A grand Macedonian wedding from our bride and groom, Natasa & Jase.....

Thank you Giant Invitations for sharing this beautiful Real Life Wedding…..

Bride’s Maiden Name: Natasa (Natasha) Lukic Occupation: Account Manager

Groom’s Full Name: Jason Ploeg Occupation: Carpenter

Wedding Date: 23^rd September 2017 How many guests? 190

Wedding Budget: 80,000

How did you and your partner meet?

We met through mutual friends whilst attending a music festival on the Gold Coast.

How did he propose? Jase surprised me when I arrived home from a week long work trip.

He surprised me with flowers and made the room look amazing.

He prepared a will you marry me tick a box (I had told him how cute I thought it was in school when boys would pass around notes to ask a girl out and include a tick a box at the bottom) so he made sure I got to tick yes for last time!!

Length of Engagement? 1 year- together 5 years

What do you love most about your partner?

He is the most genuinely caring man- sometimes he thinks he covers this up but you can see it in his eyes every day.

What’s your most important piece of advice for creating and maintaining a strong relationship?

Talk to each other and be real.

Too many people speak to everyone else but their partners about how they feel when that is the person they should go to first.

Tell us about your wedding gown and how you chose it:

I loved so many gowns but I was forever drawn to anything with a hint of colour outside the usually whites and ivory.

The lace was intricate and detailed and the exposed boning and buttons perfection.

Did you do a ‘first look’ before the ceremony?

No, we had so much going on bringing together a traditional wedding with Macedonian cultural wedding.

Plus, I wanted Jase to see me for the first time walking down the aisle.

What sort of style did you envision for your wedding day?

I wanted a soft romantic style with punches of glam.

Charlie for Stylised made this happen combining Grey and Gold to perfection.

How did you come to choose the location and venue?

Coming from a big family I have been to so many weddings in Brisbane and Jase and I wanted ours to be different so we chose a location that not only suited our style but was one that we hadn’t been to before.

Can you describe what type of ceremony you had and how you were able to personalise it.

Vows – did you write your own vows, if so, would you be willing to share them in the feature. Vows below…

Tash’s Vows

When we first met almost 6 years ago, you came out of nowhere. I was definitely not expecting to meet anyone at a Gold Coast music festival, especially the man that would be my future husband, but here we are.

From the start there was always something about you that I couldn’t put my finger on and I now know it was because my heart knew, way before my head, that we were meant to be together.

You are the most thoughtful, sweet and caring man I will ever meet and you continue to surprise me every day. I know you are going to be an amazing husband and one day an amazing father and that our lives together will be full and happy.

I can’t tell you what the future will bring for us but I can tell you that I am excited to be taking the next step in our journey today.

I promise to support you in everything that you do, be there for you during life’s tougher times and enjoy all the little moments. I will do my best – not to be cranky when I’m hungry and to laugh at all your jokes, even when they aren’t always funny. I can’t promise I won’t keep confidently telling you directions even when I have no idea which way we are supposed to be going, but promise that when we get there it will be you and me and that’s all that matters.

You are a truly good hearted caring man that I get to come home to every day for the rest of my life and even though I second guess everything in life, I never second guess you.

Love Love Love

JASON’S VOW

Natasa, I remember the first time I saw you. It was when you were working at the coffee club and I was waiting for a coffee when I looked up and saw you. My first thought was how cute you looked but that quickly changed to why is this girl looking at me like I just stole something. Who would have thought that the funny way you looked at me back then, would lead to us dating let alone be getting married here today. You still look at me like that today so I guess it was a good look.

Natasa – You are my soulmate

You are the reason I smile each day

You make me feel loved

You make me laugh and sometimes cry when you make me go shopping

Natasa – I promise to make you laugh and smile as much as I can

I promise to be there when you need someone to listen

I promise to try and be more patient when you are taking a long time to get ready

I promise to give you cuddles whenever you need one

I promise to let you be right even though I know you’re wrong

Most of all I promise to always be there and to love you. I can’t wait to start this next chapter with you as husband and wife. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Did you have any symbolic gestures during your ceremony i.e. a hand-fasting, candle ceremony, wine ceremony or something else?

We had a many of these elements in the Macedonian ceremony including; the crowning, ring & wine and first steps as husband and wife wrapped together with a beautiful piece of chiffon.

Did you have a wedding party? Did they do anything special during the ceremony?

Nothing special – My sister Branka Lukic as MOH, Cousin Katrina Bogoevski & Best friend Jessica Millman

Were any of your guests involved in the ceremony in any way?

Godparents Brad & Jacinta Ploeg

How did you enter your wedding ceremony?

With my step dad for the traditional ceremony and with Jason for the church ceremony.

What made you choose the type of ceremony that you had?

We chose to do both as having a traditional ceremony was important to me and I didn’t want Jase to miss out on a wedding as he knows it.

Describe the cake (including the flavors) and cake topper:

The wedding cake was a simply designed 4-tiered cake with brushed gold accents and 2 large white magnolia style flowers.

We had 2 different flavours a white chocolate caramel tier and an almond & coconut mud which we served the following day at my parent’s place.

What flowers did you use in the bouquet and at the venue?

Cream blooms mixed with abundant greenery

How did you choose your table décor?

Grey and gold theme- Charlie went to great lengths to source the table cloths in a beautiful grey that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses.

What was the menu for the reception?

Entrees..

Pork belly

Pork belly, seared scallop, cauliflower puree, 5 spice sauce

Moroccan, Spatchcock supreme

Moroccan, Spatchcock supreme, pumpkin puree, pepitas, petit salad

Mains..

Fillet of beef

Fillet of beef, garlic mashed potato, sweet corn salsa, and red wine jus

Breast of chicken

Breast of chicken, parmesan polenta, roast onion, chorizo, salsa Verde

Dessert..

Sticky date pudding

Sticky date pudding, ripple ice cream, vanilla sauce

Ice Cream Sandwich

Ice cream sandwich, marshmallow and praline.

Tea & Coffee..

What were your favorite moments from the day?

The super excited feeling of getting ready with my girls and my mum in the morning, reading a letter from Jase in the morning, seeing him as I walked down the aisle and off course partying the night away.