Emma and Ben’s high-flying engagement leads to chic autumn wedding

By:
Content Team
/
Updated on: March 16, 2022

Waiting for a proposal can make a girl crazy, but Ben Minchinton delivered at the right time.

Ben, 30, met Emma Webster, also 30, while studying at Latrobe University in Victoria, where they fell hard and later lived out their dreams of travel. One round-the-world trip down and soon enough the couple were itching for the next adventure. “We gave up everything to go travelling,” explains Emma. “I had an inkling Ben might propose in Africa, but nearing the end of our time nothing had happened.”

Cue a hot-air-balloon ride: “I always wanted my proposal to be a surprise, and Ben certainly managed that,” explains the bride. “I was completely outraged when he took the camera from my hands during a dawn balloon flight in the Maasai Mara — there were lions below! — only to have him propose, cool as a cucumber, in the very crowded balloon basket without anyone else noticing. We later joked that if I’d said ‘no’ he could have thrown himself to the lions.”

The pair married at their autumn wedding on April 4, 2015 in the presence of 120 guests. Their ceremony and reception at Grange Cleveland Winery in Emma’s hometown, Lancefield, Victoria was all planned from their new home in Perth where they’d relocated after travelling. “The day of our wedding, Easter Saturday, was the type of day I think every bride dreams of; still, sunny and stunning,” smiles Emma.

Photos courtesy of Corey Sleap Wedding Photographer.

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_004 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_001
Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_002 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_005

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_003

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_006

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_010

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_007 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_008
Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_009 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_011

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_014

“Sometimes its hard to describe your dream dress before you see it,” recalls Emma. “As soon as I saw the ‘Carolina’ dress I knew it was the one,” she says of the gorgeous Anna Campbell design.

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_013

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_016

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_017

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_018

Emma’s bouquet was a colourful blend of natives and her favourite – king proteas. “I couldn’t believe I was going to carry something so beautiful,” she praises.

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_019

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_020

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_021

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_026

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_018 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_019

“As it was autumn, the deciduous trees around the courtyard were all changing colour. It was magnificent,” describes Emma of the vista at Grange.

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_024

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_025

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_021 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_022

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_028

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_029

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_027

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_031

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_024 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_SBS_025

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_034

“I have never felt more beautiful than on my wedding day, and my hair never budged an inch!” says Emma. It was all thanks to Livingdolls Makeup Artistry.

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_036

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_041

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_037

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_039

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_038

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_040

In lieu of favours, Emma and Ben “made one donation per table (14 in all), and chose seven charities or organisations close to our hearts.”

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_042 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_043
Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_044 Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_045

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_047

Emma_Ben_Autumn-Wedding_046

The newlyweds packed their bags for a mini-moon to Tasmania ahead of another overseas adventure later this year.

Featured Suppliers:

Bomboniere Bomboniere: Various charity donations

Brides Accessories Brides Accessories: Samantha Wills , Anna Campbell Boutique

Brides Gown Brides Gown: Anna Campbell Boutique

Brides Shoes Brides Shoes: Nine West

Bridesmaid Shoes Bridesmaid Shoes: Nine West

Bridesmaids Accessories Bridesmaids Accessories: Samantha Wills

Bridesmaids Dresses Bridesmaids Dresses: Willow

Celebrant Celebrant: Margaret Stewart

Ceremony Music Ceremony Music: Playlist

Entertainment Entertainment: DJ Daniel Gaut

Flowers Flowers: Seed & Bloom , Grange Cleveland Winery

Gift Registry Gift Registry: Wishing well

Grooms Attire Grooms Attire: MJ Bale , Etsy

Grooms Shoes Grooms Shoes: Julius Marlow

Groomsmen Attire Groomsmen Attire: Studio Italia

Groomsmen Shoes Groomsmen Shoes: Julius Marlow

Hair Hair: Livingdolls Makeup Artistry

Honeymoon Honeymoon: Tasmania , Canada

Invitations Invitations: Etsy - 3 Eggs Design

Makeup Makeup: Livingdolls Makeup Artistry

Photographer Photographer: Corey Sleap Wedding Photographer

Rings Rings: Holts of London , Michael Hill Jeweller

Transport Transport: Audi A4

Venue Venue: Grange Cleveland Winery

Venue Decor Venue Decor: DIY

Wedding Planner Wedding Planner: Grange Cleveland Winery