Port Douglas will be seen by up to half a million people in the next month thanks to a Matthew Evans photo shoot being featured on the hugely popular 'Style Me Pretty' wedding blog.

The wedding of Kate and Chris Perry, who moved to Cairns from Sydney two years ago, was held at the iconic St Mary's By The Sea while their reception was at Sea Temple, and Matthew's images have been picked up by the US based site.

"Style Me Pretty is huge," Matthew said. "It’s the most visited wedding blog in the USA. They receive 8.5 million page views per month and are well supported by nearly every major bridal magazine."

Port Douglas' wedding market has remained strong despite the downturn in tourism, and Matthew said opportunities in the the wedding market continue to grow.

"I shot my first wedding last year, six in total for 2010. This year I’m shooting 24 (and) next year I’ll end up shooting 50. It’s been a crazy year for me, I really didn’t expect any of this success so early on in my career.

"Port Douglas certainly has room to grow in the wedding market. When it comes to destination brides, the day of the week means nothing. That gives the venues opportunities for lots of midweek weddings.

"I feel that while tourism, jobs and the economy is down in the North, that destination weddings are still taking off. Couples from all around the country are still getting married and want to do it somewhere different and exotic."

He said that Port Douglas remains a popular choice for couples getting married, and this in turn brings a substantial amount of money to the region as guests take the opportunity to enjoy a holiday while here.

"Most of their guests (Kate and Chris Perry's) were from Sydney, and that’s the main reason they chose to get married in Port Douglas, it gave their friends and family a great excuse for a holiday.

"On average, one wedding brings $15,000 to $30,000 to the region in direct wedding-related costs from the bride and groom, plus two to ten days of accommodation, food and entertainment from the 10 to 200 guests attending the wedding.

"We can all certainly find more ways to work together and promote the region as a destination wedding location."

Matthew's work has also been featured on wedding blogs such as Pokla Dot Bride, One Stylish Bride, Moment Junkie, Portobella Bride, and the Wedding Caberet.

He will also be featured in print in January's issue of Cosmo Bride.

View the Style Me Pretty shoot

Related articles
Report shows TPDD plans

Reporter's comment: Matthew has illustrated exactly why we need to ensure Port Douglas looks its best, why the service these visitors receive needs to be top notch, and why the lucrative wedding industry deserves to have as much money as possible spent on its promotion.

Every one of us has a role to play in sending these people home with a fantastic experience, from the wedding celebrant to the local at the pub, as every one of us benefits from their presence. Look at these figures - it's impossible to underestimate the importance of the wedding industry in Port Douglas.