Craig and Carita

Our marriage took place in beautiful Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Australia. With an intimate guest list of 11, both the ceremony and reception were held on the deck and jetty of a private property overlooking the pristine Noosa river. Set in a coastal location (Noosa is renowned for its beaches, natural beauty and surf culture) a nautical theme seemed the natural choice.

After much deliberating (I’m sure other brides can relate to this) I settled on a red theme, coupled with navy and twine to complete the look. Seeing all these choices come together was very satisfying and I’m grateful we have good photographs to revisit all the details.

We chose gorgeous eco friendly confetti (rice paper) from All Things Confetti that floats when it’s thrown making for great aisle photos. This product has the added bonus of being biodegradable (you can throw it without the guilt)!

I just love flowers and arranging my own was a treat! Being a graphic designer also helped in the stationery department. For a crafty girl planning a wedding is like being a kid in a candy store, but, it requires restraint and thought. There is something nice about the sentiment attached to a personally arranged bouquet, or hand sewn ribbons for bonbonnieres, they’re made with love. Our small guest list meant I could execute these touches in a manageable fashion and at less expense.

A trip to Spotlight and a lick of paint and viola, red hearts on sticks. I trawled many online stores for hours looking for red accessories and ended up with a combination of online and local purchases.

The jetty was the perfect setting for the ceremony. We wrote personal vows and chose to keep them secret. Following the ceremony we braved main beach with its crowds for some quirky shots.

Think outside the box. Not everything needs to come from a bridal store and accessories can be found in the most unlikely of places. Headpiece from The Fairy Factory (beading removed and adult band length requested). My dress was by Henri Josef and I added the sleeves.

Groom courtesy of God.

If you want to wear flats, wear them. Especially handy if you plan on trekking through the forest for those all important scenic shots.

We steal a moment between poses. Parasol from Lincraft.

One word for those flowers…..delicious!

The day before the wedding Craig and I drove around Noosa to find shoot locations and came across a lifesaving lookout painted canary yellow. This process was extremely helpful as we had a clear idea of where we’d be heading in the limited time we had for photos. I had learned from other people that you can’t expect your photographer to be a mind reader and get all the shots you want. After all, they’re not psychic and they will be flat out achieving the technical details to remember everything you’ve mentioned in your previous consultations. Because you are the one with the ultimate vision, it’s you that can remind them what you’re after. If you have specific ideas in mind, collect photos and don’t be scared to ask the photographer to follow your direction.

After our non stop photo shoot we arrived at our reception. I admit, at this point I quickly lost the shoes and had to grab a drink to cure the exhaustion. The evening was great, the food exceptional and the company a treat. The night ended with dancing on the deck to the yesteryear sounds of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and a repeated appearance of Chubby Checker’s iconic “Let’s Twist Again” to ensure smiles on toddler’s faces throughout the evening.

My advice to brides would be to have the day that you want, not what the status quo approves. The day has to feel right for you as a couple. For us this meant possibly offending all friends and relatives outside our immediate family (as it was only immediate family attending)! It’s all too easy to let remarks or disinterest throw you off; people will have their opinions, some valid and some… not so much. You can’t expect others to be as enthusiastic or interested in your day as you are and you will most definitely become slightly obsessed with the details in the months leading up to your day. It’s a chance to express yourself, so have fun with it!

Photography by Tayo Cafarella – Bride’s brother

Ms Gingham says: This is such a beautiful wedding! I absolutely love the red and navy colour scheme. It’s balanced so beautifully… you can definitely tell Carita is a designer!

Carita says: “I am a graphic designer and have been with my partner for 7 years. Tied the knot on the 12th of Jan this year. Interest and obsessed with all things crafted and creative, have two small lap dogs and reside in Townsville, North Queensland. My favourite thing to do in the world is have a creative project occupying my hands with my best friend and now husband at my side. If you like a particular item and consider it a must have for your wedding feel free to drop me a line at [email protected]. I’d be more than happy to point you in the right direction.”