Sally and Ben

Let’s just take a moment to breathe in Melbourne’s style this week, from Sarah and Simon yesterday to Sally and Ben today- two completely different weddings, both encapsulating Melbourne’s unique and famous style.

Sally and Ben’s stylish Melbourne wedding was a nod to the 1950s era. It was an intimate celebration under a rotunda followed by a reception at an art gallery. Beautiful, full of culture and with lots of fine food – sounds like Melbourne to me!

Sally recalls how she met her husband. “Ben and I met and lived in London together as friends. Regularly caught up on phone and via email when the Ben left London. Ben and I caught up in Melbourne for a day in 2008, and it was love at first sight. Ben moved from Perth where he was studying, to Sydney for 7 months to work, whilst I lived in Melbourne. Ben then moved to Melbourne to live with me.”

Photographs today are by Leo Farrell who always stuns me with his style and composition – real, delicious moments that tell the story of the day so beautifully.

Getting ready with her parents was important to Sally. “I got ready at my parent’s house, my Mum, Dad and sister were with me in the morning. I also wanted Ben’s mum to get ready and spend some quality time with me before we got married. Ben’s mum arrived in the morning to receive the pampering treatment that the girls got on the day. This included champagne. We all then left in the cars (Holden silver Statesmans from Mario’s Limousines) – Dad and I in one and the Mums and my sister in the other.”

Ben and Sally made the save the date and invitations themselves using paper from Cristina Re.  They also designed and made Sally’s hairpiece together. Sally along with dear friend Sarah created the bride’s bouquet of white calla lilies, the reception flower arrangements and Ben and the family’s flowers.There were other special accessories on the wedding day. “Ben received a gold, Rolex watch from his dad to wear for the day. His dad had been keeping this watch for this special occasion for many years. My Nana had crocheted a handkerchief many years ago before she passed away, especially for me to use as something old on my wedding day. It was a very special piece of her on the day.”

Sally wore a Peter Trends halterneck gown while Ben wore his grandfather’s suit.

Sally and Ben were married in the Temple Of The Winds in the Fitzroy Gardens. Sally notes “Temple Of The Winds is a special place for Ben and I. We have had 3 great highlights in the park at that rotunda. 1) Our first date, taking photos in the park, 2) Ben proposed to me on Easter Monday 2009 after secretly organising an amazing day and evening, 3) the wedding day.”

Sally and Ben didn’t have a bridal party. “Ben and I decided early in the wedding preparations that we would not have a bridal party, due to many reasons. Through this we decided that we couldn’t have a wedding day without our brother and sister to be there by our side. Ben’s brother Peter and my sister Jodie were our witnesses. They did not walk down the aisle, but they did stand at the front with us, as well as signing the registry. This was a very special moment for both Ben and I to have such special people in our lives to be there by our sides.”

There were certain special benefits to having no bridal party for Sally and Ben. “Having no bridal party allowed Ben and I to spend some quality time together on the day. Both Ben and I were so relaxed with the structure of the day,  it even allowed us to have  the freedom to go to the pub with all the guests between the ceremony and the reception.”

The reception was held at a local converted warehouse art gallery. “Smart Artz Gallery is a small art gallery just off Clarendon Street in South Melbourne. Ben stumbled across the gallery on a website, small spaces. We met with the coordinators of the gallery and fell in love with the white washed walls, painted concrete floors, published art work and especially Dame Nelly Melba’s grand piano.”

Sally and Ben hired the B Sharp Big Band to keep the 50’s vibe happening at the reception.

Sally and Ben’s first dance was a show stopper and fit with the style of the day. Sally recalls “”Our first dance was in two sections. 1) We started the our dance very slow and romantic, swaying to Regina Spektors cover of John Lennon’s – ‘Real Love’, Ben being the smooth dancer that he is, added in some amazing turns and dips. We then had a small scene change, Ben flipped off his hat and jacket to reveal high wasted pants with braces to support, I ditched the high heals for a pair of shinny gold ballet flats. 2) We participated in private dance classes run by Swing Patrol for 8 weeks prior to the wedding. The style of the wedding was 1950’s and that meant swing was in, the Charleston was going to be a real laugh to dance. Ben and I danced the Charleston to Glen Miller’s ‘In The Mood’.”

Sally made the wedding cake – a beautiful iced banana cake!

Congratulations Sally and Ben on your wedding! Thank you for sharing it with us on Polka Dot Bride! Thank you also to Leo Farrell for sharing today’s imagery with us!