Candice and Alex

“Since the age of 4, I couldn’t wait to get married. Having loved everything wedding my whole life and being a Wedding Planner for 7 years I couldn’t wait for my very own BEST DAY EVER! Every breath of the day had been thoroughly thought through, every detail had meaning and connections, after all, I had been dreaming about this day for approx. 9490 nights.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to take the wedding planner hat off but I woke up and said “I have done all I can do, don’t look at the watch, shut off the phone it’s now time to be a bride!” It was the most amazing day, I have never felt more beautiful and never had so much fun in my life.

My love for weddings began watching ‘Ariel the little mermaid.’ I burnt out 3 VHS tapes playing the wedding scene over and over. I would dream of finding my own Prince Charming as I wrapped a sheet around me like a train and walked down the hallway, then when my kinder teacher was having her wedding I HAD to go! Seeing her wedding made me fall even more in love with the wedding world which would, in turn, lead me to become a wedding planner.”

“My gown was insane. My designer Xen wanted to capture the structured planner in me with the corset and unleash the crazy Candi with a wild train. I wasn’t afraid of colour and texture so he created an Ombre pink wedding gown – who says you have to stick with all white. When I told my mother in law that I was having hot pink tips through my hair to match my gown she didn’t believe me. Out the front of the church, she even said ‘well you warned me’!”

“I met Alex through my Dad, My dad had worked for Alex’s family company for 20 years – Dad had always wanted one of his 5 daughters to marry Alex – he thought he was such a great catch. After a few phone calls and numbers exchanging we finally went out. We discovered we were both big kids with big hearts who couldn’t wait to have a family one day. 18 months later we were engaged in New Zealand on a Ski trip.”

“I wanted to have flushes of pink throughout the day, my hair was dyed with magenta tips and even the flowers especially the carnations that had hot pink edges had been intertwined.”

The men wore suits by Formal Red.

“Adding elements of Old World Charm we had custom letterpressed invitations complete with a sketch of Alex and I as Batman and Fairy ( Alex loves dressing up for his nieces and nephews parties as do I and we are BIG Kids). For Alex’s wedding day present I bought him the Dark Knight costume, he had wanted one for so long. I half expected him to have the mask on as I walked down the aisle. I weaved the Character sketch throughout the day on our invitations, Ceremony booklets, Tea Towel Bomboniere menu and I even hand-painted wooden signs for the back of our chair.”

“Music can set the tone of the day as a homage to my childhood I organized my string quartet Paragon Strings to play a special composition of ‘Part of your world’. Hearing the tune sent me back to all those years ago as a little girl dreaming of this very moment. Continuing the Disney inspiration our ceremony booklets began like a fairytale with ‘Once upon a time’ and a little story on Alex and I.”

Something Old, Borrowed and Blue… Playing in my mum’s jewellery as most little girls do I especially loved her diamond bracelet (that was her grandmother) and her pearls. I always told her ‘I am going to wear this bracelet at my wedding’ and so I did. The Crystal vase that held the pearls I borrowed and placed on the cake table. My garter was a kitten D’amour garter (a designer in Brisbane of Vintage glam) I usually co-ordinate wearing a kitten dress (it’s a bit of a lucky charm) so I had to wear kitten on my day. Due to limited stock I almost missed out but thanks to the postman for leaving it at the door the day before the wedding.

“The moment I walked down the aisle was a dream come true. So many years I had stood behind the bride, fluffed her dress and sent her on her way and here I was (yes I cried!) It was the most incredible feeling, the world melted away and all I could see was Alex … I forgot to pick up my dad as arranged halfway down the aisle. Everyone burst into hysterics which made the moment even more precious. Another fit of laughter broke out when I couldn’t get the ring on Alex’s Finger his hands had swollen.”

“Family is really important to Alex and me we wanted to include a lot of our family in the day. Alex and I chose our godchildren 4-year-old Harvie and Ruby to be Flowergirl and Page boy and the cutest ones ever at that! We had both our older sisters say a reading. Our Mums light the family candles for the candle ceremony and all our nieces and nephews say the prayers of the faithful. We both have over the top families so wanted something different rather than the typical family pics so I organized a GIANT LOVE sign. Everyone would hang, sit, and be silly on the LOVE letters. It made for special moments shared and some great pictures. To top off the night Alex’s little brother caught the garter with an epic jump.” The bride and bridesmaids carried parasols from Parasols with Love 

“Wedding days bring such joy. In the Gardens at Eynesbury, there is this big tree with extended branches. On a visit, I envisioned lots of frames hanging from the tree. Over the 18 months of planning, I would beg, borrow and steal (from Facebook) all of our guest’s wedding pictures from their wedding day. It was great to share the memories and have a giggle at all the fashion!”

Tea towel menus and bonbonnieres were from Tea Towel Keepsakes 

“Every detail of the wedding day was a piece of the puzzle. From the whimsical flowers to the vows where I said ‘I promised to close my Mac and come to bed at what you call a reasonable hour’ (everyone in the wedding world can relate I’m sure) … A wedding is a moment in time that stays forever in our hearts, Alex and I wanted to create an unforgettable experience for everyone.”

“I love all things Vintage Glam; Pearls, Lace, Satin, Diamantes, fringing! I used 10km’s of pearls on the wedding including a drape section with hand-tied bows (that took 2 days to set up. ) Being a girly girl I love Pink and all things pretty.… it was funny when we got engaged and were talking about colours Alex said – I love Blue and Lily’s. I said great we are going to Pinks, Pearls and Roses. I’m lucky he loves me so much!”


“Being nicknamed Candi for most of my life I had to have a candy buffet. Early on in the planning, I came across coloured pastel striped wrapping paper that set the tone for the area. My Father in Law only eats Strawberry and Cream lollies so I made a jar just for him! My sister makes the most incredible amazing choc peppermint truffles  -they are to die for (her secret recipe) and so I asked her if she could make some for coffee and cake time. The best truffles you will ever have (wish you could taste them) she spent hours and hours the 2 days beforehand making 200 truffles.”

“Being a dancer since the age of 2 the second the ring went on the finger I spoke to my old dance teacher about creating a performance to welcome all our guests. I thought BE OUR GUEST hit the nail on the head. Michelle (Michelle Slater Performing Arts ) had all the Broadway-style costumes complete with Lumiere, Clogsworth, Giant Plate Can dancers and even Belle, her talented dancers entertained young and old. Everyone was bopping along with big beaming smiles. To carry the ‘Be our guest’ throughout the day we had it on our invitations, our menus and I made vintage tickets as the seating chart for that ‘Dinner and Show’ feel.”

“Most Brides and Groom shy away from having kids at a wedding but being 2 big kids ourselves we wanted them to enjoy the day too. We wanted the kids to be comfortable and the parents do not have to worry, so we created an enchanted Kids Corner complete with Giant white ottomans, oversized scatter cushions and Tree Stumps that Alex made. Add some Ivy walls, fairy lights and fake grass the kids had their oasis. They were free to lounge around eating pizza, sausage rolls, chicken nuggets and Chocolate fudge Ice cream sundaes with mini M&M’s! There were a few big kids that wanted to hang out in that section too! My crafty husband also made our table numbers and a Mr. & Mrs. sign for the bridal table.”

The whole day was so much fun from the ceremony where Alex and I couldn’t stop talking to each other (so excited like two little kids) to singing at the top of our lungs in the 22 seat Hummer as we cruised to our photo locations to sneaking out for sunset shots and no one could find us, to dancing the night away. I wish I could wake up every day and do it all over again!

The dancefloor was lit by Pro Light & Sound  and Candice and Alex danced to music played by the band Kasablanka 

“Some of my favourite highlights of the day (other than marrying the man of my dreams of course) was my Ombre pink wedding gown, The family photo tree with all of our guest’s wedding photos from their wedding day hanging in frames, the comfy kid’s corner with giant white cushions, the 10km’s of pearls used (I have a slight obsession with pearls) and a theatrical cast of dancers who performed ‘Be Our Guest’ from Beauty and the Beast.”

For more of Candice and Alex’s wedding watch this film shot by Preface Films 

swirl large

Ms Stripey says Gorgeous pinks and lots of ideas for oh, so feminine styling – congratulations on your wedding Candice and Alex!

Candice (of Mackenzi Weddings & Events)  says: Every wedding as every couple are very unique, in my job as a wedding planner, I will find those special elements which make You – You! and weave them throughout your wedding day …..I will match the very best suppliers specifically to you and create options you never thought imaginable…