Wedding coordinators: How to organise a stress-free wedding

The wedding of Michael and Lesa Hapgood

YOUR wedding day will probably be one of the biggest events you’ll ever organise.

After the engagement ring is on your finger, there’s a lot to prepare for your big day! You’ll need to hire a venue and a celebrant, choose a photographer, select the decorations and music and decide on a theme to ‘tie’ it all together. And that’s not even the half of it!

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, then it’s a great comfort to know that as part of your wedding package Daydream Island’s professional wedding coordinators will help with all of the arrangements.

A good wedding coordinator is worth their weight in gold. They will work tirelessly to ensure your vision becomes a reality. From booking the ceremony and reception venues to liaising with external vendors like the cake artists, florist and stationers, they will make your wedding planning experience as stress-free as possible.

And on your actual wedding day, they will help manage the logistics. They will gather family members for the family portraits, ensure the venue is decorated properly and there is a knife available for cutting your three-tiered chocolate wedding cake!

For Michael and Lesa Hapgood, getting married on Daydream Island in the Whitsundays this year was , they were assigned a wedding coordinator, Kate Moore.

“Kate went through all of our needs and wants and constantly was in contact with us no matter what,” Lesa explained. “Kate was always there to answer our questions no matter how big or small or silly I thought they were. She always promptly answered my emails and seemed to work past the 9-5 hours.”

When they arrived on Daydream Island, Kate met with them to discuss the finer details of the day and accommodate all of their needs and requests.

“Michael and I had a clear idea of the food we wanted at our wedding. We did not want typical wedding food. We requested if we could have beach burgers (from Mermaids) and fish and chips. Without question Kate made this possible,” Lesa said.

Lesa and Michael's wedding day on May 14 this year went seamlessly. They were married in the Endeavour Chapel and had their reception on the Sunlovers Terrace.

“Kate was very understanding of a nervous bride to be and helped to keep me grounded. She made our day run so smoothly and perfectly, and was there every step of the way to ensure we experienced nothing less than perfection,” Lesa said.

“Both (wedding and reception) locations were set up gorgeously and met all of our expectations.”

The couple said they would be “forever thankful” to Kate for planning their special day.

“Kate has shown her true love and passion in the excellence of her work and all she does. Sometimes you forget that this is her job and you start to think of her as a friend helping you plan your wedding day,” Lesa said.

“We are planning to return to Daydream Island for our one-year anniversary and will be definitely looking forward to catching up with her.”

For more information please contact Daydream Island’s Wedding Executive on +61 7 3259 2310 or email weddings@daydreamisland.com   visit: www.daydreamisland.com

Aussie families Daydream of a Whitsundays holiday

Stingray Splash in The Living Reef

AUSTRALIANS have voted Daydream Island Resort and Spa in the Whitsundays as one of the best resorts for families in the country.

Australian families awarded the stunning resort second place in the ‘Best Australian 4 star and over family resort or hotel award category’ in the Out and About with Kids Best of Family Travel Awards 2014.

Thousands of readers of the popular national magazine Out and About with Kids cast their votes in the annual awards.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa Chief Executive Officer Scott Wilkinson said it was extremely rewarding that so many families had voted for Daydream.

“We work hard to ensure that our guests have a wonderful experience on Daydream Island by providing high-quality accommodation, fantastic food and beverages and an amazing range of activities for the whole family to enjoy,” he said. 


“There are over 20 free guest activities to enjoy including kayaks, catamarans, stand-up paddle boards, a stingray and shark feeding show and an open air cinema.

“For some rest and relaxation, parents can also escape to our award-winning Rejuvenation Spa for a pampering massage or treatment.”

“A big thank you must go to all the team for ensuring that guests continue to have amazing holidays on our island year after year.”

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is located in Queensland’s tropical Whitsundays in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, only a 30 minute boat ride from Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) and a 30 minute ferry ride from Airlie Beach.

The mutli award-winning resort features 296 rooms and suites, a great selection of dining expereinces, bars and lagoon swimming pools.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is home to one of the world’s largest man-made coral reef lagoons known as The Living Reef. Guests can feed de-barbed stingrays, walk among curious baby stingrays, hold a sea star and learn about the marine eco-system from Daydream’s resident marine biologists.

For bookings and enquiries call reservations on 1800 075 040, visit www.daydreamisland.com or contact your local travel agent.

Daydream welcomes Scott Wilkinson as new CEO

Daydream Island Resort and Spa has appointed respected hospitality professional Mr Scott Wilkinson as Chief Executive Officer replacing current CEO Phil Casey who has moved to a new role as Owner’s Representative for Daydream’s owner Mr Vaughan Bullivant.

Mr Wilkinson joins Daydream from TFE Hotel Group where he was General Manager of the Five Star Rendezvous Grand Hotel Adelaide, which won the AHA Award for Best Deluxe Hotel South Australia 2013.

He has also held senior managerial roles with hotel groups Hyatt Regency, Peppers Retreats Resorts and Hotels and Rydges Hotels and Resorts. His experience includes all aspects of hospitality management including pre-opening, refurbishments, rebranding, revenue generation and cost management.

“I’m delighted to be joining this iconic Queensland island resort and carrying on the great work by Phil Casey and his team in making Daydream the Whitsunday island resort of choice,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“We will continue to make Daydream a standout destination for leisure, conferencing and romantic getaways and with the guest experience central to everything we do."

Mr Casey has successfully lead Daydream’s operation to a period of profitability and is looking forward to remaining involved with the property and in managing Mr Bullivant’s investments.

Located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the multi award-winning 4.5 star Daydream Island Resort and Spa offers 296 beautifully appointed rooms, comprehensive facilities such as the Rejuvenation Spa and Living Reef lagoons, a wide variety of activities, sparkling bays and secluded beaches, which all combine to provide a superior tropical island experience.

ENDS media enquiries to Brenton Gibbs RG Communications