Anthony and I met in Thailand on a trip that my cousin convinced me to go along to. Anthony had been friends with my cousin for years but strangely enough we hadn’t ever met. A few days into the trip we went out in search of a good cup of coffee in Phuket and on that walk we bonded over our love for food and piccolo lattes.

A short while after we got back to Sydney we were inseparable, dining out whenever we could and meeting up for piccolo’s at our favourite coffee shop. I was hesitant to make things ‘official’  (and may have driven Anthony a little crazy in the process) because I had just come out of a relationship but I knew deep down it was the real deal and it would eventually happen. Four months after we first met Anthony took me to a gorgeous park and surprised with a beautiful gourmet picnic that he had packed. Half way through the picnic he asked me if I would be his girlfriend, of course I said yes. It was so romantic and I don’t think anyone had asked me to be their girlfriend since primary school.

Three years later, Anthony had bought a gorgeous engagement ring and received my parents blessing to marry me but now he had to find the perfect time and place to propose. Anthony had arranged a number of perfect opportunities to propose over the next few weeks but each time something would get in the way and most of the time it was me cancelling our plans, whoops! Finally one Sunday morning, Anthony tells me he woke up knowing that it was the day he would propose. He hurriedly packed another of his famous picnics, drove me to the same sunny spot where he first asked me to be his girlfriend and got down on one knee to ask me to be his wife. I’ve always dreamed about that moment and it was everything I could have hoped for and more.

After all these life-changing picnics, it only seemed right that we began our engagement shoot with a picnic too and our wonderful photographer John Benavente found us the perfect picnic backdrop. Anthony and I have always loved the Southern Highlands and escape the city to visit there every few months. I found John’s gorgeous shots on Polka Dot Bride and contacted him immediately after we got engaged, when he asked if we’d like to have our shoot in Bowral, I decided it was a sign and booked it in right away.

My make-up artist, Shari-Elyse is also one of my best friends and bridesmaids and she came by early in the morning to do me up. We decided to have one whimiscal, dressy and romantic look and then changed for a casual look later on.

The spot we went to was very isolated so changing ‘looks’ halfway through this photo shoot meant Anthony and I taking turns driving down a dirt road to get dressed in the car. It also meant trekking through long grass and jumping a fence to find the perfect spot. When we arrived, it was just gorgeous, the sun was shining and we couldn’t have hoped for a more perfect, sunny day.

Anthony and I are getting married in November this year and I can’t wait. Being engaged and having Anthony as my fiance is the most amazing feeling in the world and I’m so excited for us to start married life together. I’ve never met anyone  who makes me laugh as much as he does and after three years together, nothing has changed. Things just seem to keep getting better.

All images by John Benavente

Ms Gingham says: What a beautiful engagement session. Gorgeous couple + the ever talented John Benavente = fabulous!!!

Bianca says: “I’m a food lover and fiance, a PR by day and wedding planner extraordinaire by night. I’ve been a lover of weddings since I can remember. I think it began after I watched Father of the Bride for the first time – the dress, the romance and the planning madness. From then on I was swept off my feet with every wedding I went to and the love affair continues to this day. The biggest news of all? In November this year I get to marry my best friend.”