They were dressed in lycra when they first met and he wore a wife-beater with thongs on their first date. Fashion stylists would have advised them to leave it at that…
But despite their fashion fails, Melbourne’s Carly Laughton and Bart Kohler hit it off and were married on January 4, 2014 with a vintage wedding.
“We met through our triathlon club right outside Sails on Bay [where they held their reception]…luckily the lycra gear didn’t turn either of us off!” laughs Carly.
They exchanged vows in front of 120 guests at the significant Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Hampton. “My family has a long connection with this church,” explains Carly. “It is where my grandparents Dorothy and Jack were married and where I was christened.”
Although the pair said their wedding day as “just perfect”, car troubles do seem to be a running theme at weddings of late! “One of the cars ran out of petrol during the photos, so half the bridal party was stranded at the Botanical Gardens,” recalls Carly.
Carly, 34, describes her Bart, 40, as cheeky, courageous and determined. “There’s not a morning I don’t wake up and think how lucky I am to be waking up next to Bart,” she says. Bart describes Carly as multi-talented and hard-working.
Carly wore a vintage inspired gown from Brides of Armadale and accessories by Jeanette Maree.
Bart, an ex Army officer, was surprised outside the church with a guard of honour. “Bart had no idea they were going to be there,” says Carly, “hence the look of disbelief.”
“The heart on the invitations set the theme for the wedding,” says Carly. They were designed by Fi Fy Fo Fum.
“If you like doing what you do then you will do it well,” says Bart. “I like to make Carly smile. It is a reward for both of us.”
Photos courtesy of Kirralee Ashworth.