Having a 12 month long engagement, Calista and Brendan sure did utilise their time in the best way possible. Two or three months before the wedding, this fun pair decided to take dancing lessons for an abridged choreographed version of the famous Dirty Dancing dance (though they admit it was a little less suave than the original.) “This was absolutely THE BEST at keeping up the fun in our relationship in those last few stressful weeks before the wedding.”
Held at Kenilworth Homestead on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, it was one of only two venues the pair visited. “We really only went to one other nearby so that it didn’t seem like we didn’t look anywhere else. But we really could not go past it after our visit, it had everything that we wanted,” explains Calista who wore two separate gowns on her big day.
For the ceremony, the bride rocked an Anna Campbell gown from The Babushka Ballerina but she knew all along she’d need a second dress for the reception. “I knew I wanted a dress to dance in during the reception and found the perfect dress while shopping online. It was super fun being able to dance it up with everyone without worrying about people treading on the dress as the party got going into the night.”
Featuring Hello May faves like photographer Shane Shepherd and celebrant Paul Voge, Calista and Brendan couldn’t have been happier with their day of love and leave other brides and grooms to be with this important piece of advice: “Do your own thing. Don’t do things just because that’s how they are always done. We wanted a wedding that represented our personalities and loves and it made the day so much more fun to not be harnessed by tradition.”
CREDITS Photos Shane Shepherd // Bridal gown Anna Campbell via The Babushka Ballerina and BHLDN Veil and hair piece Jennifer Behr // Shoes Marc Defang Melissa Australia // Accessories Samantha Wills // Hair Evalyn Parsons Hair // Makeup Tasleema Nigh // Rings Anna Sheffield // Bridesmaid dresses When Freddie Met Lilly // Groom and groomsmen suits Black Jacket Suiting // Bow tie, page boys and pet accessories Mrs Bow Tie // Cufflinks Simon Carter // Shoes Windsor Smith // Socks Ollie & Lloyd // Event planner / Stylist and stationery Made To Match Events // Florist Willow Bud Wedding Flowers // Ceremony and reception Kenilworth Homestead, QLD // Catering Safe Hands Catering // Bar and Cocktail Service Your Night // Food trucks / carts Little Back // Cake Tome Coffee Shop // Cake topper AyMujer via Etsy // Decorative elements Two Hermanas via Etsy and Vintagebabydoll via Etsy // Prop / furniture hire Simple Style Co, Style Le Aisle and Brisbane Barrel Hire // Lighting / sound hire Light Sounds Brisbane // Photo Booth Photo Booth Guys // Celebrant Paul Voge // Transport Old Skool Kombis Noosa // Cinematographer Gold Bear Wedding Films.