Kaylie and Julien's Jewish Sandalford Wedding

Hora dances, flowers that made me catch my breath, a beautiful Chuppa (a traditional jewish wedding arbour), and the most loved up bride and groom, it was the definition of a perfect wedding day!! Im a huge fan of incorporating family and cultural traditions into a wedding day. Kaylie comes from a Jewish heritage and so decided to add a bunch of their favourite Jewish wedding traditions into the day which made it so much fun. Sandalford Winery’s immaculate and beautiful grounds were the perfect place to host their big wedding day, and thanks to Kara from Hitch’d Weddings, the day ran literally without a hitch, pun intended. Hiring a good wedding planner is an easy way to ensure the day runs smoothly and takes so much stress out of the planning.

I photographed their wedding day using a mix of 120mm medium format film and digital photography, using my last couple rolls of Fuji Pro 400h. For anyone who knows anything about film they’ll know these rolls are almost extinct so I treasure every single one. I shoot both at all my weddings because it’s the best of both worlds, the beautiful timeless feeling of film and also the reliability of digital.

Kaylie and Julien first met at school, and got to know each other while doing homework together as teens! So special and wholesome right?! Some ten years or so later it was so wonderful to be apart of their next step as they became husband and wife.

What an absolutely beautiful and fun wedding reception! Looking absolutely breathe taking thanks to Hitchd weddings and the Flower girl Perth. I am such a fan of incorporating family and cultural traditions into wedding days, Kaylie and Julien started their wedding reception with a Hora dance, a traditional jewish chair dance. It was the most wonderful way to start a wedding reception with all their friends and family!

Wedding vendors:

Photography: Amelia Claire Photography

Planner- Hitchd Weddings @hitchdweddings
Florist - The flower girl Perth @theflowergirlperth
Cake - @takesthecakewa
Celebrant - @weddingswithtim
Acoustic - @davidlazarus.music
Hair - @kokoblaqcoiffeur
Make Up - @makeupbymelanie_ @smfmakeup
Hire - @blanc.onbriggs
Hire - @eventartillery
Dance Floor - @thedancefloorco
Linens - @thetailoredtable
Wedding venue - @sandalford_weddings_

The Raft, Perth city wedding

Laura and Michel’s Perth waterfront wedding day at The Raft in Perth was nothing short of incredible and we all had so much fun! I have been a wedding photographer in Perth for over a decade and I don’t think i’ve seen a prettier sunset view of the Perth city than from The Raft, right on the water.

Romantic, modern and minimalist are all words they used to describe their day. Laura wore a Brides by design wedding gown and Katie Cooper’s florals always make a stunning wedding day even more exceptional! The view of the swan river and Perth city from The Raft at dusk and night is absolutely breath taking and I mean who doesn’t want to take a boat ride on their wedding day!

I photographed Laura and Michel’s wedding using a mix of 120mm film and digital photography. Their Chinese tea ceremony was held the week before their wedding, their ceremony was held at their local church and reception was at The Raft on the swan river.

They told me their reception was all about having fun with their nearest and dearest, and fun it was. The Raft is a floating Bar & Eatery is in the middle of the Derbal Yerrigan and is a 5-minute trip aboard their tender vessel from Barrack Street Jetty. There are little things that you can add that make a big difference to a wedding day- espresso martini’s and other cocktails were served while watching the sunset over the Swan river, Katie cooper’s flowers covered the tables, Laura’s cake topper was made of polaroids taken on the day, an idea she saw on pinterest and Yum seng Toast’s always make a wedding reception even more fun.

Kind words from Laura:

“Dear Amelia, OH MY GOODNESS! Thank you so much for capturing the most magical day of our lives! The pictures are absolutely incredible! We could not have asked for better photographs that capture our love in the air. From my first phone meeting with you, to the end of the wedding day, you were such a calming presence to be around. From two very awkward people who were nervous to take photos for the day, you captured us in our best elements and kept it truly to just us. We love the candidness of these photographs and how light, bright and clear they are. We love that we are now able to relive our wedding day over and over again. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much!” Laura and Michel

Perth wedding vendors:

Wedding Photographer: Amelia Claire Photography

Wedding venue: The Raft, Perth city on the swan river

Wedding gown: Brides by Design

Makeup: Sharne Christie Makeup

Hair: Lloyd Yeoh & Kailah Lee

Florist: Katie Cooper Floral design

Invitation’s: Impressed Studio

Perth's best and unique wedding venues

It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to planning your wedding. There are so many beautiful, unique wedding venues to choose from in Perth; all with vastly different vibes and styles. As a Perth wedding photographer I have the privilege of photographing at a huge range of wedding venues so I have put together a list of Perth’s best but uniquely different wedding venues that I have had the pleasure of photographing this year. Whether you're envisioning a romantic relaxed celebration by the coast or a historical backdrop steeped in elegance, Perth and its surround’s offer an array of beautiful and unique options. Assembly Yard in Fremantle sets the stage for a charming and relaxed outdoor affair. The State Buildings in the heart of Perth's CBD offer an unrivalled blend of history and modern luxury. Matilda bay restaurant is a favourite wedding venue down by the Swan river, Coast port beach is Perth’s closest wedding venue to the ocean or if your thinking country the The Hampton’s farm Estate is stunning. Whether your looking for indoor or outdoor, beach, farm or city, I’ve got you covered! Scroll for some of my favourite wedding venues in Perth I have photographed recently and loved!

Winthrop Hall, UWA Perth

Winthrop hall is a dream come true for a wedding photographer. Every corner of this lawn is beautiful, it has the heritage Winthrop hall on one side and the Tropical grove on the other. The lawn next to Winthrop hall at UWA is perfect for a large outdoor wedding and is really a blank canvas for you to style to your hearts content. If you would like to see more from this wedding at UWA, click here for the full wedding blog.

Postal Hall, The State buildings.

Postal hall is situated in the centre of the State buildings and offer’s a timeless, heritage-rich, super romantic setting for couples seeking a truly grand and elegant, luxury wedding. Postal hall is a wedding photographer’s dream, every corner is beautiful and filled with history. With bespoke catering options from Post (My absolute favourite in Perth) or Petition and accommodation packages for COMO The Treasury, it will be a night you will never forget.

Lamont’s Bishops house

Nestled in the heart of Perth's historic West End, Lamont's Bishops House stands as a true gem among the city's wedding venues. With its rich history dating back to the 1850s, this heritage-listed building’s timeless charm and elegance makes it a top choice for couples seeking a unique and romantic setting for their special day. The beautifully landscaped gardens surrounding the venue offer a picturesque backdrop for outdoor ceremonies and receptions, making it a wedding photographer’s dream to photograph. Whether you dream of an intimate affair or a grand celebration, Lamont's Bishops House offers flexibility in event spaces and an exceptional culinary experience, making it a perfect choice for those in search of a Perth wedding venue to give you a truly unforgettable wedding day.

Assembly Yard, Fremantle

Assembly Yard is the perfect blank canvas for your wedding ceremony or reception. They have three different beautiful spots, a garden in one corner, the outdoor courtyard and indoor open space. These option’s mean the weather will never be an issue for your wedding; giving you the option of outdoor reception under the star’s or if it looks like rain they have a lovely indoor space. Assembly yard is located right in Fremantle, just south of Perth. As a wedding photographer I love the variety of options it gives you. You could have your portraits photographed in Fremantle, on the beach or even Cottesloe civic centre as thats only a short drive away.

Matilda Bay restaurant in Crawley, Perth.

Right by the water, Matilda bay restaurant is one of my personal favourites. Located just minutes from Perth city and UWA it means there is a few different photography spots to choose from for your portrait’s. Each time I’m there the setting is stunning, the venue staff always amazing and the food- always absolutely delicious. You get the best of both worlds with the outdoor wedding vibe but with the security of cover which makes it easy and fuss free.

The Hampton’s farm estate in Toodyay WA

The Hampton's Farm Estate in Toodyay is undeniably charming, and sophisticated, making it the ultimate choice for a countryside wedding not far from Perth, located 20km from the beautiful heritage township of Toodyay, only 90 minutes from the Perth Metro area. Every corner of The Hampton’s farm estate home and garden is styled beautifully, right out of a magazine and it is surrounded by picturesque landscapes setting the stage for an elegant and sophisticated wedding in the country side. It offers the perfect escape to the countryside without sacrificing the convenience of accessibility.

The Old Tower house

Perfect for intimate elopement’s or micro weddings, The Old Tower house is the most beautiful registry office you’ll find. A heritage gem steeped in history, and perfect for couples looking to exchange their vows in a more intimate and romantic setting. For me as a wedding photographer, I love nothing more than a heritage building, there is a lovely park over the road, Hyde park and the state buildings are also just a short drive away giving you a variety of options for your wedding photo’s.

E+M- Fremantle wedding on Film and Digital

I have been photographing film at weddings in Perth and worldwide for about 5 years now and every time that email with the film scans hits my inbox I still get butterflies!

If you have wanted to try photography using film here’s a few little tips:

1- Start on an automatic film camera.

My favourite 35 mm camera is the Manolta Mac-tele. This camera is a beast, I recently dropped mine at a wedding and completely smashed it (it was such a sad moment) but the camera still works, incredible! If you have been shooting film for a while and your up for more or a challenge then the Pentax k-1000 is my favourite manual camera. They have inbuilt light metres inside so you wont need to carry around a light metre as long as it is working.

2- Don’t worry about buying expensive film.

When shooting 35mm film I usually shoot on Kodak portra 400 or Fuji 400h (which is now discontinued so I won’t be for long) but I have recently found that Kodak Ultra max is just as beautiful and is half the price. You can get this from Big W so you wont need to worry about getting slogged with massive shipping costs.

3- Send your film to the right lab!

The lab who scans your images makes 1000% of the difference to the look of the images. I love PhotoVision in the US but in Australia a few favourite’s are Lazarus lab or Atkins pro lab.

4- Think about your image before you take it. Composition, lighting and the subject.

Whether you’re using an iPhone, camera or film camera you can take a really great image if you consider these three things. Film works best with lots of light or if its dark you’ll need a flash. Take your time, sometimes counting down before taking the image can help with less eyes closed as every image costs money.

For Marco and Emmelie’s wedding at their home in Fremantle, Perth I photographed using 120mm film, 35mm film and digital. Every wedding I photograph I use both film and digital to capture the day. I use 120mm film because its professional grade and is high quality but I shoot 35mm for filler shots or for every day photos of my little one at home as its cheaper, you get more photos from the roll and you can use an auto film camera so you can take photos without thinking too hard.

Em and Marco’s day was so perfect, here’s Ems sweet words after receiving her full gallery- “Hi lovely Amelia, Wow wow wow, thank you so much for your beautiful photos. We have just shared them with our families and we are all absolutely in awe! You captured the day and the happiness so perfectly! So special to have the filmies too, thank you. We have been recommending you to friends - so glad we chose you.”

A+D Coast Port beach wedding

Alysha and David’s wedding was on the most stunning winters day, not a lick of wind, sunny and warm and located right on the beach at Coast Port in Fremantle. What more could these lovers want? They met at work on an offshore rig and now the rest is history. Alysha wore a beautiful Pronovias gown from Brides by Design and then surprised us all at the reception by changing in a lovely Rosa Clará Couture Wedding slip dress. These guys wanted a relaxed but super fun day, choosing that as your vibe is a big part of your day being relaxed and fun but also choosing vendors like that will go a long way. If your looking for a fun lively celebrant then look no further, The Tilers Wife officiated the ceremony and there were plenty of laughs!

I get asked all the time what this difference is between full video coverage and a highlight reel, this is Alysha and David’s highlight wedding film videoed along side photography. I love capturing video and photography together.

Perth wedding photographer and Highlight reel videography: Amelia Claire Photography

Ceremony and Reception venue: Coast port beach restaurant located in Fremantle, Perth.

Celebrant: The tilers wife

Gown: Pronovias stocked by Perth bridal store- Brides by Design

Reception gown: Rosa Clará Couture Wedding slip dress

Hair and Makeup: MUSE Studio

Florist: Matthew Landers

Jeweller: Stelios Jewellers

Band: Dolce Ensembles String Quartet

Hire: Pretty Willow Hire table decorations

Invitations: Cricket Printing