Lauren and Ben wanted a relaxed, fun, elegant and romantic wedding, and their personalities combined with their choice of wedding location – a private property near Seppeltsfield Winery in the Barossa Valley –were bound to deliver just that.
“The thing we love most about each other is that we have similar interests and are both doers and we like to have fun while being active” They enjoy travelling, water and snow sports, renovating and taking the dogs out for a run. Their shared interests equate to some chemistry, and that’s what it was like when they first met each other – literally! “I was teaching a chemistry practical class and Ben had come back to uni for his second degree. He turned up the charm in class to try and make me give him all the answers. At the end of his week of study he flew back to Adelaide while I remained in NSW. We started speaking on the phone every night and got to know each other pretty quick. We had a few catch ups over the months and started dating long distance flying between Adelaide and Sydney before I moved to Adelaide a year later. “
Ben knew Lauren was the one when she had moved interstate to be with him, so he planned a proposal to knock her romantic socks off and they were off camping at Innes National Park before an early morning of crabbing. “It is one of my favourite places in the world, the views of the beaches and oceans from the lookouts are just gorgeous. Once we got to Innes National Park, we drove around until we got to one particular lookout. Ben stopped the car and told me to wait in the car for 10 minutes and I thought nothing of it until 9 minutes 20. I waited a couple of extra minutes just in case and then ran out of the car to the lookout. Ben had made his way onto the beach and had written will you marry me? in the sand. I couldn’t get down those stairs fast enough. When I got to the beach where he was, he got on one knee and proposed with the most stunning ring. It was just perfect. Ben had packed a picnic including champagne and we had the beach to ourselves to watch the sun set.”
“I thought my plan was out the window after the waves washed my message from the sand three times before Lauren got out of the car. Those couple of extra minutes Lauren waited nearly ruined the fourth attempt! I was stoked she said yes.” Thankfully she didn’t wait too much longer, and they could be married in the beautiful Barossa Valley, holding their spring wedding at a private property near Seppeltsfield Winery. They chose the location for it’s beautiful views and had a few props up their sleeve to make the most of the stunning scenery for their fun wedding photos. Ben works at the winery, so we had special access for their unique wedding photographs – talk about perks of the job!
It was a very relaxed morning – so much so that the girls even got to go out for their breakfast. Lovely! The later ceremony time and holding the ceremony and reception at the one location was so great – there was no time wasted travelling between locations, the sun was softer than the harsh midday sun (which was perfect as Lauren and Ben really like wedding photos with lots of golden sunlight!). Lauren was beautiful in her strapless gown with flowing full skirt, attended to by her wonderful bridesmaids in pale pink dresses from Forever New. Of course the groom and his men looked dashing too!
A seriously gorgeous couple and everyone was mesmorised by their beautiful wedding dance when Ben twirled Lauren around the dancefloor. I love what they shared as their ‘quirky’ trait for each other! “Ben uses hankies like an old man!” Lauren’s bridesmaids had actually gotten one of Ben’s hankies to use as her ‘something borrowed’ on her wedding day!
“Lauren doesn’t pay any attention when she is putting things down, and wonders why!” Thank you for allowing the Jade Norwood team to capture your beautiful wedding – we hope it was as fun as you planned, and we have no doubt that there is a lot of adventure to come in the future – just don’t wait all those extra minutes okay!
Wedding dress: Jenny and Gerry’s Bridal House
Bridesmaid Dress: Forever New in Pale Pink
Shoes: Alan Pinkus
Jewellery: Miss Martini
Suits: Jenny and Gerry’s Bridal House in Charcoal
Rings: Everett Brookes
Wedding Celebrant: Rebecca Wilson
Make up and Hair: Crystal Terreu La Pictura
Wedding Venue: Seppeltsfield Winery – Barossa Valley
Entertainment: Zoe Miller and Universal Groove
Transport: Bailey’s Limousines
