Beachside Wedding In Beautiful Regional WA
It was the ultimate beachside wedding – the immaculate white sand beautifully contrasting the clear blue water of the ocean, and the sublimely relaxed vibe embodied by Elle and Matt as the Perth couple got married at Bunkers Beach House in Naturaliste, WA on 26 March 2022.
I absolutely love weddings in regional parts of WA. It gives me more opportunity to utilise the stunning and glorious scenery that I don’t normally get to photograph, and I get excited on the day when I can continuously create in my head ideas for the next type of shot I want to do. Bunkers Beach House sits atop dunes and overlooks the crystal waters of Bunker Bay – it’s actually considered a WA treasure for those who travel to this part of the state! So when Elle and Matt came to me with the plan that this is where their wedding would be, I was over the moon about capturing their special day in this magnificent location.
The happy couple originally met on Tinder, with Matt from the UK (and a massive soccer fan!) and Elle working as a teacher here in WA. Both love the beach, so Bunkers Beach House was the most ideal spot for the two to tie the knot.
It did rain in the morning, but that didn’t dampen preparations for either bride or groom. Matt and his groomsmen all got organised at a local Airbnb, starting the day off with a brew before changing into their attire and me wanting to take portraits by the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Elle’s side of the bridal party got ready at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, only 1km away from the site of her ceremony, and after popping the champagne it was time for her to don her beautiful princess A-line gown. This room also had floor-to-ceiling windows, so the natural light coming through was splendid and it gave me a lot to work with; following some outdoor portraits of Elle using the limestone wall as a backdrop, it was time to allow Matt and his bride a First Look shoot. These First Looks are an incredible way to allow the couple a few moments of breathing time before the ceremony; some minutes to calm each other’s nerves down without a crowd of guests looking at them.
I know I mentioned rain earlier, but this is never a dampener on a wedding – in fact, using a prop like an umbrella can be incredibly fun! Some beautiful shots were taken outside of Elle and Matt on the red path outside the resort – this couple was super cute to work with!
It was time to separate the bride and groom and get Matt and his merry men to make their way to Bunkers Beach House. Guests hadn’t arrived yet, and the rain had begun to slow down, so it was a great opportunity for me to get some shots of the décor and backdrop without any interference, but when they did begin arriving, it wasn’t long before Elle also arrived and everyone got ready for her to walk down the aisle. With the ceremony in the same location as the reception, the newlyweds were quick to pick up a glass of champers each to toast one another after their vows were made, and make their way outside, where the rain had stopped, and we could take photos on the beachfront.
Once we got shots right on the sand, Elle and Matt were keen to head to their favourite hang-out spot in the Southwest – Shelley Cove. It’s a small beach, only about 70m long, but as a sentimental location for the happy couple, I made sure we got there to feature an abundance of photos of just the two of them. Needless to say, being there for the ‘golden hour’ of photography definitely worked in everyone’s favour, with the colours of sunset protruding perfectly through the lens.
Back at the reception, guests were already seated and eagerly awaiting the arrival of Elle and Matt, who made their entrance not long after I came through. After doing the rounds to capture the couple’s guests, speeches soon began followed by the cutting of the cake and the first bridal waltz – then party time took over!
Thank you so much, Elle and Matt, for letting me capture your wedding day and be your photographer. I wish you both a beautifully happy future together filled with love, joy and millions of memorable moments.
Vendors:
Venue: @bunkersbeachhouse
Celebrant: Alan Kidd
Wedding Dress: @tuscanybridal
Make-up Artist: @rpartistry_
Hairdresser: @tbombshell_studio
Florist: @floraefloral
Videography: @oikosstudio
DJ or Band: Cameron Jenyns
Cake maker: @bakethecakemr
Livestreaming: Perth Video
