Amber Jaye & Mario – 17th December 2011

Our bride referred to her wedding as Wonderland and that was the understatement of the year!

We were honoured to be part of Amber Jaye and Mario’s wedding day and with Allie bursting at the seams over this wedding, I let her take the reins and run it, whilst I oversaw everything.

Our first meeting with AJ was two weeks prior to her wedding day, we met at the Manly Wine Suites where her reception would be held. It’s a gorgeous location right on Manly Beach and within the Sebel Hotel.

AJ had put in an incredible amount of effort into her styling and felt comfortable leaving it to us stylists for the actual setup.

AJ made contact with us initially back in August, asking about our on the day rates. As most couples do, AJ pointed out that her ceremony was from 3.30pm so maybe our ‘unlimited hours’ wasn’t really applicable to her. Little did she know we would start working on her wedding day at 9am – setting up tables. We started setup at the ceremony venue at 2pm and didn’t leave til 6pm!

It goes to show that many people underestimate the amount of time it takes to set up and pack down after an event.

So the day arrives. We’re ready but the weather is looking a little iffy in the morning. Plan B is ready but we all agree to go ahead with the original plan at Wendy Whiteley’s.

We are allowed to move in at 2pm and the lovely gardener, Ruben, opened the barriers so I could drive my car right down to the location.

Setup included many, many props to be placed about the garden – pink flamingos, hanging tea cups, sticking butterflys to trees, clocks and mushrooms, large rabbits, small rabbits and all sorts of quirky bits and pieces.

We had a drinks table setup with a vintage drinks dispenser and little details to make the drinks table blend in with the rest of the wedding.

We also had a ‘high tea’ table setup with macaroons, cucumber sandwiches, blue and red heart biscuits, lots of ‘eat me’ and ‘drink me’ signs.

We had a few issues with hire items not having all components and not being able to set them up which is a shame! One of the pieces the bride made came apart but thankfully our tool box has everything from fishing wire to super glue!

It’s kinda funny to see a wedding from our point of view, but not have any idea how much work went into it, what didn’t go to plan, what we fixed, changed, altered to make work in the environment and even the couples having romantic picnics we have to politely ask to exit the area – but by the time the guests begin arriving – no one would know that we went through all of that because it all looks so wonderful!

We had four of us, staggered, on the day to setup for this wedding. Two for ceremony which was held at Wendy Whiteley’s garden and two at the reception venue – but damn it was worth it

The ceremony was amongst one of the most beautiful. I cried when Mario’s beautiful daughter walked down the ailse holding 3 red heart balloons to her waiting father. I cried during the vows (even though there was an element of humour in there). I cried when Mario spoke directly to his daughter about how she is a very big part of their lives and always will be, then AJ gave her a beautiful gift. And lastly, I cried when Mario’s daughter read the words of a Michael Buble song to them during the ceremony.

It was heart felt, intimate, quirky and wonderful!

After the ceremony, champagne, High tea, great photos and fun – everyone headed to the Wine Suites.

The venue looked amazing from the moment you stepped out of the lift to see the entrance table with hanging teacups on the wall.

Walking down the hallway to the reception room, grass bunnies lined the hallway and the moment you walked into the reception you were shell hocked by the amount of detail around the room…it was amazing! Only the photos can tell the story.

Allie got an honourable mention in the speeches from a very happy and grateful couple

Enjoy the photos!

To view the photographers work, click here

Alice in Wonderland, Amazing styling, Baker Boys Band, Italian, Manly Wine Suites, On the day coordination, Pure Photography, Sebel Manly, Wedding Planners, Wedding Stylists, Wendy Whitelys Garden, Wonderland