Kirsten and Anthony described their wedding day as “magic”… and it’s evident through these images exactly why! Set in the lush 8-acre grounds of Riverwood Estate on the Gold Coast, the backdrop for the day was a beautiful mix of sun-soaked hinterland and lake views, with an open-air Tipi setting the scene for the evening.
Kirsten and Anthony’s vision of an elegant, rustic wedding was truly brought to life with a selection of relaxed cocktail furniture in timber, white and metallic tones. The look was completed with native florals, fire pits and twinkling festoons creating a glowing ambience for the night to unfold.
Planning the entire wedding from interstate, it was important for Kirsten & Anthony to choose wedding suppliers they could trust and who completely understood their vision for the day – and they definitely chose a dream team of total professionals. From the picturesque hinterland location to THAT incredible dress, their day was filled with beautiful details that worked together in perfect harmony to transform this blank canvas into a relaxed cocktail wedding.
More images from This Day Forward below, along with the suppliers that made it all possible and some words of advice from the bride and groom!
Describe your wedding day: In a word: magic. It was the best of everyone, in the best that nature had to offer.
Where did you purchase your dress and accessories from: My dress was by Sydney designer Hayley Burton Bridal. She was fabulous, an absolute legend. Accessories for both myself and the bridesmaids were from Samantha Wills.
What was the feel and style of your wedding: I guess I’d call it ‘elegantly rustic’ (if that’s a thing?) – we wanted relaxed furniture with native flowers, and rustic decor but not boho.
Where was your wedding venue and why did you choose them: Riverwood Farm (goes by Riverwood Weddings) in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Once we saw the beauty of Riverwood, we just knew it was the one.
Where did you find your inspiration for your wedding day: We wanted a wedding and place where everyone could just relax, kick their shoes off and enjoy themselves in a beautiful setting, which is exactly what happened – nothing too formal. I’m also a lifelong camper so wanted something that reminded me of it, which is where the bush, river and campfire came in.
What was your experience like planning your wedding: Riverwood is a venue that is hired bare, so we organised the whole thing ourselves – tipi, furniture and decor, catering, alcohol, music, photography etc. It was logistically a little more complex since being from Sydney, we couldn’t see anything or meet anyone in advance, but it wasn’t overly difficult. I’m also a Project Manager in real life so I suppose it was somewhat second nature to me.
Who was your photographer and why did you choose them: This Day Forward (Will Hartl). Will was referred to us through someone we knew, and we are just so glad we got him. The photos were beyond our expectations and truly captured the day.
Where did you source your hire items from and why? We had our furniture and decor from Hampton. We had cocktail furniture, which was a combination of different types of tables and chairs, high bars and stools, and wine barrels, as well as decor such as vases and candle holders. We chose Hampton because their range of items was beautiful and exactly what we wanted, and could see that they were really professional and experienced
What were the highlights on the day: This is a tough one – there were so many! Seeing my husband waiting there for me at our chuppah with the stunning background of the farm as I walked down the aisle, and I absolutely loved seeing the farm at sunset, with the lights starting to twinkle, fires on and the light fading. It really showed the place in all its glory and was just breathtaking. Also my husband is Jewish, so during the reception, our (mostly non-Jewish) guests spontaneously hoisted us up onto chairs for the Hora!
How did you manage your budget: We did some research on what we thought the style of wedding we wanted would cost, drafted a budget and then pretty well stuck to it. I think a big part of it is to do your research and set a realistic budget in the first place, otherwise you’ll just end up stressed out or disappointed.
Do you have any tips for other brides: Don’t stress out about it. You can’t please everyone so just do what makes you both happy. And I know everyone says this, but don’t forget to relax, take a moment and enjoy the day itself – it’s magical!
If you could do it all over again, is there anything you would change: Nope, not a thing! It all went beautifully and we genuinely had the best day of our lives 🙂
SUPPLIERS:
Wedding venue location: Riverwood Weddings, Maudsland Photographer: This Day Forward Hire: Hampton Event Hire Entertainment: The Belmonts (McGee Entertainment) Celebrant: Weddings by Lisa Caterer: Wine n Dine’m Tipi + Lighting: Gold Coast Tipis Hair and makeup: Harpier Dress: Hayley Burton Bridal Bride + bridesmaid accessories: Samantha Wills Groom + groomsmen attire: Saba Bridesmaid dresses: Seed
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