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Category Archives: DIY Weddings

Wedding Bells for Sunshine Coast couple Kate Bradshaw & Ethan Lowe

I felt so sad for Kate Bradshaw and Ethan Lowe when she told me this was their 3rd time to plan and organise a wedding- thanks to Covid. So, I had to do my utmost to ensure they had a perfectly styled wedding. Kate came to us to help style their wedding at coastal Sunshine Coast wedding venue Pier33 in Mooloolaba.

I called Courtney from Fiesta Flora; a budding local Sunshine Coast florist based right here on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland with me. Court felt the same as me, so we wanted to make sure their wedding was on point.

We met with Kate and Ethan at Pier33 where we may have indulged in some fine cuisine and a cocktail because that’s how we roll! Fiesta Flora and Maple Weddings are 2 of the cruisiest and easy-going suppliers you will meet! We chatted for ages talking colour palettes, revising ideas & styling concepts and of course a suitable layout.

Luxe elegance with a hint of coastal vibes using soft tones is what we were wanting to achieve for this beautiful couple. Fiesta Flora provided an abundance of beautiful florals featuring Rhoslyn Roses, Pink Mondial roses, Playa Blanca Roses, White Clustar Roses, White Phalaenopsis Orchids, White Singapore Orchids, White Dahlias, White Disbuds, Quicksand Roses,Cappuccino Roses, Banksia Integrifolia Foliage, Camellia foliage and White ruscus.

Complimenting the beautiful blooms, we utilized our blush-coloured French linen napkins, our latest table numbers using pearl acrylic and of course candles. Candles always offer romance and sophistication, perfect for the ultimate dining experience.

                       

The ceremony was equally as impressive with these blooms having been relocated to the reception space. Using our very own white triangle arbour which suited Kate and Ethan as Ethan is very tall! It was floral heaven thanks to Fiesta Flora with the coastal views of the jetty and boats as the perfect backdrop.

       

We were stoked when we saw all our of vision come to life and even happier watching on from the deck above as Kate and Ethan FINALLY said ‘I do’ at Pier33 Mooloolaba.

   

Its always nice to get some feedback and perspective from couples so having worked with Kate a lot I asked her some questions in which her responses are as follows-

You were living in NSW. What prompted you to get married in QLD?

We are both originally from Queensland, however moved to Sydney in 2019. That is why we originally had planned a Sydney wedding (Palm Beach), our original wedding date was 18th October 2020 but postponed due to covid.  Our second date was 24th January 2021 at Palm beach, however, we completely cancelled 4 weeks prior due to the big Northern Beachs outbreak. By this stage, we had moved back to Queensland to be closer to our family. We started looking at venues around Sunny Coast in February and we fell in love with Pier 33 so we booked it.  😊

How has Covid impacted your wedding plans?

It took us three attempts, unfortunately, each time we rescheduled we lost money and guest numbers and to be honest, it really took the fun out of planning it. Coivd made it feel like a hassle and pretty stressful, I don’t think I was excited about the 3rd date until the day before the wedding because I was worried we would have to cancel again.

 

What was the funnest part of planning your wedding?

Finding a wedding dress. Having the girls there, champagne and dressing up – it was the best

What was the standout from your day?

Our day was perfect, but just having our closest family and friends finally be able to celebrate together was amazing

 

How did you find and book your vendors?

Mainly Instagram and Google. Some vendors recommended other vendors (thank you Kristy for recommending Court)

What was the most important part to you both in terms of your wedding? Food? Photos? The ceremony? Flowers?

Although I (Kate) wanted everything to be perfect we both always said the three things that we have to have is – a venue that suited our personalities, great music so people will dance and amazing food – we def got all three.

 

In terms of the styling being beachside at Pier33 you opted for more coastal sheik elegance using soft hues and candles. Did you feel the brief was met and complimented your personalities as well as the venue?

100 % yes.

The styling, flowers and set-up was exactly what we wanted and more. We received so many compliments on how beautiful everything was.

                 

 

Did you find booking a stylist and florist that work closely together a much easier process to navigate? 

Made everything so much easier and reassuring that everything would flow together and be set up properly.

 

What is the one piece of advice you would offer any couple? 

Don’t try and please everyone, remember the day is about you and your partner and how much you love each other.

 

What was the approx. spend on your wedding?

About $50k – this includes the money we lost from our first 2 dates.

                

 

Vendor List

Venue- Pier33

Florals – Fiesta Flora

Styling- Maple Weddings and Events

Photography- Daniel Jay Photography

Cake- Choc2Chilli

Celebrant- Steph the Celebrant

Musician- John Veloso Music

Videographer- R Van Films

Wedding Transport- Black Bow Chauffer

Hair Stylist- Evalyn Parsons

Makeup Artist- Louise Henzell Makeup

Bridal Gown- Karen Willis Holms

Grooms Suit- MJ Bale

Stationery- Love and Paper

 

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Emily and Adrian’s Autumn Love Fest

Sunshine Coast Hinterland- April 2019

Emily and Adrian married on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in April this year. Emily managed to plan majority of her wedding all the way from Darwin where they were living at the time. With family and friends on the Sunshine Coast it was the perfect place to be married and eventually become their new home!

Emily and Adrian opted for a Tipi style wedding overlooking the beautiful Glass House Mountains on the Sunshine Coast from Maleny Retreat Weddings in Maleny.

I leant very quickly Em and Adrian were NOT traditionalists at all. Following the ceremony, guests headed up to the reception site for a grazing table which was the perfect start for their small intimate wedding of 50. Once the couple arrived back from photos they offered ‘cocktail hour’. Let’s say in that hour Ashlea from The Vintage Bondwood Bar based here on the Sunshine Coast was busy shaking and making espresso martinis!! With everyone feeling relaxed and comfortable after some cocktails everyone headed in under the Tipi’s were all styling and set up was done by US of course, Maple Weddings and Events also based here on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

To set the tone of the styling and to tie in with the Boho Tipi look was Nat’s exceptional earthy florals from Heavenly Blooms also based here on the Sunshine Coast. Everyone on the Sunshine Coast knows that Heavenly Blooms and the Tipi’s from Tipi Luxe just go like 2 peas in a pod.

Guests were treated to a feast of shared plates by VGC Catering where they could sit back and relax and enjoy their fine cuisines with No rush as NO formalities at all!! No cake cutting, no speeches, no first dance and ME as the MC for a whopping 2 minutes to run through some housekeeping and make a toast to the lovely couple. NO wedding traditions in the slightest!! They made it their own special wedding which was every bit them.

Once everyone’s bellies were full they surprised guests with a 20 min performance from Utopian Fire Dancers whom performed an epic show, then everyone danced the night away under the Maleny skies.

Emily and Adrian knew living interstate and organising the wedding on the day would be chaotic and decided to book Maple Weddings and Events to be their on the day coordinator and set up all the styling. They knew they could breathe easy and enjoy their moment without any troubles with us on site to coordinate and liaise with all their wonderful wedding suppliers.

Each wedding we do whether it is here on the Sunshine Coast or elsewhere is unique and memorable. Every wedding is so different and that is what we love most about our job. Nothing is ever the same and couples like Emily and Adrian put their own personal touches on everything.

Even though Emily and Adrian married almost 6 months ago they left an impact on us all as wedding suppliers who helped them, mostly as they were so down to earth and truly genuine people who were just so thankful.

Their beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland DIY wedding was so much fun even for the suppliers. You know how awesome the couple is when the wedding planner and photographer take to the dance floor with guests and get their groove on!! Everyone was clapping and cheering and was a real celebration of much fun and laughter.

Not only is Bec from Ash and Stone Photography a cracker on the dance floor she is bloody amazing at what she does. We asked Emily why they chose Bec and her comments are below so be sure to read on. You will see why they chose her in the following images to come!

As wedding planners, wedding stylists and wedding on the day coordination we loved every part of this wedding. Emily and Adrian got to share their day with Adrian’s beautiful daughter Kayleigh, their family and family and friends from far and wide and of course the wedding suppliers who all brought their A game and made it every bit fabulous.

We love reminiscing about our weddings especially when they are the DIY weddings and on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland- our home- so for us we love to go back and chat to the couple afterwards. They have time to reflect on their day, look through their photos and videos again and brings all those amazingly happy memories back to life again. So, we asked Em a few questions to see what her overall experience was like and hope it helps those couples planning a DIY wedding.

Maple Weddings and Events
How did you manage organising and planning the bulk of your wedding interstate?

I started with an excel spreadsheet and ticked things off as we booked vendors and added things we forgot along the way. I loved planning the wedding, it was a great experience. I spent a lot of time searching online and placed my trust in the vendors we chose and it paid off. Everyone was excellent, I could not fault a thing.

How did you find majority of your wedding suppliers?

The Brides Tree, Instagram and Facebook. Most suppliers have great social media accounts and lots of photos from events they have been a part of. The members of The Brides Tree gave me a lot of great recommendations and from there I looked for vendors that suited our style and the vibe we wanted to create.

We always suggest to couples to really research their celebrant and photographers as they are so personal. What made you decide to choose Annie your celebrant and Bec your photographer?

A celebrant was the hardest vendor to choose, until I found Annie. We really wanted someone who was just like us and our friends. We wanted our ceremony to be fun and Annie really had a style we loved.

Bec is amazing! Her photography captures the moment, not just a pose. Although we did pose – a little. Once I found Bec’s website I knew she was the right person for us. And once I met her, WOW! She really was a big part of making our wedding day amazing.

Did you find planning a DIY wedding stressful?

No, I loved the creative freedom. However, on the day I felt quite stressed until you and Naomi arrived. If there was one thing I would recommend to any Bride and Groom – Maple Weddings and Events. A wedding planner or coordinator is the difference between having a stressful wedding day and having the wedding day you wanted.

What was the most memorable part of your day?

Once I put my dress on and it was just my Dad and I nervously drinking the last of the sparkling pinot noir waiting to walk down the aisle. It was such a great feeling knowing it was just about to happen. There is a lot that goes into getting you to that moment, not just in planning a wedding but in your life. It felt really nice.

Maple Weddings and Events
Would you advise other couples to book an on the day coordinator?

Absolutely! Who knew you needed to consider things like extension cords, running out of firewood and beer! You had all these things under control without me even knowing or it being a problem.

What advice would you offer to those couples planning a wedding?

Do it your way. We didn’t follow any wedding traditions, no speeches, no cake cutting, no first dance – though there was a lot of dancing, no throwing the bridal bouquet, we didn’t do anything that we didn’t want to. We really wanted our wedding to be about great food, great music, lots of drinks and a great time. It had all those things and more.

Would you change anything about your day now we 6 months on?

Not a thing!

Maple Weddings and Events
Do you have any lasting advice for other couples getting ready to get married?

Get a planner or coordinator and enjoy your day! It only happens once.
Don’t spend too much time or energy worrying about anything. If the flowers aren’t quite right it won’t ruin your day. If the cake is the wrong color you still get to marry your soul mate with all your closest friends and family. I gave creative freedom to my vendors, because this is what they do, they are professionals. I didn’t know what flowers Nat was going to bring on the day but WOW, she brought the best! It was actually exciting not knowing exactly what to expect, it added to the fun!

The amazing team of suppliers who brought Emily and Adrian’s Tipi wedding to life here on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

  • Venue – Maleny Retreat Weddings
  • Tipi/dance floor/Lighting- Tipi Luxe
  • On the Day Coordination & Styling- Maple Weddings and Events
  • Furniture Hire and Linen- Hampton Event Hire
  • Florals- Heavenly Blooms
  • Celebrant- Celebrant Lady Love- Annie
  • Photography- Ash and Stone Photography
  • Bar Service- The Vintage Bondwood Bar
  • Catering- VGC Catering
  • Wedding Cake- Sweet P Cakes and Cookies
  • Hair- Evalyn Parsons Hair
  • Make Up- Dolly May Make Up Artist
  • Emily’s Bridal Dress – Sphere Collective
  • Adrian’s Suit- Peter Jackson
  • Entertainment- Utopian Fire
  • Musician- Ryan Giles
  • Bathroom Hire- Portable Powder Rooms
  • Cold room Hire- Fairy-tale Events and Equip4Hire

 

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DIY Wedding – Marquee Style

It’s no secret DIY weddings are becoming the latest trend in the wedding world. DIY weddings offer couples the freedom to choose their own suppliers, the room to inject their own personality and creativity and of course, to work with vendors who offer to work within budget, with the average cost of an Australian wedding costing upwards of $30,000.

Maple Weddings and Events work with you as your wedding planner to ensure that your DIY wedding in infused with you and tailor packages to suit. We take the pressure off, keep costs within budget and have established relationships with the best and most innovative suppliers on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

DIY Wedding

The Sunshine Coast is renowned for weddings and there are a pleathora of DIY options on the gorgeous Sunshine Coast Hinterland and on private properties. Maple Weddings and Events are industry leaders in planning and styling weddings and events and have an established knowledge of Sunshine Coast and Hinterland properties and venues.

As a DIY wedding the first service to call upon after selecting your venue is organising your ‘structure’. The marquee originated in England in the early 1900’s making it one of the most traditional style wedding structures. The marquee can pose as a formal and elegant ‘tent’ for a 3 course sit down dinner, a cocktail affair with canapes or an uber-modern informal affair with food trucks and lounges. As your wedding and event planner based on the Sunshine Coast we highly regard the ‘Fairytale Events and Equip 4 Hire’ team for their attention to detail, professionalism and well-priced hire packages.

DYI Wedding

DYI Wedding

Your wedding planner will help bring your vision to life whether it be in a white or clear marquee with fairy lights, festoon lighting, wine barrels, dance floor, florals and decorations. The wedding planning team will bring your Fairytale Events and Equip 4 Hire marquee into your wedding palace.

Maple Weddings and Events planning and styling can customise your marquee with a huge range of hire items offered by Fairy Tale and Equip 4 Hire. From tables, chairs, dance floor and wine barrels to themed décor, cold room hire and loads more options.

DIY Wedding

DIY Wedding

By using who we consider the best Sunshine Coast marquee company, in conjunction with our Sunshine Coast wedding and event planning services, we are able to offer:

  • Delivery and collection service at flexible times to suit everyone
  • Party planning tools to help you choose the right equipment for your needs
  • Friendly, helpful advice to ensure your event is a success
  • The ability to source and hire from the one provider
  • Agents for the Coast’s top caterers, decorators and AV technicians

Equip 4 Hire are renowned for:

  • Exceptional customer service
  • Quality equipment
  • Minimal and easy paperwork
  • Reliability
  • Peace of mind
DIY Wedding

DIY Wedding

We Provide Added Peace of Mind by:

  • Emailing you photos of the equipment you’re interested in upon request
  • Guaranteeing you the items chosen upon receipt of your deposit
  • Delivering &/or setting up your equipment 1 or 2 days before your function to give you plenty of time to decorate or simply “feel organised” (No extra charge for these days)
  • Ensuring you are delighted with what is supplied before we leave
  • Supplying you with an emergency phone number in case you need additional equipment or need further assistance with your items

All marquee photos supplied by Equip 4 Hire FairyTale Events Direct website.

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