After a romantic proposal in Rome followed by a luxe beach wedding, the bar was set high for celebrants Cara and Jamie of Brisbane City Celebrants to mark 10 years of wedded bliss. Challenge happily accepted, the loved-up pair planned this beautiful destination vow renewal – attended by a private party of two.
“It truly was a dream location,” says Cara of the Maldives, where they chose to reaffirm their vows. The intimate celebration took a year of planning, with Cara and Jamie getting to know their vendors via Instagram.
On 21 February 2018, 10 years to the day they first said ‘I do’, the couple set sail. “We sailed to an overwater pavilion in a traditional dhoni boat, giggly with excitement,” explains Cara. Serenaded by a local island band, they made their way down a glass-floored aisle as turquoise water softly lapped below.
Even at this epic moment, there were no pre-ceremony nerves. “Admittedly, our celebrant hats went on for a moment as we both ensured we were perfectly centred!” laughs Cara. “Our ceremony wasn’t so much about renewing our original vows, it was more about celebrating our relationship and our marriage, recognising the challenges we’ve faced together over the past decade and celebrating the triumphs. We laughed, we fist-pumped and we didn’t stop smiling.”
While they kept their ceremony private, Cara and Jamie couldn’t resist a shout-out to their friend Abi (who played match-maker 15 years ago) via a custom sign. And even a second ‘we do’ calls for a heart-stopping dress. Cara’s sparkling champagne-coloured gown was an eleventh-hour indulgence. “I had a last-minute change of mind about my dress after seeing Jamie’s outfit,” she admits. “I needed something a little more special!”
The finale was equally idyllic with the couple transferring to a deck in the lagoon for a feast. “It felt so romantic and private and it was amazing to watch the sun set in its dramatic Maldivian style,” recalls Cara. “We knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we savoured every moment.”
LITTLE BLACK BOOK:
Photography: Digital Studio Maldives // Ceremony & reception location: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru // Ceremony design & wording: Brisbane City Celebrants // Wooden signs: Brisbane Wedding Decorators // Bride’s dress: When Freddie Met Lilly // Bride’s shoes: Christian Louboutin // Groom’s jacket: Urbbana // Second honeymoon location: Finolhu Baa Atoll, Maldives
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