Mitchell and Darianne prove it’s all about the love when they navigated multiple wedding cancellations and the chaos of Covid to realise their dream wedding day.
QB: All good love stories start somewhere; tell us how and when you met.
We met both working at McDonald’s – he worked back area while I was the drive-through order girl!
QB: Tell us about your lives together.
We work hard, but we also like to play hard as well! We have built a home, started a business, navigated our long-distance love through FIFO-life, but we always have fun, go on plenty of holidays and enjoy every minute with each other.
QB: What does marriage mean to you?
We have been together for nearly ten years now and, like so many couples, have had our wedding cancelled twice in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. The fact that we even found a way to have our wedding in 2020 is a testament to our relationship – we don’t let anything beat us! What started to be a 100 person wedding over two days quickly flipped to a 50-guest local wedding. And we couldn’t have been happier with that – marriage to us was just the perfect next step to celebrate what we have achieved together and get excited about what is to come. We are hopeless romantics that always find ways to express our love, so having a day to celebrate it with those close to us was so exciting.
QB: Make us laugh, make us cry: who proposed to who, and how?
Mitchell proposed by flying my family and me out to Fiji for a beautiful holiday. We had the perfect finish to our trip when Mitchell got onto one knee surrounded by candles on a private beach with a local ukulele player! I burst out crying, yes!!
QB: How and why did you choose your venues?
With everything going crazy with all the uncertainty for weddings in 2020, our second shot at a wedding was eventually cancelled due to the venue being interstate (and border restrictions in place!). We stumbled onto what would become our actual venue when we popped in for a commiseration drink at Sirroment Wines, which has the most beautiful backdrop. We felt it was just perfect for the wedding we had dreamed of – plus, the staff were just second to none with their help. Knowing all the stress we had been through in our wedding plan throughout the year, they made it possible for our big day to still be done in 2020! It also helped that we love their wine!
QB: What was the inspiration behind your wedding style?
The romance of twilight! We always wanted a romantic garden feel, so we started the day start in the beautiful sunshine then ended our celebrations in the private Barrel Hall, decked out with over 400 candles and a custom made tree with chandeliers. Dancing in the fog with the twinkle of the lights was a dream come true.
QB: Did you incorporate any traditions or perhaps do something a little different?
Being British, we decided that hats and fascinators were a must for our guests, and they loved it! All the girls were excited about choosing their headware, and it was such an exciting surprise for them to see the exquisite bridal crown from Pearl Bridal.
QB: Were there any standout suppliers?
All of them were just amazing, but a stand out one was our beautiful florist and wedding stylist, Julie Vines, from Sirromet Wines. She made the impossible happen with only 12 weeks to plan the wedding and with limited access to flowers being in between Christmas and new year! Going through the dream plan of what we wanted, she went above and beyond. Words cannot explain how happy and amazed Mitchell and I were when walking down the candlelit stairs and into the reception hall and the whole new world Julie had created for us.
QB: Do you have any words of wisdom to offer other couples?
Take in every moment of your day, and try not to stress out because everything works out perfectly in the end. I once read a Bride’s advice, to sit back for 5 minutes in the reception and take in all of the love. We made the time to do this on our wedding day, and honestly, it was the best part of the night.
QB: Did you (or will you) enjoy a honeymoon? If so, how and why did you choose your destination?
This one was tricky to plan during Covid, but we managed to nip away to Port Douglas for four unforgettable nights. We went straight from the venue the next day to the airport. We stayed at the Sheraton and sat by the beautiful pool with cocktails, and it was just perfect to still be in our love bubble and wind down after all the craziness.
2020 for weddings was just something no one prepared for, and it was so hard for families, couples and vendors. The fact that Mitchell and I managed to still have our big day surrounded by the ones we love was a privilege we will never forget. Wedding planning can be hard and stressful at the best of times, but we kept the focus on it being beautiful and exciting as it was the start of a new chapter for us.
THE DREAM TEAM:
Photographer – Ivy Road Photographer // Ceremony Venue – The Arbor, Sirromet Wines // Reception Venue – Barrel Hall, Sirromet Wines // Dress – Pearl Bridal // Suits – Norfords // Bridesmaids – Hertz Designs ( custom designed and made) // Wedding Planner / Coordinator – Sirromet Wines // Wedding Stylist & florist – Julie Vines, Sirromet wines // Engagement & Wedding rings – THE Best Things New & Estate Jewellery, Nobby’s Beach // Cake – Zoe Clark Cakes // Stationery – Sirromet Wines // Videographer – Ambrosia Productions // Celebrant – Hitched by Fabs // Transport – Gold Coast Vintage Car Hire
