BEC X JOHNO

kerri mcauley photography real weddings bridal gowns floral design venue

images by Kerri McAuley Photography
wedding date 5th October 2019
70 wedding guests

How did the two of you meet? In 2013 at Bec’s housewarming party, was the first time we met and hung out. We had mutual friends as we worked for the same company. It was only a short time after that I, (Bec) came to the same store as Johno as his manager. We fast became friends and discovered we had a lot of the same interest and goals. A year later Johno moved to a different store and we started dating in November 2014.

How long were you together before your engagement? One year and 2 months.

the proposal: On January 24th 2016, we trekked Mount Warning in NSW. We woke early that morning and started the climb up around 3am to make it to the peak in time for the sunrise. As we reached the top, I noticed Johno getting nervous, which I discovered was because he planned a proposal. Johno chose Mount Warning as we love going on adventures together but also as gesture to my late father who had passed away months earlier, to be closer to him. Johno organised an early breakfast in Coolangatta with some of our closest friends. It is definitely one of our favourite memories, and we love reminiscing back to that day.

The next couple of years, we travelled interstate and internationally. We built our first home together and had our beautiful daughter Louna.

what led you to decide Riverwood Weddings for your venue? We had been looking at venues when we first got engaged, looking at venues around the Gold Coast, Byron Bay and the Tweed Coast that showcase nature and offered options for us to create our own taste. We thought we had found our dream venue in, but we decided to take a backseat on our Wedding and focus on building our home and growing our family.

Almost two years later in to our engagement and already a one and half year old daughter, Johno discovered Riverwood Weddings in Maudsland. We thought it was a worth a viewing as it was only 10 minutes inland to where we lived. From the moment we drove down the driveway under the canopy of trees, we started to fall in love! Only to continue discovering more and more of what Riverwood had to offer, with its vast space and river, topped off by a beautifully restored boat, it quickly ticked our boxes and we fell more in love with the venue. We began envisioning our Wedding.

Favourite detail: The setup of was perfectly styled and complemented with beautiful floral arrangements, including our homemade Photo Booth consisting of a wire wall decorated in palms and a LED light and polaroid station. We loved our platter styling and the catering setup. We still can not go past the small boat we got to use on the river for photos.

How was your dress/suit shopping experience overall? I probably spent most of my 20’s always dreaming of dresses and saving them on Pinterest. I discovered a designer I absolutely loved and tried on a dress in Melbourne, only to find out the specific style was not available in Australia. One day, a year out I came across a local gold coast designer on Instagram and booked in with two of my Bridesmaids and my mum. The first dress I tried was the dress I knew I wanted and bought it that day.

to the aisle australia | bec and johno riverwood wedding gold coast

What does marriage mean to you? A Relationship of companionship, fulfilment, and Love.

Any classic stories you want to share from the day? Our speeches which involved a tipsy bride and a groom ending it with ‘dropping the mic’. There was plenty a lot of laughs and almost topping over into the river getting in the boat. Friends dancing on barrels and plenty of questionable dance moves. Our MC adding to the night with his comedic flamboyance.

What was the inspiration behind your Wedding theme? We always wanted have a bohemian feel, with a touch of luxe and nature. Lots of soft textures with contrasting tones of neutral and dark green tones.

Favourite moments: The whole day was utter bliss for both of us, from getting ready, each with our bridal parties to the beautiful ceremony, to the fun and energy of our photos, then topped off with amazing food and many laughs at our reception. The music throughout the day just completed the vibe. We didn’t want the day to end!

Johno: Seeing Bec walk down the aisle.

Advice: Go with the feeling that feels right for you. Invest in the memory, as the day goes so fast,. Research, save ideas and reach out for support of your family and friends, even if it’s just to take some of the stress off planning your wedding by asking for help.

What were your aisle, recessional and first dance songs?
Aisle: A Thousand Years- Christina Perri
Recessional: Hardest Mistake- I See Stars/Cassadee Pope
First Dance: Heart Miles- Jai Waetford

Any stand out vendors for the day? The photographer and the wedding coordinator.