{"id":193452,"date":"2015-09-21T22:58:10","date_gmt":"2015-09-21T12:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/au\/real-weddings\/gate-crashing-pays-off-for-jess-and-bens-gold-coast-wedding\/"},"modified":"2022-03-16T17:32:04","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T06:32:04","slug":"gate-crashing-pays-off-for-jess-and-bens-gold-coast-wedding","status":"publish","type":"au-real-wedding","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/real-weddings\/gate-crashing-pays-off-for-jess-and-bens-gold-coast-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"Gate-crashing pays off for Jess and Ben&#8217;s Gold Coast wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"lead\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">If you think a seven-year-old\u2019s birthday party might be a bit of a bore \u2013 think again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Jessica Donaldson, 29, met\u00a0Ben Rivetti, 28, when she crashed his nephew\u2019s birthday party. \u201cWhen the party came to an end, I decided that Ben was intriguing and I wanted to get to know him better,\u201d says Jess. With little information about who he was, she looked him up via mutual friends on Facebook.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Lucky Ben was delighted to hear from the gate-crasher and they had their first date. Exactly 12 months later, Ben <a title=\"No planning: Aussie blokes 'spontaneous' about marriage proposals\" href=\"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/blogs\/easy-weddings-blog\/no-planning-aussie-blokes-spontaneous-about-marriage-proposals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dropped to one knee<\/a> in the laundry. \u201cHe did it this way is because he knew that if he organised a dinner, or any kind of a date, I would always figure out what was happening before,\u201d smiles Jess.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">The couple married at their Gold Coast wedding on July 25, 2015 at Broadbeach in Queensland. Their ceremony at a church near the waterfront\u00a0was followed by a reception at the local community hall. \u201cBen and I have always had a special connection with each other, starting with being born on the same day,\u201d explains Jess. \u201cWe love, respect and appreciate everything we do for each other every day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Photos courtesy of <a title=\"Kelly Pack Photography\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kellypack.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Kelly Pack Photography.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-88126 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_001-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_001\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-88127 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_002-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_002\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88108\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_017.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_017\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88148\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_003.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_003\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88112\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_019.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_019\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The bridesmaids were aptly swathed in deep turquoise\u00a0for the beachside event.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88149\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_004.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_004\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88150\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_005.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_005\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88152\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_006.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_006\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-88115\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_021-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_021\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88154\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_007.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_007\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Jess and Ben were married at\u00a0Stella Maris Catholic Church in Broadbeach.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-88134\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_007-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_007\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88097\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_011.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_011\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88120\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_024.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_024\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-88143 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_016-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_016\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-88136 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_009-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_SBS_009\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88158\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_009.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_009\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Jess bought her dress online and it paid off. &#8220;I trusted an online website and it looked amazing,&#8221; she says.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-88104\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_014-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_014\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88107\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_016.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_016\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-88116\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_022.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_022\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-88121\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_025.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_025\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-88102\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_013-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Jess_Ben_Gold-Coast-Wedding_013\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The couple celebrated their reception at\u00a0Burleigh Waters Community Centre with a cake\u00a0from <a title=\"Cakes by Simone\" href=\"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/WeddingCakes\/Brisbane\/CakesBySimone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cakes by Simone<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":127531,"parent":0,"template":"","au_real_wedding_category":[6854],"au_real_wedding_tag":[6897,7261,7018,7744,7145],"au_real_wedding_style":[9011],"au_real_wedding_location":[9057,9024],"au_real_wedding_setting":[9019],"au_real_wedding_colour":[10572],"au_real_wedding_competition":[],"class_list":["post-193452","au-real-wedding","type-au-real-wedding","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","au_real_wedding_category-6854","au_real_wedding_tag-beach-wedding-2","au_real_wedding_tag-blue-wedding-2","au_real_wedding_tag-gold-coast-wedding-2","au_real_wedding_tag-kelly-pack","au_real_wedding_tag-real-weddings","au_real_wedding_style-beach","au_real_wedding_location-gold-coast","au_real_wedding_location-qld","au_real_wedding_setting-waterview","au_real_wedding_colour-blue-wedding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-real-wedding\/193452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-real-wedding"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/au-real-wedding"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-real-wedding\/193452\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_category?post=193452"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_tag?post=193452"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_style","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_style?post=193452"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_location?post=193452"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_setting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_setting?post=193452"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_colour","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_colour?post=193452"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_competition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_competition?post=193452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}