Naomi & Ben
Naomi and Ben chose a hot Summer’s day for their botanical inspired wedding. They wed at a lookout overlooking the ocean before celebrating with their favourite people at a restaurant in Akuna Bay. They wanted their wedding day to be inspired by nature and in places that they both loved together. Lucy Leonardi was there to capture the memories.
Naomi tells of their journey. “We had actually known each other since high school, but weren’t really friends. about 10 years after school, we re-met at the local pub through a mutual friend.”
Ben chose an Alexander McQueen suit with leopard print shoes by Burberry.
The bride wore a short dress by Anaessia. She remarks “Chosen for it’s uniqueness, it was a shorter style dress with a floral embroidered slip – perfect for hot summer wedding!”
Chiho Kobayashi Flowers created the floral arrangements, or rather greenery arrangements! Naomi telling, “The bouquet and button holes were all different shades of green, and there was actually no flowers any where in the wedding dressings. She is super talented, all I told her is that I want a green bouquet with various foliage and she did her magic!”
Naomi and Ben chose West Head Lookout for their ceremony, a place where they were surrounded by the bush and where Ben had done a lot of rock climbing over the years.
Naomi walked down the aisle with her parents to “Audrey” by Dave Brubeck.
Nitza Lowenstein officiated the ceremony, the bride telling, “We had a Jewish ceremony, under a Chuppah made by my mother. It was a fairly casual and natural ceremony, that reflected the environment it was held in. There were lots of laughs.”
Of their photographer, Naomi remarks, “Lucy is not only a close friend but an outstanding photographer. She made sure everyone felt comfortable, relaxed and able to enjoy themselves. We love every shot she has captured for us and will treasure them forever.”
Naomi and Ben held their wedding at Cielo Akuna Bay, a place they had often been fishing together, and continued the botanical style to their decor, remembering, “The table dressings were edible plants – which doubled as favors. We also used Astro Turf as the aisle for the ceremony to stay inline with the botanical theme.”
Instead of a traditional sweet cake, Naomi and Ben chose a cheese wheel cake, which they cut with a Samurai sword.
As wedding favors, the groom’s mother made home made dark chocolate almond brittle.
The wedding was a beautiful acknowledgement of the bride and groom’s cultures, Naomi noting, “Being a “half” Jewish wedding, we opened with a traditional Hora.”
Of their first dance Naomi remembers, “We chose “You Never Can Tell” – Chuck Berry Inspired by John Travolta and Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction.”
One of the favourite memories of the night was the gift from the groom’s brother – a champagne sabre!
Naomi remembers, “At the end of the night, the band invited the groom and some musical friends to come and play a song on stage – which ended up being “little wing” by Jimmi Hendrix.”
Congratulations Naomi and Ben! Thank you for sharing your day with us! Thank you also to Lucy Leonardi for sharing today’s wedding!
Love his shoes!
Lovely couple! Love the car and the groom’s shoes.