“Everything was perfect”: This wedding showcase at the National Gallery of Australia is a love letter to romance

Posted on 14 August, 2023

Timeless sophistication, art-infused elegance, and connection to community—that’s what a bespoke wedding at the National Gallery of Australia offers.

And it’s a love letter to romance.

In fact, it was the stunning natural landscape with a modern touch (thanks to the collection of art scattered across the grounds and gardens) that helped to convince Lauren Tran and her husband Dan that the National Gallery was the perfect place to hold their special day.

Credit: Lauren Campbell Photography.

After meeting in 2017 at puppy school—Dan was Lauren’s teacher—and bonding over the Raiders when they became engaged in 2020. Lauren says there was a very heartwarming reason they were drawn to the National Gallery  in the first place.

“My dad worked at the Gallery and Dan’s dad—my father-in-law now—currently works at the Gallery. So, we decided to check it out because of how it tied to both of our families,” she says.

“I lost my dad in 2020 so being at the Gallery where he worked for many years and had so many memories of, brought him closer to us as well…it’s a very special place for us.”

Married in September 2022 in the Australian Gardens (with their reception held in the grand Gandel Hall), Lauren wouldn’t change a thing about her wedding day.

And the good news is, for newly engaged couples who are searching for the perfect venue, the National Gallery is hosting a special Wedding Showcase on Saturday 19 August 2023 to offer love birds just like Lauren and Dan the opportunity to dive deep into the offerings of the Gallery—from the catering to locations for the reception.

Credit: Lauren Campbell Photography.

With the ability to host everything from five-hour reception celebrations to serving a three-course menu, and offering the services of an in-house wedding coordinator who will craft a memorable wedding, the showcase will highlight the many options available.

“There are so many different options for couples depending on what they want, like whether or not they want a more open ceremony or they want something more private. It’s just such a nice area and the packages are really good,” says Lauren.

And for the couple, choosing the reception package was the best decision they could have made.

“We wanted a nice place where we could get photos taken while the guest enjoyed canapes, drinks, and lawn games without having to worry about moving between locations,” Lauren explains.

“Plus, we’d been told that the food was really, really good!”

Luckily you won’t have to take Lauren’s word for it. At the Wedding Showcase, you’ll be able to sample handcrafted canapés and local wines, visit the spectacular ceremony locations (including the Sculpture Garden, Bert Flugelman’s giant steel Cones, Antony Gormley’s monumental work Angel of the North, and The Knot), all while getting expert advice.

Credit: Lauren Campbell Photography.

Offering packages for couples of any budget—ranging from a reception package to a ceremony-only package—the National Gallery  Wedding Showcase will show couples how they can make some truly unforgettable memories.

Just like Lauren and Dan.

“The team at the Gallery was very flexible and reasonable, very calm, and open to communication. I emailed them with so many questions and they never hesitated to answer any of them or make any changes. They were very accommodating,” says Lauren.

“Dan and I arrived at the venue early because we were getting some photos taken with our families there and we walked past Gandel Hall to see how it was all going. It was just a vision come to life…everything was perfect.”

Feature image: Lauren Campbell Photography.