Hannah and Jeffrey’s elegant wedding
High school sweethearts since the very beginning, Hannah and Jeffrey’s wedding was a stylish affair seeped in elegance and luxury. The cloudy day on 28 August 2021 may have threatened rain, but wet weather stayed enough away for the couple’s big day along the stunning Swan River.
Hannah delighted in preparing at the Crown Perth with her 3 sisters and her parents, the views of the city and river adding to the luxury of it all. With matching blue flannel shirts before getting officially dressed, the bridal party celebrated in style thanks to champagne and family laughs – Hannah’s mum and dad also fitting in a bit of time to relax and soak it all in.
But soon it was the moment Hannah had been waiting for. With the help of her sisters, who quickly got dressed before her, the gorgeous gown was put on along with the finishing touches of doing up the buttons, putting on the veil and comfortable sneakers. These parts of the day are always quite emotional, especially for the parents of the bride, who get to see their ‘little girl’ all grown up and ready to live her life with the man of her dreams, so capturing these instances in a series of portraits with both mother and father are just as important as the walk down the aisle, in my belief.
After pictures with her bridesmaids, I set Hannah near the floor-to-ceiling window of the room for individual portraits, where I utilised every angle possible thanks to the great natural lighting coming through. As a photographer, I was glad for the cloud cover outside – it meant I didn’t have to be concerned about shadows coming through the glass.
Whilst I went downstairs of the Crown Perth with the bridal party for more photos in the foyer, my assistant photographer was responsible for taking pictures of groom Jeffrey at the couple’s Yokine apartment. Despite the footy being on, the groomsmen took the morning to business, getting their suits, ties and shoes on with plenty of time to spare for portraits and group shots before applying each other’s flower pins, or boutonnieres. Nerves had kicked in, but it was soon time to leave to ensure Jeffrey got to the ceremony venue before the bride did, along the Swan River foreshore.
With a magical arbour arch and classic white chairs for guests to sit on, the location had a view of Perth city as well as Matagarup Bridge next to the stadium – and again, the weather held off with clouds beaming to perfection for a wedding photographer!
As guests took their seats and Jeffrey, along with his groomsmen, perched at the top of the aisle, Hannah finally made her appearance with her dad and began her glorious walk towards her husband-to-be; Jeffrey, of course, every minute getting more and more eager to see his bride, and once spotting her, trying to hold it together.
The nuptials were intimate and personal, with a few guests shedding tears of joy as Hannah and Jeffrey made their eternal commitments. With the rings exchanged and the final kiss, the happy couple were announced husband and wife to a chorus of claps and cheers from family and friends.
Being an intimate affair, it didn’t take long for the newlyweds to greet all their guests before heading indoors at the Burswood on Swan for an official signing of the marriage papers and then group photos.
Not far from the ceremony location, the bridal party and I made our way to Claisebrook Cove – a sentimental location for Hannah and Jeffrey who had their first date there. With a bottle of champagne to celebrate, everyone had relaxed by now and were ready to have some fun in front of the camera. What’s fantastic about this particular location is that there is so much amazing outdoor space, you can really go crazy with all the hidden areas, benches, grassed spots and river pathways for an abundance of photos.
The reception was held back at Burswood on Swan for a waterfront celebration with more magnificent views of the city, and Hannah and Jeffrey waltzed in to the venue with the biggest smiles on their faces. Straight into speeches, great food and cake cutting, the bride and groom soon made their way around the floor to greet guests again and get them all ready for the first dance of the evening.
Before leaving, I made sure to take Hannah and Jeffrey outside for portraits in front of the brightly lit up Matagarup Bridge, which turned out spectacular in the dark of the night.
Hannah and Jeffrey, I wish you both the most amazing of marriages and would like to thank you personally for allowing me to be a part of your special day and capture your most memorable moments. All the best for a lifetime of happiness and joy together!