When you’ve been together from such a young age, it becomes difficult to pinpoint a single moment. It has always felt right and natural. We have grown up side by side, and Will is not only my partner but also my best friend. He knows me inside out, and we have an incredible bond. My life with him is such an adventure and I can’t imagine it any other way.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We (Eliza & Will) call Brisbane home but for the past 18 months, we’ve been living all over Queensland, from Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast, and currently, Toowoomba. Will is in the midst of his General Surgical Training, which explains the moving around. On the other hand, I (Eliza) work as a Project Director in the world of events.
When we’re not busy with our demanding work schedules you can often find us hosting parties, dinners or long lunches for our friends and family. We love creating experiences and memorable moments. We also enjoy the outdoors, like hiking and going to the beach (mainly to Stradbroke Island) and attending music festivals. Life is quite an adventure for us, and we really try to embrace it!
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Eliza – Will and I met when we were 17, at a high school house party. He didn’t ask me to be his girlfriend until months later when I went to his school formal (we went to all girl/boys schools) and the rest is history, 14 years later.
My first impression of Will was his tanned skin, bleach-blonde hair and broad shoulders from all the swimming he did in high school. He was lots of fun, kind, adventurous and intelligent. He wasn’t very good at replying to text messages or calling which I interpreted at the time as playing hard to get, so naturally I was interested. I’ve since learnt over the years this is just Will.
Will – My first impression of Eliza was that she was out of my league. She has intentionally omitted above that I had a terrible dress sense at that time, as well as a general awkwardness, especially around girls as stunning and glamorous as she was (and still is). I thought it was only a matter of time until she realized this, so when she was still talking to me 4 months later, I had no choice but to try and lock it in!
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
Will – I similarly cannot pinpoint a single moment, but it was certainly early on that I knew it could only be some massive force of nature that would ever pull us apart. The best times in my life have been with Liza, as well as some of the worst, and I’ve always been so thankful to have her there with me. I get sad whenever our plans don’t involve each other, which I think is as clear an indication as any that this is someone you want to spend your life with.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
We were on an incredible road trip from Alice Springs to Adelaide. I had gotten the ring made just in time before we left and had hidden it in my telescope (the only spot where there was no chance Liza would be snooping). The night before I suggested that we get up before light to hike Kings Canyon, so we could watch the sunrise from the top (for reference, this is where the final scene from Priscilla Queen of the Desert was filmed).
In the end, it was completely overcast, but maybe this was for the best because we had the whole place to ourselves. I caught Liza completely by surprise with a mouth full of muesli bar, and we spent the rest of the morning on another planet, without phone reception, enjoying every minute of it on our own.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
Our wedding vision was clear from the start – we wanted a formal, black-tie celebration on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). Although unconventional for the location, we found the perfect venue at the Point Lookout Community Hall, which offered a versatile space with a picturesque backdrop.
With our backgrounds in events and hosting unforgettable house parties, we felt the pressure to create an elegant yet fun-filled festival that reflected our personalities. To maintain creative control, we managed as much as possible ourselves – from lighting and music to print design and glassware.
One standout element was the sea of disco balls hanging from the trees, a playful idea that turned into an incredible and unique installation. Our focus shifted from how they looked in the air to the magical projection of tiny specks on the dance floor and trees when the spotlights came on.
Every detail was infused with love and dedication, from the crafted bars and nurtured hydrangeas to the personalized ceremony reading and beautifully designed dresses. Our wedding became a true celebration of love and creativity, making it an unforgettable experience for all.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
Eliza: I’ve always liked the idea of unique and attention-grabbing place cards that can serve a purpose during an event but also add to the tablescape. After brainstorming several ideas, I came up with the concept of using tambourines. It was something I had never seen done before, and I loved how distinct and special it felt. To bring this idea to life, we enlisted the talented Brisbane-based calligrapher and artist, Chloe Joy, to hand-paint each tambourine. They turned out absolutely stunning and were a huge hit! Not only did they fulfil their purpose as place cards, but they also added a playful touch to the night, enhancing the overall vibe. Many of our guests loved them so much that they hung them on their walls at home like a small piece of art.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have my talented mother as a dressmaker, and I knew she would be the one to create my wedding dress. After much excitement and deliberation, we stumbled upon a stunning Vogue pattern from 1953. It featured a strapless ball gown with a peaked bodice, but we added criss-cross straps and a bow tie fastening at the back for a unique touch. The veil was extra special, as my mother embroidered our initials and wedding date on it.
For the reception, I changed into a beautiful mini dress, also crafted by my mom. It was inspired by an Oscar de la Renta creation and was perfect for dancing the night away. And it didn’t stop there; my mom worked her magic to make not only my wedding dresses but also the three bridesmaid dresses. We found the perfect lemon silk cotton voile fabric, and each bridesmaid chose a style that suited them best, resulting in beautiful dresses that captured the essence of a summer wedding.
Even our adorable flower girls were not left behind in the fashion department. My mom custom-made their dresses from the same lemon fabric. As for Will and his groomsmen, they all had custom black dinner suits crafted by Institchu, complemented by meaningful accessories, including a gifted bow tie, gold-plated cufflinks, and a watch with a touching tribute to Will’s late father.
CEREMONY LOCATION: Private Residence / RECEPTION LOCATION: Point Lookout Community Hall / PHOTOGRAPHER: Allume Weddings, @allumeweddings / CELEBRANT: Briony Skinner, @smittenceremonies / HIRE: Stradbroke Island Events, @stradbroke_island_events; Valiant Hire; BJs Light and Sound; House of Harvey / FLORA: Aurora Floral Studio, @aurorafloralstudio / CATERING & BEVERAGES: Something for Catering, @somethingforcatering / TAMBORINE ARTWORK – By Chloe Joy, @bychloejoy / MENUS/SIGNAGE – Designed by Bride / WEDDING DRESS & BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Kathryn Grant, @kathryn_kg_grant / GROOM & GROOMSMEN’S SUIT: Institchu, @institchu / RINGS: The Diamond Hunter, @thediamondhunterau; Brown Haus / SHOES: Mach and Mach, @machandmach / EARRINGS: Natasha Schweitzer, @natashaschweitzer / BOWTIE: P Johnson, @pjohnsontailors / MAKEUP: Lilly Rathie, @lillyrathie / HAIR: Sarah Neill Hair, @sarahneillhair /
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