Sperry Tent Wedding at Maleny Retreat
Donald and Sara’s epic wedding at Maleny Retreat
How They Met
We met through mutual friends at one of Brisbane’s most romantic venues. Jade Buddha (for those of you not from Brisbane this is my attempt at humour)! After returning from a round-the-world trip I was catching up with friends. Pleasantly surprised to be sitting across from an intriguing unknown addition to the group, Sara! Straight away the conversation was about traveling as Sara was planning her own trip to Europe in the coming months. Almost 7 years on we have travelled the world together multiple times and lived overseas, so it was a telling first conversation!
The wedding Proposal
Returning home after work on a pleasant autumn Friday night to our flat in Islington (London) to find Sara relaxing on the couch. We had decided to have a quiet night in. Firstly because Sara and her work friends had enjoyed a typically London style social evening the previous night. Also as I had asked that Sara not plan anything over the weekend. (a fairly standard type request at this point in our lives, no signs given way!)
As Sara was happily chilling I got busy preparing myself mentally. For what I had planned in my head a thousand times over the previous few months. At this point things were on track, the ring was where I had left it. (in my jacket pocket hanging in my cupboard) The flowers were still alive from earlier in the day when I had dropped home (hidden in the back of my cupboard)
A bottle of nice champagne was cold (wrapped in a generic bag in the fridge). So as I started to light some candles and turn on a few of my favourite romantic country songs. The enormity of it all started to dawn on me. Essentially everything after that point is a bit of a blur. I do recall lowering to a knee, I remember tears, and then I remember an amazing weekend away. An amazing country getaway Watley Manor to take stock and start to plan the next chapter.
The Wedding at Maleny Retreat on the Sunshine Coast
We selected this amazing place whilst still living overseas, having never seen it in person! Happily taking the plunge and commit from across the globe. As the location was clearly breathtaking with sweeping views of the Glasshouse Mountains and surrounding countryside. Maleny Retreat Weddings is also a blank canvas. With a big open green field that allowed us to create an event exactly the way we wanted it. In addition to all this we were able to BYO beverages and food which was a non negotiable for us! Not to mention there is capacity for up to 60 guests to stay on site. So no one had the excuse not to party!
Rick Brewer (celebrant) was recommended to us from another celebrant. We were able to do a Skype interview with him. We all clicked really well. Sara and I could not have been happier with the way Rick played a role in our wedding at Maleny Retreat. We highly recommend him to anyone that is looking for a professional, easy-going, friendly and very helpful celebrant!
We wanted a naturally beautiful setting with a classy and personal touch. Maleny Retreat weddings delivered. The key for us was to create an event where everyone felt relaxed and ready to have a good time!
Sara’s dress was from Pronovias – purchased in London and transported half way around the world by hand :/
Unique or funny moments at Their Wedding at Maleny Retreat
It started to rain lightly just as Rick commenced the ceremony. In the end no one had to leave and the show went on, to be honest it actually added a bit of ambience to the moment. –
Our MC delivered the house-keeping information with his wife (one of the bridesmaids) Pretending to be an air hostess, it was brilliant! – The dance floor was on fire from 8pm till the shutdown, and then some! – We had hay bales in various areas. A few in proximity to the party zone ended up spread all over the dance floor for the last few hours!
Any advice for future couples
Hire Adam as your photographer! –
Having a few extra hands from an experienced wedding planner there to help out and take the load off others is priceless. We did all the planning ourselves. On the day had some help from Wild Heart Weddings to help keep things on track, and THEY WERE AMAZING!!
Take the time on the night to stand back and take it all in! – Don’t stress over things you can’t control, having a good attitude means nothing actually goes wrong even when it doesn’t go to plan!!
The team from Raconteur Photography are outstanding. They will be there to capture every little moment you didn’t even realise happened, and Adam just fits in anywhere. We were thrilled with the photos and highly recommend them to everyone!!!
Venue: Maleny Retreat
Celebrant: Rick Brewer
Gown: Pronovias
Makeup: Ballerina Bride
Flowers: Heavenly Blooms
Caterer: 1. Sunny Platters 2. Gnocchi Brothers 3. Sendok Garpu (Indooroopilly)
Band/DJ: Reece Freeman
Hair: Evalyn Parsons
Event set up: 1. Hampton Event Hire 2.Perry’s Tents 3. Barrels of Fun
Event organiser: Wild Heart weddings
Sunshine Coast Wedding Photographer
