Sometimes, all you need is the perfect blend of salt air, sunshine, and a bit of country western fun. This weekend had this all of it plus more at our "Coastal Cowgirl x Let’s Western" event. It was the country western retreat that took place in Northern NSW, at a beachside ranch exclusive to us. Here is a little look into what was every coastal cowgirl dream weekend, from country western styling, line dancing, photography workshop, cowboy hat styling, whip cracking and roping workshops!
"Founder Kristin Donohue & Event Assistant Steph Sciacchitano (@a.toast.event)"
Saturday: Day 1 Coastal Cowgirl Let's Western Event
Styling Workshop:
Let's get styled like a real coastal cowgirl! We kicked off the morning with an introduction with founder Kristin Donohue & Event organiser Steph Sciacchitano, before kicking off our first workshop with Strange Days Store , where Sylvie ran through some of her favourite country western vintage clothes, styling tips and how she uses accessories to all her outfits. Sylvie then personally styled every girl with an outfit for their portrait photoshoot.
"The girls in the styling workshop with Sylvie from @strangedaystore"
Photography Workshop:
Bringing out the inner cowgirl model in the Photography Session, Kristin Donohue in her element as she took each girl one by one through a photoshoot session, running through some poses, techniques and all round having a good time getting the girls out of their comfort zone and having fun with something that most of them had never experienced before.
"Kristin Donohue leading the Photography workshop"
Cowboy Hat Styling Workshop: Whats a coastal cowgirl cowboy hat without some styling? All the way from Tarome, west of Brisbane by 1.5hours Natalee Schelbach brought a collection of hats and trinkets for the girls to create their own hat bands. We branded some of the girls hats with a Cowgirl Surf Club brand.
"Cowgirl Surf Club branding one of the girls cowboy hats"
Line Dancing:
The afternoon rolled in and we got our favourite boots on to get our boot scootin' boogie on with a choreographed line dance. The girls were buzzing coming into this workshop, not sure if it was the excitement or the drinks from our sponsor Fizz at our happy hour, but the feedback from the weekend was this was one of everyones favourite session. Tayla Kennedy brought her group of dancers in and absolutely owned the floor teaching the girls 3 choreographed line dances.
"Girls loving the line dance workshop"
Cocktail Making Workshop:
The sun popped through to give us a nice sunset, the girls still on a high we then went straight into the cocktail making workshop, set beside the pool underneath the umbrella's the girls mastered the margie and created their own spin of a western styled cocktail with one of our sponsors RedRoo Vodka.
"Poolside cocktail making workshop"
Entertainment with Walter Whip & The Flames:
We surprised the girls with a show from Walter Whip & The Flames who absolutely left the girls screaming with excitement. There was whip cracking, fire twirling, whips and hats on fire, finishing off with a ring of fire!
"The entertainment for the evening put on a fiery show"
Dinner Ranch Style:
Our chef of the evening was Harry Foster who may look familiar, as he was on Channel 10's television show, Master Chef. He cooked ranch styled food all weekend. After the show the girls sat down on a beautifully set dining table set by our event organiser Steph Sciacchitano and ate a array of amazing fresh food.
"Chef, Harry Foster and dinner setting with Toast Events. (@a.toast.event)"
Sunday: Day 2 Coastal Cowgirl Let's Western Event
We got blessed with amazing weather so we took advantage of it and started the day early with a sunrise swim. Followed by a big buffet breakfast by the pool deck.
"Early morning sunrise"
Horsmanship Workshop:
After the sunrise swim in the ocean and breakfast, Caleb Degen who has built a career around his love and relationship for horses, currently assisting in overseeing the production and training of horses for the acclaimed live show "Australia Outback Spectactular". We went down to the arena where Caleb had his beautiful horses and demonstrated groundwork and communication with horses.
"Caleb with his horses demonstrating"
Whip cracking & Roping Workshops:
In true coastal cowgirl style we got the girls to pick up a whip and a rope to learn the art of whip cracking and roping. We split the group up and had Walter who performed the night before to stick around and do the whip cracking workshop, where the girls picked it up relatively really quick. Then we had Emily Armitage who is a breakaway roping competitor teach the girls the technique of breakaway roping. Lassoing hay bales with a cow head.
"Whip cracking and Roping workshop"
Sausage Sizzle with the Beef Babes:
What would a Coastal Cowgirl event be without a poolside sausage sizzle? And did the girls from Beef Babes deliver just that. The country music was loud, the sun was out, the sausages were hot and the games were a hoot. We wrapped up the weekend here, this is when everyone packed up and headed back home, taking away new skills, great memories and some new lifetime friends.
Toast Events by Steph Sciacchitano:
Toast just was an idea, an idea that stemmed from a love of bringing people together around a dining table to enjoy a good meal, a great drop and even better company. Tablescapes are the bread and butter of this brand - perfectly curated table decor that will mark every occasion. From girls dinners, to dinner parties and brand launches, we guarantee your meal will taste better on a toast scape.
Toast has since become much more than this. With a true passion for event planning, bringing small ideas and turning them into large smiles on each and everybody’s faces at our events is truly so satisfying.
Tablescapes | Event Stationary | Event Planning | + more.
So, who’s coming?! @a.toast.event
