50+ photos: Must(er) be love, love, love in Gympie

After four years of delays and a global pandemic, a Queensland couple has finally tied the knot in unique style – on the main stage at the Gympie Music Muster 2023. PHOTOS.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on the Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Geoff Borninkhof has been coming to the Gympie Music Muster for more than a decade, but this year's event will forever hold a special place in his heart as the location for his wedding to Simone Ward.

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The couple met five years ago at a mutual friend’s house and love-struck Geoff recalled the moment he turned to his mate and predicted the future.

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“I walked in and said to my mate ‘she’s going to be my wife’,” he told the Gympie Times

“I couldn’t quite remember her name, but she took my breath away and we had an instant connection.

“My mate said, ‘don’t be silly, she’s not for you’ (but) I said, ‘she’s going to be my wife.”

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on the Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A year later, in the wee hours of January 1, 2019, Geoff got down on one knee and popped the question to the love of his life.

“The reason I proposed to her on January 1 was that she had lost her father the August beforehand, and I said, ‘we are going to start off this year with a new beginning in life’,’” Geoff said.

The pair began joyfully planning their nuptials but as it was for many couples around the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner in the works.

After not one, not two, but three attempts to have their special day only for it to be postponed, the couple joked when attending the 2022 Gympie Music Muster they should get married at the event.

Geoff has been attending the famed music festival for 14 years, and took Simone for the first time last year.

“While we were at the Muster, he asked whether I would love to get married there and I said ‘I’d love to,’” Simone said.

Through strategic planning and a little bit of muster magic, the pair finally tied the knot on The Hill Stage at 11am Saturday August 26, 2023.

The wedding between Simone, who hails from Kingaroy, and Geoff from Nanango, was attended by friends, family and a very supportive crowd.

See all the photos from the special day:

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Simone Ward and Geoffrey Borninkhof, were married on The Hill Stage at Gympie Music Muster. Picture: Patrick Woods.