Samantha & Daniel by Be Here Be Now Photos & Films

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…

Dan is a solution architect by trade and a rugged outdoorsman and karaoke enthusiast at heart. Sam is a solicitor by trade and a tree hugger and blue cheese / red wine connoisseur at heart.

It started as many a 21st century love stories do with the ultimate matchmaker – Tinder. Shortly after each swiped right, he foolishly deleted the App believing he had found love with another. Alas, it appeared that their love story was doomed before it had even begun. Fortuitously, his fling fell through and he decided to try his luck again. He swiped right for a second time and, as fate would have it, they matched. He struck up a conversation with a cheeky “Persistent aren’t we?”. After a flirty exchange, they discovered a shared passion for skiing, hiking and rock-climbing. Winning his tick of approval, he asked her on their first date. Fast forward four years to when they were sitting out the front of the real estate agent about to sign the contract for their first property. In an unguarded moment, he reached behind the driver’s seat of Sam’s late grandma’s Hyundai Excel and produced a little black box. Hands shaking he asked and she sobbed yes!

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details…

It was no accident that Dan and Sam decided to tie the knot at the Wandi Hall. It is only a hop, skip and a jump from Sam’s favourite place in the world, the Wangaratta Ski Club, where many of her most cherished childhood memories were made and where she and Dan hope to make many more. As well as its sentimental value, the Wandi Hall is a gorgeous heritage building which was built during the gold rush in 1874. It was love at first sight for Dan and Sam who adored its ancient red brick, wooden floors, high ceiling, fire place, duck egg blue panelling and mural of the Australian bush as a stage backdrop. In terms of a specific theme or style, it all unfolded organically with decisions being made on a hunch, culminating in a wedding that was truly and uniquely Dan and Sam. For Dan and Sam the wedding was more about the special network of family and friends who make up their tribe. Dan and Sam’s only aspiration was to find the next day that all the drink had been drunk and all the food devoured and that all their guests were utterly exhausted from too much dancing.

Tell us about your main outfits:

Sam only tried on two dresses during her lunch break and fell head over heels for the Rachel Gilbert Vera Gown. You could say the dress chose her! Her outfit has been described by friends and family as ‘elvish’ with a hint of ‘human disco-ball’ (a homage to all the sequins). On the day she felt positively ethereal in her Crown and was bought to tears when a friend’s one year old daughter tugged at her dress and told her she looked like a ‘princess’. Dan on the other hand was much more diva-esque in arriving at his choice of outfit. There were too many fittings to count. Eventually, he landed on a burgundy velvet jacket and black pant by Oscar Hunt, paired with a patent leather Julius Marlow shoe. He was positively reminiscent of Hugh Hefner but with a bowtie.

What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?

1. Sam’s 90 year old Grandpa walking down the aisle as page boy hand-in-hand with Dan’s 90 year old Grandma as flower girl;

2. the hysterical laughter of the bride and groom as they exited the hall down the aisle entangled in confetti, streamers and party poppers – to quote Christian their photographer, they looked like “swamp monsters”;

3. the bridal party asphyxiating on coloured smoke for the ‘money shot’ in the forest;

4. the bewildered faces of guests as the Father of the Bride opened his speech with “Welcome Freeloaders”;

5. guests swinging each other around the hall to the Heel and Toe Polka; and 6. Dan and Sam’s duet to the Aladdin classic, a Whole New World.