M+O | Swan valley Summer wedding

Michael and Olivia were married on a perfect sunny summer afternoon in the Perth Swan Valley, their wedding day was perfectly stress free and full of fun, after being apart of 100+ weddings, I feel like I have witnessed it all. Let me be honest in telling: my clients are amazing. They are the best of the best, I feel fortunate to know these people. In working with the best, I need to be the best. So how do you do that? Well, it’s all about guiding my couples through the complicated/stressful/crazy process of planning the biggest, most important day of your life. No biggie, right? Wrong.

So, let’s talk through four tips to help create a stress free wedding day?

1.) BE STRATEGIC WITH YOUR SCHEDULE:

Your ceremony time will direct how the day will lead. If it’s easy, great, you can do your photos in between that and cocktail hour, if you’re ceremony flows into your cocktails, well, you should probably consider a first look. Work with your photographer, find out how long they need for certain things, schedule in travel time, and add a little cushion!

2.) COMMUNICATE YOUR SCHEDULE CLEARLY:

Need your grandma to the church early? Want your wedding party to hang around after the ceremony? Need your college buddies ready for a shot during cocktail hour? Tell them! Make sure you communicate the schedule clearly and that everyone who needs it has it. Be an over-communicator, it will seriously pay off!

3.) MAKE SURE THERE’S TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR RECEPTION DETAILS:

I urge my couples to do first looks for multiple reasons. First, it gives you the chance to soak it in, embrace, and experience the emotions without hundreds of pairs of eyes on you. It also gives me the chance to sneak into your reception during cocktail hour and photograph all of the hard work you’ve done!

4.) TAKE MOMENTS TO JUST BE PRESENT:

I know, everyone says it! The day flys by, so intentionally stop and, take a moment, hold each others hands and remember the moment. Wedding days are amazing and so much fun but they are here and gone in the blink of an eye.

It’s important to set yourself up for success and to ease any stress ahead of time!

Wedding Dress Legends Bridal

Make-up Artist Ella Cromey Makeup Artistry

Hair Stylist Angie Taylor

Florist Sweet Floral Perth

Venue: Mulberry Estate, Swan Valley Perth

Jeweler Vera Wang

Signage: Sadie from Ky and Co Creations 

Wedding Planning- 5 tips to a less stressful planning experience

Lets be honest! Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful things you take on. As a wedding photographer and former bride I see it first hand. Really, planning your wedding is like jumping head first into the planning world and your supposed to know how to plan what should be the happiest day of your life. I know that before I got married id never chosen a menu or designed an invitation!

Getting married is one of the happiest day of your life, your finally married to the love of your life, your worlds are joined and all your favourite friends and family and there to celebrate so I want to give you a few tips on how to make this day a little less stressful!

1. Remember you are planning a marriage not a wedding. After the big day you actually become a wife, getting a fresh perspective is one of the fastest ways to check yourself before you wreck yourself. This is the best way to remember that although this will be the best day, there are also thousands of days after this one that you will spend together.

2. Prioritise your budget. Let me tell you a little secret, wedding’s are not cheap. Its important that you decide early- what vendors are the most important to you and prioritise investing into those early on. For us we knew photography was number one but wedding favours were not. We splurged on our photographer and made our favours ourselves.

3. Showcase YOU! Team up a couple and decide what you want your day to look like and then let your closest family and friends know how they can help you make this happen. This is your day, not your mums! Its so easy to get caught up people pleasing but if you do you will always lose. Of course we want our family and friends to have a wonderful day and also your first day as a married couple, your chance to showcase what you love, what makes you unique and to have one heck of a party!

4. Take time out for you! Self care is not overrated. Sometimes we need to switch off from the planning and just enjoy being engaged. Be present, go for a picnic, beach date or coffee with your betrothed and just enjoy your time together without thinking about the planning.

5. Choose vendors you trust! This is a big one- choose people you know and trust. Have your friends used these vendors and was their experience a positive one? On my wedding day I didnt want my friends to have to do too much, so I hired one of my Perth industry favourites The Cake & I, Jo set up my afternoon tea and cake for all my guests and I was fully confident she would make it look beautiful and I wouldn’t have too think about it!

Wedding planning can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be! Take time to enjoy this wonderful season of your life while you plan the start of your married life together. Make the planning process fun, keep it light hearted, remember things won’t always go to plan but it will still be wonderful. When it gets too stressful, take a step back. I sincerely hope you plan a marriage more beautiful than your wedding day. Happy planning

Download the free wedding checklist here

Favourite wedding invitation's

There are so many different wedding invitation styles and designers its a little hard to know where to start- am I right? Here’s a few from some recent brides that I loved-

ETHERIAL, ROMANTIC WEDDING VIBES

Small Brown Writes specialises in modern calligraphy and event stationary.
”Hi I'm Kenaina, designer and calligrapher of Perth-based creative studio Small Brown Writes. Inspired by vintage ephemera and old world romaticism, I create event stationery and handwritten calligraphy artwork with a fine art aesthetic. I'm also passionate about keeping this artform alive and teach modern calligraphy in workshops hosted in Perth and beyond.”

This simple yet romantic invitation was designed by The Kellygrapher

MODERN, FUNKY WEDDING VIBES

This black and gold foiled invitation was designed by Felicitations Invites

CLASSIC, CREATIVE WEDDING VIBES

Alison Jade designs

Favourite Perth Wedding Venues

2020 has been a strange year, am I right? Here in Perth things are FINALLY starting to go back to normal, can I hear an AMEN?! Which means youre finally able to start planning your wedding so I have written a list of some of my favourite perth wedding venues I have had the pleasure of photographing for you to add to your list to check out.

Lamont Bishops House- Perth city.

Lamont Bishop’s house is heritage building with stunningly well kept gardens and surrounded by city skyscrapers. This is perfect for a classy ceremony or elegant reception under the stars or marquee.

State buildings and The Como Treasury- Perth city.

Total luxury- what more can I say! Another heritage building with total class, unrivalled here in Perth and food to die for.

Nedlands Yacht Club

Nedlands yacht club is right on Perth swan river the river in Nedlands, this is the perfect DIY wedding where you can build any style of wedding under the starts or marquee.

Tradewinds Hotel Rooftop- Fremantle

Tradewinds is the perfect white washed ceremony venue on the rooftop in Fremantle, the white means any style or colour will be complemented.

Moana hall- Perth city

Moana hall is right in the centre of Perth city, A stunning heritage building with stunning windows and arches. Perfect for a smaller cocktail reception or indoor wedding ceremony.

The Melbourne Hotel

The Aurora rooftop bar has an exquisite view of Perth city for your wedding ceremony or small cocktail reception. They also have larger function rooms perfect for a seated reception.

The Olive Estate- Swan Valley

The afternoon light filtering through the olive Tree’s in Perth’s Swan Valley is to die for.

UWA- Sunken Gardens

Located right next to Matilda bay, The University of Western Australia has so many perfect little photo spots and its stunningly old buildings reminds me of walking European streets.

Friday Studios

Is a great venue if you are wanting flexibility and DIY. The beautiful New York vibe windows are perfect for a wedding ceremony or the big open space perfect for a large wedding reception- seated or standing.

Bayside Kitchen

Right on the swan river, Bayside kitchen is a cafe by day but turns into a stunning reception venue at night. I had the most incredible Gnocchi for dinner and the share platters are to die for! UWA is right around the corner and a perfect spot for your portrait photography in-between your ceremony and reception.

Darlington Estate- Perth hills

Located in the Perth hills, Darlington is surrounded by Australian bushland.

Assembly Yard

Located in the heart of Fremantle and sports wonderful natural light which is always a plus for me- making it so easy to photograph!

Wedding dress shops in Perth to try

It can be overwhelming trying on a million gowns, so these are the stores I tried when I got engaged!

Brides by design

These lovely ladies will walk with you right through to the end, making sure your gown fits live a glove, calming nerves when things don’t quite look right just yet! They were a dream to work with so I totally recommend checking them out. They have gowns off the rack and also couture made to order, hand crafted in their Mount Lawley studio.

Zanzis Bridal

These gowns will WOW you, the attention to detail is impeccable! These couture bridal gowns are hand made in their Northbridge studio.

Through the white door

If you’re looking for something a little boho or different this is the place to look! Stocking gowns like Chosen by one day and Rue De Seine.

Bridal by Aubrey Rose

Located in North Perth, the ladies here will treat you like a queen.

Maevana Bridal

Looking for something handmade just to fit you and something beautifully unique? This is where you need to be! Maevana Bridal is a Demi Couture bridal and event wear studio that hand crafts, made to order and custom designed garments in house. Mae is absolutely lovely and uber talented!