Laid-back, relaxed and fun beachside winter wedding at Kawana Surf Club!
This super chilled, down-to-earth and fantastically friendly Townsville pair of lovebirds excitedly told me that they wanted a super low-key ceremony with an emphasis on enjoying every moment with their fun-loving tribe.
“Casual, fuss free and genuine, my signature style as a Sunshine Coast Celebrant.”
Sophie and Zaak warmly greeted me with bear hugs over a triple shot long black with a shot of vanilla. I’m still in awe of how Zaak downed that amount of coffee while remaining still throughout our fun ceremony planning chat!
I knew we were going to be a great team when Zaak kindly helped me pour my cup of tea before I spilt it all over myself. What a sweetie!
Sophie and Zaak are an adorable couple who wear their hearts on their sleeves with the biggest grins on their faces. Not a stone was unturned when we started planning and crafting their beachside wedding ceremony which was planned smack bang in the middle of winter on the spacious lawn within the grounds of Kawana Surf Club in Buddina.
Simplicity, mindfulness and eco-awareness was at the forefront of their winter wedding day vision. Sophie’s beautiful bouquet was made of paper florals from delightful Paper Flowers Australia
The cool wind coming straight off the ocean gave us all a little scare by pushing the arbour over in one foul swoop. Thankfully, none of us were standing under it at the time! While Sophie’s boho luxe florals took a battering, Zaak remained as cool as a cucumber and with the help of his trusty groomsmen who were equally as calm, the arbour was righted upwards, pegged firmly into the ground and a new floral arrangement was securely placed once again. We never said a word to Sophie…
My favourite moment was when Zaak struggled to contain his happy tears as Sophie glided into clear sight behind the guests and floated down the aisle, her beaming smile enchanting us all. She truly was a vision to behold with her beautiful fiery red mane and effortless beauty! I had to clear the lump from my throat before I started speaking!
Their adorable love story began with a little swipe to the right…
Giddy with nerves and bubbling with excitement, Sophie looked forward to her upcoming lunch date. To her all friends, Sophie was beautiful, inspiring, energetic and fiery, with a determined stance on what she truly believed in. However, Sophie doubted herself. Sadly, she was a little lost during that time in her life and she worried a little too much about other people’s opinion of her. But this was all about to change.
Sophie promised to tell her sister from another Mister, Fern that she’d call her straight after the lunch date to share all the juicy goss. Evidently, poor Fern had to wait for a good 28 hours to hear all about it because Sophie chatted with her date for hours on end without taking a breath!
And that date was none other than Zaak, an outgoing and invincible socialite who stood over nearly everyone around him. His statuesque height and cheeky smile made Sophie feel safe and comfortable, safe enough to be her gorgeous self without holding back.
The feeling was mutual as Zaak relaxed in Sophie’s lively company and he was instantly mesmerised by her beautiful eyes. Their first date felt so natural, with no awkwardness or pressure to impress. They felt completely free to be themselves.
Now, as a loved up couple living together, an ideal day is all about packing up their fur babies, Jasper and Margo into the car to grab a good coffee and spend the day at the beach. They feel most connected and relaxed when curled up on the couch with noodles to watch the latest and greatest TV show or movie. If they get stuck in traffic, they’ll find themselves getting lost in cheeky gossip and chatting about all sorts of random topics.
The everyday mundane is even fun for these two. Zaak is such a sweetie that he holds up the hills hoist to stop it from swinging so Sophie can hang out the clothes! Although he draws the line when it comes to doing the dishes…
Zaak feels that their relationship hasn’t changed them as such, but it has given light to the positive personal traits that they share and this is what makes them work so darn well.
Now, Sophie sees herself exactly as we all see her; beautiful, funny and radiant. She no longer fusses over how people perceive her as her confidence now soars and she can easily focus more on her own happiness.
This truly is a happily ever after tale…
My favourite moment from this warm hearted winter wedding ceremony? It’s hard to pinpoint because I adored all the feels of Sophie and Zaak’s calm and tranquil day. Perhaps my big hug with Sophie was my favourite part? Perhaps it was the fun banter with Zaak and his cheeky Groomsmen before their ceremony? This was an overall feel good day and I’m thrilled and honoured that they asked me to share it with them!
"10/10 recommend Stacey to anyone deciding on their Sunshine Coast Celebrant! Stacey was very warm, welcoming and kind. She walked us through every step on the way and was there to calm the nerves on the big day. We absolutely loved our ceremony and was everything we could of hoped for. With our unique drama filled life she was quick to alter the script on the big day. Thank you for being such a big part of our day and we cannot wait to hopefully see you again soon."
Wedding Day Dream Team:
Photographer / Artography - @artographyweddings
Florals / Paper Flowers Australia - @paperflowersaustralia
Venue / Kawana Surf Club - @kawanasurfclub