I really don’t know where to begin with this post. I’ve had a lot of trouble culling images but sadly I have failed and this is going to be the biggest blog post yet. Please forgive me, I’ve turned into one of THOSE photographers!
I have known Niki for almost a decade. We both belong to an Actors group in Australia and through our networking we met online and have the same circle of actor friends. Around 4 years ago Niki’s family commissioned me to create some portraits for her family and I felt an immediate connection. Niki’s family are truly beautiful people inside and out.
Around the time of the portrait session Niki met and fell in love with Brendan, a computer geek at the same TV station that she was working at. It was love at first sight and they have been blissfully happy ever since. I remember her family telling me on the day we first met that they thought Niki had ‘found the one’. They were right. When Niki and Brendan asked me to be their wedding photographer I was truly honoured. Niki is a very talented make-up artist and works with a lot of photographers so to be selected to capture her wedding to Brendan was such an honour.
Niki, Brendan, their families and friends pulled together to create the most beautiful, vintage inspired wedding I have ever photographed. They selected Summerlees in Sutton Forest as the location for their wedding reception and accommodation and St Patricks Church as the ceremony location. I was in heaven, the Southern Highlands area is my absolute favourite wedding location in Australia, but I had never been to Summerlees and fell instantly in love with the location, the people and the rustic charm of the buildings and gardens. I truly wished I had the entire day to photograph Niki and Brendan in every spot the property had to offer but with all weddings you simply run out of time.
Family are very important to both Niki and Brendan and that showed on the day with Brendan’s brothers and brother-in-law in the bridal party, his nieces as flower girls and Niki’s sister as one of the bridesmaids. When Niki told me that her 99 year old grandmother was going to be at the wedding I had no idea how sprightly and adorable she would be, her presence truly brought the love to a whole new level. I was inspired to see how amazingly youthful this lovely treasure of a woman was. She warmed my heart and soul. During the speeches it was revealed that Niki’s grandmother had supplied the diamond which now sits in Niki’s engagement ring, I love the sentimentality of that.
Niki and Brendan’s wedding reception was fantastic. The converted barn at Summerlees was perfect for a vintage inspired reception. Two long banquet tables sat in the middle of the room and created a wonderful communal atmosphere for all the guests. The venue was filled with flowers and vintage details and when Niki and Brendan did their choreographed first dance under the glistening chandelier the room came to life. But the highlight of the evening was the beautiful rendition of ‘Songbird’ that Niki sang to Brendan, when she concluded there was barely a dry eye in the house. It was one of my favourite wedding moments ever.
Brendan and Niki, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me capture your gorgeous wedding. It was a perfect day and I was so honoured to be able to spend the day with you and your families. Lots of love xxx
