SOME love stories could happen anywhere, but every now and then one feels destined to belong to a particular place.
For Dylan Gould and Lauren Molloy, that place is the Camden Haven.
The couple met in July 2023 through mutual friends at a social gathering.
Both were already devoted parents, Lauren to her daughter Asha, 9, and Dylan to his daughters Ruby, 9, and Raimy, 7.
Their shared experience of raising children on their own created an instant bond that soon grew into something deeper.
A few months later came their first official date.
Dylan played Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs, and Lauren asked him to dance.
With tears in her eyes, she told him, “Please, don’t ever hurt or leave me.”
Dylan quietly promised he never would.
Lauren has long been known for her talent and warmth in the hair industry.
She once owned Hair by Lush in Taree, earning a reputation for her attention to detail and her care for every client.
More recently, she has been travelling to Lakewood to visit her close friend Bevan at Streamline Hair Design, a salon that has become part of her story.
When Dylan decided to propose, there was no question where it should happen.
With the help of Bevan and the team at Streamline Hair Design, he planned the perfect surprise.
Their song played through the salon as Dylan walked in.
Lauren looked up, realising what was happening, and surrounded by friends and stylists who had shared so much of her life, Dylan dropped to one knee.
She said yes.
For Dylan, the Camden Haven is home ground.
He grew up playing soccer from Kendall to Laurieton and has spent the past decade refereeing local games.
For Lauren, it is a place she has come to love, with its beaches, bush, and welcoming community.
From their first dance to a proposal in a Lakewood salon, Dylan and Lauren’s story is woven into the heart of the Camden Haven.
It is a reminder that while love can find us anywhere, there is something especially beautiful about finding it right here at home.
By Luke HADFIELD
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