Talk about opposites attracting, Eleanor is a designer at a branding agency and Ben is an interning doctor who’s spent the past year on placement in Wagga Wagga. “One Friday morning before work my brother gave me a map of Wagga Wagga with a plane ticket inside, I was intrigued and excited to see Ben.” Eleanor explains that a group of her nearest and dearest were waiting for her once her plane landed that evening. As though it were out of a movie, they lead her to a trail of candles. “At the end of the trail was Ben standing under a tree filled with lights?A song was sung, a ring was produced on bended knee and a teary, ecstatic YES was spoken.”
The day could have taken a turn however, when Ben accidentally sent his proposal speech to Elle instead of himself! “You can imagined the panic that ensued. Luckily Elle is not the admin’ type and doesn’t check her emails very often; otherwise it could have been a very casual proposal via email,” say’s Ben.
The 8 month long engagement gave the couple enough time to plan their wedding DIY style. Enlisting the help of their family and friends, Elle explains they couldn’t have done it within the short timeframe without them. “From constructing a calico hanging for the ceremony, to our friends in the band and everything in between?we are so grateful.”
With the help of her mum, Elle found many of their vendors at the One Fine Day Wedding Fair. There were a few who stood out on the day though, she said. “Rachel Allan is an amazing florist, I can’t recommended her highly enough?and of course Alice Mahran‘s photos are so beautiful, what a dream!”
The icing on the cake for the duo was seeing Eleanor walk up the isle (in her The Barefaced Bride gown) to a song Ben had written for the occasion, “It was a piece named Eleanor’ which he had friends perform on piano and violin. Major brownie points right off the bat.”
The bridal party took to Centennial Park for their photographs, during which Elle explains a pair of Dachshunds came bounding up to the group, “there’s something so comical about a sausage dog waddling towards you that you can’t help but smile. It was a golden moment and I’m so glad Alice captured it!”
We asked the couple what marriage means to them, and we couldn’t be more in love with their response, “marriage to us, is about helping each other become kinder, wiser, stronger, and more patient. It’s about giving each other a glimpse of what true, unconditional love is like.”
Check out more stories like Eleanor and Ben’s by picking up a copy of past editions via our online store or check out the brand spanking new issue 15 (with more of Alice’s work inside) on sale now and stocked at newsagents nationally.
CREDITS Photos Alice Mahran // Florist Rachel Allan // Printer Print On Wood // Ceremony venue C3 Church City // Reception venue Clovelly Lawn Bowls // Catering and desserts Jacob Food // Celebrant Mark Kelsey // Rings Kalmar Antiques // Bridal Gown The Barefaced Bride // Shoes Swedish Hasbeens // Accessories Dirty Janes // Hair and Makeup Chloe Grace // Suit, Pants and Jacket Shoreditch // Shirt David Jones // Shoes Aquila.