We don’t know about you, but we’re only 18 days into The Coastal Issue and we’re already pretty much packed for our new life by the sea thanks to all the dreamy seaside inspiration. For Carly and Tom, the beautiful as aside spot of Mooloolaba set the scene for their romantic coastal wedding.

Photographer Lee of Life and Love Photography capturing the most stunning love-filled shots as the pair made the most of the waterside spot in a cocktail style wedding that was very much their own, and maybe that of their favourite four-legged friend Nala, who pretty much commanded the attention in every single shot.

After meeting through mutual friends on a camping trip, Tom surprised Carly with a proposal on a lookout atop another beachside paradise – Hamilton Island! “We were away on a little trip at Hamilton Island. A few days in we decided to take a hike up to one of the beautiful lookouts on the island.
After a few wrong turns later, we made it to a stunning location. We took some photos & a short time after I turn around to find Tom kneeling on one knee & asked me to MARRY him! It was the most magical moment & I still get emotional talking about it now.”

Tom and his groomsmen kept their look light for the coastal vibe of the day with cream suits from Politix. “Tom wanted a relaxed look, no ties and chino pants & a bone coloured jacket” explains Carly. “He matched in with a brown RM Williams boots, flamingo socks & brown leather belt that matched perfectly. The groomsmen wore the same without a jacket.”

Carly was lucky enough to receive a very special gift on the morning of the wedding. “On the wedding morning just as we were finishing up getting ready, my Mum handed me a gift. It was a stunning gold chain with a pearl attached. It matched perfectly with the earrings I had chosen. Tears were instantly streaming for this special moment, seconds after Mum then handed me a vintage gold Citrine ring to wear that belonged to my Grandma who had sadly passed away. This meant so much to me as she couldn’t be there to share & celebrate our day with us. I will cherish these moments forever. They were truly emotional & beautiful.”

Carly found her dream gown at Ferrari Formal. “After trying on many different style dresses, I eventually narrowed it down to two very similar dresses. My dress was a beautiful ivory white thick crepe, timeless & elegant which is exactly what I was after. Backless, with a really long train with small buttons running down the back.”

“Having my 3 closest friends as bridesmaids were truly special,” notes Carly. “We had such a nice morning together getting ready and sharing all of our best memories over the years.”

Carly and Tom chose Pier 33 for their big day. “Pier 33 is a stunning coastal location on the Mooloolaba waterfront. It is Hamptons luxe styled venue with a relaxed coastal vibe,” says Carly.

The couple’s dog Nala almost stole the show says Carly. “One of the biggest details would be our fur baby Nala. We simply had to have her with us on our special day & it was even more beautiful than we thought. Our photographer took some incredible photos which we will have forever.

Carly and her dad walked down the aisle to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Kina Grannis. “Such a special moment” remembers the bride.

“Our ceremony was exactly how we envisioned” tells Carly of the ceremony, which was officiated by Brooke Carlyon Ceremonies. “We still have family and friends talk about how amazing Brooke was! It was relaxed, unplugged, personalized, & emotional with a lot of happy tears. Tom walked our fur baby Nala down the aisle with him so that was super cool to have her with us on our day. She is part of the family after all.”

Carly’s favourite moment? “Apart from marrying my favourite person, it would have to be having all of our amazing friends & family in the room together & watching everyone have the best time. The dance floor was packed all night, it was just the best. Smiles, laughing & dancing.”

Today’s beautiful photography is by Lee of Life & Love Photography; her biggest fans might just be Carly and Tom! “Lee was full of energy and made us feel super comfortable on the day” notes Carly. “Her style of work is very candid which is what we wanted.

We are so extremely happy with our photos and the work Lee put in. We didn’t have to suggest to Lee what we wanted, she is just so talented she captured the day perfectly. We made sure Lee was one of the first vendors to book, as we didn’t want to miss out on her photography talent. She even hand-delivered our photos to us at home in the most beautiful packaging well before our one month anniversary. 10/10!”

Oh, Honey Florals styled floral arrangements in tones of blush and cream. “I am still obsessing over my florals” raves Carly. “My florist did a fantastic job of everything. She brought my vision to life.
We decided on neutral colour tones – dusty pinks & fresh whites with pops of greenery. My bridesmaids wore an emerald green dress so this worked nicely together.”

Says Carly “Have fun, don’t take life too seriously. Laugh with each other every day & communicate!”

Guests took home potted plants as wedding favours. “My Mum grew & potted Ivy plants shaped as Love hearts to give to our guests as a thank you/bonbonniere” explains Carly. “This was pretty special & meaningful as she put a lot of effort into it.”

There was plenty of music throughout the celebrations, thanks to John Veloso. “He is incredible & so talented. He kept the vibe pumping all night.”

Carly and Tom took to the dance floor to “You & Me” by Lifehouse. “Our first dance was beautiful, slow, a simple sway & kisses. Our entertainer for the night played & sung it for us. IT was perfect.”

Carly and Tom also chose also Forever Features to capture this incredible film of their wedding.

A big congratulations to the newlyweds! How honoured we are that you chose to share your wedding and its stories with us. Thank you both and thank you to the lovely Lee of Life and Love Photography for sharing today’s beautiful images!