NICHOLAS & SONNY

Congratulations NICHOLAS & SONNY

12 June 2021, Gold Coast Hinterland QLD

Nicholas Heard and Sonny Royal met through a mutual friend at the Griffith Uni Bar on the Gold Coast. “We were fresh undergraduates in early 2010.” While Nick was working away, he secretly arranged to have engagement rings made. A month later, during a surprise weekend getaway at Binna Burra and following a day of hiking, Nick pulled out the rings and proposed to Sonny on the deck overlooking the hinterland during an unforgettable sunset. “The whole area was unfortunately lost soon after from the Black Summer bushfire season, which is now bittersweet and makes the memory even more special.”

“We have always been deeply inspired by nature and the great outdoors, in particular the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. This location has long been a place to escape, reset and reconnect. Naturally, we wanted to incorporate this at the heart of our wedding theme by taking our guests on an adventure and truly experiencing the refined beauty that is so close to our hearts. We aimed to capture the forest backdrop to inspire those we care about most in a place that helped define our relationship.”

“There were so many highlights. A few friends dropped by to see us both individually on the morning of our wedding to build the excitement while we were getting ready at our family’s mountain view villas. To share this moment with a close group of people was really special and added to the overwhelming amount of love that was in the air. Following the ceremony we headed off with our photographer to capture the beautiful moments that unfolded over the course of the afternoon. Being together wrapped in the bliss of the day was really special giving us time alone before returning to the party to soak it all in and savour the moment. Hearing the speeches from family members and friends was both heartwarming and humbling and of course dancing the night away under a blanket of stars was the icing on the cake. We asked for advice from people who had been married before and the key messages were to stick together as it’s your day, try not to get overwhelmed and take the time to step back and enjoy the day as it will be over before you know it. We had a ‘meet and greet’ the afternoon before the wedding which provided our guests with the opportunity to become acquainted so that nobody was a stranger on the day. Any excuse to extend a full weekend of celebrations!”

“Our advice for other couples is to put the time into planning your day in a way that is true to yourself. Enjoy the planning journey and don’t wish the time away. It’s easy to get bogged down in the details and forget to have fun during the lead-up. Don’t sweat the small stuff because on the day none of it matters. Remember to relish in the moments together. We will be honeymooning in Tasmania to enjoy a part of Australia we have always been excited to travel to for its stunning flora, fauna, and landscapes, mixed with good wine!”

NICHOLAS & SONNY’S WEDDING CREW

Photography

AMY DE BOER PHOTOGRAPHY

www.facebook.amydeboerphotography amydeboerphotography@gmail.com

Attire - Sonny (Saba suit, Peggy & Finn protea bow-tie), Nicholas (Bruno’s suit, Peggy & Finn protea tie) Cake - Shawtima Rakovsky (cupcake tower and rainbow wedding cake) Celebrant - Doug Beitz Ceremony, Reception and Accommodation - O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Hire and Styling - Scenic Rim Wedding Hire Music and Entertainment - Ross River Fever Rings - LeGassick titanium wedding rings