Loving Honesty

I was personally never into the "big white" wedding, actually the whole wedding thing never phased me much, but I always dreamt when my day did come it would be on a tropical Island somewhere, blue water, sand and sun, surrounded by Palm trees, frangipani flowers and who ever wanted to be there. These thoughts only played around in my head and popped up in a discussion with one of my close friends some years ago. Well 9years it took to get a ring on my finger and I knew right then I was NOT having a long engagement, so it was now my time to get this vision and dream happening. We chose our destination and it fitted in with everything Id dreamed of...RAROTONGA aka Cook Islands...we had never been there before so it was exciting to venture somewhere new.

We gave ourselves a year to get our shit sorted and give warning "save the dates" to the friends and family we wanted there on our day, we just kept it intimate, at the end of the day we only wanted people there that we had something to do with then and now. I tried not to have any expectations on who could or would make it but lets be honest it does hurt a tad when someone declines...but anyway their loss...(just remember that Brides-to-be) but I knew those that would make it would make an amazing holiday out of it too. So the planning began and been the anal, perfectionist person I am I knew the whole destination wedding planning wouldn't be easy..I couldn't see, touch, visualise anything but I kept saying to myself, don't stress about that just as long as I get my 'Island', friends and family I will be fine...who am I kidding, that was so easier said than done.

I found it so overwhelming hunting for the resort we wanted to have our wedding at, I mean for a small Island it has so many resorts!!! My close friend put me onto Small Guide Wedding Planners http://www.smallguidetravel.com.au/ I thought it wouldn't hurt to see what these guys had to offer, and hey they were FREE!! Mandi was amazing to deal with so incredibly helpful in those early stages, I gave her my must haves (Kid friendly, to be married on White sand, Palm trees, nice accommodation) she made it easy by giving us 3 resort options. I was un aware at the time that there is only 3 kid friendly resorts, so really that narrowed it down instantly (The Pacific, The Rarotongan and The Edgewater) She described them and I knew The Pacific was the one, it ticked all the boxes, with plenty of added extras..

I wont lie later down the track after seeing the prices of things at the Pacific I thought sheesh could I get this cheaper elsewhere?...and 100% YES of course but NO it wouldn't have been what I wanted..and absolutely no regrets going with The Pacific Resort.

Top of my planning list was a Photographer, this I refused to skimp on as again I'm so fussy. I mean this is what you have to look back on..I would have served Mc Donalds for dinner if It meant I had a good photographer. It didn't take me too long to choose and I went with Melanie Cooper. http://www.melaniecooper.photography/
Melanie's images just shined amongst the others. I love attention to detail and she has it. We emailed so much and I really felt by the time we got to our day she knew what I wanted and who I was. I am not a posed type, I love natural and wanted the images to capture the moments between our little family.

And that she certainly did, we had her from 1pm - 6pm and it was the perfect timing, she captured getting ready on both sides, ceremony, after ceremony and couples shots. I didn't feel the need to have her at the Reception as we had a videographer. She was so cool to get along with. BUT... there was one wedding day regret and that is missing some group shots, I looked back on and wished I had captured, I wish I put my foot down and had someone there to organise the groups.. Tip: Write a list and give it to your MC or someone outside of the wedding party to arrange it would save so much time and confusion.

Along with a good photographer I wanted the same in a videographer so I hunted for hours and hours...not kidding, it was hard to find what I wanted, and I ended up with Louis from Peacock Blue Weddings, and what an amazing video we ended up with.. We received this 8minute short film along with an hour long video. Loved loved loved his work! Highly recommend him.

I wanted to keep it a 'beach style' theme with a bit of spark thrown in there. I have a thing for feathers so I tied that in from the invites to things on the day, and been as Frangipani was my fav flower, it was obvious that yellow and white was going to be our colour scheme, so I rolled with that. I brought a few decorations over, hired some from The Tile Shop and borrowed bits from the resort. It came together nicely with the help of my dad, bestie and resort planners. I will add I would have loved the time to do my tables up and have a play around but that just wasn't possible...as we all run on "Island" time.

I was also not phased about a cake but my bestie offered to do it for me so she made it and brought it over from Perth, I had the fresh flowers made by one of the kindest ladies Id met in the Restaurant, they were perfect!!

I made the button holes and girls bouquets tying in the feathers on the button holes.

The girls dresses were also tied in by been covered in feathers, not your typical beach style bridesmaid or flower girl dress but I do love to be different.
Both custom made from Lovebabyj in the USA. Flowergirl Feathered wings from Arabellas Vintage Wardrobe.

I had a few ideas for the wedding favours and couldn't decide so I ended up with choosing two, hand fans for at the ceremony and the buckets with the traditional white sugar almonds for at the reception...keeping in with the beach theme. All items brought online - Ali Express, eBay and online stores.

I was adamant to have both ceremony and reception on the beach but due to size and recommendations we decided on the Garden Marquee and it was beyond Perfect. Allowed the kids to play on the grass area, close to our Villas and had plenty of room for dancing!

We got ready in mum and dads 3 bedroom Villa which was incredible, the space having both upstairs and downstairs made getting ready comfortable and spacious...Dad waiting very "patiently" downstairs while we got ready upstairs...

Robes from May Silk on etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaySilk

I had my bestie go above and beyond with helping me and everyone out on the day, I wouldn't have done it with out her, she just guided the show and knew what I wanted. You all need someone like her on your day. Sadly these were really the only pics we got together, but still just as special as the typical 'posed shot'

Hair and Makeup was done by Bianca Whittaker and I was really happy with it, I don't wear makeup so was after something natural and soft looking.

One of the things I was most excited about on the day was having my grand entrance on the Vaka...no one knew I was coming in on it. It was honestly the best and most relaxing few minutes I had that day, allowed me to relax and time to breath as I was SO nervous about doing my own vowels. Definitely a must added extra on the Ceremony package.

I had both mum and dad walk me down the ísle' there was no question they would both be there by my side.

We surprised our guests with fire Dancers, everyone enjoyed them and was a nice highlight to the evening.

I had my bouquet made to be used for the ceremony and then be the flower centre piece on our table. It was beautifully made with the greenery and flower combo. Flowers organised through the resort.

I did our own DIY photobook, took everything over for it and was lots of fun!

I really wanted to do something different for the guests as a way to kill time between the ceremony and the Reception as we were off doing our photos. One of my friends mentioned doing this at a hens day and so I thought what a cool idea..So I did our very own Rarotonga Amazing Race....

Ill be honest I was doing this minutes before we were picked up to head to the airport for Rarotonga and still going the morning of the wedding, but it was worth it.

Buffet served on the Vaka

I also did up little activity books for the kids, they seemed to have enjoyed going through those

We honestly couldn't fault anything from what the Pacific Resort provided us on our wedding day and holiday there, I feel there is always those nitty gritty things that you could change but you go with the flow and be grateful for the time you spend with your loved ones. Its such a surreal day and goes so fast, but I will be forever grateful to those that came and spent the day and week with us.

Ill leave you with some of my many favourite pics from our day

Enjoy !

Stacey x