100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Wedding Belles: Shannon and Jody elope for a quiet, personal marriage

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

B2B: this year’s key tax-planning tips

Here are the steps business owners need to take as the end of the financial year nears: Superannuation maximisation: the 2025-26 concessional contribution cap More

Thousands of students impacted in school data breach

The personal information of thousands of Sunshine Coast state-school students has been compromised in a massive global data breach. Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek on More

Fast-food giant intended for proposed shopping hub

A new shopping centre anchored by a fast-food outlet has been proposed for a beachside town, with plans including a 24-hour drive-thru. An application has More

Community saves playground from closure

Community pressure has saved a small Sunshine Coast playground from closure, with plans now in place for an upgrade instead. Concerns were first raised by More

Teens arrested after disturbance in beachside suburb

Two teenage girls have been arrested after a disturbance in a Sunshine Coast beachside suburb, as concerns grow over repeated youth-related incidents in the More

Global superstar locked in for Coast music festival

A Grammy-nominated artist is set to headline the Sunshine Coast’s biggest live music event later this year. Billed as a major country music festival, the More

“Our wedding day had everything we’d dreamed of.”

That’s what Shannon Brabon and Jody Hunter had to say after their elopement, which included a private and relaxed ceremony at a breathtaking location.

When they chose their venue they had a list of non-negotiables, which included no stress and for it to be organised for them with everything included, so they only needed to arrive with their wedding clothes.

When Shannon found Secrets on the Lake at Montville, she knew the search was over.

On the day, the couple settled in and enjoyed breakfast in their treehouse looking across the rainforest canopy and gardens to Baroon Pocket Dam.

When the time came, Shannon and Jody strolled hand in hand to the ceremony spot along the winding path fringed by tropical flowers.

Jody and Shannon enjoyed a relaxed wedding day.

They shared a deeply personal ceremony and didn’t take their eyes off each other.

At the signing table the couple was presented with their gorgeous wedding cake to cut, with a glass of bubbles, before a photo shoot in the lush grounds.

“We’ve been through so many ups and downs together over the past 17 years,” they said. “We’ve both grown and we know each other better than anyone else.

“We decided to elope because this is all about us and our life, our love and our commitment to each other. It felt so right.

Baroon Pocket Dam formed a stunning backdrop for their wedding photos. Picture: Ben Connolly Photographer

“Looking back at the day, it couldn’t have been more perfect – a beautiful destination with a wedding package including absolutely everything at exquisite quality.

“We loved everything and we loved that Secrets on the Lake even organised our secret witnesses.”

It was a dream wedding followed by a dream honeymoon, with Jody and Shannon sharing a once-in-a-lifetime trip to France, Switzerland, England and Italy, with the highlight being their time in Venice.

Their wedding photos were waiting for them on their return, with the shots capturing the tranquility, ambience and love in such a magical way.

Wedding Belles is contributed to Sunshine Coast News by Sunshine Coast marriage celebrant Suzanne Riley.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share