William and Tanielle in the Babette Gown
From rainy skies to lakeside vows, William and Tanielle’s Sunshine Coast wedding was intimate, magical, and full of unforgettable moments.
From a Cab Ride to Forever
William and Tanielle’s story began the way so many love stories do – unexpectedly, casually, and entirely unplanned. It was 2018, outside a bar, when Tanielle’s cousin spotted two boys waiting out front after being turned away. On a whim, she called out to them that they were heading into the city to dance and invited them to jump in a cab. Tanielle and William hit it off instantly during the ride, and, as Tanielle puts it, ‘the rest was history.’
Years later, life had already taken on a new rhythm. They had just finished their maternity shoot when the moment arrived. Tanielle was scrolling through her phone and googling back contractions, while William played with their Border Collie, Archie, throwing a stick into the distance. Then Archie returned, dropping something small at Tanielle’s feet. William knelt besides it. “Archie is my ring bearer,” he said, before asking Tanielle to marry him.
A Romantic Hinterland Wedding on the Sunshine Coast
William and Tanielle were married in the Sunshine Coast hinterland at Secrets on the Lake in Montville, overlooking Lake Baroon. The day was shaped by the elements. Heavy rain arrived by midday, briefly clearing for the ceremony and photographs before thunder and lightning lit up the early evening sky. The setting itself felt like the best of both worlds with water that was calm and peaceful, paired with rainforest that felt alive and magical. “It’s the most romantic venue and couldn’t be more perfect.”
The lead-up to the wedding was just as remarkable as the day itself. Tanielle planned the entire celebration in four months, beginning when Poppy was just two weeks old. Having their four-month-old daughter, Poppy, there made the day feel complete, alongside Archie, now ten years old, who remained very much at the heart of the celebration. The ceremony, overlooking the lake, was beautiful in its simplicity, and the energy of the day carried seamlessly into the reception. Their wedding dance, in particular, became one of their favourite moments. “There was joy in the informality, in the way family and celebration blurred into one,” she shares.
For Tanielle, the emotional tone of the day was set early. “The morning of your wedding sets the tone for your day,” she reflects. She advises other brides to “Take time to yourself to slow down before the ‘show’ begins.” It’s advice born from experience and from a season of life where presence mattered more than perfection.
A Relaxed and Effortless Bridal Look
Tanielle describes Babette as “relaxed but ethereal, elegant but sexy.” She recalls, “I absolutely loved my dress – the lace, the sparkle, the low back.” Practicality was important too. Just four weeks postpartum, she needed a gown that could move with her, one that worked for breastfeeding, and as she says, “It also was perfect for breastfeeding in..
Tanielle’s bridal appointment took place in the midst of newborn life. “I was 4 weeks postpartum, so it was a little busy having to try my dress on quickly between feeding my baby girl,” she says, but she was “very well looked after at the Gold Coast boutique.” An online consultation before driving up from Brisbane made the process feel calm and considered, which was exactly what she needed during that season.
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