Bridegroom: Shane Collihole

Wedding: September 20, 2014

The meeting

Our friendship spans more than 15 years, but we didn’t begin a relationship until a little over 12 months ago. 

The proposal

It’s funny, and very unromantic. I (Shane) had just spoken at a church and we were at home watching a movie.

Mel joked and said “Let’s get married”. I said, “Then marry me”. Not believing me, she laughed. I said I was serious.

After a few quiet moments, she turned to me with tears in her eyes, attempting to say yes.

Once she had said yes we contacted family and friends to tell them the good news.

After all this, we are sitting on the couch, and she turns around and asks, “Do you really want to marry me?”

 The wedding day

The wedding day was held at the All Seasons Conservatory with about 130 guests in attendance.

The dress

It was a Crux design wedding gown. Strapless, it had a sweetheart neckline with a corset back. The material was ivory satin and lace with a scallop trim.

The cake

The cake, made by the Cheesecake Shop in Bendigo, was a chocolate mud cake with a white chocolate gnache. Mel decorated the cake herself. 

The photographer

The photographers were Bill Whitbread and Shane Matthews.

The honeymoon

We spent a week away – two nights in Daylesford and three nights in Halls Gap.

Our stays were a mix of bed and breakfast and cabin accommodation.

We both love road tripping so it was good just to get away and drive around.