JEMMA & KELLY | PORT STEPHENS WEDDING

 

JEMMA & KELLY'S WEDDING - WONGANELLA ESTATE - PORT STEPHENS

 

 

Jemma & Kelly's wedding day was all kinds of awesome. They both really know how to throw a super chill, super stylish party!

I first spoke to Jem over the phone when she was on the hunt for a wedding photographer. She gushed to me about how amazing the venue was that her and Kelly had booked. How it had such a relaxed vibe,  natural surroundings and it matched their vision for their day perfectly. Wonganella did not disappoint. Nestled in the Port Stephens bushland, a hidden 'jem' of a venue. A huge homestead, ample ceremony locations and a brand new decked outdoor reception area overlooking the breathtaking view of Bob's Farm.

Jem & Kelly's wedding day was them all over. Relaxed, creative, quirky, and trendy.
Kelly is an architect, and Jemma is a graphic designer, so I knew their day would be overflowing with details and homemade pieces. I spent the whole day in awe of how much Jemma & Kelly and their families had done themselves. Kelly and his groomsmen made the ceremony benches, Jemma's stepdad made their timber arbour, Kelly's sister created the 3 tiered cake, Jemma put together the bouquets, and the bridesmaids made their own hair pieces.

Jemma is the brainchild behind Elska Creative ( check them out!!) and designed and created so many of the little details - the laser cut plywood invitations, the hanger engravings, the recycled timber wedding schedule and the table decor pieces, just to name a few! I absolutely love that each and every part of their day was personal and has a unique story behind it.

Jemma and Kelly really hold a special place in my heart. After their engagement session (you can see it here) I knew we just clicked. We didn't stop talking and laughing and I wanted to know more about them. I am now lucky enough to call them my friends!

Relaxed (I know I've used that word a few times, but it really was) and fun vibe, super friendly guests that really made me feel so welcome, everyone having a damn good time, food to die for, listening to the epic voice of  Tim Rossington outside on a warm summer afternoon under a killer pink sunset. The kind of wedding I'd love to shoot every weekend.

Some of the brilliant folk that brought this day to life!

Venue: Wonganella Estate

Catering: Amanda Douglas Catering

Music: Tim Rossington

Celebrant: Beautiful Memories Marriage Celebrant

Decor and Invitations: Elska Creative

Hair & Makeup: Makeup By Bonnie Lee

Wedding Dress: Blanche Bridal

 
 

Jemma & Kelly were kind enough to leave these words for me!

 

"HOLY BALONEY! Mel is one of a kind!

Her photos are amazing... as anyone could see looking through her photos... but it is who she is as a person which is the real decider!
Mel, my husband and I have hit it off from day one. She is personable, relaxed, funny, energetic, thorough, attentive, silly, happy, curious, smart and full of great ideas!
She makes you feel so comfortable, makes you laugh and brings out the true personalities and relationships with a click of a button!
She was and still is the talk of the town from our wedding. She has captured the true essence of every being at our wedding... and I haven't even seen all the photos yet!!
Not only is she a big fan of photography... she would give you a whirl on her love for Harry Potter as well.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY X SQUARED X A MILLION CHOOSE MEL FOR YOU PRECIOUS DAY.... YOU DON'T GET MANY SPECIAL HUMANS LIKE HER!" 

 
Check out jemma & kelly's engagement session here

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!"

 
 
 
 
When Matt saw Tomie 🥺 If he doesn’t look at you like this, he isn’t the one.
There’s regular dance floors.. then there’s Nick Read dance floors 🪩
“Mel is the complete package. Super responsive, organised, incredibly talented at what she does and possibly the calmest person we’ve ever met. We got our photos well before we were expecting them, and are just blown away by the quality
Let’s be honest, it was really Rosie’s wedding day 😍
The boys can watch and learn 🍾💅
Your wedding photos deserve better than living in your camera roll alongside your food snaps and selfies.. 😉 Kara & Sean’s day, printed, bound and ready to be pulled off the shelf for years of “remember when…” moments ❤