1. HIRE AN ON THE DAY COORDINATOR I've watched countless brides host their weddings on private properties or DIY the styling thinking it will be easier, and instead of relaxing on their wedding morning they are asked where each mason jar should be put, what to do with the cake etc. etc. If your venue is well established, they will often guide you through much of your styling and provide assistance setting up on the day, but having a wedding coordinator offers a professional opinion, a fresh perspective and a point of contact for anyone's questions so you are left to relax. Many wedding planners will also offer full styling services which are sure to yield amazing results and relieve that planning stress, but if you're on a tight budget I would still suggest a coordinator who can work quietly behind the scenes on your wedding day while you and your guests enjoy. You will thank yourself later. 2. CREATE A SCHEDULE WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER Perhaps the most difficult part of wedding planning is setting a timeline so everything flows smoothly, and since you've likely never been married before it's certainly a daunting task - so take advantage of an expert. It is so important to set out your day with the help of your photographer as an experienced professional can guide you with how long each portion of the day will take, what you can achieve in that time and ultimately how to get the most out of your wedding. All of my wedding clients receive a hand-crafted welcome pack with a sample schedule, templates to return with their wedding information and countless tips from my years of experience as a wedding photographer to ensure you are prepared (and my inbox is always open, of course). 3. DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF I know how many hours go into wedding planning, which makes it easy to get caught up in minor discrepancies to your vision - but at the end of the day, if you get married to your love then your wedding was a success and you have a lifetime to look forward to together. Don't worry about the candles that blew out in the wind or the fact that your shoes got dirty straight away, and instead focus on all the beautiful people who came to celebrate your marriage with you! How often do you get to have all your nearest and dearest in one place?!

This post was originally written for the Central Queensland Weddings blog, if you're looking for wedding inspiration or advice tailored to our beautiful region please pop on over and have a look. If you’re a bride or groom and haven’t heard of the ‘unplugged’ concept, this means asking guests to turn off their cameras and mobile devices for a period of time at your wedding – be it just the ceremony or the whole celebration. In an age where our phones have become an extension of our fingertips, it can be hard to switch off and just enjoy the moment. Doing so encourages your guests to be truly present as you say ‘I do’ and embrace the emotion of your nuptials without the distraction of technology. This also allows your photographer to do their job uninterrupted, ensuring the most important moments of your day are captured without guests interfering or obstructing the professional images. So what’s the key to having an unplugged wedding without causing offense? Asking politely and clearly ahead of time so your guests are aware of your wishes, whatever they may be. This can be done by making a note of the request with your invitations, placing a sign at the venue entrance and arranging for your celebrant to make an announcement before the ceremony commences. Your guests will be understandably excited to see you get married and most likely just want a visual memento of the occasion, so it may be a nice compromise to allow photos at certain intervals throughout the day. In this case, have your celebrant or MC ask guests to wait while the photographer captures each formality first, then open an invitation for anyone else wanting to take photos once they have finished. Whether you opt for a completely unplugged wedding, only an unplugged ceremony or simply ask guests to refrain from posting on social media until the first professional images have been released, most guests will happily oblige. Ultimately, it is your special day and the decision is completely up to you!

This day was about as relaxing as weddings can get, helped mostly by the fact that Tegan & Des kept their ceremony, portraits and reception all in one place. With a picturesque coastal backdrop surrounding The Villa on the Beach, blue-grey tones with pops of pink were a perfect choice for their styling. I also had the pleasure of designing their letterpress invitation suite which melded beautifully with the theme of the day, so please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like custom stationery made to suit you special day. Preparation Venue: Oshen Apartments. Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Villa on the Beach. Hair & Makeup: Amelia's Salon. Ceremony Officiant: Married by Zac. Stationery: Madelyn Holmes Photographics. Cake: Cake Mania, Blackwater Qld.

Anyone who has gotten to know me will know I love a good adventure (a giveaway when you see me rock up to weddings, ready to go anywhere, in my little 4x4). So when Kate emailed to say they were getting married at Gabbinbar Homestead in Toowoomba and 'Would I like to come?' the answer was a resounding 'Yes!'. This venue blew me away, not only with the photographic opportunities throughout the grounds but the impeccable service from all the people working behind the scenes to bring their dream wedding together. With a guest list of approximately 50, this intimate wedding was truly a delight to capture. The ladies were pampered in the Bride's Retreat all morning, whilst the groomsmen arrived for photos in the Library before a beautiful ceremony held under The Pavilion. We then went off for photos around the grounds before returning to the Conservatory for an evening reception. Thank you Kate & Nathan for having me along to capture your special day, it was an honour to be part of such a beautiful celebration and I loved getting to know you both. Preparations and Venue: Gabbinbar Homestead. Celebrant: Married by Jake. Florals: Toowoomba Flower Market. Bride and Bridesmaid's Dresses: Gladstone Bridal Boutique. Ring Box: Amonie.

Peach and pink tones with a glimmer of gold gave a glamourous touch against the rustic backdrop of Henderson Park Farm Retreat for Kelly & Chris' wedding day. We were armed with umbrellas, watching storm clouds on the horizon as their ceremony commenced but didn't receive a single drop of rain in the end. Every aspect of this day was styled spectacularly, but my favourite details included the sweetheart bridal table and timber dance floor adorned with festoon lights outside (and let me tell you, it went off later that evening!). This wedding was also featured on Polka Dot Bride, please pop over and have a read of the interview by the bride for more about their story! Venue: Henderson Park Farm Retreat. Stylist: Lilly & Lotus. Signage: Hey-ya Creative Design. Florals: Jess Mauger Floral Design. Ceremony Officiant: Married by Zac. Hair & Makeup: Metro Vision Hair and Beauty. Bride's Dress: Brides In Style. Bride's Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co. Bride's Earrings & Groom's Ring: Michael Hill. Bride and Bridesmaid's Shoes: Forever New. Bridesmaid's Dresses: For Her and For Him. Groom and Groomsmen's Attire: Swarv Menswear. Groom's Cufflinks: Life Momentos. Cake: Nicky Svensen Cake Design. Catering: Dunlop Catering. Entertainment: DJ Richter. Videographer: Maddog Productions.

Some couples you meet just make you think 'yes, these two were made for eachother' and this was one of those relationships. Held at heritage listed St Aubins Village (circa 1870), Celeste & Mitch's wedding celebration had touches of luxury in all the right places. Cel's spontaneous purchase of a rose gold crown and earrings just two weeks out from the wedding was everyone's favourite detail of the day, and certainly made her look rival that of royalty. From tear-jerking vows and a champagne tower at the ceremony, to the delicate orchids and handmade favours adorning their alfresco style reception - there were so many moments from this day to love. This wedding was also featured on To the Aisle Australia, please pop over and have a read of the interview from Mr. & Mrs. Caught for more insight and planning advice. Preparations and Venue: St Aubins Village. Florals: Brides Floral Paradise. Hair: NG Hair. Makeup: Bloom Makeup Artistry. Bride’s Dress: Pasduchas. Bride’s Crown and Earrings: Stephanie Browne. Bridesmaid's Attire: Mossman & BCB Generation. Engagement Ring: Designed by the bride with opals from The Hilton, Cairns and set by Mystique Jewellers. Ring Box: Amonie. Groom and Groomsmen’s Attire: Mark Bunt Menswear. Groom’s Ring: Mystique Jewellers. Celebrant: Leanne Smith Civil Celebrant. Ceremony Setup: Handmade by Ella. Reception Setup: CQ Party Hire and National Hire Supplies. Cocktail Setup: Vintage Hire – Creating Beautiful Spaces. Favours: Tricia Greinke Pottery and DIY by the bride. Catering: Lickity Fingers Catering. Cake: Wendy Bell. Music: Cheap Talk. Signage: Big Colour Works. Videography: DejaVu Photo&Film.

I love seeing couples have a little fun with their wedding planning and use it to create a day that really represents them - safe to say Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell nailed it. Their intimate garden ceremony followed by a reception complete with taco bar, tailored cocktails and vibrant hanging floral installations were just a few elements that really made this wedding a celebration to remember. This wedding was also featured on The Wedding Playbook, please pop over and have a look for some words of wisdom from the bride and groom! Bride Preparations and Venue: St Aubins Village. Groom Preparations: Empire Rockhampton. Dress: Gladstone Bridal Boutique. Florals: Jess Mauger Floral Design. Hair: Grace & Co Hair Boutique. Makeup: Metro Vision Hair & Beauty. Ceremony Officiant: Danielle Hempseed - Civil Celebrant. Marquee: Ace Wedding & Party Hire. Hire: Vintage Hire - Creating Beautiful Spaces. On The Day Management: Lilly & Lotus Events. Videography: DejaVu Photo&Film. Catering: Lickity Fingers Catering. Bar: Baker Moller Moran tailored bar services. Stationery: Lava Stationery. Cake: A Piece of Cake. DJ: DJ Richter KSR Productions Rockhampton. Ring Box: Amonie.

After a relaxing morning of preparations along the Yeppoon beachfront, Kanangra Heights played host to this beautiful celebration for Natasha & Michael. From home-made honey favours to the colourful, vintage reception tablescapes no detail was missed by Natasha's graphic designer eye. To top it all off, these two surprised their guests by dancing their way into the reception and setting the tone for the rest of the evening! This wedding was also featured on Central Queensland Weddings, please pop over and have a read of the full article. Venue: Kanangra Heights. Florists: Simplicity Market Fresh Flowers (ceremony florals and bouquets), Lilly & Lotus (reception florals). Vintage Arbour: Indigo Bunting Events. Pop-up Bar: Lilly and Lotus. Reception Centrepieces: Lilly & Lotus. Stationery: Indigo Bunting Events. Celebrant: Noela Walls. Hair: Kayla Clarke. Makeup: SOOZ. Irresistible Beauty. Bride's Preparation Venue: Echelon Apartments. Bride’s dress: Brides In Style. Bridesmaids: Brides In Style. Groom's Preparation Venue: Oshen Apartments. Suits: Mark Bunt Menswear.

I'm an animal lover through & through, so you bet I was excited when Zoey told me she wanted to bring her Uncle's beautiful shire horse for photos on her wedding day. Of course, this meant Hayden got to bring his beloved Commodore for photos too and we captured some beautiful images surrounding Paradise Lagoons. No doubt the icing on the cake was having Zoey's mum provide all the floral work for their day as owner of Simplicity Market Fresh Flowers in Rockhampton. Venue: Paradise Lagoons. Florals: Simplicity Market Fresh Flowers. Bride's Dress: Grace Loves Lace. Makeup: Ammara Beauty & Cosmetics. Groom and Groomsmen's Attire: Swarv Menswear. Ceremony Officiant: Married by Zac. Ceremony Hire: Indigo Bunting Events. Bride's Preparation Venue: Denison Boutique Hotel. Groom's Preparation Venue: Private Property. Ring Box: Amonie.

The more weddings I photograph, the more I have come to appreciate the small touches and traditions couples tie in to really make the day their own. No doubt, Anna and Corey’s marriage was rich with such details. Anna wears her great grandmother’s ring as her engagement ring, gifted accessories and her preparation images feature her grandmother’s beautiful antique chair placed in the front garden of her childhood home. The pair were married in the same church as the bride’s parents years before (and we also recreated an image of her father putting on her veil from their wedding), which happened to be the groom’s school grounds as well. Classic styling mixed tastefully with a little pop of colour made Anna and Corey’s wedding a truly elegant affair and an absolute pleasure to capture; even a sprinkling of rain couldn’t dampen their day. This wedding was also featured on Central Queensland Wedding, please pop over and have a look for a behind the scenes perspective from the bride and groom! Florals: Simplicity Market Fresh Flowers. Hair Stylist: Downtown Diva. Makeup Artist: Jessica Bielenberg. Bride and Bridesmaid's Dresses: Gladstone Bridal Boutique. Suits: Swarv Menswear. Ceremony: St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Reception: The Shearing Shed, Rockhampton Heritage Village. Cake: Cake Crafters. Ring box: Amonie. Bride's Preparation Venue: Private Property. Groom's Preparation Venue: Private Property.

There's no denying that simple, elegant styling can really wow in the right circumstances. With The Villa on the Beach providing a beautiful all-in-one venue including a bridal suite, ceremony and reception facilities on the same property, Pagan & Ben's Capricorn Coast wedding proves just that. I loved her mermaid style gown, and though it made navigating our last photo location a little difficult (sorry Pagan!) she agreed it was totally worth it afterwards.

If you ever need styling inspiration for a photoshoot, this is your girl. As the lady in a family of boys, Cat proves that men's clothes don't need to be boring and mixed bright colours look amazing in the right setting. We made this session a combination of family portraits as well as celebratory photos for Cat & Chris' ten year wedding anniversary (I know, could've fooled me too!). With balloons, books, donuts, custom calligraphy, more balloons and a holi powder fight there was a whole lot of fun to be had.