Swallowfield Winery Wedding

We chose our venue, We have spent a significant amount of time at Gilwell Park through scouts, it felt like the perfect setting we are no longer in scouting, but it was the way we met and where our friendship developed. Swallowfield Winery is where the wedding photography took place.

Wedding gown // Leah S Designs – Hallam
Hair // Lauren
Makeup // Mobile Makeovers – Toula
Venue Styling // Bridal Table chairs- Dann Event Hire
Conducting the service // My very dear friend of 15+ years and former Region Manager when I worked at NAB – Ray Michelle
Invites // Vista Print
Flowers // Alli Kruizinga Flower Fixation
Wedding Cake // Lauren (my amazing daughter)
DJ // Vaughan – 2Groove Music

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How we met: We were introduced to each other at Cuboree in 2011, a few hundred meters from where we are getting married.
Chris had a handlebar moustache that he had grown to add to his costume, dressed as the sheriff of his “Wild West” activity base
Then in 2013 We were posted into the same Jamboree troop along with 2 other leaders and 36 scouts for the 2 weeks in Maryborough Qld. This is where we became closer friends.
We caught up at various times at various places (usually scout things) over the next year.
Chris asked if I would be his assistant for the next Cuboree in 2014 in organising the activity base. This took many months, and many weekend planning, building, painting & creating. We became much closer friends during this time, and caught up for coffee occasionally once the event was over
Fast forward to late December 2019, Chris replied to a Christmas message that I had posted on facebook and said we should catch up, I decided to call him. We caught up the next day and walked our dogs at Emerald, it didn’t take many long before we realised that we had moved from friends to something much deeper.
My first thoughts of Chris is that he has amazing smile and sparkling eyes, I loved the way he engaged the scouts and leaders into a fantasy world that he had created, he stayed in character and had a fantastic sense of fun about him

My first thoughts of Liz was that she was a warm and genuine person, one that you can trust to be by your side. Liz has always been one of the most supporting and honest people, someone who has never been afraid to shut me down when I need it, but also the first to build me when I am down. Liz very quickly became my best friend, confidant and the rock under my spontaneous energy.

The Proposal: Proposal was at Eastern Beach, Lakes Entrance on 22/12/21
We were walking along a very deserted beach with our dog Ruby and he said “ this is nice isn’t it?” , I said “yep” , Chris then said “would you like to keep doing this forever?” I turned around and he was standing there with a ring. I was so stunned, I was lost for words. It was completely unexpected.
There was no hesitation, I have never had any doubts with Chris
Chris did say later that I did make it hard for him because the place he had planned to go had a sign saying that dogs weren’t allowed, so I wouldn’t go there (I don’t like breaking rules).
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