Piya + Craig - COAST Port Beach North Fremantle Wedding

Beautiful Thai Ceremony Compliments Piya and Craig’s Wedding

Piya and Craig’s love story comes full circle at their beautiful Coast Port Beach wedding, where sometimes even though not all things go to plan, a spectacular celebration can, and does, go ahead with just a few small changes.

The couple, who met at a mutual friend’s party many years ago, had initially planned to have a beach ceremony but with April 28, 2022 seeing a bout of high tides and windy weather it sadly wasn’t possible.

It didn’t stop Piya and Craig from getting ready and tying the knot though, as they both prepared (separately, of course) at local AirBnB accommodation in Fremantle. Piya, along with her bridesmaids and mum, spent the morning having a blast while doing hair and make-up, and I focused on getting a multitude of shots featuring the girls simply enjoying themselves – glasses of wine, a delectable breakfast and laughs on the verandah.

Before we knew it, it was time for Piya to pop into her gown and have her collective of close friends put on all those finishing touches we’ve come to love; and once everyone else was ready, the enchanting bouquet was put into Piya’s hands and we gathered for portrait photos. Might I add that with such an intricately designed wedding gown like Piya’s, I loved putting some focus on the detail to capture her working the dress’s magic.

Close by, Craig and his crew of groomsmen were also getting ready for the big day – with a bit more satire than the girls, I might add! But once the laces were knotted, the boutonnieres pinned and the jackets buttoned, we got some great (and funny!) photos that Craig is sure to look back on and smile at.

As mentioned with the weather, Piya and Craig thankfully had a backup plan and all was not lost. With their reception later in the day to be held at Coast Port Beach restaurant, the venue also took in the delight of hosting their ceremony.

Everything went off without a hitch. The décor of the arbour looked stunning against the wooden panelling of the wall, there was plenty of room for guests, and the private table for the signing of official documents worked splendidly in the corner. Despite the forecast, the blue skies did, however, put on a beautiful show for the backdrop with floor to ceiling windows, and a lot of natural light came through. Being a professional photographer, it’s important to know how to adapt quickly to changing situations – you can never prepare for a particular setting, because anything can happen. In this case, we went from outdoor venue to indoors, but nothing in the repertoire of photography went astray, and we got some phenomenal, and memorable, shots of the bride and groom during their ceremony.

Following the exchange of vows and Piya and Craig’s classic walk back up the aisle, they were ushered into a separate room where they were asked to perform a Shell ceremony, or Rod Nam Sang. With Piya of Thai heritage, this was an important part of her day to Craig, and the newlyweds joyfully took part.

For a bit of background, Rod means ‘soak’, Nam is for ‘water’ and Sang is a conch shell. It’s a part of the wedding where the bride and groom, each with a garland around their necks, kneel side by side on a special pedestal to give their guests a chance to bestow their individual blessings. As each person does this, they gently pour holy water over the hands of the couple from a conch shell vessel; the water falls through their hands and into a flower filled bowl below.

It was a moving part of Piya and Craig’s wedding day, and I felt blessed to be a part of it, capturing each blessing through the lens of my camera.

Once the Rod Nam Sang was complete, the bridal party headed out with me to Fremantle to begin the bridal shoot. The port town is an amazing place for pictures thanks to a large number of impressive heritage buildings, the Swan River to the north-east and the Indian Ocean to the west – and there was an abundance of stunning backdrops that matched Piya and Craig’s wedding day colour palette. With all the interesting architecture and quirky streets, the options were endless, and we certainly got more than we’d have ever hoped for.

To be honest, we could have spent hours in Fremantle! But guests at Coast Port Beach restaurant in North Fremantle were waiting for the happy couple to arrive, so we had to make our way. With just enough time to take pictures of the wedding cake, décor and table settings, everyone settled in and made themselves feel at home once the newlyweds waltzed in to begin celebrations.

To Piya and Craig – thank you for the opportunity to capture your special moments on your wedding day. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and joy, surrounded by those who matter, and hope your marriage is filled with the same euphoria as the day you met.