Andrew proposed through song, recorded himself, following a weekend away in Brisbane. “He’d planned to ask me over dinner at Blackbird but I had a few too many wines!” Andrea said.
Andrea’s rose gold and antique inspired engagement ring was made at Hogans in Toowoomba, the same jewellers who created her mother’s engagement ring.
Wanting to create a meaningful day to celebrate with their closest family and friends, the new fiancés planned their wedding over the course of a shorter engagement. Andrea and Andrew approached the day with a special focus on their ceremony.
Andrea says she and Andrew wanted to make sure “our guests knew how much we appreciated their presence on the day, as well as their love, friendship and support over our lives”.
Andrea wore a bridal gown made by Alexander Kennedy in Toowoomba, which incorporated the train from her mother’s 1973 wedding dress for the bodice. “My mum, who I was very close to, died a few years back but she took very good care of things,” Andrea reminisced. “The fabric was exquisite and in wonderful condition.
Whilst it was certainly very sentimental, I also loved the fabric and would have selected it in a store today. It made me so happy that we both have the same taste. It felt like she was with me because I know she would have been delighted to see me wearing that fabric,” she said.
“Our wedding ceremony was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral Toowoomba, because that is our faith community.”
There were a few tears shed during the ceremony before everyone spilled onto the lawn for champagne and a grazing table full of delicious treats from Impression on Scott. “I think that was one of my favourite parts of the day!”
The bridal pair both enjoy good food and wine, and wanting the reception to be more like a wonderful celebration dinner, guests gathered at Encores Restaurant at Empire Theatres after the ceremony.
“We actually had a lot of people comment how much they enjoyed the speeches, which was a nice surprise. I think the ‘fairytale finally coming true a decade on’ added to the impact.”
After sharing their whimsical day with their closest family and friends, Andrea and Andrew opted to spend their honeymoon at Broadbeach and in Thailand.
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