Chelsea & Ben’s Grand junction Hotel Wedding - Maitland

Chelsea & Ben's wedding in Maitland was unlike any other. Their gorgeous ceremony taking place at Windermere House – a private property in the Hunter Valley situated not too far from Pokolbin. With their wedding reception at The Grand Junction Hotel - The Junkyard in Maitland, NSW.

Chelsea and Ben – these local legends know how to party. Their wedding was a quirky, vintage and eclectic mash-up with a lot of party thrown in! Ben and Chelsea got ready at their friend's Windermere House property, a short drive from Maitland in the Hunter Valley.

Chelsea wore her Grandmothers wedding dress that she was married in 1955. Redesigned, however, using all the original material to ensure it kept the same features and vibe of the gown her grandmother had worn on her special day back in the 50s.

In the months leading up to the wedding, this handy couple were busy painting and renovating their friend's property to have it look its best for their big day, which paid off. Inside the home is where they got ready; it made for some gorgeous photos with abundant natural light and meticulous design choices. The whole property suited their vibe perfectly.

Being an October wedding, the couple wanted to showcase Springtime in its glory. Using locally sourced florals to create a pastel palette with some splashes of greenery. A nice mix of pinks, yellows, whites, greens & peaches.

An honourable mention goes to the German Shepard groomsman "Baloo". This handsome guy rocked his tux and honestly upstaged Ben. Baloo had a significant role- in bringing the rings. I can't believe how well-trained this dog was, he knew what his job was and her executed it flawlessly; it definitely put my dog training skills to shame!

The ceremony took place outdoors on the lawn and following this saw the guests greeted with a stunning grazing table by Curwen & Co. The food all day was amazing to look at and to eat (of course, I had to sample).

This wedding was full of surprises, and the couple's quirkiness was a common theme throughout the day. Shortly after the ceremony, Ben whipped out a shovel and started digging. Out emerged a bottle of Kentucky straight bourbon whisky that he had buried a month earlier. It didn't take long for the bottle to be shared and for the party to continue.

We took photos around the gardens and got epic shots while playing with the light in the stables and hay shed. Chelsea and Ben just get along with anyone. You know, the type of people that can't walk down the street without knowing at least one passer-by, Which is why it was fitting for their wedding reception to be held at their local – The Grand Junction Hotel Maitland, or as the locals know it, The Junkyard.

The reception saw the courtyard transformed into a wedding reception space with good tunes delivered by Brendan from Advantage DJs. Plenty of frothy options on tap, burgers, fried chicken and all that good pub food. Chelsea owns Honey Belle Cakery, and she made all the sweets. The dessert table was filled with cakes, cookies, and all the sweets you could ever crave. When I got home, I could not stop talking about the treats; my wife was less than impressed that I hadn't smuggled some for her.

Chelsea & Ben's wedding was so fun, super chill & very unique. Everything they'd planned for it to be. And being part of that, having the opportunity to share in the celebration and document their day was fantastic!