Milly & Mark | The Woodhouse Wollombi Wedding

MILLY & MARK’S WEDDING - THE WOODHOUSE - WOLLOMBI

Mark and Milly's wedding day was unapologetically them. Free of fuss and rigid formalities. The Woodhouse Wollombi was the perfect location, nestled amongst the mountain ranges with zero phone reception. As Milly’s Dad described it, a place in the middle of nowhere with no phone reception is Mark & Milly’s idea of a good time.

We started the day with a forecast of rain. The umbrellas were stacked by the door and the ceremony plan B was being considered but luckily not a drop of rain fell! It was the most spectacular afternoon on the lawn at The Woodhouse, with a huge grazing table, lawn games and the champagne was well and truly flowing!

Highlights of their day were meeting their dog Ted (who I’d heard so much about!) Their ‘un-wedding’ 70's style Toyota Landcruiser wedding car and a ROCK band for their reception. Oh and this hilarious moment during their ceremony that left everyone in stitches, celebrant Mel retelling the story of how they got engaged on the Caribbean Coast of Columbia (just one of 7 countries they have travelled to together).

In Milly’s own words: “We did a huge day hike in Tayrona National Park on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. It was one week into our 2.5 months in South America. We finally reached the beach, sat down and started making sandwiches, when I looked up and saw two people near the water, embracing each other while a bunch of people were looking on. "HAHA! MARK LOOK, I THINK THESE TWO GOT ENGAGED - I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING WORSE THAN THAT HAPPENING IN PUBLIC!"

Mark went quiet. As we were about to leave, his bag fell open, and I offered to pick up the socks. He snapped and said "NO, I'll get it" It was a hot day, I shrugged it off and didn't worry that he was a bit cranky. The next night, while we were alone in our little cabin, he proposed!”

This was such an awesome day, with some of the funniest moments I've ever experienced at a wedding. Enjoy!

Mel x

Venue: The Woodhouse Wollombi
Florals: Hunter Valley Bouquets
Caterer: Fennel & Co Catering
Entertainment: Ben Woodham & Touch Crazy
Videographer: Pure Image Photo + Film
Celebrant: Hitched in the Hunter
Hair: Empire Artistries
Makeup: Lauren Pride Makeup
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Bridesmaids: Petal & Pup
Suits: M.J. Bale

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Kinds Words from Mark and Milly:

Where do I start... We just received our incredible gallery of photos from our wedding at The Woodhouse in Wollombi. I feel silly because I shouldn’t be in disbelief. I knew from the start that she’d be the best in the business. But woah.
Mel helped us through the process, and made us all feel so relaxed and at ease on the day. She was a delight to have there as not just a photographer, but I promise she’ll become your friend, too.
Mel put so much effort into keeping us all on track and sticking to our timeline, but also had the greatest suggestions for hilarious photos!
Thank you Mel, you have literally made our day unforgettable, and we are so so glad we chose you to capture the most special day of our lives.
Lots of love, the Bradys

Mark & Milly’s Fine Art Album

Casey & Jake | Tocal Homestead Wedding

CASEY & JAKE’S WEDDING - TOCAL HOMESTEAD - HUNTER VALLEY

“What means the most is all our family & friends in the same place, having a big party to celebrate our love”

Tocal Homestead provided the perfect location for their relaxed outdoor ceremony under the gigantic fig trees. The threat of rain had loomed overhead throughout the day, however it held off for their EPIC outdoor dance floor where all of their loved ones danced the night away under the stars and festoon lights.

When I ask my couples what means to most to them about their wedding day, most of them tell me they can’t wait to have all of their loved ones coming together to celebrate and have one big party. Casey and Jake had this dream for their day and they absolutely nailed it.

Mel x

Venue: Tocal Homestead
Film: Morelife Films
Band: Venus Music Band
Bar: The Airstream Social
Catering: Sprout Catering
Celebrant: Wed by Kez
Neon Signs: Love Glows Letter Lights Love
Flowers: Little Willow Floral Design
Makeup: Makeup by Stevi

Sophie & Dylan | Newcastle Museum Wedding

Sophie & Dylan's Wedding - Newcastle Museum

So many people tell me they love this wedding.

They love Sophie's Made with Love Bridal dress (it has pockets!), the iconic Newcastle locations, the amazing styling, the doughnut wall and neon sign at their reception. While I love it for all of these things, I love it for so much more than that....
The love and respect that Sophie and Dylan have for each other just radiated from them all day. They weren't fazed in the slightest as it rained while we piled into the limo to head off for photos. They were just so happy to be in the moment together and soak up their first day of being a married couple.

Okay, I'm not going to lie...the doughnut wall may have also stole my heart.
 

Mel x

Some of Newcastle's finest vendors that were involved in the day:

Venue: Newcastle Museum
Styling: The Wedding Designer
Dress: Made With Love Bridal
Florals: Flowers by Lorey
Celebrant: Julie Muir
Doughnuts: Doughheads
Makeup: Inspiring Makeup Artistry

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MATTHEW & VANESSA | HUNTER VALLEY WEDDING

MATTHEW & VANESSA'S Elopement - CIRCA 1876 & THE CONVENT - HUNTER VALLEY

 

Matthew and Vanessa both work in the travel industry and together they have been to some of the most amazing places throughout the world, but it was the Hunter Valley that stole their hearts for their secret elopement. Circa 1876 and The Convent truly transforms throughout each season of the year. The soft winter light and seasonal colours provided the most glorious backdrop for their day.

It was such a pleasure to capture the honesty, emotion and intimacy of their ceremony with the only witnesses being Matthew's parents (who had travelled from the U.K) and Vanessa's Mum and Step Dad. 
 

Mel x

Venue: Circa 1876 & The Convent - Hunter Valley
Celebrant: Hitched in the Hunter - Melanie Fell Agnew
Hair & Makeup: White Hair and Makeup
Dress: Spell and the Gypsy Collective

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JODIE & RACHELLE | ADAM'S PEAK WEDDING

JODIE & RACHELLE'S ADAM'S PEAK WEDDING - HUNTER VALLEY

"Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life"

To be present at Jodie and Rachelle's wedding ceremony, where these very words held so much significance to them and their community was like nothing else I've ever experienced.
Looking around the room at their guests, most of them with a tear running down their face and hanging off each word, I had never witnessed so many people so emotionally invested and present in a ceremony.
Every single person in that room was beaming with happiness and pride for their dear friends, who had originally planned their wedding day without knowing that their marriage would ever be legally recognised. 

When I asked Rachelle and Jodie to describe to me their day in 3 words, they told me "love, booze and pride" which couldn't have been more accurate.
Following the ceremony all of the guests, including Nanna, slammed down fireball shots.  
It poured with rain all day, but this didn't dampen the spirits of their celebration, with the guests initiating an impromptu limbo contest.

This day was all about celebrating with their family and friends and having one big party. I think the images from their day tell their story much better than I can put into words. This is one I definitely will not forget.

Mel x

Venue: Adam's Peak Country Estate

Hair: Belinda Ward

Makeup: Luxe Makeup Artistry

Rachelle's suit: Red and Ruby

Jodie's gown: Grace Loves Lace

Celebrant: Hitched In The Hunter

Music: Kim Sheehy

Styling: Love and Protect

"Rachelle & Jodie" and "Pride" necklaces: Haus Of Dizzy

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““Mel!! Our photos... we have no words! We absolutely love them. Thank you so much for being there on the most amazing day and sharing it all with us. You have captured moments in these photos that we wouldn’t have even seen. Everybody looks so happy! Thank you again for capturing our beautiful day for us to look back on for years to come. We relived it all when we sat and looked through them. Can’t wait to show everyone xxx””

— Jodie & Rachelle

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RACHEL & KHAWAR | HUNTER VALLEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

RACHEL & KHAWAR'S ENGAGEMENT SESSION - HUNTER VALLEY

I had the perfect afternoon getting to know Rachel & Khawar before their big day at the end of this month!  We visited my favourite spot in the Hunter Valley , and we were blessed with the most amazing light! 

Here are a few of my favourite shots from our afternoon together.

SAM & RICH | HUNTER VALLEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

SAM & RICH'S ENGAGEMENT SESSION - WATAGANS PINE FOREST - HUNTER VALLEY

You know that feeling when you find your soul mate and you just.. click? There's a spark.
You can't stop talking, you want to know all about them and how their life has brought them to this moment? Well I kinda feel like Sam & Rich are my client soul mates... if that is even a thing?

I truly felt as though I was hanging out with old friends. We didn't stop talking, the whole trip up to the Watagans and back. Munching on Starburst, laughing about the heat, the bumpy road, how crazy big wombats are, and Rich's fascination with Australian birds and stories of their travels. They both share a love for nature and it seemed pretty perfect to make the trip together to the Watagans for their session. 

Sam & Rich have a pretty interesting story.. A real modern day love story...they met on Instagram.
Sam is originally from Newcastle and Rich is from the U.K. Rich took a huge leap of faith and met up with Sam in London where she was working at the time, and they've been inseparable - travelling to almost 30 different countries together since, and now relocating back to Australia to get married. Rich described it perfectly during their session when I asked what it was about Sam that made him know she was the one.. He said he had found the female version of himself. That she is his best friend. 

It was the kind of afternoon you wish you could have every weekend - you know you've got the best clients ever when you finish the session with a Maccas run!
I am pretty damn pumped for their wedding next year!

JEMMA & KELLY | HUNTER VALLEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

JEMMA & KELLY'S ENGAGEMENT SESSION - MORPETH - HUNTER VALLEY

A few weeks ago, I met with Jemma and Kelly at Morpeth for their engagement session!
We started the afternoon at the Commercial Hotel, where we chatted about their wedding plans for later this year.
Jemma is a Graphic Designer, and Kelly an architect - so this wedding is seriously going to be a match made in design heaven!
It was so lovely listening to Jemma & Kelly talk about how so many special touches for the day are being handmade by their families.  That's what it's all about!

While walking down the main street of Morpeth, we stopped into Campbell's Store, only to discover an exhibition dedicated to Harry Potter. Jemma called out to me, to come and have a look.
We were both speechless. . . . . It only seemed appropriate that we all get sorted by the Sorting Hat. 

In the lead up to Kelly being sorted, he was convincing us that he would definitely be a Gryffindor, because he has red hair. . . the Sorting Hat had other ideas.

...This was the reaction when he was sorted in Slytherin!

After that was settled, we continued on our way down the main street and onto the lucerne paddocks for some frolicking in the afternoon light!

I had the best time with Jemma and Kelly and I am so excited for their wedding later this year. It will be an absolute blast!

Mel x

 

Jemma & Kelly's kind words:

"We just wanted to thank you so much for the day. Kelly and I had so much fun and it has definitely been a highlight of our relationship. It was so nice to capture what we have by someone we really feel comfortable with. You were awesome! I can't wait for our day knowing you will be there to capture it all for us, I have so much love for what you do and so excited to see all the photos!"

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