Keri + Benjamin

How did you meet?

Ben and I met during our first contract on a cruise ship in Alaska. Ben was a personal trainer onboard, and I was a dancer in the shows onboard. I met him on day one, and fell in love with his British accent.

When did you know they were the one?

Our first contract onboard was around 8 months long. I knew that Ben was the one when I had to say goodbye to him at the end of his contract. We walked outside the ship, and into the terminal and I remember not being able to let go of him. Most relationships on ships do not last, because you are always moving to another ship. But I knew this was different, and I didnt want him to leave. On our next contract we were on two separate ships in the Carribean, so we would leave little notes with local bars in the different islands we would visit. It turned into a scavenger hunt…. super cute. Our Ships would only dock together once every two months… and that was depending on the weather. The first time we docked we spent the day at the beach together…and that is when he said I love you.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

He is motivating, compassionate, and oh so handsome.

Who proposed and how?

After we finished one of our contracts in Alaska, we decided to take a trip to Vegas. I always wanted to be proposed to in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower. So instead, Ben proposed in the Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Vegas …..and it was perfect. The very next day we were married in the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, and no Elvis did not marry us. But it was just him and I, and it was the best day of my life. I did always tell Ben I wanted my father to walk me down the aisle, so we planned a large ceremony this September in Cincinnati Ohio.

What was the best moment for you at the wedding?

My favorite moment at the wedding was the ceremony. Our cousin was the officiant and we made the wedding very personal and sentimental. Walking down the aisle with my dad looking at my husband was the pinnacle of the night.

Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?

I fell in love with my dress at Hyde Park Bridal in Cincinnati. I went in thinking I wanted long sleeves and lots of lace, and walked out with the MWL Lottie. The dress just spoke to me. The dress made me feel so classic and elegant, like Audrey Hepburn. And thats exactly what I wanted. Simple, timeless, and elegant.

What surprised you most at or about your wedding?

That it actually happened! We were married in the middle of a pandemic. My husband’s family couldn’t even make it. There were many times throughout the year that we were going to cancel the wedding.

What advice would you tell other brides?

Make your wedding as personal as you can, down to every detail. We had so many guests saying to us, this day, this venue, this feeling… is all Ben and Keri.

What was one thing you did differently for your wedding?

We had a travel themed wedding since most of our relationship has been on cruise ships around the world. Each of our tables were named after a different city, our seating chart was labeled as “Where in the world are you sitting,” With photos of us in those cities. We also had guests sign the globe instead of a guest book.