Hitched & hatched
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JAMIE KISSICK, 25 BEN BANKS, 27
These newlyweds had a surprise wedding that was 10 years in the making. Meeting as teenagers Ben spotted Jamie kicking a footy from across a rugby field. “I think it was a Litchfield Bears vs Palmerston Raiders game,” Jamie said. “Ben was in the grandstand and asked my friend about me”. At just 17, Ben didn’t want to rush things. It wasn’t until his late 20s that the electrician proposed. It finally came on the day the couple became new homeowners. After moving house in the rain Ben began hassling Jamie for photos to mark the special day during beers with friends. “I wasn’t looking my best, and I cracked it,” she said. Jamie remembers turning around and seeing Ben drop to one knee and instantly felt bad. “I thought he was going to propose on our 10 year anniversary so I was completely off guard.” In only nine weeks Jamie and Ben managed to organise a three-in-one celebration. “We figured we may as well, because everyone was travelling for it,” she said. Guests walked down their driveway, passing banners that narrated Jamie and Ben’s journey together with a big finale reading welcome to our surprise wedding. The bluff of a house-warming and engagement party worked a treat. Jamie puts their 10 year relationship down to their unbreakable bond. “We just always fought for each other. We weren’t people who gave up, we didn’t just walk away.” she said. The couple are parents to two fur babies, Abby and Vinnie which has Ben clucky, while Jamie is firm that kids can wait. The best friends are both big kids at heart and have a shared love of the outdoors, motorbikes, camping, and fishing. Next year they plan on making their honeymoon a road trip around New Zealand.
ESSENTIALS
MET In Darwin as teenagers on a rugby field THE DRESS Essenes of Australia CEREMONY AND RECEPTION At home in Herbert PHOTOGRAPHER Sharon Mac Photographics