Lorna and Ben's formal beach wedding in Sydney

It wasn’t until meeting in a Manly bar that Lorna Briggs and Ben Doe realised their lives had crossed paths many times before.

“Little did we know that we lived in the same small town up north for two years, attending the same university and sharing the same friends without ever meeting,” Lorna, 30, explains.

They were together for almost a decade before Ben, 32, popped the question. “He convinced me we were going to the races,” recalls the bride. “Dressed and on our way, he detoured to our favourite park and produced a card asking me to marry him. He had then booked us into our favourite restaurant… For the first time in our relationship, I had no idea he was planning this. It was a perfect day!”

The pair then began planning their formal beach wedding, wanting it to reflect what they love most in life. They headed to Jonah’s Whale Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches for their glorious seaside ceremony on February 26, 2016. Eighty-five family and friends witnessed the event, held on a lush lawn overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The reception was held at the same venue, with guests heading indoors to the elegantly-styled restaurant. Lorna says she and Ben had an overall vision for the day, but allowed for some creative freedom. “Everything was perfect and a true representation of having an idea of how you want your wedding to look but giving your suppliers creative autonomy on the day and not getting caught up in the tiny details,” she says.

“Our wedding was beautifully simple and elegant. It resonated everything we love in one place – beach, beautiful food and wine, and getting to share all of it with our closest friends and family.”

Photos courtesy of Ben Newnam Photography.

For Her And For Him supplied the elegant lilac bridesmaids’ dresses. “This was the perfect option to get different styles, made to measure in the same fabric,” Lorna says.