Ben and Charlie: A Modern Love
“We just wanted everyone dancing all night with good food, booze and music,” Ben and Charlie tell us of their Regal Theatre wedding. The two met in university and have been each other's best friends ever since. Their June wedding was their way of celebrating their ‘Modern Marriage’ with their nearest and dearest.
Photographer In The Mood For Love | Location Adelaide, SA
“We’ve each been the other’s best friend since the day we met; a modern marriage feels like as good a way as any to celebrate that.”
How and when did you meet?
We both met at a party back when we were at university.
Tell us a little about the first time you met…
Ben: Our eyes met across a crowded room (Charlie says it was love at first sight, I say all it took was one date).
What was the first thing you noticed about each other?
Charlie: Ben was wearing a very bold suit – you couldn’t miss him.
Ben: Charlie made me laugh! The first candid photo of us taken on that night has me laughing like an idiot.
Tell us about any standout moments in your relationship…
Charlie: Throwing Ben’s 30th party during COVID restrictions – we were forced to split the guest list and decided to do it on a Friday and Saturday night of the same weekend
Ben: Any excuse to prolong the festivities? I’m a Leo; I thrive on attention.
What does marriage mean to you?
Ben and Charlie: We’ve each been the other’s best friend since the day we met; a modern marriage feels like as good a way as any to celebrate that.
Who proposed and how?
Charlie: Ben proposed at home, and I said yes! (But not before mistakenly thinking there’d been a blackout because there were so many candles!) Then we went for dinner at the restaurant where we had our first date (Ruby Red Flamingo in North Adelaide).
When did you get married?
Saturday, 11th June 2022.
Ben and Charlie’s story continues below ↓
What was the main influence behind your wedding day?
Ben: We wanted it to be low-key, but we both like to perform. So we ended up building a stage in the art deco cinema where we had our ceremony. The original brief was a dark, sexy cocktail party. With disco balls!
What was the most important thing to you surrounding your wedding?
Charlie: We wanted everyone dancing all night with good food, booze and music!
Where did you find the bulk of your inspiration?
Ben: We were adamant that everyone should look and feel sexy, so we went with a black and white formal dress code for guests, and we wore blue and green velvet tuxedos. Studio Botanic made us swoon with a red and black and shimmering floral design, and Venue Productions worked absolute wonders with the lighting, with a modern take on the raucous parties of old Hollywood and Studio 54.
We wanted our suppliers to be enthusiastic about what they were doing, and we trusted them implicitly, so we took a pretty hands-off approach and let them do what they do best!
How did you choose your suppliers?
Ben: We started with our venues – Charlie’s parents' own Hula Hoop, where we held the reception. So they ran the bar complete with negronis as the signature cocktail. We brought in the most delicious canapés by Emma Reeves and late-night pizzas from Pizze in Giro.
Our coordinator extraordinaire Mia Gambranis at LoveLoveMia knew that it started and ended with the disco ball. She coordinated a fabulous team of other suppliers to complement our celebrant, DJ, and graphic designer, all of whom were already friends.
Any standout suppliers?
Charlie: Honestly? Everyone! Charlotte at Events by Charlotte took control on the night – we couldn’t have done it without her; Mark Kamleh was a flawless MC and DJ; Jaz and Ale of In the Mood For Love were with us all day, and not only did we have the best time with them, but the photos and videos are also superb. Our celebrant Gabriella Coote made sure our ceremony was tailored for us and would always use AussiePartyHire for marquees.
What did you do to ensure your wedding was specifically you?
Ben: Our siblings were our wedding party, so that was easy.
We wanted to meet our guests and spend more time with them before the ceremony but were convinced to make a grand entrance (it didn’t take much convincing!), so we walked the aisle together. But to Madonna, so it translated
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Charlie: We went to Hobart for Dark Mofo with six friends the week after the wedding and stayed in a big house in Sandy Bay. But we’re not sure it counts as a honeymoon if you’re sharing a bathroom with other people!
Any advice for other couples planning their day and finding it difficult to navigate the journey?
Ben and Charlie: We made a rule that we would have fun every step of the way. We’re lucky in LGBTQI+ relationships that the pressures of tradition weigh less heavily, and the burden is often shared more equitably. So, if ever we found anything stressful, we could say – no one is making us do this, we’re doing it because we want to, so let’s make sure to have fun! Our advice? Enjoy the ride!
Ben and Chalie’s Team
Photographer In The Mood For Love (Jaz)
Videographer In The Mood For Love (Alejandro)
Venue The Regal Theatre (ceremony), Hula Hoop (reception)
Suits Oscar Hunt Tailors
Planner Love Love Mia (Mia Gamrabranis) and Events By Charlotte (Charlotte Debenham)
Flowers Studio Botanic
Celebrant GC Celebrancy (Gabriella Coote)
Catering Emma Reeves Catering and Pizze in Giro
Marquee Aussie Party Hire
Lighting/Tech Venue Productions
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