Bride and groom’s creative solution for missing best man

This Brisbane couple found a unique way to get around the fact that their best man was missing on their wedding day.

2 min read

November 25, 2021 - 11:30PM

QWeekend

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This Brisbane couple found a unique way to acknowledge a very important family member who was missing from their wedding day.

Groom Thomas Honeywill’s identical twin brother and best man, Conor, was unable to make it to the wedding from interstate.

“We were devastated to be missing some key loved ones on the day, but included them throughout the day where we could by streaming the ceremony, having other people read their speeches, and cardboard cutouts that were flung around the dancefloor,’’ bride Sarah said.

The creative cardboard cutout solution at the wedding of Sarah Lunney and Thomas Honeywill. Picture: Ivy Road Photography

The Newmarket couple – who have been together for a decade – married on September 18 at The Bower Estate in the Gold Coast hinterland.

They danced their first dance to Coming Home by Leon Bridges in front of 82 guests, before honeymooning in Burleigh Heads.

How long have you been together?

We were married on our 10-year anniversary – to the day. When we first visited The Bower Estate, we immediately fell in love with the venue. They only had a handful of dates still available for 2021 and one of them happened to be our anniversary date.

How did you meet?

We met through friends in high school and were good friends for years before dating.

Wedding of Sarah Lunney and Thomas Honeywill. Picture: Ivy Road Photography

How did he propose?

Thomas proposed with a sunset picnic on Cylinder Beach headland at Stradbroke Island, where we holiday with family every winter.

It was on the same beach that he asked me to be his girlfriend 10 years earlier, so it was very nostalgic to both of us, but somehow still took me completely by surprise.

Ceremony and reception?

Our ceremony was on the hillside at The Bower Estate in the Gold Coast hinterland. We wanted an outdoor ceremony, surrounded by nature, and the venue and weather absolutely delivered.

Our guests then moved to a part of the venue that was out of sight during the ceremony to reveal a beautiful fairylight-lit fig tree and marquee for the reception celebrations.

Wedding of Sarah Lunney and Thomas Honeywill. Picture: Ivy Road Photography

What was the standout moment of the day?

We had a few standout moments: that first moment seeing each other down the aisle, reading our vows, and a champagne tower after the ceremony was a fun way to kick off the celebrations.

We also treasured sitting together and looking out at all of our family and friends talking and laughing while they were eating dinner. It was really special to have (almost all) of our loved ones under one roof.

Best advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Don’t feel like you have to be constantly organising your wedding.

We dedicated one night a fortnight, where we cooked a nice meal, had a bottle of wine and planned the big day together.