MARK & DONNA | ORUA BEACH HOUSE

Summer 2019

A wedding of the decade - because it took ten years before Mark even proposed! This gorgeous couple are very special friends to us, and it was such an honour to be involved in their big day! Sadly the weather didn’t play ball but there were a few breaks in the rain which meant they still got some stunning photos and still had the best party ever. As you will see below, a little rain didn’t dampen the vibe and it was love and laughs all day long!

Our love story began…

Over 12 years ago!

Tell us about the proposal…

It involved a shitty day at work, no makeup on, a decoy story, friends in on the big surprise and Mark proposing as we circled the Skytower in his plane. I’ve never been so surprised in my life!

Tell us about your venue and why you chose it:

We’d spotted an amazing property up on a hill-top one summer while on holiday at Hot Water Beach. Once Mark had proposed, we looked up the property online (literally stalking Google Maps) - and to our surprise, found it was available to hire for weddings! Once we visited, we fell in love with Orua Beach House straight away and knew it was the perfect location for us. So much so that we booked the venue and waited two years before tying the knot!

Do you have any tips for other brides & grooms?

Know that the one and only thing you can’t control is the weather. We 100% wanted to get married overlooking the ocean, so we got married in the rain!

Where did you purchase your dress from?

My dress was from Australian label Made with Love. I fell in love with it online, it was the first dress I tried and nothing else compared!

Where did you find your inspiration for your wedding day?

We’re both pretty in-tune with what we like. Mark largely left me to it - I’d just run things past him and he’d get jobs and projects to complete. Inspiration came from everywhere – I spotted things like design ideas in cafes, so I’d snap away on my phone when I saw something I liked while out and about. I avoided getting trapped in the faff of traditional wedding stuff – instead taking inspiration from everyday life.

What were the highlights on the day?

We felt so honoured to have so many amazing friends and family helping us to celebrate our big day. It was like one big reunion spanning so many stages of our lives. Absolutely everyone travelled and it meant so much to have everyone together in one place!

We splurged on …

the venue, dress, rings, amazing food, and talented people to capture it all – we didn’t mind spending on the things we knew we’d remember and cherish most!

Vendors:

Ceremony + Reception venue: Orua Beach House

Photographer: I Do Photography

Videographer: Be Joined Films / Jared Buckley – Visual Storyteller

Hire: Marquee Solutions and Love Club Hire. We also made a lot of stuff ourselves like our arch, signage, menus and table numbers. It’s also amazing what you can borrow from friends and family if you ask around!

Entertainment: Adam McLean Music

Celebrant: Joanne Martin Celebrant

Caterer: Sugar Fish Catering – the food was incredible!

Florist: Wildflowers Coromandel (bridal bouquets). We also picked toetoe and ordered fresh flower cuts from New World – a big money saver if you don’t mind getting a bit creative!

Cake: Sweet Addiction

Hair: Juanita Wooler

Makeup: Dominque Birley

Stationery: Bride designed and printed

Dress: Made with Love Bridal – Harlie

Rings: Bride - Naveya and Sloane, Groom - Michael Hill Jewelers