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Thirteen months ago an outdoor wedding wasn’t even on the cards. We’d seen several friends’ weddings and engagement parties washed out by rain and we weren’t taking the risk.

Come December 12 though, and there we were getting married in a garden.

But we wouldn’t have done it without a rock solid, easy, indoor option at the same venue.

That way, if it rained there’d be little or no impact on anyone but the venue. And even then, it’d be minimal. There’d be no extra cost, no disruption or confusion for our guests, and most importantly, it meant we didn’t have to worry. Whatever the weather.

But as we’d quickly found out when we were making our plans, the fact a venue has a ‘wet option’ doesn’t mean you would want to, or could, get married in it.

Most venues we saw with an indoor and outdoor option had either or both of two problems:

1) The indoor option was much smaller than the outdoor setting and wouldn’t accommodate all our guests.

2) Or they were just plain ugly (compared to their outdoor counterpart).

As it happens we found a venue with two big, beautiful options.

And with a bleak outlook the morning of, we were glad we’d been a little more picky and realistic about the chances of rain. We could relax and know that, no matter what the weather that afternoon, we’d still be married in a beautiful setting.

Cheers, Nigel

(Photography by Johannes van Kan)

Exactly one month ago yesterday, Kayla and I reached the end of a 13 month engagement and tied the knot.

I’ve still got plenty more engagement posts to write – and I’m working on the newly engaged Danny to help me out with them – but let me jump forward a little and talk about the day itself.

It was perfect. Truth is, it was always going to be perfect. No matter what happened.

I had my bride, my friends and my family, we had fun, and most importantly, we were happy. On the day, that’s what mattered.

The weather forecast wasn’t looking great. And the morning of, it poured. Come three o’clock though, the lights turned on behind the clouds. Overcast, but not the threatening grey that would have made for a miserable outdoor wedding.

The ceremony was beautiful – our good friend officiated a personal and meaningful service. One of the advantages of having someone you both know well, marry you.

Our amazing photographer Johannes van Kan had the guests, and us, wrapped around his little finger. His manner and presence during the day was outstanding. His poetic and entertaining direction had everyone captured. And the photos… Well, we were blown away.

Guests haven’t stopped talking about how good he was, and most haven’t even seen the photos yet. He added a element of humour, fun and excitement to the day that people noticed. And that’s important because your photographer does spend most of it with you… A third wheel if you like

The food, the speeches, the dancing – all of it was perfect in its own way.

A couple of weeks in the sunny Gold Coast was just what the doctor ordered for some post wedding R&R before coming home late on Christmas eve to a house full of wedding presents. Needless to say we had a busy christmas day opening presents!

Cheers, Nigel

(Photography by Simon Whitten)

Truth is, sometimes I’ve felt a bit self-conscious writing about our wedding.

Every day I see albums from top photographers around the world of the most elaborate, extravagant and expensive weddings you could imagine.

Sometimes I’ve wondered if what I’m writing is even relevant … because Kayla and I didn’t get married in a castle!

But my intention has been to share our experiences and insights, not to compare our wedding to another. And the truth is that the weddings we’re lucky enough to share in at Queensberry take place everywhere, “from humble homes to palaces.”

Maybe you are getting married in a castle! There are plenty of us curious people out there, so why not share? What have been your frustrations, experiences, highs and lows?

Every engaged couple has something interesting to tell about their wedding planning experience, so if you’d like to contribute a story or insight of your own, please flick me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Cheers, Nigel

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Cheers, Nigel