Tell us about your family. How many kids do you have?
I’m a mum of two boys and have been with my husband for 14 years. We’ve been married for 11. My eldest, Aiden, just turned 17 and my youngest just turned nine.
Aiden was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2024. He went through treatment and is now two years in remission, which completely changed the way I look at life, motherhood, stress and what actually matters.
What’s the part of being a mum that fills you up the most?
Watching my kids become their own people.
Seeing their personalities, humour, confidence and kindness come out more and more as they grow is honestly the best feeling in the world.
What’s one thing that genuinely helps you stay afloat in the day-to-day juggle?
I time block everything! I’m such a nerd when it comes to organisation and running my business, so I’m constantly looking ahead and booking things in so I don’t get overwhelmed.
My counsellor has even made me block off one hour each week purely for alone time to fill my cup. I naturally give so much to other people and can easily neglect myself, so that has become a complete non-negotiable for me now.
How do you make space for career, motherhood, love, friends and still find a moment for yourself?
Some weeks I nail it and some weeks I absolutely don’t. I’ve stopped chasing perfect balance.
I try to be really intentional with my time and protect the things that make me feel like me.
Even small things like going to the beach alone, driving with music on, getting a coffee by myself or saying no to things I don’t have capacity for make a huge difference.
Where do you find fashion that genuinely feels like you?
I am not a fashionista whatsoever! My staple outfit is usually a black tee and jeans, and I pretty much live in neutrals.
I like things to feel simple, effortless and comfortable more than anything.
What does living a healthy, grounded life look like in your world?
Less extremes. More listening to my body. More slowing down. More protecting my peace.
Health for me now is as much mental and emotional as it is physical.
How do you keep your body moving in a way that feels realistic and sustainable?
I try to get to the gym four days a week. Some weeks I absolutely nail it and other weeks I don’t, but I try.
I also have a walking pad that I try to use every morning before work, just to keep this old body moving!
What’s one non-negotiable that keeps your mind and body well?
Time alone. I genuinely need space to reset and regulate my nervous system.
When you think about ‘balance’, what does that actually mean to you in real life?
Balance is something I honestly still struggle with.
I’m such a perfectionist by nature and naturally try to do everything myself, so I’m constantly working on saying no and not overloading myself.
I try to give myself permission not to do everything perfectly, but that’s definitely still a work in progress.
What does your morning routine look like, honestly?
I wake up at 5am, peel myself out of bed, make a coffee with collagen in it, because skin health always, then sit on the couch and doom scroll for a bit.
After that I jump on the walking pad for 30 minutes, get my youngest up, reply to some emails, get ready, make his lunch, do the school run and then come home and start work.
How do you wind down at night?
Honestly, I love watching TV once everyone is asleep.
Probably super unhealthy, but I love the quiet once everyone has gone to bed and nobody needs anything from me.
What’s something about you that would genuinely surprise people?
People probably think I’m super extroverted because of my job, but I actually need a lot of alone time to recharge.
What’s a truth about yourself that took you years to finally admit?
That I don’t actually have to prove my worth by overworking.
When do you feel most like the truest version of you?
At the beach.
No phone. No expectations. Just existing.
What’s a single moment that changed the direction of your life?
My son’s diagnosis.
Everything changed after that. My priorities, my boundaries, the way I see stress, relationships, business and life.
It stripped everything back to what actually matters.
What’s something that didn’t go to plan, but ultimately changed your life for the better?
Falling pregnant at 23.
His dad and I broke up and I found out I was pregnant six weeks later, so I suddenly found myself navigating becoming a single mum when I felt like I was still figuring out life myself.
At the time it felt terrifying because it wasn’t how I had imagined my life going and I felt so young.
But becoming a mum forced me to grow up quickly, back myself and build a life with real purpose.
Looking back now, it shaped me into who I am in the best possible way.
What’s one boundary that completely changed your life?
Not making myself constantly available to everyone.
What part of yourself do you judge the most, and why do you think you do?
Definitely the pressure I put on myself and my perfectionist tendencies.
I naturally want to do everything well and have a really hard time accepting ‘good enough’ sometimes, so I’m constantly working on letting go of the unrealistic expectations I put on myself.
What’s something you wish you cared less about?
Probably disappointing people.
I care really deeply about the people in my life and sometimes I put pressure on myself trying to be everything to everyone.
If you could live an entirely different life for a year, what would you choose?
I’d live somewhere coastal in Europe and completely slow life down.
What’s something that still feels uncomfortable, but you’re pushing yourself to do anyway?
Taking up space unapologetically.
What’s a version of yourself you’re trying to become?
Someone softer with herself.
When you think about your younger self, what do you wish she knew?
I wish she knew her worth.
I struggled so much with confidence growing up, like really deeply, and I spent so many years questioning myself and feeling like I wasn’t enough.
I honestly wish I could go back, give younger me a soft hug and tell her she is worthy exactly as she is.
What’s the hardest part of motherhood for you to admit out loud?
That sometimes loving your kids properly means they’re not going to like you all the time.
I find I have to be the tough one a lot and set boundaries that probably frustrate them in the moment. But I want to raise good humans who aren’t entitled and who know how to respect people.
More than anything, I want my kids to know I’m someone they can always rely on and feel safe with, even when I’m saying no.
What’s a small joy that gets you through life?
Beach walks, music in the car, coffee in silence and laughing with my kids.
What are the five things you can’t leave home without?
- Battery pack for my phone
- Lip balm
- Wallet
- Sunglasses
- Bandaids because… kids!
VISIT, BUY, DO
VISIT: Everywhere in Italy.
BUY: A beautiful home near the beach.
DO: A long wellness retreat completely by myself.
How did Creative Weddings Byron Bay become part of your story?
I actually didn’t start with the business from scratch. I bought it from a woman who wanted to sell and move to Hawaii.
One of my first-ever head chefs from Darwin randomly came back into my life when I moved to Queensland while pregnant with Aiden.
He told me he thought I’d be really good at running a wedding business and ended up introducing me to the owner.
I had already worked in events since I was 15 and loved the organisation and fast-paced environment of kitchens, so the logistics and coordination side of weddings came really naturally to me.
What has been the biggest challenge of running the business?
Learning how to hold my head high when things go wrong, take accountability, learn from it and constantly strive to be better.
I care so deeply about creating the most incredible wedding experience possible for my couples, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to keep evolving and improving.
Have you had moments where you’ve wanted to give up?
Yes, absolutely.
This job is not for the faint-hearted and there is a lot of pressure that comes with keeping a business running while also providing for a family.
There have definitely been moments where I’ve felt completely overwhelmed, but at the end of the day I have no option but to thrive.
Was there a moment when you realised the business was really working?
Honestly, I don’t think there was one exact moment when I realised it was going to be a success.
The biggest turning point was when I was listed in the Top 20 Wedding Planners in Australia by Hello May, completely out of the blue.
That was probably the first time I stepped back and realised, ‘Oh… maybe I really am good at this.’
Can you share what’s coming up for Creative Weddings Byron Bay?
Nothing too over the top, honestly.
I’m just constantly improving things behind the scenes and refining the experience for my couples.
I also really need to get more consistent on social media, so probably that too!
What advice would you give someone wanting to start a business?
Start before you feel ready.
Back yourself.
Stop waiting to become someone else before believing you’re capable.
Also, reach out to people for advice and don’t let your ego get in the way. Put yourself in the rooms. Ask questions.
Some people won’t help you, but some absolutely will, and those conversations can genuinely change everything.
I actually had an hour-long chat with someone starting out in wedding planning this week because I know how overwhelming those early stages can feel, and I never want to gatekeep information.
There is room for everyone to thrive.
Discover more about Creative Weddings Byron Bay.
