Garden romance at Amy & Paul’s Townsville wedding

Townsville pair Amy Cook and Paul Matamua had already overcome some of life’s toughest challenges before they even took their trip up the aisle.

Amy, 33, a single mum, met Paul, 27, when she began a second job to help support her young family. Thinking he was a “cutie”, things between the pair progressed quickly. “I knew there was something special almost immediately,” Amy recalls.

But their love was tested early on.

“Paul was in a work accident it took him a number of years to recover. To make things worse I was diagnosed with cancer,” Amy says.

“I’m so thankful that we were strong and made it to the other side more in love than ever.”

More than six years and a picture-perfect Hamilton Island proposal later and the couple were planning their Townsville wedding.

“We decided to get married as soon as possible; I figured we had waited long enough. So with just under six months of planning we had an intimate wedding with our closest friends and family,” Amy says.

The pair wed at Townsville’s beautiful Anzac Park rotunda in front of 50 guests on June 8, 2014, with the glorious ocean as their backdrop. Their reception followed at restaurant, Jam Corner, which took care of the set-up and delicious two-course menu.

Amy says the day was magical.

“It was a dream come true and I wish we could do it over and over again.  I’m so in love and happy that I found my happily ever after.”

Photos by Atikin Photographics.