Wedding Donegans Farm

We chose Donegans Farm for the wedding. We visited a few venues, but this one instantly felt like us. It perfectly matched the vibe we envisioned for our wedding and reflects us as a couple. We loved the rustic charm, the beautiful outdoor greenery, and the relaxed yet elegant ceremony space. It struck the perfect balance of being laid-back while still feeling special and picturesque. Our goal is for our wedding to be a fun, unforgettable party surrounded by the people we love, and this venue captures that energy perfectly. The venue owners have also been amazing—so accommodating and ready to go above and beyond to make everything just right. When we left the venue after our first visit, we both got in the car and said, “Yep, this is the one!” Since booking, so many people have told us they’ve attended events there and had a fantastic time with great food and lots of fun, which only makes us more excited for our big day! Donegans Farm is where the wedding photography took place.

Wedding gown // Melissa E Bridal
Suits // Mens Suits Tarocash
Hair // MINX Blowdry Bar @minxblowdrybar (Hair)
Make up // Makeup by Kate Tanti @makeupbykatetanti (Make up)
Conducting the service // Ballarat Marriage Celebrant – Kate Ritchie
Arbour Flowers // Ballarat Wedding Flowers – Linda Reus (Arbour and Table flowers)
Bouquets Flowers // The Bridal Collective (Bouquets & Pocket Flowers)
Wedding Cake // Alyssa Heard @LuluandCoBakes
Cars // Wally & Tom Walton
Video // Passion8 Photo & Video
DJ // Joseph Ciranna @joeyciranna

How we met: It was just two weeks after arriving in Australia, in September 2018, when our Best Man, Harry, took Lewis out for his first night on the town in Ballarat. That evening happened to be the very first time Claire met Lewis. Over the next couple of years, their paths would cross on occasion, but both were focused on their own journeys during that time. Fast forward to 2020, Claire and a few girlfriends were enjoying a casual catch-up when mutual friends arrived—bringing Lewis along. It was there that they started chatting again. From the moment they reconnected, Lewis and Claire hit it off, with conversation flowing effortlessly. Lewis couldn’t help but think to himself, “She’s cool.” Soon after, he decided to message Claire, and their chats became a regular occurrence. By then, Covid-19 was disrupting lives everywhere with lockdowns and business closures. Despite the challenges, their connection grew stronger. After three long months, they were finally able to go on a proper date, marking the beginning of something truly special.

The Proposal: Claire had no idea a proposal was on the horizon. However, her parents, Cath and David, had been keeping the secret for around six weeks after Lewis shared his plans and asked for their blessing. When Lewis broached the subject with David, the response was, “You don’t have to ask me!” Now, in their spare room, amidst a collection of miscellaneous items, was a shoebox. This seemingly inconspicuous shoebox was hiding the engagement ring. Sometime before the proposal, Claire had asked Lewis to tidy up the spare room—a task he didn’t quite get around to. So, taking matters into her own hands, Claire decided to tackle the clean-up herself. Unbeknownst to her, the engagement ring was still in that shoebox. Lewis vividly remembers the heart-stopping moment when he realized how disastrously that situation could have turned out. Thankfully, by sheer luck, the ring wasn’t discovered—or worse—thrown out! The big proposal was meant to happen during a getaway to Lorne. Lewis had planned a romantic evening, even booking a beautiful restaurant to celebrate their engagement. But as it often goes with the best-laid plans, things didn’t quite go as expected. They arrived in Lorne much later than planned, and Lewis had hoped to pop the question on the coast in a private, intimate moment. Unfortunately, the area was bustling with people, and the timing just didn’t feel right. They headed out to the fancy restaurant Lewis had reserved, where Claire remarked, “Gee, this is really fancy!” Meanwhile, Lewis was thinking, ‘Well, yeah, it’s supposed to be because we’re supposed to be engaged by now!’ To add to his frustration, Lewis’s friends were sending him messages throughout the evening, eagerly asking how the proposal had gone. He had to admit it hadn’t happened yet. Finally, the next morning, in the privacy of their hotel room, Lewis proposed. So yes, their proposal weekend unfolded a little backwards, but none of that mattered. And let’s be honest—it makes for a fantastic story!