Shonna + Jacob
Wedding Date: 20 February 2021
Venue: Sails Resort & Rydges Port Macquarie
This loved up couple were one of our original Covid-19 postponements. They had just about every hiccup you could imagine to get them to this day, including a last minute ceremony venue change the week of the wedding due to the weather! Shonna and Jacob are problem solvers and knew that we were there every step of the way to support them in making their dreams reality.
Love stands the test of time… and distance
Although they were young Jacob and Shonna had a connection from the moment they met when they were teenagers. Shonna describes the time when one of her friends introduced them - Jacob had just got his drivers licence and came to pick her and some friends up to go out for lunch where they spent lots of the drive staring at each other in the rear vision mirror. Shonna says she “thought Jacob was absolutely gorgeous”. They quickly started dating but a interstate move for Shonna means that they ended things. However, that is not where this love story ends!! After about 2 years, Jacob made the trip to QLD to tell her he still loved her and I was constantly on his mind. After a few months after that Jacob hired a truck and moved her back to Port Macquarie and 12 years on they’re still loving each other.
An intimate moment proves that it doesn’t matter about the weather
Shonna and Jacob’s engagement story is so quiet and intimate that I feel like I’m intruding. I can see Shonna’s glowing as she recalls the proposal.
They were due to go on holiday’s but the day before Jacob and Shonna took a walk around lighthouse beach. It was kind of raining so they grabbed a brolly and off they went. It was pretty muddy but they walked along the beach and track to a secluded lookout on the hill. They stopped for a bit to watch the ocean when Shonna thought that Jacob had slipped in the mud!! He’d actually got down on one knee to propose! Beaming up at her, Shonna was shaking with excitement, threw the umbrella and launched on him.
This is now a special place to them and a wonderful spot for them to celebrate their original wedding date. “We celebrated the best way we know how... we got up nice and early, got coffees and pastries and headed to the same spot Jacob proposed for a morning picnic. It was a sad day but also one of the best as we made light of the situation.”
The venue selection
Nothing like a view to be the deciding factor for venues. The Ceremony was at Sails by Rydges, Port Macquarie (Marina). It had been raining super heavy for the last couple of weeks and the forecast was not looking great. Sails has a beautiful room that overlooks the marina, which they wanted to be the main focus, and a verandah that opens up, making it an excellent wet weather alternative. They wanted elegant styling, using white flowers with green gum, and at the end of the aisle had a beautiful dark timber arbour with white flowers.
For the Reception, they wanted to continue the elegance and a venue that was not only undercover for weather but to house the massive LOVE letters they had hired. They opted to host it at Rydges, Port Macquarie. The venue also has a beautiful view of the river, but also the “astounding coordinators Jackie Lawlor and Amanda Perrin! They were a massive part of our wedding day and a huge part of making our day everything we imagined. We cannot thank you lovely woman enough. Love love love.” Says Shonna.
Shonna and Jacob’s theming was neutral but elevated. “Almost everything was white/ivory and for our bridesmaids they were wearing a colour called ‘oyster’ (champagne/ivory with a touch of pink). Everything looked amazing.” Shonna describes
The main focus really was the dance floor and the giant LOVE letters. They had white draping on the ceiling and a backdrop of fairy lights behind the bridal table which overlooked the water.
“I also had a beautiful table set up in honour of my Dad Dino who sadly passed away from cancer 4 years ago. I had a few photos, a candle, his buttonhole and a bottle of his favourite drink. Breaks my heart that I even had to do this in the first place as he should of been there to watch and celebrate his daughter getting married to the love of her life. Dad loved Jacob and knew what a good man he is and would of celebrated into the night with us all. He was there in spirit and in all our hearts.” - Shonna
The best bits
Their favourite parts of the day was when they had those small moments together to just take it all in without photos being taken or any distractions. Shonna says “having all our loved ones there to share in our celebrations and seeing Jacob at the end of the aisle tearing up but also having the biggest smile on his face. He looked so handsome. We didn’t want the night to end!! It was magical!!”
The couple describe the frustration that COVID imparted on their wedding “Sadly we weren’t able to have everyone there to celebrate. Jacob’s grandad Luigi, Aunty Sylvana and oldest brother Sarn who live in New Zealand unfortunately were unable to make it. Throughout the night, Jacob’s Dad Joe face timed Grandad to be apart of the day and he joyfully watched on with a tear in his eye.”
Well, there is always a silver lining! - Thanks to technology!!
All things Bridal
Keeping things simple and to their budget. Shonna and Jacob chose pieces to match their ivory elegance theme.
Bride’s dress: LUV Bridal. “I wanted a dress with lace detail, fitted with a small train and as soon as I tried my dress on it was PERFECT! Everything I wanted!” Describes Shonna.
Bride’s Shoes: Novo
Bride’s jewellery: Goldmark
Brides ring: Prouds Jewellers
Groom’s outfit: A black tuxedo from Tarocash with black dress shirt and featured gold accessories ie- gold tie clip, gold cufflinks , black watch with gold features and his gold wedding band.
Grooms ring: Jon’s Family Jewellers
Bridesmaid dresses: Sheike
Bridesmaid accessories: Goldmark
Groomsman: yd. The boys wore charcoal grey suits with silver accessories
Hair: Lovely Locks Hairdressing
“Lucy and they girls are so talented and so much fun to be around, we were laughing all morning! I have been a client of Lovely Locks for years now and won’t go anywhere else. Everyone looked absolutely fabulous, thank you so much.”
Make up: Alicia's Makeup Artistry
“So incredibly lucky I found Alicia! I always say everything happens for a reason and it proved to be true. My original makeup artist cancelled on me due to Covid as she was also getting married and trying to plan her wedding. So I did more research and found Alicia from Newcastle and I would not have it any other way.
Everyone looked stunning!! Please check out Alicia's Facebook page!”
All things creative
Stylists: Salt & Wildflowers - US! Yay!! “You you you! Mel and Alison you are both absolutely amazing! You made everything look spectacular on our wedding day. You kept me calm throughout the last minute venue changes, dropping everything to meet at the new venue for set up inspiration and made me feel so as ease. Won’t recommend anyone else! Thank you lovely ladies ❤” - awwww Thanks guys
Florist: Wauchope Colonial Florist - “We chose Wauchope Colonial Florist because they have an amazing reputation and they were recommended to us by multiple people. I honestly see why because they were fantastic! I wanted a mixture of white flowers with green gum for everything and they did not disappoint. We had roses, hydrangeas, peonys and chinamums. For my bridesmaids they had a smaller version of my bouquet. I asked Airlie to wrap my dads charm around my bouquet and it was perfect. We even had last minute change and made an emergency call to Airlie for extra flowers one day before our wedding and she was there to help and made everything stress free. Thank you so much for everything you did. Forever grateful.”
Cake: Trish Jackson's Designer Cakes - “Trish is so talented! Our wedding cake was spot on and exactly what we envisioned. We had 3 tiers, bottom double chocolate mud cake, middle white chocolate mud cake and the top is a marble white & milk chocolate mud cake. Ivory in colour with edible flowers similar to my bouquet although with a touch of pink on some of the flowers. Trish is very highly recommended! Thank you again Trish.”
Photographer: Translucent Photography - “Lucy is very talented and captured every moment so in years to come we can look back on our magical day.”
Entertainment: Mattyboi Entertainment - “Matt was beyond amazing! Matt was our vocalist, MC and DJ. Man of many talents. We found Matt online and just loved his voice. So easy to get along with and looked after us on the big day even playing a few extra songs for us to keep our night alive. Highly recommend!! Even went to the effort to follow up with us both to recommend some ‘go to' locations on our honeymoon to Palm Cove Cairns. And all places recommended were nothing short of spectacular. Thank you so much Matt, hope we see you again at one of your gigs” - Jacob
…and all the things
Cake topper: Port trophies and badges - https://porttrophiesandbadges.com.au/
Bouquet charm: Perfect Charmer - https://www.perfectcharmer.com.au/
Celebrant: Chris Waals - “Chris is actually one of my bridesmaids Uncles. As a wedding gift to us, Amelia organised Chris to be our celebrant and he was amazing. Amelia and I would always joke around saying we are keeping things in the family.” - Shonna
Final Thought…
The week leading up to our wedding we stayed at a spectacular location called ‘The Hideout’ located at Redbank NSW, situated at the mouth of the Hastings River. It was so relaxing and peaceful and that was definitely what we both needed on the lead up to our wedding day. Sue and Clyde were so welcoming and accommodating. It was the perfect location for Jacob and the boys to get ready the morning of the wedding. Thank you again Sue for everything you did for us. If your after a relaxing getaway that doesn’t take hours to get to I recommend The Hideout J
