Timeless Romance Wedding at The Refinery

In what felt like a serendipitous moment written in the stars, Ben and Benny’s love story found its perfect chapter at The Refinery in Brisbane. Their wedding, captured so beautifully by Rosie and Mika of So Rosie Photography, was an expression of everything that first drew them together: laughter and a deep sense of connection. Surrounded by those they love most, their day unfolded with teary vows and the quiet certainty that this was exactly where they were meant to be.

Looking back at when they first met, both Ben and Benny agree that it felt less like a meeting and more like fate. “We first met in December 2022, in what felt like a serendipitous moment written in the stars. From the very beginning, there was a spark – an instant recognition, like two hearts that had been waiting to find each other. What might have seemed like chance quickly became something undeniable,” Ben shared. “Meeting for cocktails at a whisky bar in the city, that first connection grew into late-night conversations, laughter, and the quiet certainty that our story was just beginning.”

Benny proposed to Ben on his birthday in early 2024, on a trip to the Australia Zoo – transforming a day full of Aussie wildlife into the best memory ever. “While we were in the wallaby petting zoo, Benny handed a tourist his phone to secretly film us instead of taking a photo, then dropped to one knee in front of a roo and popped the big question. The whole crowd clapped and cheered, and we spent the rest of the day wandering the zoo, full of excitement (and a few happy tears) as we talked about our future together.”

Both Ben and Benny wanted their suits to reflect their individual styles on their big day. So when they discovered a wonderful family-owned boutique in Brisbane, they were ecstatic! The owner helped each of them secretly coordinate their outfits without spoiling the surprise.

Ben opted for a cream suit with a red rose, while Benny chose a sleek black suit. Both wore crisp white shirts, shiny black shoes and belts.

Their wedding party consisted of groomsmen and bridesmaids, all in matching colours to their groom. Wearing cream or black suits and dresses, the look was seamless and timeless.

The Refinery in Brisbane was the perfect venue for Ben and Benny, thanks to its elegant atmosphere. “The venues’ open, light-filled spaces and stylish modern design gave us the perfect backdrop for both our ceremony and reception, meaning our day was perfect to bring our closest family and friends together in a space that we wanted to express our style through.”

When it came time to walk down the aisle, Ben and his dad walked first to Grace George’s cover of “Heaven” by Bryan Adams. “Ben’s dad cried as soon as they walked out and made Ben cry straight away!”

Benny walked after with his mum to “I Choose You” by Forest Blakk. “I remember being excited to get the whole thing started. I was so ready right from the moment I woke up that I just wanted time to speed up and arrive at the venue. I remember arriving at the venue and waiting to go out and find Ben waiting for me. It was at this point that a staff member came up to tell me that one of our guests had mistaken our cake from Confetti Cake Co. for the wishing well and tried to insert their card directly into it, which made me laugh. But most of all, I remember looking out as the curtain opened and the music was playing to see what would be my gorgeous husband standing there and looking out at me. I knew at this point that everything was okay and that this was the man of my dreams,” he shared.

With the help of Perfect Petals, Ben and Benny chose roses, baby’s breath and eucalyptus as their main florals for the wedding. “It was mixed with softer greenery to complement the venue and our outfits. Our arbour had a beautiful white flower arrangement. The flowers were elegant and soft, bringing together our appreciation for natural local flora and our favourite flowers, red and white roses. We still have the dried-out flowers on our dining table!”

The ceremony was led by their officiant, Judith from Happily Ever Laughter Ceremonies. It was warm, heartfelt and overflowing with emotions – just how they’d dreamed. “Benny’s sister and my mum each did a reading, adding a deeply personal touch that made the moment even more special. Despite the rain coming and going, the backdrop only added to the atmosphere, creating a stunning, almost magical setting. The day was filled with laughter, tears, and a feeling of pure connection; we couldn’t have asked for a more memorable ceremony,” Ben explained.

Benny’s brother Sam was in charge of wrangling their ring bearer – Dimitri the toy poodle! “We didn’t find out until later in the day that they both lost the rings for about 10 minutes, before going on a little hunt together and gratefully finding them nearby! Not only that, but my brother, one of our witnesses on the marriage certificate, also broke down on the way to the wedding, and thank goodness the car started again, and they made it safely to the wedding with minutes to spare. Thank goodness for a dog’s nose and a brother’s commitment.”

For Ben and Benny, one of the most important parts of their day was acknowledging those who came before them, in both land and equality. “We were honoured to be able to acknowledge the country and traditional owners of the land we were gathering in for such a special day, now known as Brisbane, Meanjin. Being so close to where the Breakfast Creek and Brisbane River meet makes it a very special place. We also importantly acknowledged those who had come before us and who had made it possible for us to be married through change and equality.”

Rosie and her daughter Mika of So Rosie Photography beautifully captured this romantic wedding alongside Ben and Benny. “We were lucky to book them after meeting at a wedding expo and immediately clicked. Their guidance during our engagement shoot, held on the day of our engagement party, helped us feel comfortable, be ourselves, and understand how to communicate naturally with the photographer on the big day. Not only did they capture stunning photos, but they also made the entire experience easy, fun, and truly special, making us feel celebrated every step of the way.”

The most important piece of advice Ben and Benny have for future couples planning their own nuptials is this: “Move through the process with joy every step of the way, even in those moments that feel overwhelming. Be kind to yourself and to your beautiful partner, it’s all so you can meet at the aisle and celebrate you, them and your future together. Make sure you take all the moments in as much as you can, every second being a memory, especially at the aisle. Just be present with each other; there’s plenty of time to catch up on the gossip and details later on! And finally, take time after the ceremony and walk out to just be alone for five minutes and be with each other to ground yourselves, it’s your day after all.”

With such an incredible vendor dream team, it wasn’t easy for Benny and Ben to lock in a favourite. However, The Refinery went above and beyond to help this couple deliver their timeless wedding. “The team there truly stood out; they made everything feel effortless, attending to every detail with a warm smile and ensuring we felt special at every step. No question or request was too big, and they worked with us to make every part of the day perfect, which made the whole experience smooth and stress-free.”

Even with a beautiful venue like The Refinery, Ben and Benny still added their own twist to the reception set-up. “We added a few personal touches that made the day truly ours, including a display and photos of our grandparents who couldn’t be there, and a custom B&B neon light hung among the fairy lights from Brisbane Fairy Lights at the reception. We were also deeply grateful to everyone who helped, including family, friends, and the venue, and thrilled that our MC, Em, created a custom wedding book with our names on the cover to capture all the memories of the day like a beautiful wedding memory scrapbook.”

For this couple, hearing all of the heartfelt words shared during the speeches has to be the best moment of the whole day! “Our favourite detail was hearing everyone’s heartfelt words during the speeches. We were completely blown away by the love, memories, and well-wishes shared for us, making the day feel even more special.”

Their first dance was to “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain. “Our first dance was a moment of letting ourselves melt away from the crowds and focus on each other. The song captures our adoration for each other and how excited we are for our future. We then invited our mothers in for a dance and then got our friends and family to join on the dance floor, before the real dancing started!”