Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny – Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

What makes us work is just being our goofy selves: Benny’s hip thrusting dance moves, me being the biggest fan of her own jokes, Benny always falling and tripping over his own feet, and how could we forget the nostril flaring?

It must have been on our third date, when Benny, being his smooth-talking self, paused the conversation and stared deeply into my eyes. Hearts racing, butterflies going wild in our stomachs, he leans in closer, and I decide to flare my nostrils. Not quite sure where to look or what to do, Benny quickly scratches his forehead, and I burst out laughing. What could have been a romantic moment turned into a memory we will forever giggle about. The proposal happened on Father’s Day in 2016. I was moving apartments and it was two days until our first big trip together to Europe. We went to his family picnic at Wendy’s Secret Garden in Lavender Bay, an incredible sculpted garden. Along the way, I found signs personalised with our little shared jokes and memories planted along a footpath. The path led to what looked like a magic carpet set-up, with petals, champagne and colourful love-hearts spinning around us, as well as my giggling paparazzi sisters hiding behind a tree and a wobbly boyfriend on one knee in front of me. For the wedding, we wanted to create a stripped-back, enchanted fairy forest with deep green tones and luscious leaves. I wanted it to feel like a fairy skipping in the woods, who comes to a village lit with bonfires and magical embers flying through the air. We loved the unkempt feel that Bar Machiavelli has — exposed brick, unfinished structures and high industrial ceilings. Ben’s outfit was unique: how many grooms spend $30 on their wedding pants? For my dress, my mother had organised to have a heart-shaped piece of lace cut from her wedding dress and sewn on the inside, on the left side of my chest — “my heart on your heart”. I walked down the aisle to a tune I had never heard before. As a surprise, Benny had arranged to record his cover of the traditional song ‘Mahera’. One of the best things about being married? Not having to talk about wedding planning! We both got to a point where we just wanted to stick “please don’t ask us wedding-related questions” on our foreheads.

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Montanna & Benny - Photography by Lara Hotz Photography

Photography—Lara Hotz Photography | Styling & flora—The Make Haus |Bride’s dress—Grace Loves Lace, alterations by Corston Couture | Groom’s jacket—Ben Sherman   Groom’s shirt—Zara   Groom’s pants—H&M | Ceremony location—Commune, Waterloo | Celebrant—Rabbi Solomon  | Bridesmaids’ dresses—Winona Australia  | Bride’s earrings—Kitte  | Groomsmen’s attire—Industrie  | Bride’s shoes—Zara  | Groom’s shoes—Aquila Clothing | Rings—Robin Sobel & Protea Diamonds  | Hair—Naomi Browner at A Head of The Rest  | Makeup—Nicky Lurie Makeup | Special song—‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran  | Reception location—Bar Machiavelli  | Entertainment—The Shiz featuring Andre Kaman | Catering—L’amour Catering