A surprise country picnic turned into a romantic proposal when a stunning diamond ring dropped out of Lauren Poulter’s napkin.
The tears flowed when her AFL footballer beau Chris Newman asked her to marry him, and the celebrations continued well into the evening, with Chris organising dinner with their delighted parents, followed by an overnight stay in a luxury Melbourne villa. “It was a weekend we both will never forget; Chris had created the most perfect proposal,” Lauren said.
But Lauren and Chris’ wedding was in fact more of a dream weekend; the couple chose to marry at Sault, a rural property set amidst picturesque lavender fields in Daylesford, and headed to the district accompanied by their wedding party with several days to spare.
“It was great to have a few days to relax, get pampered and prepare for the big day, and that time spent with our closest friends during the lead up will be something we will cherish for years to come,” Lauren said.
On the morning of the wedding, Lauren’s mother-in-law gave her a bottle of one of her favourite perfumes and delivered a surprise gift from Chris, which turned out to be a breathtaking diamond bracelet. It was the perfect accessory for her stunning gown. “It left me in tears, and will hopefully be the start of a family tradition that I can one day pass on to our children,” Lauren said.
For something ‘old’, the bride attached her late Nanna's brooches to her bouquet of David Austin roses designed by leading florist Victoria Whitelaw. Victoria also used a selection of hydrangeas, lisianthus and other cottage-style blooms to add subtle colour and fragrance to the rustic French provincial themed-reception. “The table centrepieces in the marquee were breathtaking, and a credit to Victoria and her team,” Lauren said.
Later in the evening, the party moved into the restaurant at Sault, which had been transformed to reflect the newlyweds’ home. “We had scented candles, photo frames with pictures of family weddings, and other photographs that highlighted significant moments in our journey together so far,” Lauren said.
“We really wanted this part of the night to be the time where guests could let their hair down. It's a beautiful moment to see all of our closest friends and family together enjoying themselves.”
For more inspirational wedding stories, visit Real Weddings and find your perfect Victoria wedding venue.
Gown: Suzanne Harward | Photographer: Blumenthal Photography | Videography: C2 Video | Ceremony and reception venue: Sault | Reception Decorations: A Lavish Affair | Groom’s and groomsmen’s attire: SOHO Workshop | Bridesmaids’ outfits: Harvey & Ella | Bridesmaids’ shoes: Tony Bianco | Bridesmaids’ accessories: Stephanie Browne | Flowers and floral decorations: Victoria Whitelaw | Celebrant: Geoff Shepard | Stationery: papyrus design | Transport: Triple R Car Hire | Hair: Hair Abode | Make-Up: Trè make up artist | Cake: Cakeface | Gift Registry: Wedding List Co | First Night: Lake House
