lebanese Restaurant owned by their very good friends Tony and Bec Nassar. Chrissy said, “a lot of people couldn’t believe we picked a restaurant in town when there are so many big swanky places up the hill but they just weren’t us!

At the wedding I discovered the most gorgeous wedding cake that John’s Mum had made. She had a chocolate and white chocolate mud cake for the bottom two tiers and the top tier (which is now in their freezer) was fruit cake. The amazing cake toppers in true Chrissy and John style were a kangaroo bride and groom which were custom made by someone on eBay from America of all places!

After many photos in the photo booth, the hilarious speeches and exquisite Lebanese food, John & Chrissy danced their first dance to “Space they Cannot Touch” by Kate Miller-Heidke, a local Brisbane artist that use to be Chrissy’s tenant. Chrissy said that the room and everyone in it melted away as they danced.

John & Chrissy had a perfect honeymoon at a home stay in Limeburners Creek which was where John grew up before it was sold. They loved it so much that the whole Graham family is having a big family holiday up there in April.

Other Friends of the Wedding

Flowers: Cooma Flower Shop

Dress: Anita J Bridal Couture in Canberra.

Boys outfits: Main Street Clothing Cooma

Videography: Jacque Ollivier Videographer/Photographer

“My best advice to other engaged couples is to remember to breath, dont get stressed out and upset and most of all enjoy the ride! Getting married is a wonderful experience and you should enjoy every minute of it, yes there are stressful times but if you let the stress take over you ruin the fun!” – Married on the 7th of January 2012, in Cooma.

When I received the invite for the wedding of Kristen & Delilah I knew that it wasn’t going to be a usual wedding. It was the first time I had come across the tradition of jumping the broom, where the recently married couple jump over a broom to symbolise sweeping away the past and starting a new beginning. The wedding was held at their family home in Lismore, where they had a quiet ceremony in the backyard, surrounded by their closest family and friends. Kris is a fellow photographer and Delilah was very artistic as well so the wedding had quite a DIY feel to it. Rather than the typical walk down the isle, Delilah had her “aunties” (all the women who were a big part in her life) line up from the door way to the ceremony and they gave her their blessing as she walked down towards the awaiting Kris. It was a beautiful idea and a very special moment for all involved. The ceremony was very simple and relaxed with all the guests spread out among the trees and bushes. All the kids were entertained by all the toys over in the corner, except for Rory, Kris & Delilah’s son who couldn’t quite understand why mummy and daddy weren’t playing with him. After the ceremony everyone moved to the Lismore Art Space where they partied on late into the night.

Andrew & Claire first met when they were working together at the Carindale Golf Club. Andrew was the chef and Claire was working as a waitress while she was studying at university. Andrew’s best friend James (my husband) use to go up to visit quite regularly and Andrew always use to claim that whenever James would visit he would never meet any girls. Now anyone who knows these two would know that was because they have a Bromance going and so would have been too distracted with each other to notice any girls. However one night someone else did manage to capture Andrews’ eye and four years later they are getting married.

Andrew and Claire had trouble finding a location for their wedding with places closing down, being already booked or just not right. Claire joked that if one more place fell through they were having their wedding in Fiji and I must say I am so glad that they did. They chose the Outrigger on the Lagoon at the Coral coast for their Fiji Wedding. It was such a beautiful resort and the perfect location for their thirty five guests who had flown over to celebrate this magical day with them.

The ceremony was held at the resorts amazing hilltop Bure Ni Loloma Chapel which overlooks thePacific Ocean. It was one of the most breath taking chapels that I have been to. However as beautiful as the view was no one could take their eyes off Claire as she walked in in her elegant silver wedding gown and her bouquet of frangipanis. It was a very moving ceremony with not a dry eye in the chapel.

Once all the formalities were over we went up to the bar that sat above the chapel so that the bridal party could have a couple of quiet drinks and also to escape the strong wind that was outside. It was so peaceful at the top of the mountain that we all could have easily sat up, there sipping on champagne, and watched the sunset. However we had a whole resort to play in. After catching the golf buggy down to the bottom of the hill we started making our way around various locations in the resort. The Outrigger on the Lagoon is such a huge place so there was plenty to choose from. We got some photos in the garden, out the front of one of the bungalows, down by the beach and by the swimming pool. Claire was so patient with me and didn’t even hesitate when I asked her to climb up the life saving tower in her gorgeous wedding dress. The shots we got of them up there was well worth it.

Eventually it was time to head back to the main building for the reception. Andrew and his two groomsmen changed down into their Fijian Sulu for the reception which looked, um, interesting with socks and dress shoes.

Claire had done a wonderful job making all the decorations for the wedding themselves. There were paper pom poms hanging from the roof, butterflies on ever glass and a lovely seating chart made of ribbons. The whole room was blue and white which was perfect for the Outriggers’ terrace room overlooking the Pacific Ocean. After a yummy dinner we watched as Andrew and Claire had their first dance as husband and wife to Love you till the end by The Pogues and then we all joined in and spent the rest of the night dancing to the classics such as the “Time Warp”, “Barbie Girl” and “Twist & Shout”.

The following day Andrew & Claire left for Taveuni – Lomani where they were to spend a week for their honeymoon. It was the perfect way to relax after all the wedding planning.

Other friends of the wedding

Claire’s Dress: After 5 Bridal in Underwood

Bridesmaid’s Outfits: Review

Boys Outfits: Tarocash

Rings: Angus & Coote

“It is so important not to get too stressed over the small things during the wedding planning process. I also found that it is well worth being organised as it will save your sanity on the days leading up to the wedding.” – Married on the 22nd of October 2011, in Fiji.

“I learnt that if you are having a wedding in Fiji it is a good idea to stay away from Kava the night before the wedding as it does not sit well the next morning, and that if you end up sharing a bed with your best man the night before the wedding then be prepared for a scary wake up.” – Married on the 22nd of October 2011, in Fiji.