Wedding date: 1 February 2019 // Number of guests: 100
After enjoying an intimate registry office ceremony with just close family, Laura and Michael were joined by friends to party on at one of Brisbane’s best golf clubs. With a mutual love of good food and top-notch wine, the couple treated their guests to a night of indulgence and good fun.
QB: All good love stories start somewhere; tell us how and when you met …
L&M: In 2011, our best friends (who are married) set us up by inviting us out to a “group thing” at Archive Bar in West End, only to find it was just the four of us. Luckily, Michael pulled the smooth move of showing me how to play pool. The rest is history.
QB: Tell us about your lives together …
L&M: Michael and I enjoy food, wine and travel, and we have a lot of fun together. We are absolutely the most immature of all our friends (and the last to get hitched!)
QB: What does marriage mean to you?
L&M: Marriage means celebrating unconditional love. We were so proud to declare our love for each other officially and to share our day with everyone who has supported us and rooted for us over the last decade.
QB: Make us laugh, make us cry: who proposed to who, and how?
L&M: Michael popped the question in our living room while the cricket was on in December 2017 (he must have been excited about an ‘over’). We were due to leave for New York shortly after, and he didn’t want the pressure of proposing in the most romantic city in the world (and with me wondering when he was going to do it!)
QB: How and why did you choose your venues?
L&M: Golf is deeply embedded in my family history; my grandfather was a great golfer, and my father is President of the Royal Queensland Golf Club. It’s a beautiful venue (considered the best golf club in the state) with a prestigious history. We were able to bring in our wine and create a ‘wine buffet’ which was essential to us (we also have a vineyard in our family located in Stanthorpe), and the venue set the scene for some fabulous photos on the green and in the golf buggies!
QB: What was the inspiration behind your wedding style?
L&M: Wine! The flowers and my bride squad’s outfit colour palette were burgundy, reds and pinks, inspired by my favourite beverage. We wanted relaxed elegance with a focus on delicious food and wine, and this was executed perfectly.
QB: Did you incorporate any traditions or perhaps do something a little different?
L&M: We had an intimate ceremony at the Brisbane Registry Office with just family and our wedding party and then met the rest of our friends at the Golf Club a few hours later for the big celebration. My bride tribe was made up of my beautiful besties, but they didn’t perform any traditional bridal party duties (other than keep me topped up with Bollinger).
QB: Were there any standout suppliers?
L&M: The golf club! They made our beautiful, huge cake and the guests still rave about the buffet dinner. The service was impeccable and their attention to detail second to none. I didn’t have to stress about a thing on the day.
QB: Do you have any words of wisdom to offer other couples?
L&M: Everyone you know will have an opinion of what you should do for your big day! Remember not to let others opinions cloud your own decisions.
QB: Did you (or will you) enjoy a honeymoon? If so, how and why did you choose your destination?
L&M: We indulged in a week at Elements at Byron Bay followed by a week in Queenstown at the Hotel St Mortiz, visiting lots of wineries (of course).
QB: Please share any other details …
L&M: Our wedding was everything we wanted – it was fun, elegant and relaxed. Our guests drank a lot of good wine and thoroughly enjoyed the food! We didn’t have the first dance as its not our thing, but my normally reserved new husband brought the house down with an emotionally-charged speech (even the men in the room were a bit teary) followed by a standing ovation by our guests. It was a moment I will never forget.
LITTLE BLACK BOOK
Photography: Cindy Lee from Studio 4 Media // Ceremony Venue: Brisbane Registry Office // Reception Venue: Royal Queensland Golf Club // Dress: White Runway // Suit: MJ Bale // Bridesmaid dresses A mixture of Camilla and Marc, Zimmerman, Forever New // Wedding Stylist: Cassie Visser at Main Event Weddings // Rings: Diamonds International // Florals: Main Event Weddings // Cake: Home-made by the golf club chef // Makeup: Megan Dent // Hair: Frost and Co
