Pia & Travis' Breathtaking Urban Brisbane Wedding

Pia & Travis

What is it about Brisbane? Maybe it’s the mix of urban and riverside locations, or its relaxed yet lively vibe. Whatever it is, it sets the scene for some breathtaking weddings, such as Pia and Travis’. This pair enjoyed an emotional first look in Fortitude Valley’s laneways, then tied the knot in a beautifully styled ceremony by Brisbane Wedding Decorators on the banks of Brisbane River. Capturing the day was The Fox and the Bear Photography and Blue Vale Films. Below, Pia tells her and Travis’ love story, from meeting as teenagers then reconnecting years later, to their proposal, a baby, and how their wedding day came to life.

Originally teenage lovers, life separated us and took our lives in different paths. However, 17 years later and an innocent swipe right on Tinder to say a friendly hello, we ended up being exactly what we had both been looking for. It is safe to say we are happier than ever with our little crew of three, with Travis’ son, Harvey (now six).

Travis proposed to me on a weekend away on the Gold Coast. I had planned and organised the getaway so Travis felt this would make the perfect opportunity. He had already had the ring made with the help of my mum and ordered personalised number plates with what would be my new initials.

In a comedy of errors and my persistent ‘need to know everything’ attitude, Travis almost had to pop the question in the carpark of his job site! But he managed to throw me off the scent (just) long enough to get me inside to find my ‘welcome’ gift and for him to get down on one knee overlooking the broad water to ask me to be his wife.

What made this proposal weekend so much more special was that we found out that morning that we were expecting our now 16 month old son, George.

I wore the stunning ‘Sasha’ Gown by Made with Love from White Lily Couture. I absolutely loved my dress. It was luxurious yet boho with gorgeous heavy crocheted lace over a tan underlay. If I am honest, I didn’t like it at first, but my lovely stylist Francesca told me to trust her and I am glad I did. When I put it on, I knew it was my perfect dress. It hugged in all the right places and truly made me feel elegant, which was important as I had just had George and I would be nine months post-partum when I finally walked down the aisle. My favourite part of the dress was the train (just wow!) and the ‘wings/ cape’ I wore instead of the traditional veil.

I cannot say enough to describe just how amazing Daisy & Co. floral arrangements are, as well as the service Amy provided us. From the very first meeting over coffee, I knew Amy was the perfect florist. Her passion for flowers and love for creating beautiful pieces was evident; she listened, took notes and offered suggestions respectfully.

She was flexible and went above and beyond to make my day as stress free as possible especially in the months, weeks and days leading up to it. For any bride, seeing your florals come to life on the day can be nerve-racking.

However, the moment I saw my flowers was the moment I realised I was getting married and that I had the most beautiful and breathtaking bouquets. In fact, I was speechless, and I cried. I didn’t know what to say to thank Amy enough. So many people commented throughout the day, saying just how amazing they were as well as the arbour piece and my reception florals. Amy, what an incredibly caring, thoughtful and naturally talented florist.

One big thing we both knew we wanted to do was a ‘first look’. We knew that we were both emotional people and needed this time to take a breath together and enjoy ‘our moment’ before we saw one another and our friends at the end of the aisle. So our photographer and videographer organised for Travis to wait in an urban spray-painted alleyway in the heart of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

It was an insanely overwhelming personal moment that we got to share just the two of us and to say we shred a tear, would be a complete understatement. It would have the best one of the best moments of the entire day.

Our wedding photographer, Keira of The Fox and the Bear is a SUPERSTAR!!!! She is a talented, creative and an experienced photographer but it’s not just her skills that make her photos so great; it’s her warmth, fun and relaxing demeanour that created the perfect environment for our perfect day.

It’s like Keira instinctively knows the type of photos you want and she gets exactly that from you. What sets Keira apart from so many others is the care she takes and took in meeting and understanding us as a couple and how sensitive and adaptable she was in answering all of our questions (big or small) leading up to our day.

In fact, Keira made the whole process a breeze. She also worked so well with our outstanding videographer Ed from Blue Vale Films and our other suppliers to capture the day.

We got married on the riverside lawn at Kangaroo Point’s Lower Terrace on the Brisbane River, with the city’s skyscrapers in the background. We wanted an effortless yet classy ceremony and that was exactly what Cara and her amazing team from Brisbane Wedding Decorators created; the perfect atmosphere, one that was intimate and personal.

We chose the Luxe White Circular Arbour with white seating along with a gorgeous drink station after the ceremony for our friends to enjoy while taking in the perfect November sunset. Huge thank you to our good friend and celebrant Natalie for allowing us to write the words of our ceremony; another personal touch which we felt made our ceremony unique to us.

Our reception was held at our friend Beau’s restaurant in Coorparoo. Factory 51. It’s a rustic industrial warehouse that oozes class and ambience.

Guests shared the ‘family feast’ style banquet; all of our guests commented on how delectable the food was as well as the wonderful service provided throughout the night. Honestly if you’re looking for a venue passionate about doing weddings well, Beau’s Factory 51 are the team.

My advice for couples planning a wedding? Take the time to pick amazing suppliers! Pick ones you connect with, trust and believe in because on the day, it is those people who make your dream your reality.

If there is even a glimpse of interest in wanting to do a first look, DO IT! It was one of the best things about our day and it was something only we shared as a couple on our special day.