Page 39 - Port Douglas Magazine 41

love.

REAL LIFE

WEDDING

ALEX + JADE

WORDS by Rosie Wang
ort Douglas is not only an iconic place for saying framed with palm trees. The location also held sentimental
‘I do’ for interstate and overseas couples, but the locals memories for Alex of his late Grandma.
also love to use their Paradise on their doorstep as a The reception was held at “The Rainforest Grotto” a magical,
Pbackdrop to their special day. and enchanting venue set amidst rainforest trees and waving
You can’t get more local than Alex and Jade. They first met sugar cane. As Jade said: “We really liked the idea of providing
when they were both at the local primary school, but it was a ‘reef to rainforest’ experience for our guests, especially for
only in 2013 after Alex had finished school and Jade was in her those travelling, so the Grotto was another easy decision.
final year, that romance blossomed, and they found domestic It’s completely private which was very important to us and
bliss. complemented our garden style reception beautifully”.
Alex’s profession as a structural engineer and Jade’s as a Through Jade’s job, she was aware of the endless options and
wedding planner/stylist suited their life in Cooya Beach, here in alternatives to choose from, as she had seen so many weddings
FNQ, which they share with their two fur babies. through the years. To focus, she sat down with Alex and made a
A surprise visit to the idyllic Mackay Sand Cay just off from list of priorities and focused on the aspects of the day that were
Cape Tribulation, in September 2022, found Alex kneeling in important to both of them. The other planning was relatively
the golden sands and asking Jade, “Will you marry me?” With easy, with the hardest bit, putting together the guest list and
a backdrop of the azure crystal sea and rainforest hills, Jade seating plan.
said, ‘Yes!’. “Our guests were so happy when they found out we were having
As a wedding planner, planning the wedding should have been the wedding in Port Douglas. Not only did they get to attend our
a piece of cake, but the most difficult part of the planning was wedding, but those travelling could also double up and have a
deciding where to have it. They knew they wanted a tropical mini holiday at the same time in this idyllic location!”
destination and did entertain Bali as a place where they had In traditional style, Jade spent the pre-wedding night with her
spent some great holidays together. In the end, they felt having bridesmaids at the stunning, tropically eclectic, Pineapple
it in their hometown in Port Douglas made sense, as they had Pete’s Beach House.
friends and family here, and with Jade’s work, a plethora of Jade’s only concern about the wedding day was not being able
brilliant suppliers and contacts. to help set up on the day and being ‘hands on’ (and possibly due
Through Jade’s expertise she planned the day. She was clear to her self-confessed OCD traits). So it was with great relief
on what time of year she wanted and the style she wanted that the team she works with absolutely ‘nailed it’ on the day
(oops - they!) and with the help of her wonderful contacts and and all she had to think about was enjoying her wedding day!
colleagues, brought their vision to life. They wanted a wedding vibe that was FUN and light-hearted
Little Cove in Port Douglas was chosen as the place for the to reflect their personalities and Sarah (Woods), the marriage
ceremony, which is an idyllic, picturesque, small local beach, celebrant, proved the perfect fit.