You might remember the amazing light in Claire + Russell’s Newcastle engagement session last year.
Now it’s time for the extended wedding dance mix!
Claire and Russell were married on a calm day last year, at Claire’s mother’s house in Merewether. It was an amazing venue – the house is the oldest in Merewether and its grounds are just amazing.
One of the most amazing things about this wedding (apart from two people in love getting married!) was the care and attention to detail, and the personal stamp that Claire and Russell put on the wedding. From the wedding dress to the cufflinks, the wooden boards on which the hors d’oeuvres were served and the polaroid frame for the photobooth, so many of the details were handmade and assembled by the bride and groom. And keep an eye out for the love heart Claire embroidered onto Russell’s collar!
And another thing was clear: the amount of love and respect that all of Claire + Russell’s attending family and friends have for the couple. Moving (and amusing) speeches made it clear that they are a generous, funny and adventurous pair; they’re clearly very well matched!
Thank you, Claire and Russell, for having us as part of your day. I hope you have many beautiful days to come in a long and loving life as husband and wife!
Some details about the details…
Dress: handmade by the bride and her similarly talented sister
Hair: Leanne from Sherlocks Hair Salon on Darby
Makeup: Helen Ford
Jewellery: Wedding & engagement rings hand crafted by Kara Breadmore of K’a'llure Jewellery, Melbourne
Shoes: Milana
Bridesmaids’ dresses: The Cocktail Boutique
Bridesmaids’ earrings + brooches: handcrafted by Claire Collins
Accessories: Handbags sourced on Etsy
Cufflinks: handcrafted by Claire & Russell Collins
Florist: Peonies sourced from Joy Horne at Inhope Farm, NSW.
Reception venue: Merewether House
Celebrant: Glenda Smith
Band: The Ryan Patrick Daley Band
Caterer: Hot Rock Events & Catering together with Kim Hughes (the food was seriously delicious!)
Stationery: by Claire & Russell Collins
Ceremony music: Russell’s sister, Belinda Collins together with Rosie Cassidy on Piano
Honeymoon destination: Fiji – Navutu Stars Resort, Yasawas - all arranged by the groom as a surprise for his bride!
On to the photos!
Handmade item number 1: Claire’s dress, made by Claire and her sister Carly. Carly also makes animal costumes for kids – you’ll see a penguin soon!
This folder was made for Claire by her bridesmaids.
Handmade items number 4 & 5 – Claire’s necklace, and earrings for the bridesmaids. Made by the bride.
Handmade number 6: Claire’s veil. After getting the positioning right, bridesmaid Mae quickly stitched the netting into the right shape (see a few photos below).
Handmade item #7 – the bouquets, made from peonies sourced from Inhope Farm.
Nothing like a bridesmaid train for dressing quickly!
Here’s that gorgeous penguin I mentioned earlier!
The divine dress. It fit Claire like a glove, the detailing was amazing – it must have been a labour of love for the two sisters!
Claire used highlights of watermelon and pink throughout the day, including these gorgeous suede slingbacks.
Claire’s mum Kim, taking in Claire dressed as a bride.
I love this moment – it’s the moment that Claire struggled not to be overwhelmed by emotion. Just beautiful.
Handmade number… oh I give up counting, there are too many! A beautiful little love heart for Russell to keep with him on the day…
Cufflinks for the groom and groomsmen, made by the bride and groom.
Handsome brothers!
Yeah, I’m not quite sure what’s happening here either!
…but I know this was their GQ moment…
Guests gathered on the lawn just before the ceremony.
Russell’s sister played the flute prior to the processional:
First glimpse of the bride
Popcorn instead of confetti!
I think this might be in my favourite five shots of 2011
These are the breadboards made by Claire + Russell…. and wow, the food was amazing!
The band kept everyone on the dance floor for hours!
Finis!
Some really beautiful work in here ladies. This one – http://froxy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/merewether_wedding072.jpg – stopped me in my tracks. Amazing.
Thanks Ben! I love the light in that one too – the light worked so well with the watermelon colour, and you know how Canon feels about red tones!
oh i love! beautiful x
I just realised I linked the wrong one, I meant the one just after – http://froxy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/merewether_wedding073.jpg – but heck, I could say the same for all of them!
This wedding is seriously AMAZING! I absolutely love the color, those portraits along the beach, and the final shot at the end. From start to finish, a truly magnificent day!
So many awesomely sweet and quiet moments that you captured perfectly.
i love that first and last photo!
Gorgeous work ladies, quite an epic post! So much goodness.
What’s up with the last one?! Awesome! :) The whole wedding is so sweet. Love the group photos too!
Awesome work. Great storytelling here. I love those group shots at the end!
Awesome coverage and those bridal party shots in particular are brilliant.
this is a beautiful wedding and you have done an amazing job. Those images of the bridal party with sky and water are simply perfection.
The bridal party photos are fabulous!
What lovely light! You did an amazing job. Such great attention to detail.
These are just amazing. Some of the most orginal I have seen in a long time. Great use of light painting. The beach shots and the group shot on the water is just fab. So cool :)
Gorgeous work guys!!! that dress is phenomenal, and what a talented bunch of people! ..All making stuff for their big day.. I love it! and 2 talented people photographing it all! Loved this wedding!
Thanks Bec!
hi there, my wedding photographer has cancelled on me and i was just wondering if you available on the 3rd of november this year? thanks for your time love your pictures, tess.
Hi Tess, I’ll email you now!
Beautifully done! Great eye for detail and capturing some great emotions.
Amazing photos, beautiful wedding.
Excellent wedding!! Love the last one WOW! x