I met Karen back in Perth a few years ago, and I never imagined that I’d one day have the honour of photographing her wedding, let alone in Melbourne! When Karen reached out to me back in 2020 to capture the story of her and Will, I immediately said yes! However, with the pandemic and hard borders in place, it wasn’t until 2022 that we realised her dream photoshoot.
Karen and Will graciously hosted me for my trips to Melbourne, and their generosity and love shine brightly through them. You can see clearly that they were both made for each other, through their actions and level of connection. Karen and Will found joy in any situation they were in, and both were determined to make the world their oyster, together.
We started documenting their pre-marriage journey in Carlton Gardens. It was my first time there, and I immediately fell in love with the location. Carlton Gardens was filled with wide varieties of flora and in the middle stood the grand, world-heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building. We then continued on the day with an hour’s drive down to Mornington Peninsula, where we captured Will’s proposal to Karen with the cliffside view as his backdrop.
Their intimate wedding ceremony took place at Riverstone Estate, right in the heart of Yarra Valley, VIC. With its classic homestead and sweeping outdoor views, the location provided the perfect backdrop as Karen and Will shared their vows. Tears streamed down both Karen and Will’s faces as the couple exchanged their heartfelt promises. Clearly, this was the moment both had been waiting for a very long time.
After the ceremony, the couple and their guests made their way to the reception, held indoors at the cottage. The room was decorated with beautiful modern stationery and elegant flowers, creating a romantic and festive atmosphere. Karen and Will ate, laughed and danced with their 30 guests, making it a very intimate time spent with their loved ones. They then had their first dance as husband and wife after the reception lunch.
To Karen and Will:
Thank you once again for showing me what love looks like. Witnessing you and Will tie the knot after so long was also a tear-jerking moment for me. I know you will take great care of each other, and I can’t wait to have a meal with the two of you again. I hope that from time to time when you look back on these memories, they’ll serve as a reminder of the covenant you both took on for each other. May your love burn brighter for each other every day!
Many thanks to everyone who took part in this memorable day!
Hotel: @hotelchadstonemelbourne
Venue: @riverstoneestate
MC: @ivyfungcelebrant
Hair and makeup @makeupbyellyliana
Videography: @kenzproduction
DJ: @somsentertainment
