Retail worker Paul Benfell and Graphic Designer Jade Olliver married on the 3rd of March2012 at Holy Trinity Church, Port Chalmers and reception at Port Otago Lounge at the Edger Centre.
When and where did you meet: We met in 1999 through friends at work. I was keen to go out so invited my friends along, Paul happened to have just started at the company and I casually invited him to join us, not thinking anything would happen. As it turned out, we really clicked that night and the rest is history.
The proposal: It was a long time coming (as everyone likes to remind us). Paul and I had gone up to Queenstown for a family gathering on Feb 14th last year and the next day stopped off in Arrowtown before heading home to Dunedin. He was acting a little strangely throughout the trip, commenting on there not being enough sun and being willing to go wherever I wanted without question (which was unusual).
While we were by the Arrow River 'pretending to pan for gold' Paul informed me he'd found some. Thinking he was joking I turned to see him beside me with a beautiful gold diamond ring in his hand. His proposal was lovely and very romantic, very 'us'. I've been on a high ever since.
Where was the wedding: Ceremony: Holy TrinityChurch, Port Chalmers
Reception: Port Otago Lounge, Edgar Centre
Why did you choose the venue: It took a while to find the perfect place to marry as we didn't want to marry where a friend/relative had, so we were thrilled when we stumbled across Holy Trinity. It's a little quaint 136-year-old church and as soon as we walked inside we knew it was the one.
The reception was in the Port Otago Lounge upstairs in the Edgar Centre. We chose it because of the view over the harbour.
My mother-in-law decorated both venues and they looked stunning.
The dress: I ordered my dress made-to-measure online from a website, which is a rather nerve-racking thing to do. But when it arrived I was thrilled. I took it to a seamstress I know through musical theatre shows I've performed in and she made some amazing alterations. In the end the dress was everything I could have wanted and more, at an affordable price.
The bridesmaids' dresses: The bridesmaids' dresses were bought off the rack about nine months before the bigday. I'm very well-organised and a little impatient. I wanted to start designing my invitations and stationery but couldn't until I knew the base colour. That's why I got the bridesmaids' dresses so early. But the girls, Alana, Shelley and Melanie, looked beautiful and the colours were so vibrant they look fabulous in the photos.
The flowers: From Sharon in 'The Greenhouse', Dunedin's Wall Street mall. I had deep purple lisianthus with little white hyacinthus stars throughout, with diamante pins in each star. The bridesmaids had a posy of white and purple lisianthus.
Sharon was amazing to deal with. She came up with wonderful suggestions and managed to perfectly create my dream bouquet on the day.
The caterers: The Edgar Centre had its own caterers and made organising the food a breeze as there were fewer people to deal with. Many thanks to Jason and his team. The food was delicious.
The cake: The cake was from Anne Symister. It was three layers (chocolate, banana and vanilla) with white chocolate ganache, decorated with edible purple lisianthus and two pottery cats similar to our fluffy babies at home.
Highlight of the wedding: So many highlights but personally for me it was seeing Paul for the first time as I walked down the aisle with my mother. It was very emotional and I couldn't keep my eyes off him. That might be something to do with it being the first time I had ever seen him in a suit.
During photos, we'd just finished having a group shot out by Carey's Bay and were about to leave when a rainbow appeared. Quick as a flash the photographer, Paul and I dashed out of our cars and took a few shots. The rainbow was up for only about two minutes so we were very lucky and the photos turned out wonderfully.
Also, the next day a friend of ours surprised us when he dropped off a copy of our wedding on DVD. It was very unexpected and the best gift ever!
Your photographer and favourite photo: I received a call at lunchtime on the day of the wedding from our photographer saying she was ill. It was a rather horrid moment. However, she'd arranged for our saviour Sinead Jenkins (www.sineadjenkins.com) to step in at the last minute. She and her assistant Liana were amazing! We have so many favourite photos but the close up with my head on Paul's shoulder and the rainbow shot are the prize-winners.
The day was such are laxed and happy one. We have so many candid photos of people laughing. We love it!
