Love is sweet: Chocolate treat leads to Lisa and Michael’s Bunbury wedding

The best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – just ask bride Lisa Laurino.

The Bunbury beauty knew she had chemistry with fellow school teacher Michael Brook, but how to win him over? “As a good Italian girl, the only way I knew how to do this was through food. So, one morning, I brought him in a piece of my mum’s famous chocolate cake,” Lisa, 28, recalls.

An epic “10-hour coffee date” followed and about two years later Michael, also 28, took Lisa to a secluded stretch of beach near her family property and popped the question. “The rest of the day was wonderful and that evening, Michael and our parents planned a surprise dinner where Michael’s parents, siblings and partners came down from Perth and we had a big family dinner,” Lisa says.

The loved-up couple saw no reason to wait and planned their Bunbury wedding for nine months after the proposal. The couple wed at St Patrick’s Cathedral on January 9, 2016 in front of 120 family and friends.

“We were married at the same church as my parents were. We used many of the same songs and readings as well as they had meaning to everyone and a history with my family,” Lisa says.

Celebrations then moved to the Wyndham Resort Dunsborough, which the bride describes as simply stunning. Wez Enterprises had the venue looking its best and a DJ kept everyone on the dance floor.

Lisa credits the smooth running of the reception to former Channel Nine news anchor Russell Goodrick, who she once worked with, and who agreed to come on board as MC.

“He absolutely made the night come together with his wonderful television/radio voice and professionalism,” she says.

Photos courtesy of Tameika Brumby Photographer.

Lisa discovered her Augusta Jones gown at Collezione Bridal Couture. “This was the first shop and first dress I tried on,” says Lisa. “We went to other stores, but none of the dresses matched up to this one.”

“The best compliment we got on our wedding day was people could not tell whose family and friends belonged to who,” says Lisa.

Michael, originally from the UK, looked dapper in his George & King tailored tuxedo, while his groomsmen weren’t far behind in lounge suits from Roger David.