“ We were surrounded by everyone we love and care about ”
“ We were surrounded by everyone we love and care about ”
Grace and Corey have , by their own admission , already spent a lifetime together . These high school sweethearts first began dating in 2010 ( Corey asked Grace to be his girlfriend while gazing at Christmas lights — romantic !), and since then , they ’ ve shared many a milestone as a couple . But no milestone is quite as memorable as a proposal and , eventually , a wedding . “ I didn ’ t want him to feel pressured to propose , so a few weeks out from a holiday , I actually told him not to propose while we were away ,” Grace says . “ Little did I know , he ’ d had the ring for months and was already planning it .” Corey had chosen Maleny ’ s stunning One Tree Hill to pop the question , hiding his plans from Grace until the last moment . “ Even after seeing a beautiful picnic laid out for us and noticing Corey acting strangely , I genuinely didn ’ t think anything was happening . We stood up for a photo , and he proposed .” The pair chose a city wedding in Brisbane ; styled by the bride to evoke a sense of timeless beauty while channelling some contemporary romance . “ Our inspiration was very modern and chic ,” explains Grace . “ We wanted to look back on photos and feel like they hadn ’ t dated .” Social media was key to finding the perfect touches — as a matter of fact , TikTok was where Grace spotted her gorgeous Pronovias gown . “ I ended up finding it at White Lily Couture ,” she says . “ As soon as I tried it on , I knew it was the one — classic , timeless , but still modern .” The bride made it her own with 143 custom silk buttons trailing down the back . “ Corey was always going to go for a classic tux ,” she . “ We chose Black Jacket Suiting after receiving many positive recommendations . The fit was perfect !”
And so , the day dawned . Grace walked down the aisle to Corey at the beautiful St James ’ Church , where they exchanged promises for a life together in front of loved ones . It ’ s the moment both cherish the most from their wedding . “ Corey was overwhelmed with emotion , and I was simply beaming with happiness ,” says Grace . “ You couldn ’ t wipe the smile off my face !” Looking through their wedding album , the newlyweds radiate joy in every shot , even when a rainshower blessed their photocall ! Mezic Studio and videographer Michael Kelly were on hand to ( discreetly ) catch all those stolen glances and laughter . “ They blended in so well ,” notes Grace . Southbank ’ s Emporium Hotel proved the perfect place to host guests while evoking glamour and inner-city modernity . For Grace and Corey , celebrating their commitment meant nodding to some well-loved traditions , particularly those honouring Grace ’ s heritage . “ It ’ s an Italian tradition for the bride and groom to be wrapped in streamers during their first dance as a symbol of good wishes ,” says Grace . “ It was such a special moment for me . I ’ d seen many family members sharing in this tradition , and it was finally my turn .” And speaking of family , fun fact about Grace : she starred in Queensland Brides 20 years ago as a flower girl for her aunt ! Talk about full circle . The duo couldn ’ t resist a few modern touches either . “ We love a cheeseburger at the end of a big night ,” laughs Grace of their 10 pm burger delivery . It was an emotional day , with laughter and joy reigning supreme . “ Someone told me our wedding would be the happiest day of my life ,” says Grace . “ They were right . We were surrounded by everyone we love and care about . It was a day of happiness beyond tears .”
104 Winter 2023