A trip to Bells Beach for wedding photos unwittingly turned into a trash the dress for Geelong couple Emma Forssman and Jacob Doherty.
“In hindsight probably not the safest beach to go to wearing a wedding dress,” laughs Emma, 28. “We may have gotten a little too close!”
The lead up to their New Year’s Eve engagement in 2012 was equally dramatic.
Frustrating for Emma, who’d found her dream ring, put it on lay-by (with Jacob’s approval) only for Valentine’s Day to arrive and still no ring – just the receipt for the ring.
Emma adds, “Still waiting 10 months later and having just moved into our house, I was shattered when the ring wasn’t under the Christmas tree!”
Jacob, 29, on the other hand intentionally got sunburnt to pop the big question.
Emma recalls, “When I arrived home, he had set the house up with candles and music; the lights twinkling on our Christmas tree. As I wrapped my arms around his neck he complained that his sunburn was hurting and asked me to remove his necklace… hanging on the necklace was the ring – he’d purposely got sunburnt for the proposal!”
Whilst Emma comes from a large extended family and Jacob a small one, their wedding day on November 9, 2013 at Barabool Hills Estate was the perfect compromise. Forty immediate family and close friends were invited to the ceremony, and later, 70 extended family, friends and colleagues joined them for cutting the cake, the bridal waltz and to celebrate into the night.
“We both stayed at the estate the night before with our bridal party,” recalls Emma, “which proved a little difficult in the morning trying to get organised without seeing each other!”
Aside from blue lips, Emma’s something blue were these sparkling sapphire points which she bought online.
“Although it was freezing standing on the beach, the adrenaline kept us warm and the water didn’t faze us,” says Emma.
“The number one thing people say about our wedding is “what about the dress?!” laughs Emma. The dress may have been trashed (she changed into party clothes before the reception), but their spirits were not. “Everyone thought we were crazy but we had the most amazing, unforgettable day that was very us.”
Photos courtesy of Sheona Beach Photography.