Brisbane riverside wedding with Celebrant Jamie

What an amazing day it was for this Brisbane riverside wedding with Celebrant Jamie Eastgate.

Brisbane riverside wedding Celebrant Jamie

The happiness filled wedding of Kristen and Thomas took at Lower River Terrace Kangaroo Point. This lawn that can be booked for exclusive use for couples wedding ceremonies through Brisbane City Council.

The couple enjoyed a happy, relaxed authentic ceremony, delivered perfectly by Celebrant Jamie Eastgate.

Celebrant Kangaroo Pt Brisbane

Brisbane Celebrant Jamie Eastgate

Kangaroo Pt wedding Brisbane

Jamie shared the story of how Kristen and Thomas met at work. When Thomas first met Kristen his initial thoughts were:

“She’s hot and I’m going to be in trouble with HR if I talk to her” so he tried his best to ignore her for the first month.

In response, Kristen’s first impression of Thomas was: “I think he might be gay”

They knew they were meant to be when Kristen announced she was going to marry Thomas, despite previously always declaring that she never wanted to get married, and likewise Thomas wanting to marry Kristen despite swearing off marriage forever.

Their ceremony combined heart felt moments, sheer joy and some roaring belly laughs for good measure (a great way to ease any wedding day nerves).

Kangaroo Point wedding Brisbane

Lower River terrace wedding ceremony

The story of the proposal began with Thomas setting up a lovely night in which he planned to ask Kristen to marry him.

The only thing he was unable to get into his possession was the ring (which they had both chosen, was already bought, viewed and “tried on” many times).

Kristen was in the bathroom on her third costume change of the evening, while Thomas scrambled through boxes on the top shelf of the wardrobe looking for the ring when suddenly, Kristen burst through the door and said:” I’m just going to see what my engagement ring looks like with this outfit”.

So, as they like to put it, Kristen is effectively engaged to herself with Thomas’ blessing.

The happy couple shared their own personalised vows with each other which they heard for the first time during the ceremony, before exchanging rings and sealing the deal with a kiss.

Kangaroo Point wedding Celebrant

Celebrant Brisbane

riverside wedding Brisbane

Darcy Walsh Photography was on hand to capture all the magic to perfection while putting the couple at ease so they could enjoy their day and relax and be comfortable in front of the camera.

wedding at Brisbane River

After they made their way back down the aisle together as husband and wife, guests congratulated them then they headed off to the nearby rocks at Kangaroo Point for these stunning location photos as the sun began to set. Then they celebrated the night away at Riverlife.

Brisbane River wedding ceremonyreal wedding Brisbaneweddings at Kangaroo Pt Brisbane

Brisbane River wedding ceremonies

Congratulations to the happy newlyweds. What a beautiful day!

Wedding suppliers included:

Celebrant Jamie Eastgate Brisbane City Celebrants

Darcy Walsh Photography

Feeling inspired and liking the look of this ceremony location, you can view more river side weddings at the Lower River Terrace lawns at Kangaroo Point here.

 

A love and light filled Brisbane wedding

With Celebrant Jamie Eastgate of Brisbane City Celebrants

A love and light filled Brisbane wedding

We worked together during our university days at the local cinema.  I was intrigued by his unusual surname and wondered if he was related to a girl I went to high school with who had the same last name. It turned out it was his sister! From there, we started talking, and hanging out and the rest is history!

Andy says he knew he loved me when he heard me blowing my nose under the shower water and admired how I always finished everything on my dinner plate (how unromantic is that?)

I knew I loved him when he bought a brand new bed and linen 3 weeks after we met, after I threatened to never stay at his house again after witnessing the state of his old mattress and manky doona!

Our Celebrant Jamie actually shared these corkers during our ceremony much to the amusement of our guests.

On a more sentimental note, we actually both said “the L word” on New Year’s Eve 2006. Ironically we’d both spoken to our friends about divulging how we felt about each other prior to this (without the other knowing) and after we were winding down after a fun night out celebrating, the conversation started and out it came…..

When it came to the proposal, Andy had actually designed and purchased the ring almost 12 months before he proposed.

One night I went to the hairdresser after work and Andy asked me to stop and get some Thai takeaway on the way home. When I got home, I noticed that there weren’t any lights on in the house, but the front door was open. When I got inside, I was amazed to see there was a trail of fairy lights along the floor, that led me out to our back deck.

Here I found Andy waiting for me looking very nervous, he’d decorated our whole deck in candles and lights, the candles spelt ‘MARRY ME’.

He’d pre-prepared a little speech outlining the reasons why I should marry him, why he’d be a good husband and hilariously, the reasons why he’d understand if I said no (e.g. his ear hair).  Then he called our pug Baxter over who had the ring on his collar and proposed.  I laughed nervously the whole time but of course I said YES!!!

When planning our wedding, the important elements to us were that it was spacious, standing affair, preferably outdoors or with a view and live music.  The rest just came together and evolved in to an elegant modern vintage style with bursts of brightly coloured florals.

We hired the 2 lawns at Lower River Terrace in Kangaroo Point, one for the wedding ceremony, the other for cocktail hour drinks, nibbles and lawn games.

Jamie Eastgate from Brisbane City Celebrants performed our ceremony and he was awesome! So helpful both before and on the day. Our 2 dogs Baxter and Ollie joined us for the ceremony and wore suits that perfectly matched Andy’s!

We also had an amazing long table and arbour set up with the most exquisite hanging florals and décor created by Brisbane Wedding Decorators. What I had in my mind and what they created were worlds apart, for all the right reasons.

Brisbane Wedding Decorators made an ‘idea’ into the most beautiful reality – I was so gobsmacked when I saw the tables, chairs, arch and floral work, I couldn’t recommend them more highly! We were so lucky to have their help on our special day.

We celebrated our reception with ‘fork and walk’ style catering at Riverlife beneath a marquee on the Brisbane river.

Following cocktail hour, the tolix style bar tables and stools we hired through Brisbane Wedding Decorators for the post ceremony nibbles and drinks, were relocated to the reception area and decorated with small vases of pink and white blooms. The whole look was candle lit without being too soft.  We loved it.

Instead of having a cake, my mum cooked up a storm of her well known favourites (e.g. magic slice, caramel slice) and my best friend Kim made her world famous choc chip cookies for dessert.

 We also surprised our guests with Ruby the Red Ice Cream Van who made her arrival at about 9pm.  Our guests loved being able to go and get an ‘old school’ ice-cream on the night.

We have so many memorable moments from our day!

  • I loved seeing my Dad’s face when he saw me all dressed for the first time;
  • Getting goosebumps when we were announced by our Celebrant Jamie Eastgate as husband and wife;
  • Seeing Brisbane Wedding Decorators beautiful long table set up in the park;
  • Dancing with my dad (it was quite the scene and involved all sorts of shoulder shimmying!);
  • Standing at the back of the deck watching all our guests jumping around dancing to the band;
  • and the amazing gondola my parents hired to pick us up at the end of the night and take us for a beautiful ride down the river and to our accommodation at Stamford Plaza.  We had about an hour, just the two of us on the gondola, watching the city go by – it was our first chance to really ‘catch up’ with one another about the day.

My advice for brides and grooms to be is to spend the time getting your run sheet for the day accurate and detailed.

Give copies to a few trusted friends and your MC.  This helped our day run smoothly as the order of events/ timing was knowledge shared and everyone helped keep things going along.  Include contact details for key people – it made the world of difference. Oh and eat! Eat breakfast and lunch, and snack where you can.  All the adrenaline makes you hungry!

Finally, from the bride’s perspective – pack yourself a pair of those little fold up ballet flats….!

 

Penny and Andy’s dream team of wedding vendors

Celebrant Jamie Eastgate of Brisbane City Celebrants

Photography Marcus Bell of Studio Impressions

Cocktail hour floral arbour by Brisbane Wedding Decorators

Brides Dress Karen Willis Holmes

Men’s suits George and King

Ice Cream van Ruby the red ice cream van

Wedding Transport The Mini Owners Club

Entertainment Baker Boys Band www.bakerboysband.com.au/

Dogs Suits by Fluppies

 

If you enjoyed hearing about this love and light filled Brisbane wedding and are looking for a Celebrant for your Brisbane wedding, Jamie would love to hear from you. Contact Brisbane City Celebrants for more information and to confirm availability for your special day.

Tips for weddings with children

Tips for weddings with children

With Celebrant Cara Hodge of Brisbane City Celebrants

Let’s talk children at weddings. While some couples opt for child free weddings, others embrace the joy of having excited children involved in their day, particularly when their own children get to play a very special role in their day.

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips for Children at Weddings

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips for Children at Weddings. Image Naomi V Photography

There are many ways to include little ones in your ceremony which depending on their age may involve including a very special mention of them in the ceremony wording or giving them the role of ring security or flower girl, to having them present readings, hand out bubbles, be ushers or be in the bridal party if they are a little older.

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips for Children at Weddings

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips for Children at Weddings. Image Naomi V Photography

Having performed many weddings with children involved the best advice we can give is simply to let children be children.

If they see Mum and Dad stood at the front looking like a Prince and Princess out of a Disney movie, naturally they will be curious and will instinctively want to wonder up and join them, we absolutely encourage this. Trying to keep them away could potentially result in a mid-ceremony tantrum.

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips Weddings with Children Image Naomi V Photography

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips Weddings with Children Image Naomi V Photography

We believe having your own child or children around you during the ceremony, adds to the love shared between the family and let’s face it, it doesn’t get much cuter than having a little page boy dressed as a mini-me of his Daddy or a flower girl up there clinging on to Daddy’s leg!

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips Weddings with Children Image Naomi V Photography

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips Weddings with Children Image Naomi V Photography

For guests with babies and young children that have also been invited along, the etiquette at weddings is generally to sit towards the back so if baby decides to let out an almighty scream just for giggles, they can quickly exit out of ear shot without any disruption to the ceremony.

If you are expecting a few excitable toddlers may be running around before or after the ceremony, consider child friendly decorations, for example cylinder glass vases or candles lining the aisle or on pedestals may be an accident waiting to happen. Consider keeping potentially breakable décor to a minimum or out of reach and if you’re expecting lots of kiddies to be present, perhaps even have a ‘kids zone’ or welcome toy that can keep occupied. Bubbles are a great way to entertain little ones at weddings and also make for some really great photos.

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips Weddings with Children Image Naomi V Photography

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips Weddings with Children Image Naomi V Photography

Finally, as cute as little ring bearers are, avoiding giving them the actual rings until the very last minute. It’s all fun and games when he’s whacking Uncle Phil with the ring cushion, until a ring goes AWOL. Best to have the rings well tied to the little ribbons on the ring cushion and to hand them over to the ring bearer at the last minute.

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips Weddings with Children Image Naomi V Photography

Brisbane City Celebrants top tips Weddings with Children Image: Naomi V Photography

Most of all involve and enjoy your little ones as they will play a huge part of the magical memories of your special day.

Big thanks to Gabbi and Dan and their sweet son Blaine for allowing us to share these beautiful photos from your wedding at Riverlife and also to Naomi V Photography for capturing these fantastic images.

Cara Hodge – Brisbane City Celebrants Riverlife Wedding

If you enjoyed hearing these tips for children at weddings and are looking for a Celebrant that gets the importance of involving your children on your special day, Cara would love to hear from you. Contact Brisbane City Celebrants for more information and to confirm availability for your special day.

 

The Ultimate Dream Wedding at Riverlife

With Celebrant Jamie Eastgate of Brisbane City Celebrants

The Riverlife wedding venue is situated perfectly on the Brisbane river overlooking the city making it such a great location for an urban wedding, so we were thrilled when the Event Manager contacted us to ask us if we would like to be the Celebrant for the winners of their Win an Ultimate Dream Wedding at Riverlife competition.

Riverlife Wedding Ceremony with Celebrant Jamie Eastgate. Image: Milque Photography

Riverlife Wedding Ceremony with Celebrant Jamie Eastgate. Image: Milque Photography

In Australia it is a requirement that all couples have a choice of Celebrant which also applies to the ‘win a wedding’ competitions occasionally held by venues or bridal publications. So with this in mind the venue pulled together a number of excellent reputable Celebrants so the winners could proceed having that choice.

The competition was advertised in the ‘U On Sunday’ magazine from the Sunday Mail with the prize being an entire luxury wedding held at Riverlife including Bride and Bridesmaids Dresses from Hills in Hollywood, an abundance of florals from Julie Vine Flowers, a Firework display by Fireworx and many more talented suppliers that came together to make this wedding super special.

Riverlife Wedding Ceremony with Celebrant Jamie Eastgate. Image: Milque Photography

Riverlife Wedding Ceremony with Celebrant Jamie Eastgate. Image: Kindly provided by Milque Photography

Applicants were invited to share their story and tell Riverlife why they think they should be the Ultimate Dream Wedding Winner.

Riverlife Wedding Ceremony with Celebrant Jamie Eastgate. Image: kindly provided by Milque Photography

Riverlife Wedding Ceremony with Celebrant Jamie Eastgate. Image: Kindly provided by Milque Photography

When Riverlife announced the winners Katrina and Nat and shared their heartfelt story, we couldn’t be happier hearing the prize was going to such a deserving couple. Katrina and Nat had worked and saved hard to purchase their first property based in Ipswich. When news of the expected 2010 floods became apparent with their home being in a flood area, they followed advice and worked tirelessly to move all their belongings to the top floor of their house out of the way of flood ways, then hastily evacuated.

After the floods subsided, they returned to their house only to find the flooding had been much higher than any of their neighbourhood had anticipated, completely saturating the entire top floor containing all their possessions with that stinky muddy water that we all unfortunately became accustomed to during this time. Needless to say they lost everything, worst of all they were even more devastated when their home and contents insurer refused to pay up.

Shortly after the floods while Katrina and Nat were working hard to rebuild their lives, their neighbour entered them in to the Riverlife Ultimate Dream Wedding competition, and fortunately for them their luck completely changed for the better when they won!

Soon after the Riverlife Events Manager got in touch to tell us that the couple had picked Jamie Eastgate to be their Celebrant. So sharing in their excitement, Jamie got in touch and met with the couple where he explained the legal paperwork and discussed the kind of ceremony they would like. Jamie found Katrina and Nat a true pleasure to work with and be around, they were incredibly easy going and expressed their love for the idea of a simple and meaningful ceremony with a family member performing a reading.

QLD Brides feature on the Riverlife Ultimate Dream Wedding: Images Milque Photography

QLD Brides magazine feature on the Riverlife Ultimate Dream Wedding: Images Milque Photography

When the special day arrived the glowing bride Katrina arrived on the CityCat boat at The Thornton Street ferry terminal, just a short stroll from Riverlife, where she was walked down the aisle by her father to her eagerly awaiting groom.

U on Sunday Feature of the Riverlife Ultimate Dream Wedding

U on Sunday Magazine Feature of the Riverlife Ultimate Dream Wedding

The ceremony looked stunning and went perfectly, there were even a few onlookers who had been following Katrinas weekly journal on the ‘U on Sunday’ magazine leading up the wedding that came along for a squizzy at this lavish wedding and gorgeous bride and groom.

 

Shortly after the wedding Katrina and Nat submitted this absolutely lovely ‘Real Wedding’ testimonial to us. Their wedding was also featured in the QLD Brides magazine and U on Sunday. They have since restored their damaged home and are enjoying being madly in love and happily married.

Bride and Groom:  Katrina & Nat

Wedding Date: 20th August 2011

Wedding Ceremony Location: Riverlife, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

Tell us about your ceremony:

As we were lucky to be the winners of the Riverlife dream wedding giveaway, we were so grateful to be able to hold both our Ceremony and Reception at Riverlife. The ceremony was held outdoors on the deck overlooking the river on a beautiful afternoon. With all of our friends and family around to witness us announced as husband and wife, it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Reception Location:

Also at Riverlife, in the Sunset Marquee.

Tell us about your reception:

Themed as a soft winter romance, the reception was so beautifully designed with endless amounts of flowers, candles and of course a lolly buffet. We had great music, great food and danced the night away with all of our loved ones. The most fantastic day imaginable.

What we loved:

The beautiful venue and spending the day celebrating with all of those closest to us.

Describe your experience with Jamie from Brisbane City Celebrants:

Jamie was so fantastic to work with and from day one made the entire process so simple and easy. With only 2 months’ notice after winning our wedding prize, time was no problem for Jamie and he was more than happy to meet up with us and work around our busy schedule. The ceremony was such a wonderful success, exactly as we had always imagined and it was all thanks to Jamie. We would have no hesitation in recommending him to all of our friends in the future.

Your advice to bride and grooms to be:

Don’t stress about the little things, everything will work out on the day, just treasure every minute as it goes by so quickly.

If you enjoyed hearing about this dream wedding at Riverlife and are looking for a Celebrant for your Brisbane wedding, Jamie would love to hear from you. Contact Brisbane City Celebrants for more information and to confirm availability for your special day.