Sarah and Wayne

I met Sarah and Wayne after a mutual friend suggested that they talk to me about conducting their wedding ceremony, and I also conducted the wedding of their friends Heidi and Alex a few months before.

Sarah and Wayne have spent the last 4 years together, they were in the same group of friends, but not really that close to begin with, but Sarah remembers thinking that Wayne was quiet, well spoken and smiled a lot. Wayne remembers his first impression of Sarah was that she was really excitable, had a wonderful sense of humour and laughed a lot. There are many things that they like to do as a couple, from spending hours chatting over coffee, taking impulsive road trips, to travelling the world together. They both speak fondly of walking together into Monets garden, how they smiled at each other when they realised that it was the calmest place on earth and what an indescribable experience it was to see it together. They also fondly remember walking the streets of Paris in search of a sharpie pen to write on their lock to lock on the lovers lock bridge opposite the Nortre Dame.

Sarah and Wayne were married in May at Inglewood Estate, in Kangaroo Ground. It was my first visit to the venue, and it was spectacular. The chapel was one of the most beautiful that I think I have conducted a wedding in, it was small and stunning, but old and very well looked after. The 95 or so guests fit in perfectly, but made it look very full.

Wayne and Sarah chose to have their ceremony at 5pm, so it was getting later in the day and the sun was starting to go down, they chose to have a first look photo shoot. Which is a great idea especially if you are having a late ceremony, and especially in winter when there isn’t the extended daylight when there is daylight savings. (I have blogged previously about the pros and cons of first look photo shoots, you can read that blog here.) Sarah and her attendants looked amazing! All of the girls had different outfits but were all lovely, and worked really well together. It was really nice to see the bride before the ceremony, it is a moment that I really look forward to, and I thought that it might take away from the moment for me, I must admit that is one of my favorite moments, (I get really excited seeing the brides for the first time and the reaction of the groom too) but I  felt quite privileged that I had already seen her.

Everything went beautifully, and there were some beautiful movie references and quotes throughout the ceremony, and a cute ‘Friends’ moment. (Sarah is a HUGE friends fan) I’m not sure if people picked them out or not but it was a great way for Sarah and Wayne to really personalise their wedding in a way that mean something to them. It was such a fantastic day! Again it makes me feel really privileged to do what  I do. Share in people’s special day and help them exchange vows with one another that mean something to them. It was so great to see Heidi and Alex  again too!

Thanks to Wade for the photos from Sarah and Wayne’s day check out his other work here. Also have  a look at the website of the stunning Inglewood Estate.

Wedding Day Photography

Wedding Day Photography can be a daunting thing to consider, which photographer, what Package, a digital or printed album? The options are endless. I think it is one of the most important parts of the wedding day, besides the ceremony. Photographs are an essential part of preserving the special memories of your wedding. It will without a doubt be a day that you never forget, therefore having a great selection of images, that years down the track will help you reminisce on the special memories is important.

Guests may forget with time what they ate, what they had to drink, what flowers you had and what hairstyle you had. Photographs preserve the little things that would otherwise be lost with time. People spend thousands and thousands of dollars on the prefect dress, which don’t get me wrong, look lovely (and I myself love a great wedding dress, I could look at them for hours on end) but at the end of the day, after the dry cleaning they go into a box and rarely come out again – unless you do a trash the dress photo shoot (check out the blog about it here). As much as we all would like to think that your daughter/or sons partner ect. might want to wear the dress on a separate occasion, it is more likely not going to happen. It isn’t often that people try and get the cheapest dress they can find, however, more likely than not people choose their photographer based on price.  I think it is beneficial for you to choose a competent photographer and invest time to research your options. Look at a photographer as a future investment – unless you are lucky enough to be friends or related to a wedding photographer, in which case you may end up saving some money on your photography costs.

A good photographer is not necessarily a great wedding photographer. I know a lot of great photographers and not all of them are competent when it comes to wedding photography. A wedding photographer differs from just a good technician when it comes to taking photos. They need to love what they do, be good with people and make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. You need to establish a connection with them and make sure you feel relaxed in their company, as you will be spending quite a bit of time with them on your wedding day. They need to be able to direct you, your family and friends. I have read a few wedding sites that recommend you to make sure that the photographer has shot other weddings at your chosen location – REALLY? Who cares, if they take great photos and they make you feel comfortable, they will make it work. Choose a photographer that understands lighting and knows what they are doing – most good photographers will check out the venue before the day anyway.

I know sometimes it can seem like a lot of money that they are charging, but you have to think of the time that it has taken them to develop their craft, and to gain the experience and knowledge. They have to organise a large range of equipment and often an assistant and they will work long hours before and after the wedding. Great photographs of great memories are something you will have FOREVER.

Thanks again to Vision House Photography for letting me use these lovely photos. Check out their website here.

Love letters before the ceremony.

I think that love letters are a beautiful idea; it is a great way to express your love, to your partner on the morning of your special day. All your thoughts that you may like to voice to your partner but don’t wish to share with anyone else, or include in your vows. This could be a great way to talk about your feelings leading up to the wedding, what you hope for the day and what you hope for your lives together. You could talk about your hopes and dreams or just use it as a time to tell the other person all the things that they do for you that makes your life easier. You could talk about why you love them, about special experiences in your relationship and why you decided to take the next big step.

Writing a love letter is something that you would need to plan time for, I would imagine it would be something that you would want to do when you are alone, and for the bride, something that you would probably want to do before you have your make up done in case you become slightly emotional. Although if you are doing a first look photoshoot, (check out my blog about this here) it would make for some beautiful photos.

You could always put them in a time capsule or wine box (see my previous blog about this here too), it is a great keepsake for you to look back on after a few years and bring back all the memories of your lovely day. I personally love to look at old cards, letters and photos; the memories that they bring back are usually powerful, happy ones.  It is a day that you will remember for the rest of your life but I think that a love letter is something that not only you but your children and grandchildren would be interested to read for years to come. I know I would love to read love letters written by anyone close to me.

You could also adapt this and use it to write letters to all of your bridesmaids, and let them know how much you appreciate all of their love and friendship. It would be a good way to thank them for their support leading up to the day, and a great way to apologise if you feel you may have been a little bit of a bridezilla!  You could also do this for your parents too, it is always nice to have people tell you that they care about you and that they are important to you. It is a beautiful sentimental thought for your wedding that doesn’t cost a lot of money – just your time and words from your heart.

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart. Phyllis Theroux

Thanks to Kirralee for the use of her beautiful images, check out some of her other lovely shots here.

First Look Photo Shoots

First look wedding photography is when a Bride and Groom have their photos taken before the ceremony and it is a trend that lots of people are looking into now, and seems like quite a good idea to explore for yourself. I have asked quite a few of my favourite photographers what they think of it. I had a few different discussions  about these style of photo shoots with a few of the photographers that I know and were talking about the pros and cons of this style of photography.

Some of its strengths are:

* There is only the limit of time that you choose, you can have an hour of photos before your ceremony or three, it is totally up to you.

* No time is ‘wasted’ between the ceremony and the reception. I have been to a number of weddings where guests complain about the time wasted hanging around whilst the couple are having their photos.

* There is no pressure when you are doing family photos that your precious creative time is being taken up by all the photos with the family.

* If you are nervous about the ceremony it is nice that you and your partner can see each other before hand for an encouraging hug.

* You will actually get to spend a small amount of time alone.  Wedding days are often very busy and the day can go by in a heartbeat. It may be a chance just to have some  ‘you’ time before everything starts to go at breakneck speed.

*  Getting to experience that moment when you first see each other on the day in private.

Some of its weaknesses:

* Having to get ready earlier than you would if you photos were being taken after the ceremony. If you are having a lunchtime wedding  you will be up before the birds to have your hair done.

* If you are having bridesmaids and groomsmen and you decide that you just want the first look photos of the two of you. It is important to consider what they can do whilst they wait.

* It is quite unconventional and some people still want to do things the old fashioned way and not have the groom see the bride until she walks down the isle.

What do you think about first look wedding shoots, is it something you or someone you know had done?  Or is it something that you are considering for your wedding day?

Thank you to Corey Brown for the use of his stunning photos. Have a look at some of his other work here.