At Eleven Eighty we talk a lot about stories. We pride ourselves on being the wedding venue of choice for couples who wish to begin their new chapter a little differently. The venue with a twist is a nod to our unique space with surprises around every corner: Our walls have stories etched into them; from their beginnings as a tiny country schoolhouse in the 1860s, to a bustling pottery studio 120 years later, and now, as a heritage space where love stories are written every weekend.
Lauren and Warwick’s wedding is one of our favourites, and one of our most asked‑about. Their celebration was so unforgettable it’s been featured in South Coast Wedding Magazine and Polka Dot Weddings a true testament to just how special this day (and this couple) really is. But, not only did they choose Eleven Eighty as the place to begin their marriage story, but the experience sparked an entirely new chapter for Lauren, inspiring her to step into a career in the wedding industry. Introducing: With Love Lauren – wedding celebrant services.
Why Eleven Eighty?
Lauren and Warwick are the most down-to-earth couple. With their 3 fur babies in tow (3 gorgeous long hair German Shepherd dogs) they love short getaways – camping and farm stays in particular. They chose Eleven Eighty as it felt both “homely and stylish” and loved the “open, green spaces”. They wanted their wedding to feel like they were having a party that just so happened to have a wedding ceremony to kick it off. The most important thing of all for them……it is dog friendly. Location also played a factor with Lauren being from Canberra and Warwick from Sydney. It’s a great central location. It also helped that Lauren is a total sucker for Alice in Wonderland – if you have visited Eleven Eighty you will know that we have an “Alice vibe” going on.
Lauren and Warwick bring our tagline to life “lovers who chose to start their story a little differently.” And this is how they did it:
Personal Touches:
Everywhere you looked you saw personal touches that made their day so special and intimate; from the framed photo on display of their fur babies to the polaroid camera and guest book so that guests could share a personal message alongside documenting a photo of themselves on the day. Where they could, they incorporated friends unique talents such as their carpenter friend making them a unique wooden chopping board to showcase their cake.
Candid Moments:
Lauren and Warwick took sneaky unplanned moments away from their guests throughout the day, to ensure they had some time where it was just the two of them. This is one of our favourite photos where the couple got lost in the moment, hidden away from guests behind our Old School Hall where they started dancing, completely unaware that the “Queen of Candid Moments”- Kristie Lee from KLD Photography had managed to capture it.
That Dress:
Lauren’s fabulous pink dress was the talk of the season. How perfect for our vibe. Lets face it – this is how to show that you want to do things “a little differently“. Out with the traditional white and in with the hot pink dress. We absolutely love it. (Dress from AJE)
The Cake:
Turn tradition on its head. Don’t have a sweet tooth? How about this giant cheese cake instead of the traditional wedding cake?
The Dream Team:
Lauren and Warwick wanted their day to be “simple but elegant”. However, they also wanted their guests to have a great experience and the day to run smoothly so they ensured they picked a dream team of south coast vendors including Kristie from KLD Photography, Hungry Monkey Express looking after the catering, the Meet Mabel team running the bar and the Baker Boys Band looking after the evenings entertainment.
We are hoping to have the fabulous Lauren regularly visit us at Eleven Eighty in her new role as marriage celebrant. How fabulous for her to marry other couples right where it all started for her. Best of luck Lauren and Warwick.
