After falling in love with the island on one of their school holidays, Jeremy and Laura knew they wanted to be married on Fitzroy Island the moment they got engaged. While several guests were originally skeptical about travelling for a wedding, they were delighted by the enchanting ocean sunset (and delicious buffet!) in the Welcome Bay Room at the couple’s reception. “Fitzroy Island is breathtaking,” says Laura. “Many of our guests thanked us for showing them this very special location.”
Also breathtaking? The couple and the wedding itself! The beautiful sun-soaked ceremony took place in a clearing surrounded by water, palm trees, and loved ones. After spending the previous night apart and seeing each other for the first time at the other end of the aisle, Laura says, “Exchanging our vows was our most memorable moment. There were many tears, smiles and hugs. We soaked up every moment.”
After a beach wedding shoot featuring Laura’s stunning Gladstone Bridal dress – accented gorgeously by blue skies and rosy bridesmaids gowns – the newlyweds then headed to their reception to continue the celebration… with a few mishaps: “The funniest moment of our day was probably a mix between me falling over in my wedding dress, flat on my backside, and watching people’s reaction to our bridal party entry song, which was Blink 182’s ‘Josie,’” says Laura. Her father, playing DJ during the entry, even stopped the music, worried he was playing the wrong song!
One thing the couple truly appreciated about the location of their wedding was the holiday feel. They greeted their guests at the ferry and enjoyed time with their loved ones the evening before their wedding. Laura and Jeremy were then able to spend their wedding day focusing on each other instead of running around trying to thank their guests for attending. “Having our destination wedding meant we had more time with our guests,” says Laura, who loved having lots of special moments with her extended family.
When asked for advice for other brides considering destination weddings, Laura says to find vendors who are invested in making your day special, and to find a wedding planner who is honest about what you can do and gives suggestions from their experience (like her all-star wedding planner, Harriet Burke!). She also emphasised timing. “We skipped save the dates and an engagement party and gave our guests over 11 months to plan and organise their trip,” says Laura. It’s not only the bride and groom making extensive plans, so this is a great tip to ensure your guests can attend!
Not entirely sure where they’re honeymooning yet, our newlyweds are planning on Bali or Thailand to sip cocktails and relax on the beach!
The Details:
Ceremony and reception: Welcome Bay Room, Fitzroy Island Resort // Photography: Rian Cope // Dress: Gladstone Bridal // Wedding Coordinator: Harriet Burke
