Megan and Luke’s super fun wedding was not conventional in any way, and it was friggin perfect! Held at a music studio for one, we had a cool and different venue, filled with hundreds of candles (don’t worry, the fireproof ones), a singing/MC pizza chef (what a legend), a vinyl DJ, magic cocktails with all of their closest friends and family.

Tell me about the beginning!

I think the time we both went to "Jazz party" was the pivotal moment at the beginning of our relationship.

Jazz Party was a club with only live bands playing jazz, funk, soul and ska.

I had pursued Meg for weeks (possibly months) before she agreed to go out with me. I think every single person in our friend group was aware. Meg denied me a date the entire time, but teased me with her attention and affection. She would call me and talk to me for hours and then give me the cold shoulder in person. But Jazz Party turned that around. I guess if you give someone a few of whiskeys and put them in a smoky club with loud Jazz you can get them to break out of their box.

When and where did you get engaged?

It’s no secret to anyone who knows Meg that she has always wanted to get married and have the wedding of her dreams.

We had been together for such a long time and Meg had made sooooo many requests about when we would get married. I finally thought it was time after the last big covid lockdown so I planned an entire surprise trip to Healesville. I booked an amazing Airbnb, restaurants, activities for the day and had spots picked out as possible locations to propose. I even had the ring!

I tried to suggest a trip away and plant the seed that it was her idea to go away for a weekend.

“How about we go to Healesville, Meg?”

“Nah, I hate Healesville.”

Crushed.

But not defeated! We could reschedule everything! But now I needed to make sure she wanted to go to wherever we picked.

“How about Daylesford, Luke? I’ve never been.”

Done. I booked restaurants again, breakfasts and planned to go to the markets and spend time in the galleries and botanical gardens. I picked out all new spots and told Meg to look for some beautiful accommodation. She indeed found a WONDERFUL spot. Better than I think I could have found. A small cottage in the middle of a small pine forest at the top of a hill. Yeah.

Anyway. The day before we leave (Friday), Meg rolls over in bed with puppy dog eyes and asks: “Anything special happening this weekend, Luke?”

Cue poker face.

“Nope.”

Deep sigh from Meg.

“Are you going to…. Ask me anything?”.

Poker face intensifies.

“What would I ask you?”

Meg narrows her eyes.

“Are you going to ask me to marry you?”

I made a choice right then and there: DON’T CAVE!

“Aw… sorry babe. I just thought we’d spend some time away after such a big lockdown. We’ll talk more about it when we get back.”

Meg rolled over and said nothing for the rest of the night.

The following morning went well (she didn’t hold a grudge!).

We got to the Airbnb and it was even more spectacular than pictured!

After settling our bags in, we set off into Daylesford. Lots of fun activities that I can say we both enjoyed and the first day was great.

Day 2 (Sunday) we started with an amazing breakfast and then I began guiding her to all the places I had listed as possible locations to propose.

One after another they came and went. They just didn’t seem right. At the top of an old tower (a nunnery turned art gallery), under a massive arch in the tropical gardens, beneath the canopies, around Daylesford Lake… None of them were good enough.

It was about 3pm that Meg stopped me and said we needed to chat.

“I’m going to be 30 soon. You really need to make your mind up Luke. Are you going to marry me at least before I reach my 30th birthday?”

“I promise I will propose before your 30th birthday, Meg.” I said with a subtle grin.

Meg wasn’t exactly happy, but the situation was diffused and gave me a little space to think.

At that moment I knew exactly where I was going to propose.

The day before, we had explored around the Airbnb and stumbled across a little clearing in the pine forest with an old stump surrounded by red and white spotted toadstools and a sea of green-to-orange pine needles.

That spot, at sunset.

I quickly looked at the time of sunset for that day. Perfect, just enough time to get there and not be in a rush.

On the way back we were hit by roadworks and a road closure! 10 minutes added to the trip.

We missed it. By like 5 minutes!

But I wasn’t disheartened, there was still enough light so I told Meg I wanted to get a picture of the clearing before it got too dark, so off we went.

As we got to the clearing I told her to close her eyes.

“Why?”

“I want to get a picture of you relaxing in the forest.”

Once her eyes were closed I moved with lightning reflexes!

Out came the ring! I ran around her to get to a better spot and… straight into a big, thick orb weaver spider’s web.

I fell flat on my face.

“Are you okay?”

“KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED!!”

Lucky she did. When I told her to open her eyes, I was free of the web and kneeling before her with an open ring box.

“Meg. I love you so much. Will you marry me?”

What are you most looking forward to on the day?

There will be a moment. A fleeting, brief moment that Meg and I will look into each other's eyes. We won't know when it's going to happen, but when it does we'll both know. We won't have to say a word. A quick glance. The briefest hint of a smile.

That's the moment I look forward to the most.

Top Tips!

Just have fun! It's your day!

Their Dream Team

Venue: Kindred Studios - kindredstudios.com.au/

Celebrant: Sharon The Celebrant - www.sharonthecelebrant.com.au

Florist: Harper & Grace Designs - www.harpergracedesigns.com.au

Dress Designer: Tirion Rodwell - tirion.com.au

Dress Designer: Isaac Lummis - isaaclummis.com

Hair Stylist: The Distinctive Dame - www.thedistinctivedame.com.au

Caterer: Antimo Pizza Chef - www.antimopizzachef.com.au/