Brisbane couple Tomoko Kawada and Ben Brown admit they “had absolutely no idea and underestimated what was involved in planning a wedding.” But in their case, ignorance was bliss.
With a tight budget of under $10,000, they were extremely grateful to have Ben’s sister (and Tomoko’s maid of honour), Sara, step in: “She whooped us into shape and directed the wedding,” says Tomoko of a potential wedding planner in the making. “She was absolutely instrumental in our wedding preparation and without her there wouldn’t have been a wedding.”
The 26-year-old bride was a fairly stress-free one, comfortably delegating tasks off to the bridal party and family members. She left her bridesmaids to choose their own accessories and shoes; “I’m not a fan of absolute symmetry,” she explains, and it was up to Ben, 27, to choose and organise outfits for him and his three groomsmen.
“Slightly unorthodox” Australian native flowers were purchased from Brisbane Flower Market and arranged by Sara and Ben’s mum and grandma, and the setup of the couple’s New Farm Park ceremony was also entrusted to family.
The finished product: a beautiful garden wedding themed in violet and soft grey with a contemporary-feel reception at waterfront venue, Watt Restaurant & Bar. Congratulations.
“Wedding planning shouldn’t stress couples out,” says Tomoko. “Your wedding should be a reflection of your relationship. We treated the wedding as a project we were both involved in planning and executing.”
Photos courtesy of KCL Photography.