Page 41 - Port Douglas Magazine 40

love.

REAL LIFE

WEDDING

ELI + MORGAN

WORDS by Sofia Cullen

espite hailing from opposing sides of the globe, Eli, all The desire for a weatherproof wedding led them to the beautiful,
the way from Suffolk in the UK, and Morgan from a small air-conditioned chapel and terrace dining at Sheraton Grand Mirage.
Dcountry town on the Tasman Peninsula, fate dealt its hand “Harrison’s terrace was the perfect place to enjoy dinner and talk
and both found themselves calling Queensland’s Hervey Bay to our guests before we moved inside for a great dance floor and
‘home’. In true Queenslander spirit, they first met at the local club, many espresso martinis!” laughs Morgan. Despite the precautions,
yet it only took a few months for their connection to deepen and the weather stepped up and performed beautifully for the couple,
their relationship to blossom. allowing them to enjoy a cocktail hour in the gardens after the
When a work conference to Port Douglas was cancelled, their ceremony. “The backdrop of the ocean and tropical gardens was
story took an unexpected turn. “We were so disappointed to miss absolutely stunning,” Morgan enthuses. “The staff at the Sheraton
out on this trip as we were really looking forward to exploring a were extremely helpful and knowledgeable and we were impressed
new part of the country,” reflects Morgan. “So as a spur of the by the service!”
moment decision, we booked ourselves a holiday!” Niramaya Villas & Spa served as the accommodation choice for
“On one of our days we decided to hire a car and have a relaxed day the couple. Two deluxe villas were booked, where Eli and his
exploring Cape Tribulation,” Morgan reminisces. “It was just the groomsmen stayed in one and Morgan and her bridesmaids in the
two of us enjoying the rainforest boardwalk when Eli pulled me to other. Concerned about the nerves associated with everyone’s eyes
one side and asked me to be his wife. It was the easiest ‘yes’ I’ve on them during the ceremony, Eli and Morgan opted for a private
ever said, and the backdrop was so tranquil and serene. I couldn’t first look at Niramaya a few hours before the wedding. “This was
have asked for a more intimate and beautiful proposal! And from one of our favourite decisions, it instantly calmed the nerves and
that day forward we knew Port would feature in our lives.” set the scene for an awesome day,” said Morgan. “Your wedding
Following their engagement, the couple made a pact to try and day is so fleeting and goes so quickly, so having this small amount
of extra time to take it in really made us feel at ease and able to
return each year on their anniversary, succeeding in 2022 to enjoy the day with our family and friends.”
peruse wedding venues and vendors, and then in 2023 to finally tie
the knot. The couple realised that many friends and family would The couple’s vision for the ceremony was clear – they wanted
need to travel for their wedding regardless, so they decided to it to reflect their personalities without being overly serious or
bring everyone together for a destination wedding in Port Douglas. romantic. “We just wanted to be honest about who we are, how
As the prospect of arranging everything remotely loomed, and we have grown as a couple, and what our lives will look like in
the future,” describes Eli. Choosing Anna Soltwedel as their
their workload increased, Eli and Morgan reflect: “Neither of us celebrant, they crafted a ceremony that was light, upbeat, and
wanted to feel stressed about the experience and thought it should tailored to their unique story. “My bridesmaids came up with the
be something enjoyable to plan. We felt we needed an experienced idea of distributing sunglasses – it added a playful touch and was
wedding professional who could advise us on the best options and very appropriate considering the location of the wedding,” laughs
coordinate all the local vendors on our behalf.” Enter Bec from Morgan.
Dragonfly Weddings. “Having Bec in our corner really helped. She
was on the same page right from the beginning and had a solution Despite an initial hesitancy, the couple also decided to write their
ready for every question, whether big or small,” shares Morgan. own vows and it will always remain a very special memory. “Neither
“I really wanted to make sure the wedding reflected Eli and I as a of us particularly enjoy public speaking, but we are both so happy
couple and thought all the smaller details were really important!” we changed our minds and took the time to write them” reflects
Aligned with Eli and Morgan’s vision, there was a few criteria Eli. “Anna was kind enough to print the whole ceremony and our
vows for us as a keepsake too.” The ceremony held several unique
they saw as non-negotiable. Excellent food and beverage menus elements, including the bride’s mother removing her veil at the end
were at the top of their list, and Harrison’s emerged as the perfect of the aisle. “We were honoured that both of our Mums were there
choice. “We felt that Harrison’s represented us - a British chef to witnesses our marriage certificate,” adds Morgan. “They were
incorporating locally sourced and native Australian ingredients such a vital part in both Eli and my upbringing and ensuring they
was a reflection of us as a couple - British meets Australian - we had a role to play in our ceremony was really important to us.”
thought this was quite fun,” shares Eli.