Mathew Dawson and Emily Abbott knew from the day of their first date that they wanted to be together.
Mathew, who was living at Hallett Cove, met Mt Barker resident Emily online and arranged a lunch date at Sazón Espresso at Mt Barker.
“We were immediately obsessed,” Emily says.
“What was meant to be a lunch date turned into lunch, then a movie, followed by dinner and then a walk in the park.
“Our first date lasted nine hours and we were “official” by the time we parted ways to go home.”
Mathew proposed in December 2023 when the couple moved into their new home at Mt Barker.
“I had arranged for all the family to be there and as we were taking pictures under our gum trees in the backyard, I proposed,” he says.
“Little to my knowledge Emily had a feeling this was going to happen, so she had written me a note the night before, titled “If my suspicions are correct, we are now engaged”, which she gave to me later that day.”
The couple was married at Kuitpo Hall on October 18, 2025, and both cherish the memory of Emily walking down the aisle.
“I could barely contain my tears of happiness, she was (and still is) the most beautiful woman in the world,” Mathew says.
“I will never forget the feeling I had when I saw her for the first time.”
“I never believed people when they say the world fades away in that moment,” Emily adds, “but it is completely true. Nothing else existed except Mathew.”
Photographer: Luke James from LJames Photography
Dress: Adelaide Bridal Emporium
Suit: Connor
Flowers: Emily’s incredible aunt, Sarah James
