‘I kept coming back to it’: Bride’s bold colour choice on her wedding day
Lots of colour and joy – and dancing – was the plan for Georgina and Anthony’s relaxed and fun wedding.
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After meeting at QUT as university students eight years ago, this bride and groom formed a strong friendship, which blossomed into a beautiful romance.
Georgina Brown and Anthony Hearsey married on May 4 this year in front of 100 guests at Lightspace.
“We always were the last to leave a party and one day it all fell into place,’’ they say.
Anthony proposed on a private beach near Cooktown.
“He told me to pose for a photo and look out for a cool bird,’’ Georgina says.
“I swiftly realised there was no bird, but turned around to see him down on one knee. He said some lovely things but I’m not sure I heard them through the excited tears.’’
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What did you do for your hen’s night?
Our dear friend organised a Shrek-themed Far Far Away hens, with everyone dressing up as a character from the show. We had love potions, sunflowers, a frog balloon, and even a sassy prince charming for life drawing.
What did you do for your buck’s night?
The boys all got together with the groom-to-be dressed as Lord Farquaad. Anthony got quite into character, and with his red cape, wig and crown, he took to dubbing strangers with his sceptre as the friends bar crawled through the city.
First dance song? Holy Touch by Foxy Shazam.
Honeymoon?A mini-moon in the hinterlands and then a trip to Japan for the winter season.
What was your wedding theme? Lots of colour and joy! Green and pink were our core colours, with warm pastel shades and hints of blue to match the bride. We wanted lush green shades, so we used Lightspace’s plants with some greenery from our florists along the aisle.
How did you choose your wedding venue?
We knew we wanted somewhere relaxing and ideally all in one. Lightspace stood out to us immediately for their venue structure and straightforward approach. It was smooth sailing – they’d considered every detail before we had time to ask about it.
What was the budget for your wedding? Around $30,000.
What would you spend more or less on?
I think we got the balance just right! We put emphasis on good food and a good venue, and knew we could manage the little details ourselves. The venue matched our taste and included all the furnishing we needed without the need for a stylist. We both have a design background, so DIY signage and bombonieres were easy and fun to put together on a budget.
How did you choose your wedding dress?
I knew straight away I wanted something with colour. I’m a lover of spreadsheets, so I made a list of all the fashion labels that stood out to me, then put together a side-by-side comparison of my top favourites. I tried a few in person for an idea of shapes, but I knew I’d have to take the risk and find my ideal dress online. I kept coming back to the blue skirt, and it was meant to be – my Gran wore pale blue on her wedding day too.
What thoughts did you have seeing the bride walk down the aisle?
Anthony: I was too full of anticipation to think! When I saw her coming down the aisle I thought she looked like a princess.
What was the most stressful part of wedding planning? Decision fatigue! We got to a point where there were almost too many options to choose from and just had to make a call. Luckily we have a lot of loved ones who were ready to help and support our sanity.
Any unique details about your wedding?
Our florists added some greenery right along the aisle to make it feel like a magical garden inside Lightspace. When we recessed down the aisle at the end, everyone had pompoms to throw over us.
What was the standout moment of the day?
Definitely the dance floor – it didn’t stop for a minute and almost everyone got up for a boogie or two. The families mixed and danced together right until the end.
What was a wedding non-negotiable for you? We definitely wanted a cocktail style wedding, with ceremony and reception all in one. Every time we’ve been to a wedding in that format, it’s been a blast to mingle and get the families talking together. Also, we knew we had to be intentional about the playlists. A good dance floor with ripe tunes is essential to a memorable wedding.
Best wedding gift you received?
Our friend gave us a Sony Walkman! We’ll have to track down some cassettes to test it out.
What would you do differently?
Not a single thing.
Top wedding hack?
Plan 30 minutes together between the ceremony and the reception to let it all sink in. The whole day will fly by, so that brief moment together is so special and worth including.
Best advice for other couples planning a wedding? Chat about what you value about an event together before you start – the things you remember from other weddings or parties. On the flip side of that, making a few things yourself will save your wallet.
The Bride
Name Georgina Brown
Age 30
Profession Graphic design
Parents Michael and Bernadette Brown
Bridesmaids Rosie Conway and Alice Brown
Dress
Top: Fickle Hearts
Skirt: Boom Blush
Second dress: Rotate by Birger Christensen
Shoes Steve Madden
Hair and make-up Marlene Olsson from The Future Mrs
Flowers Wallflower Floral Design
Engagement ring Custom design from James & Irisa
The Groom
Name Anthony Hearsey
Age 31
Profession Advertising
Parents Aubrey and Gail Hearsey
Groomsmen Steve Hearsey and Daniel Hearsey
Suit Politix, with shirt by Twisted Tailor
Ceremony performance Jesse from The Lost Knights
Transport Afterhours Wheel Works
Celebrant Father Nigel from St Williams, Grovely
Caterer Al’FreshCo
Cake Nodo Donuts – white chocolate and milk chocolate flavours with raspberry
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