For Sarah Findlay and Will Babington, falling in love was an unexpected surprise. They began as friends, first meeting when Sarah moved from her home town in Gippsland to be closer to university while completing an education degree. Of her search for share accommodation, Will said: “Apparently mine was the first ‘normal’ house she visited. Fast-forward a couple of years, add in a sprinkle of COVID lockdowns and the ingredients were ripe for us to be more than housemates; we became soulmates.”
Will popped the question last July at a romantic location in South-East Asia, describing the proposal as: “Private island, photographer and music . . . all the romance with a touch of clumsy ‘down on one knee’ action on a white sandy beach. Sarah was surprised, but my out-of-the-ordinary secrecy and perspiration gave away that something was going to happen.”
The engagement, pictured above, was joyous news to family and friends. Testament to the popularity of the fun-loving couple, 100 guests are expected to attend their wedding.
In their roles as IT executive and secondary school teacher respectively, Will and Sarah are generally well organised, but the challenges of planning a wedding can’t all be solved with a business mindset. “We know what we need to do, plan, and by when,” Will said. “We have spreadsheets, timelines, budget milestones. However, chaos comes from the more creative aspects we both enjoy and sometimes get overwhelmed by.”
The first decision, made last November, was the venue for the ceremony and reception, simultaneously checking ‘location, time and concept’ off their list. After short-listing several possibilities they chose Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill, given it hit all the major criteria: in a vineyard with scenic grounds for photos and onsite accommodation for the many interstate guests. What sold the pair was that Lindenderry offered it all.
“We didn’t want to have to rush from location to location. Having everything in one place meant everyone could enjoy the night to the fullest, then wake in the morning and have breakfast together, cementing memories from the day before.”
Regarding the allocation of tasks, Will said: “I take on the more practical jobs: booking vendors, paying invoices and keeping track of the budget. Realistically though, Sarah has the final say for all the style elements of the wedding and most of the big decisions.”
Perhaps one of the biggest decisions was the dress. After trying on about 30, Sarah has made her choice. Known for her extensive, stylish wardrobe, it was a struggle to narrow it down to ‘the one’ she will still love in six months. Ultimately, it was a timeless design that won her over, ditching the pressure to be up with the trends.
For other couples paying for their own wedding, the pair recommend creating a clear budget. To fully enjoy the experience, however, they feel it’s important to honour any ‘must-have’ wishes where possible. “Sarah wanted a great photographer known from Instagram,” Will said. “Agreeing on one non-negotiable each meant we didn’t debate the cost or the purpose as long as we were within our overall budget. This saved a lot of possible arguments.”
Their success as a team bodes well for the future. As their wedding day grows closer, Sarah and Will can’t wait to say “I do” to a lifetime partnership in January.
