Kick off your shoes and grab your boots, because Mieka and Paul? They celebrated their wedding in beautiful coastal country style, and today? We get to join them.

“We wanted a very country vibe. We wanted the whole day to be chilled, easy-going and just flow along which it did” explains this very happy couple, who enlisted the talented Vicki Miller Photography to capture every beautiful detail of their day. They wed, and celebrated at their very favourite spot – Alva Beach, just near Ayr in North Queensland. Making the most of the stunning setting, they wed with the beach as their backdrop, before they celebrated under the open sky at the local surf club.

The pair met in 2012, through a mutual love of motorsport! They tell their story. “We both raced dirt track, Paul raced quads and Mieka raced two wheels. We talked on and off and then Paul had a motorbike accident at the track leaving him a quadriplegic and in a wheelchair in May 2013. After Paul’s accident we kept in contact on and off and in September 2014 started to hang out and hit it off. We start dating December 1st 2014.”

A few years later, Paul popped the big question, aptly, also on Alva Beach. “On December 13th, 2019, we were having a chilled day at home and doing a few chores. We decided to go for a drive down to Alva beach and have a beer on the beach to watch the sunset.

As we started driving onto the beach we started to get stuck in the sand. After a few attempts, we drove down the beach and made it to the end of the beach just in time before the sun went down. I (Mieka) grabbed a beer for Paul and a drink for myself and he asked me to grab a cooler out of the glove box. In the glove box, I found the ring box and Paul asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes and cried and we watched the sunset on the beach.”

Mieka found her floor-length Morilee gown at Bridal Palace. She paired her look with brown boots – country style!

The beautiful flower arrangements on the day were the work of Oh Poppi.  “We had arrangements of natives with some seasonal flowers as well”.

Connor dressed the groom, Paul choosing a blue shirt and beige chinos, paired with brown boots.

The couple, who have a hut at secluded Alva Beach, chose a spot right near their hut, overlooking the beach, for their ceremony. The couple saying their vows under a wooden arbour made of driftwood found on the beach.

Mieka walked down the aisle with her dad to the couple’s favourite song “It All Started With A Beer” by Frankie Ballard.

The couple was married to Aimee Cursio. Mieka noting “We had a very chilled ceremony a few laughs. We had a poem read out by a family friend by an unknown author:
“Love isn’t always perfect. it isn’t a fairy-tale or a storybook and it doesn’t always come easy. love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together. holding on and never letting go.
it’s a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define and impossible to live without.
love is work but most of all, love is realising that every hour, every minute and every second was worth it because you did it together”

Mieka has this solid advice if you are yet to walk down the aisle. “Don’t stress; everything will fall into place. And if anything does go wrong the only ones that will know are you and maybe your wedding party.
Before you leave to marry the person of your dream just remember to do one thing – walk away and be by yourself and have a look at yourself in a full-length mirror and take it all in – just have a quiet moment to yourself and enjoy it. Enjoy the day, don’t rush anything as the day goes so fast.”

Mieka’s favourite photos of the day? “There are so many it’s hard to choose. Paul’s would be when we went to a cattle property not far from the beach and the groomsmen wheeling Paul around all with a drink in their hand. And Mieka’s would be we were getting photos on a jetty at friend’s back yard he made, and as I was walking down the stairs to get there I fell over and my flowers went flying. Or the group photo we had on the jetty.”

These two were over the moon with their choice of photographer, Mieka noting  “What more can I say, Vicki is the most down to earth, casual person. So easy to talk to and you just have the biggest fun you don’t even realise that she taking photos. Vicki isn’t just your photographer she becomes a friend that you feel like you have known for a lifetime.”

“We loved getting to celebrate our big day with so many of our family and closest friends. and including our dog Koda. The overall day was perfect and was exactly what we wanted.”

The celebration continued on the lawns of Alva Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Says the bride “Alva Beach is one of our favourite places to go so we had to have our wedding there.”

These two credit much of the success of their day to their dream team. “All our vendors were amazing and went above and beyond. Townsville Weddings and Events come down to set up our lights and tables and chairs for both ceremony and reception, Oh Poppi with the most amazing flowers and decorating. Howie’s Catering with help with all the little stuff (I was still messaging them organising things the morning of the wedding before I got out of bed).

Wildflower Bake House who delivered not just an amazing cake with also the task of 100 cookies as extra favours. And of course Vicki Miller Photography whose help made the day go smoothly and made you feel like she wasn’t just a photographer but a friend to help you enjoy your day with.”

Mieka collected rocks from the Burdekin river and wrote each guest’s name to act as their place card.

Congratulations to you both Mieka and Paul! Thank you for sharing your beautiful wedding day with us. Thank you also goes to Vicki Miller Photography for sharing today’s celebration with us.