Click here to view 2012 Victorian Winners and Finalists 

taking the plunge

Kirryn & Terry
Married in Fiji

“Best part of the day was saying our vows and trying our hardest not to cry!”

love at first sight:

In 2007, Terry was visiting the Gold Coast when he met Kirryn, who was working at a restaurant. After a brief conversation, they exchanged contact details.

Two days later, Terry was deployed to Iraq.
Over the next 9 months, Kirryn and Terry kept in contact via emails and phone calls.
Upon Terry’s return, Kirryn was waiting for him at the airport. Within one month, Kirryn had packed up her life in Brisbane and moved to the Gold Coast to be with Terry.

the proposal:

Terry planned to pop the question once he return from his next mission, this time to Afghanistan. After 5 months away from his beautiful girlfriend, Terry returned from the other side of the world and took Kirryn to the restaurant they met for the first time. If fact, Terry had arranged to sit at the exact table he seated in, almost 3 years to the day they first met. In front of his parents, Terry proposed to Kirryn with a white gold princess cut diamond ring he had made for her in Dubai on his way home from his deployment.

hometown or homeland:

Originally, Kirryn and Terry had planned on an Australian wedding and decided on a location near Kirryn’s home town of Evans Head. The couple soon came to the realisation that many of their guests from around Australia would be spending a lot of money travelling interstate and not many of Terry’s mothers family would be able to attend as they lived in Rotuma, Fiji.

With the support of their family and friends, who all loved the idea, Terry and Kirryn finally decided that their perfect day in white would be in Fiji!

Finding which island to host their wedding was the next decision, choosing from an array of areas made it a difficult one. Kirryn loved the idea of getting married in a chapel looking on to a beach, so the couple agreed on Shangri-la Fijian Resort located on the Coral Coast of Fiji, it was easily accessible with a variety of accommodation in the area.

the big day:

Dressed in a breathtaking, layered and bountiful strapless white dress, complimented with a long train and veil, Kirryn finally wed her husband in the presence of friends and family from around the in a beautiful white chapel.

Terry’s 9 year old daughter, Maddison was a very important part of the couple’s wedding. She was Kirryn’s Maid of Honour, the ring bearer and walked her down the aisle. “We were both so proud of how she was on the day; it was the perfect start for our little family.” says Kirryn.

“Best part of the day was saying our vows and trying our hardest not to cry! Surrounded by our close friends and when family, with the mood set by  traditional Fijian hymns sung by their choir was what we had been waiting for since we had begun planning our wedding. It felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world.”

The reception was an absolute ball had by all, everyone was on the dance floor as Terry’s family had organised a Rotuman/Fijian band and dancing act to entertain the night away!

bride’s gift:

Kirryn’s gifts to her mum, bridesmaids and flower girl were a set of pearl earrings and matching necklace, because pearls was a gift her Grandfather would give to her Grandmother on special occasions.

trashing the dress: 

When their wedding photographer Malia first discussed the Trash the Dress idea, the couple thought it was crazy, particularly as Kirryn’s dress was quite big and had a long train, not to mention the cost of it. It wasn’t long however, before Terry and Kirryn began to love the concept of travelling to a small sand bar in the outer islands of Fiji where the water was the clearest blue and the sand was pure white to take unique wedding photos in a place where no other couple in the world had done.

A few days after the wedding, the couple and their photographer travelled in a small surf boat for an hour until they reached a little sand bar. “It was beautiful and secluded and we had never been anywhere like it before in our lives. We spent a few hours playing on the sand and in the water while Malia took the most amazing photographs of us.”

Eventually, the photographer took the couple further into the deep blue water to take some deep underwater shots. “We got back into the boat and headed off the sand bar to where the water was deep and the most incredible colour.”

“The best moment of the day was jumping off the boat into the ocean wearing my dress, it was amazing. Our photos turned out better than we could have hoped and are now priceless to us.”

Photography by Malia Johnson Photography

romance abroad

Peta (South African) & Sam (Australian)
24th of November 2011, Cape Town – South Africa

“We organised our destination wedding primarily by email and it was the best decision we have ever made!”

how they met:

The whirlwind romance began, when South African Peta met Australian Sam on a fateful holiday in Croatia. “It was clear we had both found our life partners,” said the bride. Although Peta had been living in Australia for many years, she felt lured to tie the knot in her home country of South Africa.

planning the wedding:

Convincing both families and friends from around the world to share this special day in Cape Town was relatively easy. The hardest part was coming to terms with how to organise the destination wedding with the couple living in London at the time and their families split between Australia and South Africa.

With the help of the Africa Bridal Industry Academy, Peta found NDG Wedding & Events, a niche wedding planner located in Cape Town.

“I met Natalie from NDG Weddings & Events during the first and only trip to Cape Town prior to the wedding and must say I felt in good hands from the very beginning” said Peta. NDG Weddings & Events focused on a colour scheme of orange and a theme consisting of “shabby chic” with a flare of elegance.

the wedding day:

On the day of their wedding, Peta and her bridal party started the day with relaxing by the pool for hair & makeup. With 70 of their closest family and friends, Peta and Sam were married against the spectacular backdrop of Stellenbosch’s vineyards and mountain ranges. Perfectly manicured lawns accompanied by a string quartet set the beautiful scene of their elegant ceremony.

The romantic reception was offset by fairy-lights and a specially designed orb-lighting surrounding the lake whilst the guests were entertained by an African Marimba Band. Not to mention the 4 tier cake baked to absolute perfection standing beside an enormous ‘cake of cheese’.  Peta and Sam also had custom designed Havaianas thongs for their guests as a favour for all!

“Hosting our wedding in South Africa was the most incredible way to introduce our families and celebrate our different heritages. Our guests are still talking about the whole week of wedding and holiday celebrations” said Peta. “NDG Weddings & Events went above and beyond, from organizing wine tours, shark dives, accommodation and transport for guests and most of all our dream wedding!”

Photography – John Armstrong Photography
Independent Wedding Consultant – NDG Weddings & Events

The 2011 ABIA “Designer of Dreams” Title is awarded to wedding suppliers who have consistently proven their ability to generate excellence in product, service, value and staff over a 4 year period.

Selecting the Top 2011 Designer of Dreams suppliers for your wedding will give you peace of mind knowing that past brides have consistently rated these suppliers as being the best in not only their State but in all of Australia.

To ensure your dreams come true, engage an ABIA Designer of Dreams for your wedding.

Click here to view 2011 Designer of Dreams list 

fairytale proposal

Rita & Jason
February 2011

“As they watched this scene together, their love grew for each other, more than ever before.”

happily ever after

Derya & Engin
9th of December, 2011

“I mean every word, I love you”

the proposal:

“Tears started running down our faces from happiness and joy. We started kissing and dancing to the sound of the waves. We stayed at the beach till 5am, we did not want the moment to end”. Whilst walking to the car, hand in hand, Derya blissfully recalls herself and Engin screaming at the top of their lungs “we are getting married!”.

the ceremony:

On the day of their 8th year anniversary, Derya and Engin finally said “I do” with 450 family and friends as witnesses, including guests all the way from Turkey.

As soon as the bride and groom exchanged their vows, an explosion of music, drummers and dancers burst through the doors in celebration of their marriage. “I couldn’t have thought of a better way to end the ceremony”, said Derya.

the reception:

To Derya’s surprise, the first dance was beautifully sung by one of the groomsmen, “I couldn’t believe it when I heard my name in the song. It was written especially for me by my very own husband”. As they continued to dance, Engin held Derya tighter and whispered in her ear, “I mean every word…I love you”. Following the reception, the bride & groom, the bridal party and close friends continued their celebrations in the warm summer evening on the beach. Singing, dancing, laughing for hours on end to the strums of a friends guitar. “It was the most amazing experience ever…there I was in the arms of my husband in the early hours of the morning watching the sun rise as the girls danced away on the sand”.

the honeymoon:

Three days after their wedding, the newlyweds began their honeymoon. Starting with 10 nights in Bali, Indonesia, then 4 nights in Kuala Lumpur and a further 2 weeks in Penang, Malaysia.

With only two days before returning home, Engin had a surprise for his wife. Instead of flying home, Engin took Derya to the Golden Palms Tree Resort in Sepang, Malaysia to celebrate her birthday. The exquisite resort stretches out into the shape of a palm tree, almost a kilometre from the Sepang coastline. They spent 2 days in the huts over the water… “It was the most romantic time of my life. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the fairytale!”

Tullin & Osman’s Wedding Vendors

Grooms Suit Hire by Prinzi Collections

Cake Design by Oakleigh Quality Cakes

Photography by Hakan Dalar Photography

Make-up Artistry by Ellie Makeup 

Held at the prestigious Dockside Darling Harbour & hosted by ABIA Chairman, John O’Meara & A Wedding MC’s, Peter Miller.

With over 350 attendees, the New South Wales Annual Bridal Industry Awards was a successful night for all!

Click here to see the winners and finalists

The inaugural Western Australian Annual Bridal Industry Awards has uncovered some spectacular wedding vendors in WA. The Marriage Celebrant category had the highest winning rating which went to Dru Soltys with a rating of 99.34%, followed up by yet another Marriage Celebrant; Nina Guelfi, with a rating of 99.29%.

Other standout performers were The Crystal Chandelier in the category of Wedding Stationery who achieved an ABIA rating of 99.18%.

See the Winners & Finalists

The most exciting ABIA Awards ever in South Australia occurred on Tuesday the 18th of October when 220 of South Australia’s finest congregated at the Stamford Grand to celebrate excellence in the bridal industry.

The night was a jammed packed event full of excitement and exhilaration as the 36 Winners were announced. A big thank you to all the 3,000 plus South Australian brides who were nominated by their suppliers to rate their product, service, value and staff, they made your day special and now you have made them special.

Click here to see the winners and finalists