Couple tee off with beautiful golf club wedding

It was a day of joy and celebration when this Brisbane couple married after two cancellations due to Covid.

Alice and MIchael’s wedding. Picture: Figtree Pictures

It was third time lucky for Alice and Michael, who were forced to cancel their nuptials twice during the pandemic.

The Banyo couple – who have been together for 12 years – were finally able to tie the knot on March 8 this year.

They held both the ceremony and the reception at the stunning Hillstone St Lucia wedding venue, dancing their first dance to You’re Still The One by Shania Twain.

“After getting engaged in 2019 in Santorini, we had planned a 2021 and 2022 wedding, with both being cancelled due to Covid,’’ Alice says.

“With Michael reinvigorating the energy to plan a wedding for a third time, he took me to Hillstone St Lucia, and it was absolutely beautiful and a dream.

“We married on Friday the 8th of March 2024, with 46 guests, and it could not have been more perfect, surrounded by immediate family and dear friends.’’

The couple plan to honeymoon in Europe in August, their first holiday in five years.

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How did you choose your wedding dress?

I was with my friend Estee going to a wedding expo at South Bank, and she took me to Jack Sullivan afterwards. We picked one from a sale rack just to try on as a bit of a joke and just to have fun together, but amazingly it fit perfectly and was everything I was looking for. We cried, (then) FaceTimed my mum and sister as we couldn’t leave without it. Lucky five years later, and two Covid-cancelled weddings, it still fit.

Alice and Michael’s wedding day. Picture: Figtree Pictures

What thoughts did you have while waiting at the altar and seeing Alice walk down the aisle?

Michael:Nervous, but extremely excited. I couldn’t believe we were finally here.

What was the most stressful part of wedding planning?

Cancelling through Covid twice I would say was the most stressful and heartbreaking time. We are both very organised people, and love spreadsheets, so planning the third wedding together was lovely. I would say being a couple weeks out from the wedding, completing end of semester exams for university, it was a bit overwhelming but our wedding co-ordinator at Hillstone made sure to ease my nerves and was brilliant at calming me down.

What was the standout moment of your wedding day?

Firstly, we had the luxury of getting ready at our friends home, so with myself on one level and Michael on the other, we were able to spend that quality time together with friends, both our mums and sisters, and family that could go between levels. No one was missing out on moments. Secondly, would be me walking down the aisle to Michael, we could both see each other, and our fur child Ralph, and it all just hit us that we were finally getting married. That was really overwhelming in the best possible way.

Thirdly, was quality time out on the golf course together, the nerves had settled, and we could just enjoy that time together as newlyweds.

And lastly was listening to speeches from our mums, my sister, and the best man, we knew how lucky we were to be surrounded by our people – our immediate family, and friends that have become our family by extension.

Alice and Michael’s wedding day. Picture: Figtree Pictures

What was a wedding non-negotiable for you?

High-quality photographers, the best in the business and worth every penny. Good food, flowing drinks, and our loved ones. It was an extremely hard decision to refine the guest list down, but we really just wanted to enjoy quality time with our people.

What would you do differently?

Nothing. There isn’t anything I could think of that I would change.

Alice and Michael’s wedding day. Picture: Figtree Pictures

What would you spend more or less on?

Nothing, we went into wedding planning for a third time with the idea of keeping it simple with the focus on enjoying the time together with our friends and family. We really focused on good food, and free flowing drinks which were so important.

The package we chose was very complementary of this, and included our fur child Ralph well too.

Best advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Just a reminder to slow down, and take it one step at a time. We really focused on time together in the lead up, to keep our sanity, and enjoy the process. We loved doing this entire wedding together.

And also, we didn’t spend a great deal on decorations, as that just wasn’t an important element for us. No one will remember it, and I didn’t think it needed to be on my radar as something to be concerned and stressed about.

Alice and Michael’s wedding day. Picture: Figtree Pictures

The Bride

Alice, 30

Profession Psychology student and real estate

Mother Robyn Bailey

Maid of Honour Heather Miers

Dress Jack Sullivan

Hair Sarah Harrington

Make-up Lira @lirabahtirimua

Flowers The Flower Man Ascot

Engagement ring Michael Hill

Venue Hillstone St Lucia

The Groom

Michael, 28

Profession Fire protection

Mother Denise Sewell

Best Man Mitchell Buckett

Suit MJ Bale

Entertainment The Music Box Collective

Videographer Meadow Lane Visuals

Cake Peace of Cake