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If you are anything like me, I had been planning my dream wedding in my head since I was 10 years old! So by the time I met Rian and he popped the question on a romantic holiday in Bali I already knew everything I wanted. However making that a reality was a different story. Even though I now do this for a living and love it, back then I had no idea…. I think most brides probably feel the same as I did… “I can handle all the preparations, do supplier research, gather all the information myself so I can make an informed decision” Also at that point I didn’t want to pay any more money than I had to, so a wedding planner just wasn’t even considered. Once our wedding location and date were secured I started the “planning” – wow it was overwhelming! Google is an amazing source of information but this can also be a downside to trying to pick and make any kind of decision. There is always something else, or this one is cheaper if you do this, but like this you can also have this…arrggghhhhh!! I knew what I wanted but had no idea of how to go about getting it without feeling like I had made a wrong decision. So at that point I decided to contact a local wedding planner and once I did I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Everyone says it “Weddings are stressful” and no one believes them till it’s time to plan your own…the experience wasn’t as lovey dovey as I thought it was going to be. There are so many details to take care of, hundreds of suppliers to try and choose between, mixed in with fussy family members who want this and don’t like that. I consider myself a very organised person but by having my wedding planner on hand, keeping her finger on the pulse of where everything was at, was such a relief. It turned out I wasn’t as good at picking suppliers like a thought, I wasn’t really sure what to look for in a reliable supplier that wouldn’t leave me in the lurch at the last minute. I under estimated the time it was going to take to get everything organised and in place, working a full time job where I couldn’t answer the phone all the time and make supplier site inspections, food tastings etc…having a wedding planner who already knew the suppliers, what caterers could and couldn’t do, what lighting this venue had and didn’t have. She was a wealth of information right at my feet and she answered my questions then and there – she was a blessing in disguise!  I didn’t want to be one of those brides who two weeks out from the day “just wanted it over and done with” This was the day I had been planning since I was 10 years old. My wedding planner made that a reality. Most importantly she was there on the day so all I had to do was sit back and enjoy every special moment. I knew everything Rian and I had planned was safe in her hands, all we had to do was turn up!
I think the biggest question on every couple’s lips when thinking of hiring a wedding planner is how much extra it is going to cost. Weddings are expensive as it is so can we afford it? But you know what…A wedding planner can actually save you money! By managing your budget a wedding planner will already know which suppliers you can and can’t afford. Cutting out all that stressful researching and potential overspending! A wedding planner will already know what suppliers services can cater to your wedding requirements and will know whether they are charging too much. A wedding planner can keep you in check and monitor your spending, making sure you still have plenty of pennies left over to enjoy that honeymoon! Not wanting to sound like a sales pitch for my own wedding planning services, I just wanted to share my own experience with you all. One of the first questions I get asked when I meet with couples is “why should I hire a wedding planner?” and now you know my answer ☺
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In this blog I want to talk about why you should choose Port Douglas as the destination for your wedding or event. Firstly a few key bullet points –
One of the main reasons people love Port Douglas is its climate, hot summers and warm winters. This was definitely a deciding factor for me when I choose to move here from the chilly UK. Though the summer season is also the wet season, seeing monsoonal rains, high humidity and potential cyclones typically from January through to March/April. But with mostly guaranteed sunny days for 8-9 months out of the year what’s not to love!? Average daily temps sit between 25-30 degrees, dropping down to the high teens at night during the winter months. Perfect weather for a wedding!  One of Port Douglas’s main attractions is its beautiful beach! Four Mile beach stretches the length of the protruding headland that makes up Port Douglas. This beautiful, sandy, palm tree lined stretch of beach is great for lots of activities –
Four Mile Beach is only a five minute walk away from the main street of Port Douglas and many of the hotels/resorts are within walking distance from beach access. Unspoilt by any man-made structures this picturesque coastline makes the list of “Australia’s Best Beaches” every year. It’s easy to see why so many people visit Port Douglas, whether it’s just for a relaxing holiday or to make memories to last a life time saying “I Do” to the one they love!
*Our summer months are the high season for jelly fish, so stinger nets are placed into the water to make is safe for people to swim.
Hi and welcome to Ocean Weddings & Events blog! A place for me to share my thoughts on all wedding and event related issues. Somewhere where you can come and have a read, get ideas and leave your own comments or opinions. As a starter I thought I would just introduce who I am and why I decided to start Ocean Weddings & Events. I grew up in the UK and always had a passion for everything ocean! With the chilly climate I found myself out of the country where possible searching for beautiful warm beaches. My first solo travel took me to the spectacular islands of Fiji where I completed my Open Water scuba diving course and I was hooked! Over the course of the next two years I spent 7 months in Thailand and finally completed my Scuba Diving Instructor course in September 2007. From then on I travelled from paradise to paradise working and diving as much as I could until I washed up on the sunny shores of Cairns/Port Douglas in June 2010. Everyone said when you go to Australia you will never leave and they were spot on! I had found the perfect life, a tropical paradise, with the Great Barrier Reef on one side and the Daintree Rainforest on the other. Then along came Rian to complete the picture. A true blue Ozzie, born on the Gold Coast with the same passion for life and adventure as me. Our relationship started as humble room mates before turning into a whirlwind romance that saw us say “I do” on the beautiful beach in Palm Cove in May 2011 and setting up home in Port Douglas.  After working as a dive instructor for over 8 years I made the decision to hang up my mask and fins and head into the office. Still working in the industry I loved, I took sales and marketing positions for several well known reef tour operators. During this time I found myself rubbing shoulders with tourism boards, accommodation owners, restaurants managers, other tour operators and all manner of event related business’s. So when I fell into the role of Business Events Sales Executive I knew I had found a new passion.
The control freak, attention to detail nerd that I am meant being in charge of every aspect of a clients event left me with a feeling of ultimate satisfaction. Just like taking guests for their first ever scuba dive on the reef, seeing their happy faces and knowing what I did contributed to that gives me the best high! I am a stickler for the small details and going the extra mile is built in to who I am. I treat every event like it is my own. With that drive and passion I felt I had more to offer and along came Ocean Weddings & Events. A place to call my own and be able to offer all matter of services to clients looking for something extra special - all the while still getting my feet wet and going for a scuba dive whenever I can! |
AuthorJen is an events organiser specialising in weddings and events in Tropical North Queensland. ArchivesCategories |
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