Emma & Michael's Island Wedding at Musket Cove Fiji
THE BEGINNING:
How, when and where did the two of you first meet?
Michael and I met in 2009 at a mutual friends 18th birthday party. Within a week, we were dating and the rest is history!
Why did you choose Fiji for your wedding?
We had always wanted an overseas wedding, and we love the beach, so Fiji was the perfect fit, also being close enough for all of our friends and family to travel.
What was involved in researching and organising your Fiji wedding?
We did a lot of online research for about 6 months before finally choosing Musket Cove Island Resort. We had been to Fiji before, back in 2011, and had loved a day trip we did out to the islands, so we had in mind that that was where we had wanted to get married. We looked through reviews online, as well as some blog pages, and Facebook groups about getting married in Fiji.
GETTING READY:
My wedding dress was from: Emmy Mae Bridal, bought from White Lily Couture in Brisbane.
The Bridesmaids dresses were from: Shona Joy.
The Groom & the guys wore: Politix shirt and pants, with a blazer for the groom.
Were gifts exchanged and if so tell us a bit about them?
We wrote a letter to each other and read them while getting ready the morning of the wedding. I also had cuff links made with photos of Michael's grandparents in them, as some of them couldn't be present with us on our wedding day.
Any comments or tips to other Fiji Brides about this part of the day?
Relax and enjoy the time with your friends and family! I had a sleep in, enjoyed breakfast with my husband and friends and family first. Then my bridesmaids and I went back to the Bure, popped on some music and had a drink while we got ready! Have a light breakfast and make sure you have something to eat for lunch!
THE CEREMONY:
Who provided and set up the décor at the ceremony?
The staff at Musket Cove, under direction from Gloria. We provided some additional fairy lights and brought our own signage.
Which colours or themes did you you choose:
Tropical but simple, with bright florals and whites.
Who did your flowers & bouquets?
Musket Cove provided all flowers and the bouquets.
Tell us about the style of your ceremony, what vows you chose and anything special you said or did?
We wrote our own vows the day before the wedding, and read them to each other on the day. It was a relaxed, happy vibe, with some of Michael's classic jokes thrown in!
PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE DAY
Any comments about working with Laurence on the day, the final product and any tips for future Fiji Brides?
Laurence made us so relaxed on the day, especially as we were quite nervous and real amateurs! We had never really had any professional photos done before, but Laurence worked with us to capture the vibe that best fitted us - relaxed, happy and fun!
THE RECEPTION:
What colours or themes did you choose?
Simple with bright florals again, with white and gold decor.
Who provided and set up the décor at the reception?
Musket Cove, with some decor brought over by us, including signage, name cards, and lots of fairy lights.
Who made your wedding cake and what type did you choose?
Musket Cove. Carrot cake, served straight after the ceremony with champagne.
What did you do at the end of the reception?
Some of our guests headed off to bed, while we continued the party at the island bar till the early hours of the morning!
Did you do any pre or post wedding activities?
We organised a few activities, but also let guests do their own thing. We enjoyed snorkelling, mimosas on the lawn, the boys played golf, and some guests went for long walks or bike rides around the island. The recovery day was spent at Cloud 9, enjoying cocktails and pizza.
YOUR OVERALL ADVICE FOR BRIDES PLANNING A FIJI WEDDING:
Definitely research the weather for what time of year you want to get married. The weather during the whole week of our wedding was perfect (August 2019). Enjoy the process as much as you can, take advice from the wedding planner (they have planned more weddings than you have!), but be clear in what you are after. I created a Pinterest board and sent through inspiration photos, and Gloria took care of the rest! I couldn't recommend her and the team at Musket Cove Island resort highly enough. Do not skimp on your photographer! I have so many friends who tried to save money on their photographer, only to end up with very few photos of their special day. Nadi Bay Photography was worth every cent we paid, and I would recommend them to anyone.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR FIJI WEDDING EXPERIENCE:
The whole week was incredible! The resort itself is beautiful, with lots of different accommodation options. The snorkelling was definitely a highlight, as was Cloud 9 the day after the wedding. Spending time relaxing with family and friends both before and after the wedding was so great. One of the highlights was definitely receiving photos from Nadi Bay Photography of our wedding day. We received hundreds of photos, and love all of them! Many of our guests and other friends have commented on how amazing our photos are. Thank you for capturing all of the special moments of our day, they will be treasured for a lifetime.
