Sara and Joel’s big day had all the trimmings of a summer festival – tipi stations, booze in the form of an epic champagne tower, and warm rays of sunshine reflecting over the waters of Matilda Bay. Unlike when the couple first met, Joel would not be wearing pink crocs or feigning any dietary requirements to mess with this party! While the duo had to wait an extra 12 months to say I Do due to COVID restrictions, you could say fate had their backs. The couple welcomed daughter Elle in this waiting period, who was a very special witness on the day. The Day Weddings shares all the gorgeous details.

The Bride’s Look 

Sara’s dress was purchased well in advance, one year prior in fact, when the couple were first set to say I Do. “I had picked my dress to suit being 5 months pregnant so thankfully the team at Karen Willis Holmes were able to tailor it to me post bub,” says Sara. Sara also wore her brand new pearl earrings, gifted to her by Joel on the day. “My pearl earrings were a gift from my husband the morning of our wedding made by Sinclairs Jewellers with a note: “To Future Mrs Thomson. Something New! My heart will always be yours, and may we grow old together to have fond memories of the life we have lived as one! See you soon Mrs Thomson xoxo.”

The Matilda Bay Ceremony 

The wedding ceremony held at Matilda Bay Reserve featured 140 guests with a stunning bespoke arbour by Fox and Rabbit and beautiful views of the river as their backdrop. Celebrant Nathaneal Ditchburn wrote the couple’s vowels, meeting the two on numerous occasions to get to know their personalities and story. After the ceremony, guests gathered under the trees to enjoy a celebratory drink at their champagne tower organised by Euphoric Events. “This was our version of cutting the cake!” shares Sara. With many intimate spaces organized in and around tipis by TP and Co, the couple said this was a perfect way to entertain guests so they could slip away for photos.

Styling by Tiffany Keal

At their initial meeting, Sara and Joel told stylist Tiffany Keal they wanted their wedding to have a festival feel. “With COVID lockdowns and all of the separation from 12 months prior, we wanted everyone to be brought together for fun and frivolity,” explains Sara. Despite Sara’s knack for party planning, time restraints meant she’d have to put all her faith in Stylist Tiffany and her group of recommended vendors. “Running a business (Skin Collective) with a young family, I am very time poor, but I felt very relaxed knowing I picked a group of people that I trusted,” says Sara. “If you have the budget, I would recommend getting an amazing stylist like Tiffany Keal.”

 Photography by The Day Weddings

The Day Weddings captured the mix of emotions perfectly – from the party vibes to the more intimate and sentimental times. Sara tells us getting a great photographer was crucial, with photos acting as reminders of all the special moments she experienced. “You will never regret spending money on an exceptional photographer or videographer,” shares Sara. “The day goes by in a flash and conversations with people seem more like speed dating interactions rather than intermittent conversations.”

Matilda Bay Restaurant Reception

With Sara’s parents owning Matilda Bay Restaurant for over 40 years, the reception venue was an easy choice. Curating an open space with plenty of room for guests to roam, stylist Tiffany Keal set up a tepee, multiple food stations and indoor seating inside the restaurant. “There was an oyster shucker, grazing table, taco and wood-fire pizza station as well as canapés, a dessert table and Gin and Whiskey Bar,” remembers Sara. “In the late evening mini brioche cheese burgers and chips circulated to keep sustenance levels high.” Further highlighting their festival theme, guests also enjoyed a magic show by James Diamond and a gin and whisky bar. “Joel is a whiskey drinker and I love gin so at 10pm we opened up a Gin and Whiskey Bar with a collation of our favourites,” remembers Sara. “This was set up in the tipi, which had a relaxed lounge feel about it with a stunning flower installation by Fox and Rabbit.” Another nod showing who they are as a couple, guests took home Green and Black’s chocolate bars with bespoke wrappers designed by Paige Tuzee. “Chocolate in our household lasts minutes rather than days as we both have a sweet tooth so it seemed fitting to gift this to our family and friends.”