The Sunshine Coast is an amazing destination. Whether for a short break or the beginnings of a sweeping change of lifestyle, people come to the Coast to connect with Nature, themselves, and each other. Clean air, ancient trees, and long walks on uncrowded trails can quiet one’s spirit. Dive into the clear water of our lakes, or take a long swim in the sea to feel immersed and connected. People move here and visit here to rekindle a love of being alive. And people come here for, well, love.
Yeah, that love thing . . .
What makes our resorts, caterers, photographers, planners, salonists, seaplanes, and musicians extra busy in summer? Weddings!
As couples seek to formalise their partnerships and celebrate their love in unique, less stressful ways, the Sunshine Coast is increasingly the destination of choice for weddings. The reasons are many and as diverse as the couples involved.
Though a short, uncomplicated, and scenic ferry ride from the city, the Coast feels a world away. And from here, more remote places are easier to access. Seaplane and water taxi companies delight in making anything possible. Meredith Poll, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Harbour Air, expounds: “From providing flights for guests and family to our spectacular coastal destinations, to creating personalised experiences for the wedding party or bride and groom, our goal is always to create a memorable, seamless experience.”
Outdoor weddings are more popular than ever, with a terrain for every dream. A mountaintop as high as your hopes? A view as endless as your possibilities? An ancient forest to witnesses eternal vows? A clean, flowing stream to symbolize love, ever-renewed? Seascapes and tides to represent ebb and flow, give and take, our common spirit . . . Couples desiring symbolic locations for their ceremonies find just what they want here.
A destination like the Sunshine Coast can also mitigate some of the tensions that so often go along with wedding planning. It is, as one bride put it, “neutral territory,” a great solution for couples managing and negotiating the expectations of two families. The Coast’s wedding specialists can put together an impressive, white-linen, formal event at one of our clubs or resorts that will wow everyone. Or couples can say their vows in bathing suits on the beach and rejoice around a bonfire into the night. All venues can accommodate family and friends, young and old. And activities for weekend guests? After walking the Skookumchuck, swimming at Ruby Lake, hiking the Tetrahedron, mountain biking in Roberts Creek, or sunning themselves on the promenade, they’ll be exhausted and full of amazing memories.
Catering on the Sunshine Coast runs the gamut from food truck to formal. Wedding photos—well, the hard part is deciding which fabulous location for the shoot; our photographers are game! Our musicians and DJs are talented, diverse, and eager to please.
Eclectic elements are the norm for wedding celebrations here. Brides make their way along stony paths, grooms arrive by kayak, whole wedding groups arrive by boat. A ceremony on a islet? A piper on a dock? Dogs welcome? Horses? An orange and green dress to match the arbutus trees in the background? Absolutely.
Couples draw from the Coast’s zany, accepting, fun-loving spirit and, as you’ll see by the grins on the faces of locals when a wedding party walks past on the beach, we love to celebrate love.
Words | Nancy Pincombe
