We both just bring out the best in each other and always support each other, never giving up on making sure we are the best versions of ourselves while also feeling like it’s home when we are together.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Ben and Talissa – Tally for short. I’m a chiropractor in Bathurst (Tally), actually- we are originally from Melbourne, but I was offered a job over 4 years ago now up here. I wanted to fulfil my dream and passion, so moving up here was a move for my career in helping me become the best chiropractor that I can be. I was so fortunate that Ben wanted to move his entire life up here, away from all of our friends and family, to be with me. He knows how much chiropractic means to me and knew this was going to be the best thing for my career and wanted to support my dreams. Luckily, Covid hit, and working from home became a thing, so he had a really smooth transition into that. He works for two different investment committees for two different big firms back in Melbourne. We have our fur baby – Frankie who is a Japanese Spitz. We love her like she is our own child!! I feel like I birthed her…no epidural. We also have an old 1920s house in Bathurst that we are renovating in our spare time…but it’s a slow process! We also go to the gym together, and that’s our happy place.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Ben and I first met while we were running cross country in Year 12, over 13 years ago now. I could not run for the life of me, so my friend Nina was giving me a piggyback to get me across the finish line, and Ben ran straight past us! Nina stopped him to introduce us, and that’s how we met. Ben thought I was bubbly and full of energy, and I just thought he was tall and handsome to be with. I just knew as soon as I saw him that I thought he was pretty special, but I never knew why. It was just one of those feelings that you can’t explain, but you are just drawn to that person! We would always talk at parties for hours on end and just got along so well throughout year 12 after we first met.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
As I was Ben’s first girlfriend, he first thought that if we lasted for 7 months, that would mean it was a pretty great relationship, and he thought we would last that distance.. haha! Those months turned to years, and we just knew that we wanted to be together and couldn’t see a future without one another in it after a few months. We have always been friends first, and it’s so beautiful being married to your best friend and someone you have grown up with and evolved together. We both just bring out the best in each other and always support each other, never giving up on making sure we are the best versions of ourselves while also feeling like it’s home when we are together.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
YES!! We actually picked out the ring together the year before and it had been delivered before Christmas. Basically, it was like a waiting game for me – when will he propose??! I for sure thought he was going to do it over the Christmas break, but no… so every moment I was trying to prep for it, hahaha anyway, those days turned to months, and we eventually went to Byron Bay for a holiday! Since it was a destination holiday, I kind of gave up on him going to ask me. Ben actually surprised me the second day we were there, and it ended up being a Tally-filled day with all the things that I love. Basically, we woke up early that morning with Ben making the excuse that we needed to go get surfboards as soon as they opened, and I didn’t question it. We ended up getting to the “surf shop” only for it to be kayaking with dolphins!! That has always been something that I have wanted to do and I just love them so much so I basically cried the entire time kayaking with happiness and they were everywhere, it was magical. After that, Ben said we were going to a brewery because I got to do what I wanted that morning so he spun a story where our friend Lachy told him that this brew house was amazing. Thank goodness I got dressed up as we were driving to the supposed “brew house” only to go to the crystal gardens!! We walked around the entire garden, and I had a feeling that he was going to do it here, but every time he asked for someone to take a picture – it didn’t happen. So we kept walking, and then I was like, oh, Ben, let’s get a selfie and do a self-timer. At the last second, before the camera went off, he kneeled down on one knee, and we got it all on a moving picture!! It was pretty special. It was also starting to rain, so we were outside. The rain was starting to fall, and we were both crying and shaking!! It was very memorable and perfect.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding.
Our dress code was a Sicilian summer colour palette. I wanted our wedding to be very bright and fun and a bit different. I loved the idea of my bridesmaids in different colours, but most importantly, I wanted them to feel the most beautiful as well!! My girls were able to pick their dresses based on this colour scheme idea and we really worked together to make sure it all went together beautifully. Zonzo Estate also had a stage, so I was chatting to Jess Gale (I definitely changed my vision from my initial all-white wedding, haha!) about how we could make it all work, and we came up with the flower meadow idea. Basically, I wanted the ceremony to look like Ben and I were standing in a meadow of flowers, and it all just worked out perfectly.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
The main areas we wanted to splurge on were flowers and photography. I absolutely love everything that Jess Gale from Sassafras creates, so I gave her full creative control, and she was just incredible. Brooke and Ben from Lost in Love were insane as well, they made us feel so comfortable and made it so fun and told us what to do – which was so necessary and just made it all easy. Basically, we were able to relax and enjoy the moment, and we were so happy with the areas we splurged on because we didn’t have to stress at all about how everything was going to turn out because I had all my trust in these two vendors.
Also, Damon Hughes is literally the best celebrant in Melbourne and needs a massive shoutout. Everyone thought he was our friend and was so funny and approachable. We could not have been happier with him – all of our guests said our ceremony was the most fun ceremony they have been to, and that would not have been possible without him. He was just an absolute legend!
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
I don’t know if this is something that you want for your magazine, but our best men gave the worst speech in history. It was so bad that even our music guys, who are super experienced and have been to hundreds of weddings, said it was the worst thing they had ever seen haha. Basically, it was a train wreck, and he got super nervous, had too many shots beforehand and repeated the same story four times about a sexy milk run video that they made for Youtube with Gilbert from Beauty and the Geek. We laugh a lot about it now, and at least our wedding was extra memorable because of how we all had to sit through that together and basically trauma bonded for life.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
My dress is from Grace Loves Lace in Sydney. As we currently live in Bathurst – it was pretty hard to go wedding dress shopping, so I researched all the different types of wedding dresses online, not knowing if it would suit…I was pretty set on this one dress in Melbourne which turned out to be a hard no. So I was feeling pretty deflated and was so stressed about finding the right dress as my heart was so set on that one in Melbourne. The second dress shop I went to was Grace Loves Lace in Sydney, and I went with my Mum. Basically, all I wanted to do was try on Goldie. It was the first and only dress I tried on there and fell in love with it straight away, even mum was like THIS IS THE ONE!! I just felt so comfortable in it – I bought it straight away! They were also so lovely in that store and made the entire experience just so easy and flawless. My shoes!! Well.. everyone thought I was crazy having platforms, but I’m 161cm on a good day, so I wanted to feel tall for my wedding, especially when Ben is 6ft3!! I also do pole dancing for fun, so those shoes were easy compared to my 8-inch pole boots!!
CEREMONY & RECEPTION Zonzo Estate, @zonzoestate PHOTOGRAPHER Lost in Love Photography, @lostinlove_photography VIDEOGRAPHER Artistic Films, @artistic_films STYLIST Bride PLANNER Matilda Sholly, @matildasholly_events FLORA Sassafras Weddings, @_sassafraswedding_ CELEBRANT Damon Hughes, @damonhughescelebrant ENTERTAINMENT Something Borrowed Duo, @sb_duo CATERING Zonzo Estate, @zonzoestate CAKE Tiff Holland, @tiff._holland RINGS & JEWELLERY Will Drury, @williamedouardjewellery; Ben’s Mum’s wedding band – Amber Sceats, @ambersceats BRIDAL DRESS & VEIL Grace Loves Lace, @grace_loves_lace SHOES Valentino, @maisonvalentino; Tom Ford, @tomford ACCESSORIES Amber Sceats, @ambersceats MAKEUP Georgie Kelly, @georgiekellymakeup TUX Formal Red Tux SHOES & BOW TIE Gucci, @gucci BRIDESMAID DRESS Decjuba, @decjuba; Shona Joy, @shonajoy; Hansen & Gretel, @hansenandgretel FIRST DANCE Brass Magick Pole, @brassmagickpole T-SHIRT TOSS PrintLocker, @printlocker
