Michelle and Brody’s woodland garden wedding shows off quirky side

By:
Content Team
/
Updated on: March 16, 2022

Quirky couple Michelle Willemse and Brody Willys took their cute nicknames for each other and turned it into a wedding theme with a difference.

“It may sound odd, but we have used our wild imagination to create a series of beaver and squirrel children’s books as a side hobby,” Michelle, 28, explains.

So a woodland garden wedding seemed perfect.

“The styling was honest and earthy, drawing on the beauty of nature,” Michelle says of her May 2, 2015 wedding to Brody, 28.

The Brisbane couple wed at Hillstone, St Lucia in front of 70 guests.

Michelle walked down the aisle to a musical piece composed by the groom himself and performed by a string quartet, and the individual touches did not end there.

“The groomsmen delighted the audience by using forest animal hand puppets (including, of course, a beaver and squirrel) to deliver rings to the bride and groom,” Michelle says.

The reception was also held at St Lucia, with the bride and bridesmaids entertaining with a light-hearted choreographed dance to Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance and Brody and his groomsmen jumping on the DJ decks to perform some original music.

Michelle says the day could not have been better.

“We embraced our quirky personalities and seemingly crazy ideas to suit the wedding for ourselves and make it truly meaningful for us,” she says.

Photos courtesy of Anne Bremner Photogapher.

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_033

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_001

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_018

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_SBS_002Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_SBS_003

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_005

Lilac and lavender tones made a statement throughout the wedding and kept with the garden theme.

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_007

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_004

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_008

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_SBS_005Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_SBS_007

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_010

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_012

Hand puppets were unlikely guests at the ceremony. “A friend of ours even did a reading from one of the squirrel and beaver books,” Michelle says.

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_013

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_015

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_016

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_SBS_012Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_SBS_010

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_020

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_019

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_024

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_SBS_014Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_SBS_015

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_030

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_028

Deliberately Delicious created the unique tree stump cake, complete with a beaver and squirrel figurine.

Michelle_Brody_Woodland-Garden-Wedding_032

Featured Suppliers:

Brides Accessories Brides Accessories: Prouds , Lovisa

Brides Gown Brides Gown: Roz La Kelin

Brides Shoes Brides Shoes: Zu Shoes

Bridesmaid Shoes Bridesmaid Shoes: Own shoes

Bridesmaids Accessories Bridesmaids Accessories: Lovisa

Bridesmaids Dresses Bridesmaids Dresses: Modcloth

Celebrant Celebrant: Brisbane City Celebrants

Ceremony Music Ceremony Music: Armilla Quartet

Entertainment Entertainment: Paramount Events

Flowergirl Dress Flowergirl Dress: Gullys Garden Wedding Florist , Bunnings Warehouse

Grooms Attire Grooms Attire: Connor

Grooms Shoes Grooms Shoes: Windsor Smith

Groomsmen Attire Groomsmen Attire: Connor

Groomsmen Shoes Groomsmen Shoes: Windsor Smith

Hair Hair: Harpiuér Beauty Hair Fashion

Honeymoon Honeymoon: Avocado Sunset B&B

Invitations Invitations: DIY

Lolly Buffet Lolly Buffet: DIY

Makeup Makeup: Harpiuér Beauty Hair Fashion

Photographer Photographer: Anne Bremner Photography

Rings Rings: Angus & Coote , Shiels Express

Transport Transport: Ozscott Limousines

Venue Venue: Hillstone St Lucia

Venue Decor Venue Decor: Hillstone St Lucia , DIY

Wedding Night Venue Wedding Night Venue: Brisbane Marriott Hotel