Melanie and Sean - A Romantic Rainy Caversham House Wedding

Melanie and Sean’s dance in the rain

It was forecast to rain on the day Melanie and Sean had planned to say their nuptials, with 22 May 2021 due to really bring with it bad weather. But rain, hail or shine, a wedding day is a wedding day, and nothing can ever stop the saying of vows when a couple is meant to be together forever.

Bride Melanie began the morning’s preparations at her parents’ home in Morley, where she got herself ready for the day ahead in the comfort of familiar company. Soft pastel colours accompanied the theme of a classic wedding, with soft pink and white roses in the bridal bouquet and the same palette for the silk bridal bathrobes worn by everyone in the bridal party – even the family dog got involved with roses on the collar!

It was truly a family affair. After the champagne was popped and the bubbles were blown, it was time for Melanie to get into her gown with the help of her mum and bridesmaids; the finishing touches placed in the hair, the shoes strapped on, and the final buttons done up along her back.

Melanie’s proud parents stood by her side for family portraits before the bridesmaids and flowergirls took their place next to her, but then the lens focused solely on Melanie as I positioned her in front of soft curtains for the winning pre-wedding photos. Before long, it was time to make our way to a classic white limousine, but not before taking advantage of the overcast sky and taking more family photos in the driveway and front yard.

My assistant photographer headed off to take photos of the grooms’ preparations at The Quest Midland, a serviced apartment with plenty of space to get ready for a big day ahead. With help from the groomsmen, Sean looked like he was ready for a Gucci photoshoot in his pure white tie, slicked hair and dark suit. His mates perfected the look with soft pastel pink ties and pocket squares to match the bridesmaids, all appearing quite dapper and ready to take on the world.

What they couldn’t wait for though was waiting for them downstairs – two vintage Chevrolet Camaro coupes, one in blue and one in red; I couldn’t help but take a couple of snaps of these two classics.

I made my way to St Michael the Archangel Chapel in Leederville, eager to take as many photos as possible outside the venue before the rain made its way. Almost as soon as I got there, Melanie had made her arrival and everyone was extremely keen to see the bride walk down the aisle with her father.

Although a chapel, St Michael the Archangel does provide for a number of great angles to capture the bride, groom, bridal party and guests but to not disrupt Melanie’s entrance, we ensured one photographer on each end – one at the top of the aisle, and the other on the balcony for dramatic effect. A bird’s eye view works in our favour here, as we can cast the lens on everyone (personally, I love balcony shots!).

With a few happy tears, and definitely a lot of smiles, Melanie and Sean declared their everlasting vows for one another before sealing the deal with a kiss, lighting symbolic candles and signing their marriage papers.

Walking out of the church and into the arms of family and friends, the newlyweds were congratulated outside and we all managed to stay dry for a while longer. A highlight of this photo session was grabbing the bride and groom to take shots of them not only amongst the church’s grand columns but also in front of its featured stained glass windows – a beautiful space that brings in the natural night and stunning shadowing.

Fearful the heavens were going to pour down on us within minutes, my suggestion to Melanie and Sean for bridal photos was to head to the South Perth Narrows Bridge where we would be sheltered from any rain or wind. It was a perfect choice, with all the amazing architectural lines in the backdrop while the bride and groom savoured their glorious day together.

We then opened up the umbrellas and made our way for quick photos in front of the Perth city skyline, where the raindrops kept falling but the smiles and happiness were joyful on the day’s occasion. Props like umbrellas give a little bit more character to wedding photos – and you know what they say! Rain on a wedding day is good luck!

The reception was held at Caversham House, and we managed to get there with enough time for more photos but not before the bridal party had a quick rest and dried themselves off in the dressing rooms. It really started to pour outside, but the happy couple decided to sacrifice the warmth and dryness of the venue’s interior and face the storm outside by getting soaked for the sake of wedding photos! What an extraordinary couple!

And we didn’t disappoint, that’s for sure. We got amazing shots of the couple arm-in-arm keeping each other close just like in a fairytale. And though I myself got saturated, these are some of my favourite wedding photos to date – the rawness, the realness, and the awesomeness of both Melanie and Sean out in the rain with smiles on their faces; nothing could ruin their day!

Once we all dried ourselves off properly, we made our way to the reception space at Caversham House where I snapped away at the guests before the bride and groom made their formal entry.

We decided to do the official cake cutting photos first before Melanie and Sean hit the dance floor for the bridal waltz; a little bit of smoke for dramatic effect and the shots were immaculate. I made my way around the room once everyone was seated; it’s great to capture these pictures for the newlyweds because sometimes the day might seem like a bit of a whirlwind but with pictures to look back on, it all comes flooding back easily.

The day with Melanie and Sean was fantastic, even with the rainy weather. Thank you to you both for allowing me to capture all your memories and share the celebrations alongside close friends and family. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and joy and look forward to seeing you both grow together.

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