Gabby & John

If there is one thing to fall in love with in Gabby & John’s country engagement, it isn’t just their story (though that? It stands alone as something marvelous). It’s the setting and the appearance of their four-legged friends (by name, let us introduce you to Helga, Rosebud, Annabelle, Big Red, Shirley, Josie, Bambi, The Rabbit, The Poodle, Nanna and more). It was Mallory Sparkles who joined these two on their very own dairy farm to capture the start of the next chapter of their lives together, at the very place they spend most of their days. It was appropriate for this moment to be documented, after all, the pair fell in love on another dairy farm many moons ago. “I really wanted to work on a farm with animals, so when a job came up there I took the chance” explains Gabby. “John taught me everything I needed to know. From milking cows to caring for calves. We spent six days a week working together. From 4 am starts to about 6 pm. A lot of time to get to really know someone.”

I don’t know about you but to me? It seems appropriate that animals watched on as John popped the question. Gabby explains “We went to Ireland in their summer 2017 to visit John’s family. John had looked up a secluded picturesque beach where he planned to propose. When we got there, there were hundreds of tourists packed onto the beach. So, John, had us walk through nearby sheep fields for almost an hour until we were alone on a beautiful headland – which even he didn’t know was there. He proposed on one knee with only a few Irish sheep watching.”

Shares Gabby “I had mostly come from an office, high heel, makeup wearing, work background. So it was great we met in the dead of winter with me wearing an outfit sourced from Lowes – also covered in cow dung. It gets messy milking cows.”

The farm began the rest of their life together. “When we came back from our holiday John bought his own herd and began milking on a farm in Kenilworth on the Mary River. We love the cows and the area. We wanted photos of the start of our life on the farm – and with Sally, John’s dog…and the cows…Helga, Rosebud, Annabelle, Big Red, Shirley, Josie, Bambi, The Rabbit, The Poodle, Nanna etc the list of our cow friends goes on” says Gabby.