She’s got a killer right-hook but on her wedding day at Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens, Vylita Makata, 27, floored the groom and 230 guests as a ravishing bride.
The Brisbane amateur boxer from New Zealand started the sport initially for fitness with Hawaiian hubby David To’oma. The athletic couple soon realised they were actually pretty good and within four shorts months were in New Caledonia for their first international fight.
It was on a detour to Thailand from there that David, 28, proposed with a Xennox diamond.
The high-achieving bride who jokes she must have been a wedding planner in a past life, threw her entire being into the creation of the marquee garden wedding which was a tribute to family and their Polynesian culture.
Everything from the rustic decorations (where the bride lopped her own tree stumps for the table centrepieces!) to the unique bridesmaids’ dresses and even her George Wu lace peplum gown were Vylita’s own vision, with the help of her cook mum who catered the entire event including the cake and brownie favours.
The celebration included Hawaiian and Fijian performances and, with more than half the guests from interstate or overseas and a mouth-watering buffet which is still getting rave reviews, it’s no wonder the newlyweds checked into their hotel only as the sun was coming up.
The stunning wedding gown was the bride’s creation; a peplum bodice with sleek skirt and sheer long sleeves with lace applique.
Says Vylita, “I had eight beautiful bridesmaids and all sorts of shapes and sizes.” The custom designs came together with fabric from Melbourne, flowers from Spotlight and a seamstress from Gumtree.
It wouldn’t be a rainforest wedding without rain. Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens ticked all the boxes for this couple’s union, including the self-catering option and zero curfew.
“I don’t know how many couples wake up next to each other, communicate seven times a day before we reconnect again at night,” smiles the bride.
Vylita closes with, “Our wedding was just pure magic and full of love, life and culture and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Photos courtesy of Inspired Photographics.