Real Wedding // Claudine & Braden’s Fig Tree Wedding

Claudine & Braden celebrated their wedding at their dream wedding venue, Fig Tree. They decided to go for a boho, chic yet classical styling with lots of blushes, toffees and dried palms tied together by some beautiful florals from Wilderness Flowers. Guests enjoyed some delicious gelato from Wheel & Spoon and a fun Insta Kombi! Read on to hear more about their beautiful love story they celebrated with their nearest and dearest.

Tell us your story, how did you meet and where did the proposal happen?
Braden and I met at work, in the riveting industry of worker’s compensation insurance. Braden used to flex his muscles around the office and he would say I used to strut around past his desk on purpose! One day Braden developed the courage to ask me out, we went on the best first date ever stand up paddleboarding in Manly and the rest is history!

The proposal happened in the backyard of our brand new home on a leap day, on 29 February 2020 (in Irish tradition, this day is the only day it is acceptable for a woman to propose to a man), so I kicked him out of the house for 4 hours, set the scene with love hearts, candles and rose petals (courtesy of The Bachelor) and surprised him by getting down on one knee. Of course, he said YES! It was magic and he absolutely loved it. Definitely a story to tell the grandkids.

What were the reasons for choosing Fig Tree as the venue for your special day?
We always knew we wanted a destination wedding and although we couldn’t travel internationally, the vibe at Fig Tree in Byron transports you to a different realm; the luscious greenery makes you feel so relaxed, picturesque views of the hinterland and ocean (perfect for photos), the chilled out vibe by the pool and grapevines, close proximity to the beach, dog-friendly accommodation which allowed our cavoodle to play a part in our big day and of course, the iconic fig tree which is simply stunning! We could go on and on! The Fig Tree was and always will be our dream venue!

What style were you striving for with your table settings, florals and reception? Was there a certain look or vibe that you wanted to create?
Wilderness Flowers nailed the brief with the floral arrangements. The vibe we were going for was boho chic using terracotta/blush tones and dried palms. Our guests were sent a mood board prior to the wedding so their attire matched this colour palette perfectly. Mikarla and her team did a fabulous job!

Were there any vendors that you particularly loved working with and why?
Marry Me Dean was outstanding. He definitely took the whole celebrant gig to the next level. As it was raining in the lead up to the wedding, he called us a few days before to calm my nerves and reassured me that there was a plan A, B, C and D. The email updates here and there also went a long way, making the process transparent and seamless. Fig Tree Catering was second to none, the food was to die for and there was so much of it to go around so no one went hungry! The shared platters were a great bonding experience and complimented the intimate vibe we were going for. Shout out to Dan McGill from Party Liaison, he was a pleasure to work with and he put a huge amount of effort into creating the father-daughter dance remix which was a definite hit with guests!

What were your favourite parts of the wedding planning process with Byron Bay Weddings?
I could not fault Sophie from Byron Bay Weddings as she was always quick to respond to emails and we felt comfortable with her advice and decisions. I enjoyed the regular catch-ups as they kept me on track and having our Day Coordinator really helped make sure the day flowed well.

Tell us what were the most important aspects of your wedding day and which moments really stood out to you?
Our favourite part was being able to have the wedding we dreamed of with our close family and friends, especially in the middle of a pandemic where the situation changes by the minute. Not to mention dancing was back baby! So good to be able to have a boogie again. Our wedding also fell the day before the floods so we were extremely fortunate that our parents and guests were able to arrive and return home safely post-wedding and we were able to have an outdoor ceremony in between two heavy downpours. It is the little moments we remember such as holding hands and looking out to the hinterland, taking it all in. All of my guests could not stop raving about the gelato from Wheel and Spoon and for good reason! It was the perfect little touch and the pooch loved it too! Other precious moments included my dad’s speech and our dance – he blew us all away with his words and smooth moves!

What would be your biggest advice to other couples currently planning their wedding?
Trust the process and don’t sweat the small stuff. Come to terms with the fact not everything will go according to plan but it will happen exactly how it was supposed to and will still be an amazing day regardless. The small details and little touches make the biggest difference to your day so find what resonates with your style as a couple. If the cake isn’t your thing, ditch it! If you think the bouquet toss/garter toss is outdated, skip it (like I did)! It is your day so remember to make sure it authentically reflects who you are as a couple, and it will be one you will never forget!

Claudine & Braden xo

Suppliers
Venue: Fig Tree // Hair & Makeup: Alex Ouston Beauty // Celebrant & MC: Marry Me Dean // Photographer: Nina Claire Photographer // Videographer: Lemon Tree Film House // Photo Booth: Insta Kombi // Florals: Wilderness Flowers // Musician: Tom Francis // DJ: Party Liaison // Ice Cream: Wheel and Spoon // Cake: Millie’s of Newrybar // Transport: Byron Bay Double Deckers // Catering: Fig Tree Catering // Lighting:  Byron Audio // Furniture & Styling: The Wedding Shed // Planning & Coordination: Byron Bay Weddings