Planning My Wedding: Insights from The Tasmanian Wedding Directory Founder
By Emma, Founder of The Tasmanian Wedding Directory and Celebrant at Emma Rose Weddings
Introduction
Hi, I’m Emma - celebrant, wedding directory founder, and most recently, bride! I’m writing this blog to share insights into how we planned our wedding, the vendors we used, and what it felt like to be on the other side of the wedding industry.
My hope is that reading this gives you permission to have a wedding that’s truly you. And, of course, I’ve included a few helpful planning tips along the way.
The Vision & Priorities
We wanted our day to feel like us. No stress, well-organised, with energy and budget only going into the things that really mattered. Most importantly, we wanted a massive celebration with our favourite people - a once in a lifetime moment where all our loved ones would be together in one place.
Our biggest priorities were:
A relaxed timeline with no rush
Staying true to ourselves
Avoiding wedding “must-haves” that didn’t serve us
Throwing a kick-ass party
Some people may think I was too relaxed, but we didn’t bother with a mood board or Pinterest. We didn’t want a seated wedding, formal bridal party, bouquet, fancy transport, or stress. We just wanted good vibes and to have the best time.
Planning the Big Pieces
Venue
We chose Spotty Dog Brewery — an industrial style venue with floor to ceiling windows and water views. No need for a wet weather backup, and everything could happen in one place. Great food and drinks, all done in-house. Plus, it was close to the city, so guests could Uber or drive.
Celebrant
We chose the incredible Rachael Calvert.
As a celebrant myself, this felt like a huge decision. I know firsthand how much an amazing ceremony sets the tone for the day. Rach nailed it - fun, relaxed, and completely our vibe. She had everyone primed and ready to party.
Vibe & Theme
Bright florals from Gyp Darling
Clear acrylic ceremony chairs and plinths by BW Events
Bright signage by Blossie
Cocktail furniture from Salters
Accommodation and first look location was The Rox
No dress code - we just encouraged everyone to dress up however they wanted
The feel: vibrant, fun, limited formalities. A big, love-filled celebration of us and our family.
Guest List
We invited 100 guests — the venue’s capacity. It sounds like a lot, but with a heap of family and friends, it filled quickly. In the end, we were surrounded by the people who mattered most.
Budget
We didn’t set a strict budget but had a ballpark in mind. We spent where it mattered and came in around the $30K mark. I used a budget template that can be found here.
Biggest win? The venue’s food and beverage package - very reasonable, especially for the quality. That wasn’t even our reason for selecting the venue, but it turned out to be a huge bonus.
The Dress
Though I love seeing everyone’s beautiful dresses, I’m not a traditional “wedding dress” person. I wanted something fun and totally me. I chose a Rachael Gilbert mini.
I also tried a gorgeous mini at Frahn Bridal, but opted for the more budget-friendly option as I wanted to limit my spending on the dress.
Working With Vendors
All the vendors we used can be found right here on The Tasmanian Wedding Directory. I chose people I work with regularly - I know how they operate, I trust them, and I knew they’d bring their A-game. Plus, they really are a bunch of legends.
From Vendor to Client
Being the client was interesting and reinforced how valuable it is to:
Take advice from professionals
Speak up about what matters to you
Trust your vendors - if you pick well, they’ve got your back 100%
Tips for Choosing Vendors
Check their reviews and social media
If they’ll be with you on the day, make sure you gel with them - good energy really matters!
Use your budget on what’s important to you. Don’t book things you don’t want or need just because you think you have to.
Insider Advice from the Industry Side
Do whatever the hell you want! I hugged family on the way down the aisle (my brother flew down from QLD and I hadn’t seen him in months - he had to have a hug before I started, which meant so did the entire first row), looking out and waving to our family and friends mid-ceremony, skipped the first dance, and let our kids kick off the dance floor with AC/DC. We even walked back down the aisle together with our kids. No posed first look - just let it happen once I had my dress on at The Rox. It was magic because it was so chill, and so us.
Don’t overthink logistics but be organised. Just make sure someone is responsible for the jobs that need doing. We didn’t have a coordinator but asked friends to move flowers and family to take Polaroids. Easy.
Photos: I was too relaxed about the family photo list and that part got a little chaotic. If you want smooth family photos - write the list and assign someone to wrangle the group.
Industry perks: I knew how fast the day would go, so I was prepared. I also knew the post-wedding comedown is real - which is why we booked our honeymoon to start the day after our recovery.
Anything I’d Do Differently?
Not a thing. Truly.
The Day Itself
We stayed at The Rox the night before and, full disclosure, had a few too many margaritas at Bar Wa. So we started slow… but pumped!
Timeline highlights:
10am: Grazing box delivered by To The Table Grazing
11am: Makeup and hair started - Jacqui Bradfield and Ben O’Brien - the ultimate glam squad
2pm: Kids arrived at our accommodation and got suited up
2pm: Lochie from Lu + Lo and Content by Her arrived
2pm: Candids, couple portraits, kids and friends photos
3:30pm: Jake and guests arrived at the venue
4:00pm: I arrived with Mum and my besties, my dad and our boys met us outside
4:30pm: Ceremony with Rach finished - it was filled with feel-good moments and a Fireball shot mid-ceremony!
After the ceremony:
Hugs, drinks, signing with our mums, family photos
Portraits and mingling
Speeches around 7pm
Dance floor mayhem opened with the kids
Late-night fries at 8:45pm
10:30pm (ish): End of official celebrations - then on to party!
My highlights:
Getting ready together with our best friends
Saying our legal vows - it hit harder than expected
Having our mums as witnesses
Our boys in their suits (and them tearing up the dance floor!)
Having all our favourite people in one place - families meeting, everyone connecting and having a ball
My girlfriends moving a chair to the dance floor and giving me a lap dance
Dinner the night before at Bar Wa, and recovery the day after at In the Hanging Garden
Hiring a Content Creator - so worth it!
Practical Tips & Tools
Organised with: Budget and planning spreadsheets from our website
👉 click here to check them out.No DIY. We outsourced everything and had zero regrets. With three businesses between us and two small kids, limited spare time meant DIY just wasn’t worth it for us.
Worth it: Florals 100%, plus removing the venue’s existing furniture and replacing it with cocktail furniture from Salters.
Smartest move: Having our kids’ care sorted for the whole wedding weekend - grandparents, uncles and aunts all knew the plan.
Also: Hiring a babysitter for the reception. If everyone’s responsible, no one is - having a dedicated person made all the difference.
Reflections
Being married feels epic. We were already nearly ten years in, but making that commitment surrounded by our people and kids was something else.
Planning my own wedding didn’t change my view on weddings - it just cemented what I already believe: make conscious decisions about what matters, and honour your own vibe.
What I’m telling you to do:
Get the timeline and tasks sorted - it doesn’t need to be a mad dash at the finish line
Make a tight family photo list and tell your family when photos will happen - have someone dedicated to help your photographer wrangle
Choose vendors you trust, and let them do their thing
Do what feels good for you
Final Tips
Book your favourite vendors early - we chose a Friday wedding and selected our date around the availability of our team. We have some tips on booking that you can read here
Don’t sweat the small stuff but be organised
Use downtime after booking key vendors to tackle little tasks in between
Have fun!
Photos & Shoutouts
Photographer: Lu & Lo (Lochie)
Content Creator: Content By Her
Venue: Spotty Dog Brewery
Celebrant: Rachael Calvert
Hair: Ben O'Brien
Makeup: Jacqui Bradfield
Entertainment: XO Sounds (Jordan)
Accommodation: The Rox
Signage: Blossie
Flowers: Gyp Darling
Grazing Box: To The Table Grazing
Skin: Heart Aesthetics and Silk Eastlands
Dress: Rachael Gilbert
Shoes: Jo Mercer & R.M. Williams
Veil: Confetti Bridal
Suit: MJ Bale
Hire Items (Cocktail furniture): Salters
Hire Items (Ceremony Seating & Plinths): BW Events
Metallic Wishing Well: Dear Leone
Ring: Jai Hay
Mimosa Mixers: Tasmanian Juice Press
Final Words
If you're planning a Tasmanian wedding, you absolutely have to check out www.thetasmanianweddingdirectory.com.au - every business listed has been carefully vetted by me.