Instant attraction: Shoko and Ryan marry at rustic barn wedding on the Gold Coast

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This article has been written by team of content creators at Easy Weddings.

Updated on: March 17, 2022

“Despite the different cultures and languages somehow we were attracted to each other right away,” Shoko, 35, of her beau Ryan, 29.

They met while Ryan, from Switzerland, was backpacking around Australia, when he stopped in Brisbane. “I’m from Japan and got a permanent residency over 10 years ago,” Shoko says. “Planning a wedding was not easy for us especially we had to consider many guests were coming from overseas.” Many of those guests almost missed out when their flights were cancelled, but thankfully made it on time!

They married at their rustic barn wedding on August 12, 2018. “We decided not to have bridal parties as most of our friends already had kids and we didn’t want to take their time,” explains the bride. “Our priorities were to make our wedding Australian and to make it enjoyable for our guests.”

Photos courtesy of Leigh Warner Weddings.

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Ryan from Switzerland was backpacking in Australia when he met Shoko.

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“The planning tools on Easy weddings were so helpful. We especially loved the to-do list… we knew what had to be done by what day,” says Shoko.

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“Once we decided our venues, I tried more than 30 wedding dresses, met one celebrant, met two photographers and visited O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat once… Oh dear so much to do for having a wedding!”