Maddie and Sam’s incredible love story began on Tinder in February 2018, little did they know at the time, that a simple swipe right would lead to a lifetime of love and happiness. Realising very quickly that they had a lot in common, the pair organised their first date two days later on Valentine’s Day, and the rest, was history.
The couples shared love of nature and adventure meant they were constantly on holidays, exploring parts of Queensland and Australia. They took their first camping trip to Moreton Island, which soon became their favourite holiday destination, and naturally, the place of their engagement and wedding.
After Sam’s proposal by the Cape Moreton lighthouse, the couple chose to tie the knot nearby at Honeymoon Bay, a small secluded location that encapsulated the magic and memories they had made together on the Island over the last six years. Being very outdoorsy people, Maddie and Sam chose the stying and backdrop for their ceremony to be the beach, rocks formations and magical scenery of the Island and the photos speak for themselves.
An intimate wedding of 17 of the couple’s immediate families and close friends made their ceremony and celebratory picnic feel super special, which Maddie described as "easily manageable and budget friendly."
To Maddie, the most important thing was embracing challenges and hiccups that were thrown at her leading up to the big day. Forecasted torrential rain the day of the wedding meant the couple needed to accept that a variety of changes may be necessary given their ceremony and celebratory locations. However, with incredible luck, it only rained before the ceremony, and then again, after the conclusion of the celebrations once the guests and happy couple were cozy in their villas for the evening, allowing everything to go perfectly according to plan.
Choosing not to have a traditional wedding, Maddie and Sam wanted to spend as much time together as possible when it came to planning the big day, and the day itself! This included Sam joining Maddie during dress shopping, as well as getting ready together on their big day and arriving to the venue in Sam’s 80 Series Landcruiser. Further, Maddie and her bridesmaid did their own makeup together, as Maddie had hoped, sharing as much of the day together as possible to create lifelong memories.To Maddie, marriage is “a safe place for your heart to call home, a shoulder to cry on, a best friend to laugh with, a soul to share dreams with, and a lover to share all of life’s forever’s with”, the unmatched feeling of being able to come home each day to that same person, as you work though life’s mysteries together.
When beginning her shop for her dress, Maddie envisioned sequins, champagne hues, lace and sleeves, however, the second she stepped into the studio she fell in love with our classically elegant Irving Gown, and immediately knew it was the one for her. For Sam’s attire, he chose pieces that worked in harmony with the scenery and finer details colour wise as per Maddie’s request, timeless pieces he will be able to wear again and again.
Furthermore, for Maddie’s bridesmaid, the friends decided a midi length dress would suit best, given the terrain of the location, and as for the colour, a divine khaki green to tie in with the environment and flowers throughout the bouquet, a wonderful compliment to the happy couple during their big moment.
Maddie describes the best part of her dress shopping experience to be the efficiency and down to earth service she received at When Freddie Met Lilly, stating she felt so welcomed walking into to a beautiful atmosphere filled with love and warmth, and appreciated the immensely helpful advice given to her when it came to choosing her gown. She has continued to recommend When Freddie Met Lilly to friends of hers who are recently engaged. Additionally, shopping for the rest of her bridal attire with her bridesmaid was a major highlight for Maddie.
Maddie’s goal leading up to and during the wedding was to create a series of beautiful, intimate, memories with those close to her. This included, making the bouquets and boutonnières herself with her bridesmaid. The day before the wedding, Maddie purchased an arrangement of soft native flowers from Brisbane Flower Market just before their departure on the barge over to Moreton Island. Once they arrived, they had dinner, steamed the dresses and sat down with a glass of wine in hand and made the bouquets together, which not only saved costs, but also created these key memories she was hoping to.
A piece of advice that Maddie offers other brides for their wedding day is not forgetting to have plenty of food and water on the day, switching off the day before, and finally, to dance in the rain.
Maddie describes her day and her dress to be perfect in every way and hopes that in years to come when the couple renews their vows, that they can both fit in their wedding attire to relive their wedding day memories.
Congratulations to the beautiful couple! We wish them a lifetime of love and happiness.
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