HOW WE MET Ashley and Jae Holbrook

How we metASHLEY AND JAE HOLBROOK Stanley Park, Fullerton Cove

WORDS LAUREN HENSBY

Ashley strolled into one of McDonald’s finest establishments on the hunt for something to eat. A cheeky cheeseburger, perhaps? As she approached the counter to place her order, she couldn’t help but notice the bloke in the Maccas uniform. He was as tall as the sundae machine he was leaning against. But hold on a second, there were two of him. He was a twin! Then, when he looked in her direction ... and uttered the magic words, ‘What would you like?’ she was lost. Ashley checked his nametag, ‘JAE’.

She went home that day and did what any normal teenage girl would do, she stalked his socials. Feeling brave, she even sent him a friend request. To her delight, the tall stranger accepted. And that was all for the next ten years … until one balmy Friday evening, Jae wandered down the stairs of the Central Coast’s favourite night spot and found himself near the dance floor. Double parked with his trusty Vodka Red Bull, he watched the drop-dead gorgeous stranger dropping it low, as far as she could go.

He asked around, ‘Who is she?’ ‘Is she single?’ And that’s how he found out her name and realised they were already friends on Facebook.

He needed to say something good to get her attention, charm her through words, he thought. Jae punched out an iMessage on his phone that would change his life forever. ‘Hey, what’s doing?’

The rest, as they say, is history.

Jae knew they had something special when he started splitting Ashley’s name into three syllables, ‘Ash-ah-ley’, and without a moment’s hesitation, she responded with ‘Ja-a-ae’. An identical sense of humour, but what really did it for him was not only how much fun they had together but that they were so themselves around each other. There was no hiding or pretending.

A scene-stealer at the wedding was Ashley and Jae's son who was an integral part of the ceremony.

Jae knew, on their first romantic date at The Lakeside restaurant at The Entrance, that he wanted Ashley to be his wife. It only took him five years to ask her. Better than ten, hey? They were married at Stanley Park, Fullerton Cove with the ceremony kicking off at 11.30am, after which the guests mingled, ate and drank until at 5pm when Ash and Jae left for an intimate dinner at Bannisters in Port Stephens.

Venue Stanley Park, Fullerton Cove Celebrant Loz – Hungry Hearts co Photographer Rhys – Hungry Hearts co Videographer Volcano Sunday Florist Botanica Bird Acoustic Artist Stevie Lee Music Hair and Make-up Makeup by Bonnie-Lee Ashley’s Dress Zimmerman Ashley’s Shoes Alias Mae Jae’s Suit MJ Bale Catering Fennel and Co. Desserts Covered in Crumbs Kitchen Hire Beavis Kitchen hire Caravan Bar Boozy Suzie Car Hire Blakes classic wedding cars Lawn Games Event Masters