Here there and everywhere

Category: Blog

by Johanna Osborne

Weddings are bit like men themselves, some are small, others are big, some are flashy, and others are more modest and low key. And the beauty is that there is one for everyone. The days of one size fits all, standard packages and bulk buying are gone, everyone is an individual, and can express the journey of their relationship and love by incorporating unique and beautiful touches into their wedding day. I have seen countless Wellington weddings come to life over the years, those of my friends and family as well as the many gorgeous MR & MRS couples featured on the pages of our magazine. It’s been an honour to be part of and write about each and every one. Which was my favourite? I could never choose!

It’s only natural now that I am in Brisbane I should be curious about the wedding scene in this beautiful and vibrant city. Oh yes, if ever there was a city perfect for getting married in, this is it. What’s not to love about perpetual sunshine (even in winter, the days sit at 22 degrees!), endless parks and green leafy settings, beautiful riverfront locations, and a city bursting at the seams with venue options begging to wine and dine your loved ones. The churches are breathtaking and located in close proximity to waterfront reception areas, or a short drive away from more scenic locations in the various botanic gardens and parks scattered around the city. Views are guaranteed anywhere you go, and simply put, weddings are a huge, enormous, massive deal here. Just how I like it!

Recently I spent a couple of hours on a Saturday in Brisbane’s inner city Botanic Gardens with my son. I spied a wedding, and said to him “Gosh, how lucky for us to see a wedding today, look at the pretty bride and groom.” Then Milan pointed across the grass and said “Look Mummy, another wedding”. Sure enough, once I looked, I realised there were in fact weddings as far as the eye could see. It was like magic. We passed the romantic young couple dressed in lace and tails, spotted the big fat Greek wedding party with 8 bridesmaids and groomsmen a side; sporting bright teal dresses and cravattes, we admired the more mature and low key wedding of a sophisticated bride, her salt and pepper haired groom and one single attendant, we saw the princess bride with long flowing blonde curls, a dashing new husband and immaculately put-together bridal party. We saw vintage cars double parked, and suave looking drivers in top hats waiting patiently. We admired incredibly skilled photographers taking amazing images, catching the light, creating beautiful backdrops, incorporating what was there. Each wedding party was in a world of their own, totally unaware of the close proximity of another wedding, doing exactly what they were. All in all we saw 8 bridal parties in the short time we were there, and it was quite the experience. Did it make me want to get married again? Absolutely. The dresses alone were to die for, the headgear, the beautiful flowers, the styling – wow wow wow – and most of all the palpable excitement – nothing beats this stuff. If only we could bottle it and make it last forever.

Do I miss Wellington? Absolutely. Many of the people that mean the most in the world to me live in that stunning city and a piece of my heart will forever be there. But I will visit, and continue to be part of Lady Wellington in many ways, this blog, our Facebook page and my undying support and love for the Wellington Wedding Show are just a few examples of this. And Wellington Weddings are pretty darn cool. Wellingtonians have a style of their own that simply stands out for all the right reasons. But am I excited about my new home? Most definitely. I feel like I have stumbled into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory of weddings, and will continue to keep my eyes and ears open for beautiful wedding ideas and gorgeous couples. I have seen firsthand love and romance exits everywhere, good taste and amazing style is plentiful, and unique love stories are told in places you sometimes least expect to encounter them. One thing is for sure, I have been reassured of the existence of love and romance everywhere, and it warms my heart that I should stumble upon it time and time again.

Until soon! But before I go, have a look at some of these lovely shots from beautiful Brisbane weddings. The first one was even taken on the very lawn my son and I stood gawking at all the beauty that fateful day!

Love
Johanna