Bride: Samantha Josephine Bannan (known as Sammi)
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Groom: Michael Robert Lister
Date: November 28, 2015
The meeting: Michael and I met in August 2008 through mutual friends in Ballarat where Michael was attending university.
“We didn’t see eye to eye to begin with but we still decided to become friends. After three months I found him to be the most humorous, loving, caring and beautiful person inside and out and our feelings towards each other started to grow.”
We were in a long distance relationship for four years, with me working in Bendigo and Michael studying in Ballarat, and only saw each other on weekends. At the end of 2012, Michael moved to Bendigo where we started living together and we eventually moved to Melbourne for our careers.
The proposal: On our six year anniversary, Michael took me to the Ballarat Steakhouse, which has been our favourite restaurant since we started dating. After dinner Michael wanted to take a drive around Ballarat, filming locations on his video camera.
We stopped at the Arts Academy on Camp Street where Michael studied at, a nightclub where we shared our first kiss, and a house in Barkly Street where I used to meet Michael.
He made me a video with his favourite show Dr Who crossed with my favourite movie The Notebook and there was a message from Michael himself, telling me how much he loved me and that the video symbolised two lives coming together as one. Then he pulled out a ring box and inside was a beautiful glittering ring. He asked me to marry him and, of course, I said yes.
The wedding day: We always wanted a spring wedding and to get married outdoors so we found Glen Erin Vineyard in Lancefield, where we could have everything under the one roof. We wanted our guests to make a weekend of our wedding and not to have to travel anywhere.
We had 90 of our closest family and friends, with my good friend and celebrant Elizabeth Addison officiating. Our siblings and their partners played various roles in our wedding and my mother walked me down the aisle, which was a very special touch.
My bridesmaids were four girlfriends who have been a big part of my life and Michael had four groomsmen; three friends from university and his cousin. My god-daughter and godson were flower girl and page boy.
My dad passed away in 2012 and I had items symbolising him which included wearing my mother’s veil from their wedding and the ring pillow carried by our page boy. Dad’s wedding ring was attached to my bouquet as well as a photo of dad’s parents. My cousin Kirra died in a car accident and her necklace was attached to the bouquet too.
Michael had his great grandfather’s tie pin attached to his tie and a memory frame of his grandfather pinned onto his suit jacket.
The funniest moment was our bridal party photo shoot after the ceremony as the men all wore Marvel and DC Comic book character t-shirts under their suits and we were all singing in between photo shoots and having a good time.
Upon entry into the reception, each couple walked into the room to a movie theme song, ranging from Ghostbusters, Pirates of the Caribbean, James Bond, Star Wars and Back to the Future.
Michael and I chose That’s All I Ask of You by Josh Groban and Kelly Clarkson for our first dance.
The dress: I found my perfect wedding dress from Kylie J Bridal in Brunswick. My mother remarried in 2010 and brought her dress from the same shop. It was a beautiful princess ball gown with beading along the waist and lots of tulle, lace and a cathedral length train. I carried a bouquet of ivory and red roses. Mum brought me a beautiful earring and bracelet set from Swarovski to complete the princess look.
My bridesmaids wore aubergine one shoulder, high twist, chiffon long dresses with waterfall side detail and a diamente brooch.
The cake: Glen Erin Vineyard made our beautiful wedding cake, which had three tiers with two top tiers of swirl milk and white chocolate mud cake and the bottom was caramel mud cake. Our cake toppers were the Joker and Harley Quinn.
Have you recently tied the knot? We’d love to feature your big day! Submit your wedding here and send extra photographs to fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au: