Lauren and Jordie
Tell us your love story. How did you meet?
We met out in Alpha (Central West QLD) where Jordie grew up and I had been living for around 2 years. I had been working on his road that week and we caught each other’s eye but were both too shy to say anything. That weekend we both just happened to be at different parties at the local Golf Club and I used some of that liquid courage to ask some of our mutual friends to introduce us. We ended up chatting for ages, it was just so easy to get along! When he called me the next week and we could still talk for hours (but sober this time!), we knew there was definitely something more.
The Proposal – him or her? Was it a surprise?
Jordie proposed, and it was such an amazing surprise. We were on a trip to the Gold Coast and decided to drive out to the hinterland to check out some of the lookouts. We arrived at the Best of All Lookout and it had been raining so all we could see were clouds, it was so beautiful. Jordie was so nervous, as it is usually really crowded up there but that day there was not a single person around so it definitely made it easier for him to go down on one knee and pop the question.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went on a road trip, driving down the coast stopping at Glasshouse Mountains, Byron Bay hinterland, Bluey’s Beach and Hunter Valley, then driving home the back way stopping at Tamworth and Stanthorpe. We didn’t want to be too ambitious, with COVID being so unpredictable, but it was a lovely trip complete with beautiful accommodation, winery tours, unforgettable experiences and a few catch ups with old friends and family along the way. We stayed in some absolutely gorgeous spots and found some places we would definitely like to return to.
Why did you choose Earlando? Was there something that made it stand out from the other venues for you?
The moment we saw Earlando, we knew it would be the perfect place for our wedding as it is such a beautiful mix of beach and bush. I grew up on the Gold Coast and Jordie is Alpha born and bred, so we knew both our families would have to travel and what better place than the Whitsunday’s for a destination wedding! Everyone had such a good time, and we believe part of it is because we were all on a relaxing holiday with family and friends, celebrating love in such a gorgeous location. Earlando has stunning scenery, so there was no shortage of places for photos. It is also private, so we could dance the night away without any worry of noise restrictions. Ben and Teena are just such lovely, helpful people who really represent the Whitsunday wedding industry so positively and it is a credit to their hard work that Earlando is such a perfect location.
Did you have a theme to your wedding/wedding styling? What inspired this?
We didn’t have a particular theme in mind when planning, but our colours were dusty rose, blush, white, gold and greenery. We wanted it to be elegant and relaxed, with lots of beautiful florals and fairy lights. Felicity from Azure and Sophie from Sofi & Flora perfectly captured our vision and created an absolutely stunning combination of everything we were looking for.
What was your favourite part of your wedding?
We can’t pick one favourite part because everything was just so perfect! Our ceremony with Annie was so easy, relaxed and fun which we are so grateful for. We also loved surprising our guests with fireworks in the evening, it was amazing seeing the looks on everyone’s faces and it created such a great atmosphere.
Tell us a funny story about your wedding day/wedding planning!
We had 3 little ones as our flower girls and page boy, accompanied by an older flower girl to help walk them all down the aisle. We were secretly hoping they would get up to some mischief to give everyone a little laugh and break the ice a bit, and we got what we wished for! One of our flower girls just couldn’t wait to get down the aisle to see her Uncle Jordie so she started running, got to the end and decided to run back to the others and give the littlest girl a big cuddle which ended up toppling her over. All I could hear was laughter, so I looked at Bree who told me we had a flower girl down. She got back up, and with the help of her page boy brother, they kept throwing petals all the way up the aisle. It was such an adorable, light hearted moment and we now have some good photos to show them when they are older!
Do you have any advice to future Earlando wedding couples?
Get yourself a Wedding Planner, they are worth their weight in gold if you have the right one. Bree from Plan My Wedding Whitsundays was an absolute gem for us, not only in the lead up but also on the day itself. The day wouldn’t have been the same without her help.
Trust your suppliers, they do this every day for a living and they want your wedding to be as amazing as you do. They know what works and what doesn’t in this particular area/weather etc. So, if you give them the freedom to do what they do best, you won’t be disappointed. But mainly, just enjoy the process and try not to stress about the little things.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We would just like to thank everyone who made our day so perfect. If we were to do it all over again, we wouldn’t change a single thing and that is a credit to our vendors, planner and venue.
WEDDING TEAM: Photographer: Photography by Jess Edwards // Videography: Th3rd Dimension // Stylist: Azure Weddings & Events // Entertainment: Master Entertainment // Caterer: Aquava Boutique Catering // Florist: Sofi & Flora // Celebrant: Annie Lloyd Lewis // Cake: Sweet Ideas