Recommendations

Celebrant: Janet Price 

Janet was recommended to me by a good friend. Janet used to be a school teacher but now brings her motherly and particular attention to her role as a Celebrant. She made the whole process very smooth, all the while accommodating my needs as a Buddhist against Craig's agnostic impartiality. Her professional attitude, balanced against her care & warmth made her a perfect choice for the Wedding.


Dress: Irene Costa's Bridal Fashions

Irene Costa might not be grandly publicised online, but what need is there for grand advertising when you have the word-of-might that is so typical of Far North Queensland? My Mum and I made the drive up to Tolga (a very pleasant and windy drive up the Atherton range) to Irene's bridal shop. Irene & Dianne showed us through their wonderful range of dresses, without the fuss & posh factor I'd encountered in the BrisVegas counterparts. Straight away, they wanted to know what my budget was, and showed me to the range within that budget, so that I wouldn't be tempted by pricier numbers. After that, I tried on various dresses (with a lot of help of course!) and the best part was, I could speak my mind about how I felt in each one and share a laugh with Dianne and Mum. I found the perfect dress and Irene even made a Bolero to go with it, complete with matching lace from the dress. And if Tolga is too far to go for you, then why not try Irene's other shop in Cairns? The two stores stock varying styles so if you go to both, you get a full taste of the whole range. Note: Irene's daughter also makes beautiful hair pieces. She hand-made the butterfly that you see in my hair piece.


Florist: Arlene Dodson (Mob: 0408 068 001)


Arlene came highly recommended to us by Dave (Paton Photography). She had organised the flowers for his daughters' weddings and was able to accommodate their very different styles. Arlene saw us at her house and showed us a beautiful portfolio of the work she'd done. During our interview, it became quickly apparent that Arlene really wants to bring your ideas to life, without unreasonably stretching your budget. I was really happy with my flowers. She was able to adapt an idea I had (that the bride had a bouquet composed of varying flowers from her bridesmaid's flowers) and work some colours into it as well. I will forever remember your beautiful flowers, Arlene!



Hair: Urbane Hair Design


Ever since I moved to the Southside, Brisbane, I've been going to Urbane Hair Design. What I really loved about Maya's salon is the relaxed atmosphere you find there, balanced with a lot of passion about all things hair & beauty. They'll gladly offer you some tea/water when you arrive, and their new back-massage chairs are fantastic. Special mention to Shannie who made my hair look so divine for the big day. And I was completely stoked with the hairstyles they created for my sisters. I can proudly say that no other bride has ever had such beautiful bridesmaids. Urbane Hair Design took care of our hair for a very reasonable price and it lasted the whole of the night, including some very wild dancing. Thank you very much to the ladies of Urbane Hair Design!




Photography: Paton Photography

Dave & Karen did the beautiful professional photographs for our Wedding. Craig and I were looking for photos that would not only capture the celebration of our big day, but also in a way that wouldn't look too forced or faked. Needless to say, Dave & Karen did not disappoint. We now have a beautiful album to show off and lots of prints that we sent off to Family & Friends. Expert wedding photos never come cheap, but the more I look at these photos, the more I smile and relive the memories. Thank you Dave & Karen for doing such a wonderful job capturing our wedding for us.




Venue: Boulevard Gardens 
 
From the very beginning, Alex & Bettina looked after us wonderfully. They dealt with us in a straight-forward yet caring manner, always disclosing the exact costs and capacity of the venue. Our wedding day occurred on a very hot afternoon but Bettina came to the rescue with umbrellas for our families and friends. They also ensured that the Bridal party were well looked after from start to finish and took excellent care of our guests. Thank you for making our day so special!