It always surprises me the effort and care that couples take when planning every single detail of their wedding.  Lindsey’s extraordinary gown was handmade and even her dress maker was present on the day of the wedding to make sure it was fitted to perfection. The flowers… such beauty. I have never seen such an intricate, detailed and well made bouquet in my life. Honestly, these wedding suppliers were second to none. Lindsey and Fabien’s gorgeous girl Elodie walked down the aisle to the music from In the Night Garden and Lindsey entered to Bella’s Lullaby from Twilight – even their music choices were well thought through.

And the venue… Hopewood. I have nothing but fond things to say of this enchanting place. My heart felt instantly happy the second you started walking through the grounds. Such love, and so many beautiful things for eyes to feast upon. It suited Lindey’s French heritage to a tee.

Such beauty and joy…

And the attention to detail continued… right through to the cocktail style ’party’ section of the evening. The reception was divided between two rooms – one room with two long tables for guests to sit down and eat (Lindsey mentioned she wanted it to feel like it was everyone sitting down for a family dinner, and I truly was), and afterwards a gorgeous room completely interior designed by Lindsey right down to the square ottomons to sit on and these little floral arrangements on the tables. Each one was different, but oh so beautiful.

Thank you Lindsey and Fabien for sharing your beautiful love, and allowing Lana and I to document it for you.

His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner’s name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding.

Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn’t matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting – 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. “You’ll recognize me,” she wrote, “by the red rose I’ll be wearing on my lapel.”

So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he’d never seen. A young woman was coming toward him, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. He started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As he moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. “Going my way, sailor?” she murmured. Almost uncontrollably he made one step closer to her, and then he saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes.

The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. He felt as though he were being split in two, so keen was he desire to follow the girl, yet so deep was his longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and upheld his own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. He did not hesitate. His fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify him to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which he had been and must ever be grateful. He squared his shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while he spoke he felt choked by the bitterness of his disappointment. “I’m Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must by Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?”

The woman’s face broadened into a tolerant smile. “I don’t know what this is about, son,” she answered, “but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!”

It’s not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell’s wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive. “Tell me whom you love,” Houssaye wrote, “and I will tell you who you are.”

These beautiful words were spoken during Kim and Donny’s ceremony, and if it weren’t for the fact that I had a job to do, it would have taken the whole bridal party to pick me up off the floor. It was so touching, and so fitting for this amazing couple who made a promise to one another for a lifetime of love.

I was fortunate enough to go to school with Kim way back in the day, and so for me, to be asked to be there to document this momentous stage in her life was truly a most touching request. When I first met Donny, I knew instantly he was a wonderful match for Kim. He smiled with his eyes and his heart.

Theirs is a beautiful love.

It’s really not fair, but she just keeps getting more and more divine every time I see her. Miss Kimberley, you couldn’t be more perfect if you tried and that beautiful heart of yours is echoed in the outward beauty you embrace so easily.

Knees…weak….tears… what person wouldn’t want to be looked upon with such love? Oh how I love love.

Kim and Donny’s Dream Team:
Ceremony Location: The Scots Church, Melbourne
Reception Location: The Terrace, Royal Botanical Gardens
Bridal Gown: Ravish
Groom’s and Groomsmen’s attire: Prinzi Collections
Bridesmaids: Myer 
Hair/Makeup: Napoleon | Seta Hair and Makeup
Jewellery: Vintage
Flowers: Bouquet Melbourne
Cake: Arnolds

I adore these two. Their attention to detail and meticulous preparation of, well, everything meant that the whole day ran smoothly and effortlessly. They went out of their way to make their wedding theirs – most of the decorations and details were all put together by the two of them and I can only imagine the hours upon hours of work they put into it all. It was all worth it though. All so very worth it. The entire wedding was just so very them, and I adore that.

Not only was this entire wedding held in my own suburb (nothing like supporting the local crowd – well done you two!) but every person involved with the day was so friendly and easy going that it just made it such a pleasure to spend the day with them.

First up though, meet our groom, Sam. I must say – the boys were great fun. I don’t think they stopped laughing the entire time I was there. The bubbles were out, the laughs were out, such a great atmosphere pre-ceremony for the lovely Sam (and for me as their wedding photographer!).

Tie shots are probably some of my favourite moments when capturing the groom getting ready for the ceremony (mainly because there’s always at least one guy that has no idea how to tie it properly) so you can imagine my delight when Sam brought out his bow-tie. Yep, a favourite alright.

Yes, they’re boys… but at least they have checklists!

Afterwards I made my way over to see Jessie who looked like some 1940′s film starlet. There’s something about weddings that makes brides just look even more beautiful than they already are, and Jess was no exception. She was beaming. That gorgeous smile of hers lit up as I walked in the door. “I’m up here!” she called from the top of the stairs and waved. I think I just stood there with my jaw open for a moment or two – she look radiant. And no wonder – she was about to marry her highschool sweetheart – the boy that still gives her butterflies every time she sees him.

These next two are so special to me, particularly the one on the right which is a beautiful image of Jessie’s parents on their wedding day.

Is she not the cutest little thing alive?

Sam and Jessie had told me how special photos were to them. They told me their house was filled with them, and that they would always be taking photos of anything and everything. It was so fitting therefore to see that they’d hired a photobooth for the day for them and their guests. Guest were all encouraged to use the booth to take photos and then pop them into their guestbook with a message. So,so fab! The first thing they did after walking down the aisle was jump into the photobooth and get some photos done. How gorgeous is that?

More Jess + Sam loveliness… oh they were so fun! 

Of course, there was a photobooth – so we had to try it out for ourselves while we were there (meet my gorgeous assistant CJ too whom I adore and makes my life so much easier for me every week! She joined me that day too)

{You are both as cute as a button – adored every single second of your day with the two of you. It was fun, relaxed and just a beautiful celebration of love – I wish nothing but the best for your future together x)