Country meets the coast: Riverina couple wed at Stonier winery

It was 2018 and the Riverina region of New South Wales was in the middle of a terrible drought when Greta Stonier and Ben Ryan first crossed paths. Greta was on a university break and had secured a job on a sheep station near Carrathool, while Ben had just returned to his family property, Gunbar Farm, after working in the Kimberley.

The pair met through mutual friends but didn’t think much of it until the following year when Greta came back to the area for harvest. Ben asked her on a date to the pub and she realised just how much she liked him.

The couple was recently married in a stunning celebration of love. A relaxed afternoon lunch followed before guests danced the night away in a gorgeous setting that paid tribute to their family roots. Here, Greta tells Graziher about their perfect day.

We were married at Stonier winery in Merricks on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. My grandfather, Brian Stonier, founded this winery in 1978 and later sold it, but it still holds a special place in my heart. The winery doesn’t normally do weddings but the lovely new owners were happy to host the special occasion for us.

Having our wedding at the winery was very sentimental to me and something I have thought about a lot over the last couple of years. Sadly, my grandfather passed away a month before we got married. We had been to visit him a couple of times throughout the year, and he was so happy to know we were going to have our wedding there. He had done a painting of himself and my grandmother walking through the vineyard and I used that as the illustration on our wedding invitations.

It had been hailing and raining in the month leading up to the big day, then on the morning of the wedding, the skies opened up and the weather was beautiful and sunny. I definitely think that was my grandfather looking after us.