Oasis Magazine - Cairns & Tropical North Queensland Issue 22 - Feb|Mar 2018 | Page 36

KIM COUSINS AND RICHARD SMITH Allamanda Chapel, Palm Cove on 30/12/2017 “We met at work 17 years ago. We both worked for Suncorp in Cairns. Richard proposed to me at North Bar at the Shangri La Hotel. He surprised me with a glass of Moet champagne and he got down on one knee. I was so surprised that I forgot to say “Yes!”, and I cried!” Memorable moment: As we were declaring our vows, a man walked right in front of the Chapel with his two dogs and that it was quite distracting for our guests. We were so wrapped up in the ceremony that we were oblivious! RHONDA AND RUSSELL COGHLAN Backyard wedding on 11/02/1982 “We met 6 months before our wedding at the local RSL club. I spotted him and asked a mutual friend for an introduction. And, well, the rest is history! No romantic proposals here! We were building a house together, and realised we should get married before we sign the mortgage. We were married in the backyard of a friend’s house in Sydney. It was a very low-key affair. We invited the bare minimum and didn’t tell them what the gathering was for. Go figure - it worked! 35 years, two kids and three grandkids later and I wouldn’t have it any other way!” Memorable moment: Russ got out of his good gear as soon as possible and into his standard attire - stubbies and blue singlet. Just as well I love him! BEN LEE LONG AND LUKE KUBLER Married at Hoi An Vietnam on 14/09/2011 “We at The Beat nightclub in Brisbane in 2006. Five years later, in January, 2011 Luke made dinner arrangements at Café Coco at the Pullman. I had suspected that he was going to propose, so everytime he started to speak, I burst into laughter. He ended sliding the ring across the table and said “Just say ‘yes’!” We got married in Vietnam. Our close friend Melissa was the celebrant, we had 44 friends and family members join us. A beach wedding was planned, however rain saw us relocate into a function room at the resort. Memorable moment: We had an all-white wedding, and all the guests had beautiful outfits made by local tailors. This made the wedding special as everyone in the town was excited for us. After the wedding the entire group travelled north to Ha Long Bay where we all spent two nights on a luxurious Junk boat. 36 | w w w. o a s i s m a g a z i n e . c o m . a u