Sandi & Grant

Sandi and Grant met through Grant’s sister, who after working with Sandi for over a year, thought they would be perfect for each other. After setting up a blind date, Grant and Sandi finally met and have been together ever since.

Photography by Jennifer Oliphant Photography

Sandi and Grant’s proposal was a little different to most.  Together they chose Sandi’s engagement ring which then sat on their bedside table, safely tucked away in its box until Grant chose the perfect time to propose.  The proposal came while the two of them were on a scenic afternoon walk in the Rainforest Park at Buderim.  Grant led Sandi over a beautiful bridge and then asked Sandi to be his wife. “He was so nervous he actually had to ask me what finger to place the ring on,” said Sandi laughing. To honour the memorable moment they both carved their initials into the timber railing of the bridge and are pleased to see them still there each time they walk that same path.

The couple chose a Hinterland wedding and celebrated their nuptials in a charming country style ceremony in Palmwoods. Drawing on the natural beauty of the rural location, the wedding day theme was based on Sandi’s love of vintage style textures and their wish to have a garden party feel to the day. A vision in elegance, Sandi designed and created her own ivory satin and lace wedding gown. Whereas her two bridesmaids each wore individual neutral tone dresses from the labels of “George” and “Seduce”. Guests at the ceremony were overwhelmed as they watched the besotted Grant meet Sandi half way down her walk of the aisle. “Before I had completed my entrance he met me, kissed me and told me how beautiful I was. At that moment no one else mattered, it was just wonderful,” recalled Sandi.

With a unique mix of personalised touches and ceremonial tradition, Sandi and Grant’s ceremony was their opportunity to feature various different elements to showcase their personalities. In quirky rock star style, Grant and his groomsmen made their way down the aisle on bicycles that they had found in a garage sale. “They were vintage 1970, rusty and a bit beaten up, but they had so much character about them that we thought it would be a great way to kick things off. No-one expected it and our page boy even rode down the aisle in a bike seat on the back of one of the bicycles.  All the guests couldn’t stop laughing so it was a lot of fun,” said Grant.

A few weeks before the wedding, in typical Sandi and Grant style, the two of them approached a busker in Mooloolaba and asked her to provide the musical entertainment for their day. “We were getting an ice-cream near the beach and we were captivated by her cello playing, and asked her if she could play for us at our wedding,” said Sandi. The musician played for Sandi and Grant through the ceremony and again for guests while they were enjoying champagne and canapés prior to the sit-down reception.

When it came to choosing a wedding photographer both Sandi and Grant booked Jennifer Oliphant of Jennifer Oliphant Photography to photograph their wedding day.  “During the preparation shots prior to the ceremony, Jennifer was taking hundreds of photos yet most of the time I didn’t even know she was there. After our ceremony we went on a country style road trip to get some location photo’s and Jennifer suggested some really unique spots for photography.  She captured gorgeous images of us sitting in the grass with the beautiful rural setting as a backdrop. I felt completely relaxed with her and she made our afternoon one to really remember,” said Sandi.

Sandi and Grant’s reception was intimate and relaxed, and the country scenic setting of their wedding day was a magical start to their life together. “It was a beautiful warm summer’s night and our wedding was everything we had hoped for and more,” said Sandi.