Madeleine + Samm by Alice Mahran - Together Journal

He brought out the big guns with his best 16-year-old pick-up line: “Has anyone ever told you that you have the most beautiful eyes?” A few weeks and several dates later, we were boyfriend and girlfriend, and obsessed with each other.

Madeleine —— Samm works in real estate and I run a marketing consultancy as well as my jewellery brand, 5th Street Finds. We met when we were 16. It was Mardi Gras and 16-year-old me ventured into crowded Hyde Park with my girlfriends for a night out. Little did I know that my future bridesmaid and Samm’s future best man were setting me up with Samm. Their inkling that we would be a match was spot on.

I was instantly drawn to him. He was tanned and handsome, wearing skinny jeans, a crisp white shirt, a skinny tie, and yellow canvas shoes: very cool for 2008. He brought out the big guns with his best 16-year-old pick-up line: “Has anyone ever told you that you have the most beautiful eyes?” A few weeks and several dates later, we were boyfriend and girlfriend, and obsessed with each other. Hours of talking on the phone, staying out until the last bus would take me home by my curfew.

I knew early on that Samm was the one. Every day without fail he makes me laugh. Just him being there makes life so much better and brighter.

On our 13-year anniversary, we had been out for lunch celebrating my dad’s birthday. Samm had actually taken my dad aside that morning and asked for his blessing, so throughout lunch Dad had been overly happy and grinning at me. As we arrived home, it was pouring with rain. Samm dropped to one knee, pulled out a ring that had the most beautiful stone cut by my grandfather, and popped the question. It was perfect.

When we first got engaged, I felt a little overwhelmed by choosing a wedding dress. I had no idea what style I wanted. The instant I tried on the Liz Martinez gown I knew it was the one. It felt romantic yet sexy, and still timeless. The little floral applique details with hand-sewn pearls felt very me.

I hadn’t planned on doing a second dress, but when I found the Michael Lo Sordo gown only a month before the wedding, I knew I had to have it. It was the polar opposite of the Liz Martinez gown but felt like a fun party option for dancing the night away.

The ceremony had a few unexpected twists. The rain had been on and off all day, and we took a gamble by having the ceremony outside. Midway through, there was a sudden sun shower, but it ended up being a moment of comic relief as Samm’s best man James swung into action with two umbrellas to shield us from the sprinkles. We also had a visit from a cute little green praying mantis, who first appeared on our celebrant’s head then ended up all over Samm as we were about to exchange vows. His appearance stopped the ceremony a couple of times but made us all laugh.