Laura & Chris go back to where it all began at harbourside wedding

After hitting it off on their first date at Sydney’s Opera Bar, Chris Carter could think of no better place to propose to love of his life Laura O’Loughlin.

On their first anniversary, Chris, 32, took Laura, 28, back to the place where they first met, this time with a diamond sparkler carefully concealed.

“Chris had the engagement ring in his sock because he didn’t want me to feel the box in his pocket during dinner,” Laura recalls.

After dinner, Chris suggested a walk along the promenade before popping the question and, of course, got the answer he was looking for.

The pair knew they wanted a wedding around Circular Quay and chose the Eucalypt Lawn at the Royal Botanic Gardens for their harbourside wedding.

A red carpet was rolled out for the occasion and the couple wed on February 7, 2015 in front of 130 guests.

They then held their reception at the nearby Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACA).

“I love old heritage buildings so when saw RACA we fell in love immediately,” Laura says.

Chris, from Sydney, and Laura, originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, say there is nothing they would change about their day.

“Everything about our wedding day was absolutely magical, it felt like a dream,” Laura says.

Photos courtesy of Emma Brittenden.

Laura met Chris online and said the connection was instant. “It felt like we had known each other for a long time and was so comfortable right away,” she says.

For bridesmaids’ gifts with a difference, Laura worked with Tessarella House to design earrings for her favourite girls.

Chris describes his first date with Laura as love at first sight. “My jaw dropped the first time I laid my eyes on her,” he says.

Sydney Harbour provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s big day. “We picked this spot because it is one of the more private lawns in the gardens,” Laura explains.

The RACA suited the couple’s style perfectly. “The vintage chandelier and stained glass ceiling above it are absolutely magnificent,” Laura says.

“I had butterflies in my tummy all day and couldn’t believe how smoothly everything went, just like it was meant to be,” Laura says of her special day.