Charmaine & Dan’s wedding at Albert River Wines was the last wedding I photographed before the whole COVID wedding restrictions came in and crushed the wedding industry. With no weddings to photograph in the near future, I am so thankful that Charmaine & Dan’s wedding will be the one that is freshest in my mind. It was a special day to be a part of.

I’d only met Char & Dan via video call prior to the wedding, which is not the same as meeting people in person. You can’t get a true read on people via video call, but when I walked into the cottage on the morning of their wedding, Charmaine greeted me with open arms. I knew straight away that this was going to be an amazing wedding to be a part of. With a bride tribe of 11, there was action everywhere. Hair and make up, girls getting ready, a few drinks and Mamma Mia on the tv of all things! By the way, Albert River Wines has a beautiful little cottage that is perfect for getting ready.

It’s during the ‘getting ready’ phase that I try to capture the little interactions between the inner circle crew. These are obviously the people closest to the bride or groom, so it’s important to capture these moments. With the enormity of the day and everything else to come, couples often forget the specifics that happen on the morning of their wedding. That’s why I don’t have time limits on my wedding photography. I don’t want to miss any part of your story.

Although the interactions and in-jokes between the group is important to capture, one of the most special moments of my wedding photography career happened solo, with just the bride. I noticed Char in her room reading over the vows she had written for her Dan. I slipped into the room and quietly clicked away with my camera. Char was incredibly emotional as she thought about the words she had written and the man she was about to marry. There was a lot to their back story. The story that led them to this day. It’s not my story to tell in detail, but in this moment, it all came out for Charmaine. It was too much. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what I should do. Should I keep taking photos? Do I say something? Do I leave and give her time to herself?

I stayed.
I kept taking photos.

I’m glad I did. Some of the images from this moment are among the best I’ve taken at a wedding. And I love the fact that Char & Dan will have these images to look back on in the years to come.

When I sent Char her wedding photos she sent me this text:
“You witnessed me in my absolute rawness and I’m not usually that comfy with people. Thank you so much for capturing this.”

The emotion continued as Char walked down the aisle. She stopped to hug each of her kids on the way down and again, it was very emotional for all involved. Especially as Dan was the person waiting at the end.

Dan is a quieter type, but an absolute legend. When I photograph the bride walking down the aisle, I am constantly turning between the bride and groom so that I can capture both of their expressions. The smile on Dan’s face just got bigger and warmer the closer that Char came. It would be a theme I noticed throughout the day. I’d often notice Dan looking at Char and just smiling to himself.

At the end of the night, Char did her first dance with Grandpa, or “G-Pa” as he’s known to the family. During the dance, they had a slideshow playing with photos of G-Pa and his wife from their younger days. They also danced to the same song from G-Pa’s wedding. It was a touching moment for those closest to them and something very special for Char & G-Pa to share together.

Thank you to Char & Dan for having me, it is one I will remember for a long time!

If you would like me to capture your special day, please contact me here.