Ash and Hayden’s heartfelt wedding in Mackay, Queensland, was a beautiful celebration filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments. Set against the stunning coastal backdrop of North Queensland, their special day was a perfect blend of heartfelt vows, elegant styling, and genuine joy shared with family and friends. From the intimate ceremony at the Mackay Golf Club to the lively reception, every detail reflected their deep connection and love story, making it a day to remember.

On Polka Dot You today, we have the lovely, Ash sharing all the special details from their gorgeous wedding day. 

It’s been a long time in the making. 11 years ago, Hayden sent me a snapchat out of the blue in June 2013. At first, Hayden you were a little hesitant, and it took some convincing for Hayden to finally come meet me in person. But once we met, everything fell into place. That first hug was electric, and in that moment, we both just “knew”- the spark between us was undeniable. While some spend years searching for “the one,” we were lucky enough to take that leap of faith and find each other.

On your anniversary last year, Hayden pulled off the perfect surprise. Hayden had arranged a special picnic at Eimeo Beach to celebrate the big 10 year anniversary. When I arrived, I found Hayden and Nelly (our fur baby) standing in front of the beach, waiting for me, completely unaware of all the effort Hayden had put into the day. He led me down to the beach, where “Will you marry me?” was written in the sand. After I picked up the roses, I turned around to find him on one knee, and of course I said YES!! It was a little late once I realised Hayden had arranged for a photographer to capture the moment and the ugly crying was in full effect!

After spending most of the day at the beach, swapping stories and soaking up each other’s company, we decided that it was time to call it a day. But lo and behold, as we were about to leave, Hayden suddenly froze, realising he’d accidentally chucked the car keys into the bin! So much for a smooth exit. Yep, it was an eventful day alright – a perfect blend of romance, laughter, and a dash of dumpster diving. However, no dumpster diving was needed, as we quickly realised that the bins had been emptied almost immediately after Hayden cleaned up the picnic rubbish.

Our bridal party was made up of lifelong friends, each of them holding a special place in our hearts. The girls wore beautiful blue fitted dresses from Billy J, while the guys complemented them perfectly, with Hayden matching in a light grey suit. It all came together so seamlessly, reflecting the love and connection we share with each of them.

Hayden’s suit was a light grey, which complemented the girls’ blue bridesmaid dresses perfectly, creating a beautiful balance between their styles.

Our wedding was such an emotional, celebration of love and commitment to one another.

I absolutely loved our day, and honestly, I don’t think I could pick just one favourite detail. One thing that stood out was keeping a special secret from my husband – I had cufflinks made with fur from our dog, Brandy, who passed away in 2023. She was his little sidekick, and seeing how much it meant to him brought him to tears. He was so emotional when he opened it. Having a piece of her with us on our big day was such a sentimental touch and made the moment even more meaningful.

I knew exactly what I wanted when it came to finding my dress. I tried on a few different styles just for fun, and my bridesmaids and mother-in-law each picked one for me to try as well. But in the end, I went straight back to the dress I had been eyeing for months.

It was elegant, simple, and incredibly long, making me feel like an absolute princess. I truly felt beautiful in it, and it was everything I had imagined.

Our wedding had an elegant, modern atmosphere, and you could truly feel the love in the room. Surrounded by all our favourite people, the energy was filled with genuine happiness, and the love between Hayden and me was undeniable. It was such a special feeling, knowing that everyone there was sharing in our joy.

The bouquets featured all white roses, and throughout the wedding and reception, we used a beautiful combination of white flowers and blue hydrangeas to subtly hint at the blue theme.

We chose a golf course for our venue, with its lush green backdrop that complemented our wedding theme perfectly. The natural beauty of the setting added a stunning touch to our special day.

We really wanted our wedding to feel authentic, a true reflection of our love. We made sure to include our 4 legged bestie, Nelly, as our ring bearer, and her little personality brought so much joy and light to our day. She barked at the perfect moment when we were announced husband and wife, almost as if it was her little blessing. It couldn’t have been timed more perfectly if we’d tried!

We did everything we could to make every detail embody who we are as a couple.

My dad had the honour of walking me down the aisle to “Truly Madly Deeply” by Sidney. It was such a special moment, and the song felt like the perfect soundtrack to such a meaningful walk. Having my dad by my side, supporting me as I took that big step toward Hayden, made the moment even more emotional and unforgettable.

The music, the feeling of his hand on my arm, and the look in his eyes made it more beautiful. It was a moment I will cherish forever.

Nearly everyone we spoke to after the big day mentioned how much love they could feel throughout the celebration, and honestly, that’s the best compliment we could have received. It was purely and wholeheartedly about Hayden and me, and hearing that from our friends and family made it so special – it was exactly what we hoped for.

My favourite photo of the day has to be our exit down the aisle with all the confetti flying around us. We ended up doing an unplanned dip kiss, something we hadn’t even practiced, and we absolutely nailed it! We were both so chuffed with ourselves.

Aside from Nelly perfectly barking when we were announced husband and wife, another special moment was when the bridal party had left, and it was just Hayden and myself for our couple’s shoot.

We were enjoying a quiet moment, walking together just the two of us, when suddenly a group of birds flew across the sky, covering the entire skyline. It was such a beautiful and peaceful moment, and Hayden and I just looked at each other, appreciating how lovely it was to share that time together.

I found a lot of our DIY items on Etsy, and one of my favourites was the bar sign featuring our two pets who have passed away. We incorporated our favourite cocktails with a little tribute to them, which was such a nice personal touch. Our friends and family really loved all the little details, and that was just one of many sentimental moments throughout the day.

Our photographer, Tanya Strauss, was truly exceptional, and we couldn’t recommend her enough. From the very first moment, she made us feel completely comfortable and relaxed, creating an atmosphere where we could just be ourselves. There was absolutely no pressure throughout the entire process, and Tanya’s approach made everything feel incredibly natural.

Her bubbly and fun personality shone through, and it was clear that nothing was ever a problem for her. She handled everything with such ease, ensuring that we enjoyed every moment without a single worry. Tanya was more than just a photographer – she was an absolute joy to work with and made the whole experience unforgettable.

We learned a choreographed dance to “Forever After All” by Luke Combs and practiced for weeks. When it came time for our first dance, Hayden wasn’t exactly thrilled with the length of my dress, as it became an extra obstacle for him to dance around. He loved my dress, just not at that moment – haha!

We absolutely loved all our vendors – they did an incredible job, and no task was ever too difficult. Everything flowed so seamlessly, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to bring our vision to life.

The support of our family and friends, especially those who travelled to be with us, made the day even more special. The atmosphere was amazing – so full of love and warmth. The personal, sentimental touches we incorporated throughout the day really made it feel uniquely ours. Becoming a wife to the love of my life was an indescribable feeling. Hayden and I shared many quiet, intimate moments together, where it felt like time stood still, and it was just the two of us, completely in the moment.

Watching everything come together with the final touches in the last few weeks was incredible. It turned out exactly how I had imagined and seeing it all come to life made all the hard work worth it.

My advice for future couples would be to focus on what truly matters to you both. It’s easy to get caught up in the details and expectations, but at the end of the day, it’s about celebrating your love and commitment.

Take time to enjoy each moment, especially the quiet ones, because those are often the most meaningful. Don’t stress about things going perfectly – embrace the imperfections, as they often lead to the best memories. And most importantly, keep your connection strong and communicate openly, not just on your wedding day, but every day that follows. Your love story is unique, so make your day reflect that!

Ash’s heartfelt advice perfectly captures the essence of her and Hayden’s beautiful wedding day – one filled with love, meaningful moments, and the joy of simply being present. Their celebration in Mackay was a true reflection of their unique love story, embracing both the planned and the unexpected with grace and laughter. A special thank you to Tanya Strauss and Good Souls Media for capturing every emotion and detail so beautifully, allowing us all to relive the magic of their day through their beautiful photography and videography.