Where do I begin describing Lauren and Sam’s magical wedding day? The entire day felt like it came straight out of a fairy tale; the setting, the story and the characters were all so beautiful.

Lauren and I met in my last year of high school over ten years ago. She is a kind-hearted, has a positive energy and is a genuine pleasure to be around. I was thrilled when she reached out to me and told me she found the one and was going to marry him. Lauren, her mum and her sister – who was also her bridesmaid – met me for lunch to discuss the upcoming day.

As Lauren began to tell me her plans, I was already beginning to envision the day. Both the ceremony and reception was to be held at her family’s home in Kinglake. Late last year I had the pleasure of photographing her young nephews there; the property is stunning. I remembered the nearby creek and thick bush land from the day. I was in awe that I’d get to revisit this beautiful place. As I listened to her describe the details she was already scoping out, my anticipation for the day grew!

Throughout the planning process, Lauren calmly ticked jobs off the to-do list. Everything ran smoothly, which made her an extra-calm bride and a joy to work with. When the day finally I arrived, I could hardly contain my excitement. I jumped in my car and headed to Kinglake to see her plans come to life. As I arrived, the final stages of her hair and make-up were being done by B + T Make Up Design. I got straight to work, capturing moments of the preparation.

Lauren and her sister, Claire, both looked stunning. They wore matching floral dressing gowns and their hair was pinned in fresh flowers. Their eyes sparkled in the same way and I could tell they had a very special bond. I got shots of the vibrant bouquets, the stunning ring and the very pretty jewellery. From here I went outside to have a look at the set-up for the ceremony.

Just as I had expected, the area looked gorgeous. It overlooked the nearby creek and was surrounded by lush trees. Lovely white chairs had been hired (from Complete Function Hire) and lined up near the front, while logs sat atop wooden stumps in the back rows. The details looked amazing (all done by Gillian Pollard); Moroccan cushions were there for guests to sit on, pots of fresh flowers lined the aisle and vibrant greenery hung from a wooden abour at the front.

The reception was to be held under a nearby marquee (Mr Party Hire). Tall tables were set up outside, along with fire barrels. The casual setting looked perfect and already promised to be a fun evening.

I re-joined Lauren and Claire, who were eagerly awaiting the beginning of the ceremony. Shortly after, soon-to-be husband Sam arrived with his best man, Daniel. After a short session with the wedding party – and their adorable dog – we were ready to get the ceremony underway! I could tell they could hardly wait to marry each other.

As the guests started streaming in, the excitement filled the air. Lauren waved me over, as she was ready to change into her wedding gown. I snapped away as Claire helped her settle into her absolutely stunning Mariana Hardwick gown. She took everyone’s breath away. Watching Lauren’s parent’s expressions as they laid eyes on the bride for the first time was gorgeous to witness.

Once the guests were all in place, the soft sounds of Brightside Duo began playing. The music created a fun environment and everyone was buzzing with excitement. As the entrance song began, Claire walked down the aisle along with two page boys, Max and Billy. Many of the guests gasped as they saw Lauren walk down the aisle alongside her father.

Everyone smiled from ear to ear as they witnessed Lauren and Sam exchange vows and become husband and wife. After the lovely ceremony, bright confetti by Colour Pop Confetti flew into the air! This made for fun and vibrant shots of the newlyweds as they walked back down the aisle hand in hand.

From here, we had some quick photo sessions. This included shots of the family, of Lauren and Sam, followed by the rest of the bridal party. We wanted to make this a short, but effective shoot so that everyone could re-join the festivities. Once they arrived back at the party, everyone was elated as they congratulated the happy couple. After many long hugs and lots of laughter, the celebrations began.

Food trucks began pulling in: Beat Box Burgers, Greek Street Food and All Ablaze Wood Fired Pizzas parked near the tables. This created a casual setting and allowed guests to choose what they preferred to eat. Crepes were to follow later, plus there was a gorgeous naked wedding cake placed inside the marquee.

As night fell, the marquee was filled with festive lighting. Fairy lights were strung up, along with luscious foliage and floral pieces. Candles flickered and created a beautiful setting as guests enjoyed themselves. Funny speeches, the cutting of the cake and the first dance all went smoothly. The band played everyone’s favourite songs and soon people were up and dancing.

Thank you so much, Lauren and Sam, for letting me be a part of your special day! All of your hard work and thoughtful planning certainly paid off, as it was truly an amazing day for everyone. I can’t wait to start working on your Fine Art Book! A thousand congratulations to you both!

Lots of love,

Madeleine xxx