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Alana & Syvannah

Wilde Visual Gold Coast lesbian gay beach wedding Queensland Rick Shores Burleigh Heads photography Dancing With Her directory magazine

We are both lawyers.

We have a Boston Terrier named Karen. Our little family of three loves to do everything together. We like to spend our weekends finding bush walks to go on and waterfalls to swim under, and we definitely don’t mind a Sunday session at the pub (Karen loves all the attention and stray chips from the other patrons.)

We love experiences everything Sydney has to offer. From its hidden rooftop bars to its endless beaches, late nights in China Town, and the odd Saturday night at the drive-in movies.

We have been together for three years but have known each other for five. And meet at work in Brisbane; however, we didn’t get together straight away.

We evolved from colleagues to friends and, after one fateful end of financial year party, something a bit more. It only took us six weeks from that moment to realise we were soulmates and to make it official. And then, six weeks after that, we ran away to Sydney together. Moving to Sydney has been the most incredible adventure of both of our lives and allowed us to explore a new city together while our love for each other grew.

Being as untraditional as we are, we skipped the proposal and engagement.

Instead, while we were enjoying a nice long lunch at our favourite restaurant, Rick Shores on the Gold Coast, we agreed that it would be a spectacular spot to get married, and then thought, ‘why not?’

Once we flew back to Sydney, we started planning our big day.

We were engaged for nine months.

THE WEDDING

We have travelled a lot both in Australia and overseas, but our favourite restaurant in the world has its home right on the Gold Coast.

When you walk into Rick Shores, it feels like a party. The sun is shining, the highrises are in the distance, the blue waves are crashing up near your feet, the cocktails are flowing, and Fleetwood Mac is often playing in the background. It’s tough to leave this iconic Gold Coast restaurant, and you always end up wanting more.

We knew that Rick Shores was the perfect wedding venue for us.

One of the first things we decided was what type of cake we wanted. We knew we didn’t want something traditional, and we wanted something that reflected our personalities and also the fun side of the Gold Coast. With that in mind, we stumbled across a picture of a gold pineapple cake online and knew that was the one.

In keeping with the tropical theme already set by the wedding cake and the venue, we opted for lots of ferns and green foliage. Our florists were very excited and came up with the brilliant idea of mini pineapples in the arrangements.

As a result of this, pineapples became an accidental feature of our wedding.

When it came to finding the perfect outfit, Syvannah knew she wanted something different and had always loved the Australian brand Lover. She had been following it on Instagram for years. She also knew she wanted something that incorporated the beautiful lace they used for their wedding lines. Syvannah stumbled across the last jumpsuit when trying on all the different dresses and skirt and top combos. When she tried it on, it fit like a glove, and she knew it was the one.

Alana knew she wanted something with a high neck but was struggling to find the right outfit. After months of trolling the internet, she stumbled across a short lace Valentino dress with a high neck and bow. She knew it was the perfect match for her perfect shoes.

We decided to arrive at the ceremony together and walk down the aisle hand in hand. Spending the day getting ready together, including a quick lunch in the food court at Pacific Fair between our hair and makeup appointments.

We were a few minutes late to our own ceremony because we had to stop at McDonald’s for Syvannah to pee. When we got to the ceremony, the sun was beginning to set on Burleigh beach, and crowds had started to gather on the path and the beach to watch our special moment.

After an intimate ceremony, the guests were treated to pink champagne, cocktails, and the famous Rick Shores bug rolls while Ms. Renee Simone crooned away in the background.

An extraordinary moment was when we snuck away for a few photos on Burleigh Hill. The crowd of people on this hill having picnics and get-togethers erupted in applause as we walked by.

Following the cocktail hour, the guests were treated to a spread of delicious pan Asian food and signature cocktails. After some sentimental speeches and the pineapple cake’s cutting, the party really got started with the first dance, espresso martinis, and a quickly filled dance floor.

Before we married, we already felt like a family. We love each other’s company and are committed to each other for life. Getting married meant we got to stand together in front of our closest friends and family. With a promise to be loyal, compassionate, and supportive to one another for the rest of our lives. It has also meant that every now and again, you’ll glance over at her and think, ‘I can’t believe I got to marry you’. That feeling is magical.

Wedding Advice

As everyone tells you, the wedding day goes in an instant. Take the time to have special moments together and look around and take it all in.

You should figure out the service providers you want early on and book them in!! We had most of ours booked within two months of starting planning, so we were lucky enough to get everyone we wanted, but some of our friends who were planning weddings at around the same time missed out.

We are thrilled we spent the day together, getting ready and walking down the aisle together. This made the day all the more special.

We only invited our closest friends and people we really wanted at our wedding. Lucky enough not to be guilted by our mothers to invite extended family. This meant we had very few problems leading up to the wedding.

We are very happy we didn’t have a bridal party on the day or an engagement party. Not having a bridal party helped the process of planning a lot less stressful. It was also really nice having our parents standing beside us during the ceremony.


Photography by Wilde Visual

Cake Delicious by Sara
Catering Rick Shores
Celebrant Custom Ceremonies
Ceremony & Reception Venue Rick Shores
Cinematographer Box Media House
Dress Valentino
Entertainment Renee Simone from Byron Bay Experience
Florist Beautiflora
H&MU Toni and Guy, David Jones
Jumpsuit Lover
Place Cards Paper Divas
Shoes Gucci, Jimmy Choo
Wedding Rings Bulgari

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