‘We had to change nearly everything last minute’: Bride and groom’s expensive wedding day drama
Last-minute drama hit this elegant, formal Scenic Rim wedding but everything was perfect on the day thanks to forward planning.
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A fully vegan wedding feast was on the menu for this couple who married in the Scenic Rim on April 6 this year. Chandler ‘s Floyd Moynihan and Chantelle May, who met while working at a bar at a music festival 13 years ago, celebrated with a ceremony and reception at Mt French Lodge.
Despite a lot of stress about the weather, the sun broke through for the couple and their 80 guests who wore tuxedos and full-length dresses for the formal occasion.
The couple, who learned a dance for the wedding, performed it to Amazed by Lonestar.
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How did you meet? In 2011, working behind the bar at the RNA Showgrounds for a music festival. We met because both our last names started with M and they allocated which bar you were on in alphabetical order by last name, there were 14 other bars we could have been assigned to. Not great first impressions, Floyd was a bit of a “cool kid” which didn’t interest me much, but he grew on me quickly!
The proposal?On a private cliff on Santorini, Greece, it was just magical, no one else there but us and views as far as the eye could see, still the most beautiful place we’ve ever been.
Hens/bucks night?We went on a big joint bucks and hens to Bali with our closest friends; booked out the front of a plane and got a big villa, and then did separate activities (boys and girls) for three days. So fun but a lot of chaos!
Honeymoon?As Chantelle has a terminally ill family member, we are yet to honeymoon, but thinking Sri Lanka where her grandad/family is from.
How did you choose your wedding venue?
We looked at so many but a lot had a very commercial feel; they were churning out sometimes 8 to 10 weddings per week and had a lot of rules! We wanted something more private and personal and that’s exactly what we found in Mt French. We found our perfect intimate place with unbelievable views of the mountains.
What was the budget for your wedding? $100,000.
What would you spend more or less on?
Due to the horrible storms predicted, there were a lot of last-minute expenses. We had planned a completely outdoor open air wedding, but as the prediction was thunderstorms all day we quickly pivoted to a marquee. This meant we had to change nearly everything last minute – the dance floor, the lighting, the entire floor plan, the band stage, the ceremony chairs. We basically replanned the whole wedding that we’d been planning for 12 months on the Tuesday prior, so this incurred extra expense - then it didn’t even rain! Not sure if we should be happy or sad about that considering the stress.
How did you go about choosing your wedding dress? Chantelle:Again this process felt a little commercial with allocated times to try on only a certain amount of dresses … until I met Jodie from Oh Hello Bride. I couldn’t believe the difference in the personalised experience, nothing was too much hassle. I ended up choosing something completely different to what I originally had in my head!
What thoughts did you have while waiting at the altar? Floyd:I felt sick! So nervous, I was even shaking … but then I saw Chantelle, and a wave of emotion rushed over me, even a few tears but don’t tell anyone!
What was the most stressful part of planning? Deciding to do it all outdoors so trying to constantly predict the weather and knowing rain might ruin the image we had in our heads.
Any unique details about your wedding?
It was fully vegan! Plus we decided regardless of the thunderstorms we were going to do the ceremony outside, in the pouring rain, we decided to just embrace it (which I’m sure our guests are glad didn’t come into play).
What was the standout moment of the day?The way the sun broke through the clouds after all the stress about the weather. Actual rays of sunshine over the mountains; it was beautiful even on a normal day but this was our wedding day! Even Wilde Visual said it was a dream to photograph, one they don’t see often.
Best wedding gift? We asked for donations to a charity dear to us as a gift or otherwise an activity for us to do in our first year of marriage, so we’re going diving with sharks.
What would you do differently?Steamed my dress the night before instead of thinking it would be quick 30 minutes before the ceremony, spoiler alert – it was not! Oh, and I completely forgot my bouquet toss! Oops.
Top wedding hack? 100 per cent create a separate email account for wedding planning, you will literally send thousands of emails; I wish I did this! Trying to filter wedding emails from personal or work ones was a mission.
The Bride
Chantelle May, 30
Profession Ecommerce founder
Parents Brian May, Yolanda May
Bridesmaid Mary-Rose Moynihan
Dress Olya Mak from The Blushery by Oh Hello Bridal
Hair Jezabel Artistry
Make-up Jdolls
Flowers Elyssium Blooms
Engagement ring Stones Diamond Ring Specialists
Wedding planner/stylist Scenic Rim Bride
Cake Fully vegan, honeycomb and choc chip by Pippas Pantry
The Groom
Floyd Moynihan, 31
Profession Creative director
Parents Michelle Moynihan
Groomsmen Mitchell Mclean, Callum May, Nicholas Whimp
Suit InStitchu
Entertainment Hamilton Band
Transport Brisbane 360
Videographer Wilde Visual
Celebrant Lauren Bridge
Caterer In Season Catering
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