Real Wedding - Nikki & James’ Dream Burleigh Beach Wedding
Gold Coast Surprise Wedding | Rick Shores Wedding |
Burleigh Heads Wedding Planning & Styling
@kimmstudiophotography
Some weddings are planned for years.
Some are planned in secret.
Nikki & James’ wedding was one of the most beautiful kinds of surprises — a heartfelt, deeply personal celebration that unfolded against the breathtaking backdrop of Burleigh Beach and Rick Shores, surrounded by the people they love most on Saturday 15th March 2025.
Guests arrived expecting a gathering by the sea… and instead witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime moment as Nikki & James exchanged vows overlooking the ocean.
A Secret Worth Keeping
From the very beginning, Nikki & James knew they wanted their wedding to feel intimate, relaxed and full of emotion — not a production, but a moment.
They worked closely with Weddings & Events by Bethany Cook to quietly plan, design and coordinate every detail behind the scenes, ensuring their surprise unfolded seamlessly and beautifully.
Every vendor, timeline and styling element was carefully orchestrated to keep the secret — and deliver an unforgettable reveal.
Ceremony Styling at Rick Shores
Set high above Burleigh Beach, the ceremony was styled to complement the natural beauty of the coastline while elevating it with refined, romantic design.
We created a lush ceremony installation using our custom faux floral collection, offering a modern, elevated alternative to fresh florals — ideal for a beachfront environment.
Featuring:
• White roses and orchids
• Hydrangea and soft garden florals
• Cascading greenery and organic movement
• Sculptural floral plinths and ground arrangements
Each piece was custom-designed for Nikki & James within 48 hours of the wedding, ensuring a flawless, luxurious finish that held beautifully in the coastal breeze.
Why faux florals & full-service planning were the perfect choice
For Nikki & James’ Burleigh Heads wedding, our custom faux florals allowed us to create a larger-scale, editorial floral moment without the limitations of heat, wind or wilting — ideal for a beachside ceremony at Rick Shores. Designed and styled specifically for their day, the florals remained flawless from first look to final kiss, offering a timeless, elevated aesthetic that could be seamlessly repurposed throughout the celebration.
Alongside their florals, Nikki & James entrusted us with their full-service wedding experience, including wedding planning, styling, floral design, ceremony and reception layout, timeline creation and on-the-day coordination. From the secret planning stages through to the emotional reveal and final celebration, every detail was carefully managed behind the scenes — allowing them to simply be present, soak in every moment and enjoy a beautifully effortless wedding day.
As Nikki & James said “I do” with the waves rolling behind them and their loved ones discovering the surprise in real time, the emotion in the space was unforgettable.
It was everything a modern coastal wedding should be — heartfelt, beautiful, and deeply personal.
Planning a surprise or coastal wedding?
If you’re dreaming of a Rick Shores wedding, Burleigh Beach ceremony, or a surprise celebration, we would love to help bring it to life.
We specialise in:
• Full wedding planning
• Ceremony & reception styling
• Fresh & faux florals
• On-the-day coordination
• Luxury coastal weddings across Brisbane & the Gold Coast
For the modern romantics who want to feel every moment — and remember every detail.
With love & gratitude, Bethany & The Team x
