Kaelah & Daniel | Wallalong House Wedding

Kaelah & Daniel’s Wallalong House Wedding - Hunter Valley

This was the kind of wedding I dream about. This is what you get when you cross Wallalong House, one of the most beautiful venues in the Hunter Valley, with a big bunch of legends!

Kaelah & Dan were one of my couples that were affected by Covid and had to reschedule their original date. By the time their new date rolled around, weddings were beginning to return to normal. What really stood out to me on the day was how grateful everyone was to be together and celebrate after everything over the past few months.

All of their guests were so genuinely ecstatic for them, and I think it says a lot about who they are as people. Kaelah and Dan are surrounded by so much love and support. One of Kaelah's bridesmaids had even travelled from the UK and went through 2 weeks of hotel quarantine to be by her best friend's side – incredible!

Everything about this day was beautiful! Kaelah's dress was gorgeous, and the deep tones in the flowers went perfectly with the bridesmaid's dresses.

With Kaelah being a huge Harry Potter fan, I'm going to run with the theory that the Hogwarts House colours inspired her colour theme for her bridesmaids.

Kaelah and Dan had already won me over with their love of Harry Potter. I didn't think it was possible to love them anymore until Kaelah emerged with a cheeky dress change to bust a move to Queen's Don't Stop Me Now as their first dance.

Covid has meant that many of my couples have needed to reschedule, and I can't imagine the stress and disappointment they feel to have all of their plans turned on their head. But the one thing I can say is that covid rescheduled weddings hit differently. Everyone is just so happy to be able to come together and celebrate after not being able to for so long. All of my couples have said to me that it was worth the wait.

Mel x

Venue: Wallalong House
Florals: Maggie Bloom Florals
Video: Design Patrol
Hair: Michelle Jackson
Makeup: Zoe Martin Makeup
Celebrant: Hitched in the Hunter
Catering: Fennel & Co
Music: The Vintage Stylus
Gown: Love Marie Bridal

I shot this wedding alongside one of my favourite videographers – Matt from Design Patrol. I love working with Matt. He is calm, down to earth, creative and always has a huge smile on his face! Exactly the type of person you want around you on your wedding day!

I was also lucky enough to snag the always amazing Dea from Little Black Bow to second shoot this one with me — capturing all the good times post ceremony while I was off with the wedding party.

Sherrie & Jarod | Wallalong House Wedding

Sherrie & Jarod’s Wallalong House Wedding - Hunter Valley

The perfect mix of glamour with relaxed vibes

When I first met Sherrie and Jarod I knew their Wallalong House wedding was going to be out of this world!
Sherrie and Jarod are the type of people you feel like you’ve known your whole life! You know like those people that have this ability to make you feel like an old friend and part of the family.

Their day was the PERFECT combination of glamour but also so laid back, vintage but yet modern, it was intimate but EPIC!
65 of their closest friends and family gathered around the huge fig trees at Wallalong House.
You could feel the excitement and energy as all of their guests hung onto every word during their ceremony, with smiles from ear to ear (I’m sure it isn’t just from the pre ceremony champagne getting around either!). It was such a joy to see Sherrie and Jarod surround by so much love and adoration from their nearest and dearest.

Mel x

Venue: Wallalong House
Florals: The Botanical Workshop
Celebrant: Lauren Teys
Film: Day One Films
Catering: Restaurant Mason
Wedding Dress: Grace Loves Lace & Emmy Mae
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: The Lost Tribe
Suits: Ferrari Formal Wear
Hair & Make Up: Blanc Hair Studio

Kind words from Sherrie & Jarod:

”Omg, shut the front door!!! MEEELLLLL!!!! These are just mind blowing. Jarod and I are both looking at every single picture in awe!!! From the prep pics to the party - how amazing and talented are you?!? Thank you thank you thankyou!!! You’ve captured our day beautifully and these photos are seriously something we will both treasure forever. I can’t wait to show our family and friends!!! I couldn’t have picked a better photographer to capture our day and I’m so glad you were there with us. Meeting you for our engagements pics, I feel like we had known you for years. I think there’s about 700 extra photos HAHA!!!! Your a gem. Thank you so much!!!! My family are all getting together Saturday night for a viewing party!!! I seriously can’t stop looking at them. They are bringing back so many beautiful memories! I seriously can’t thank you enough!!! Xxx”

MATT & MEL | WALLALONG HOUSE WEDDING

MATT & MEL'S WALLALONG HOUSE WEDDING - HUNTER VALLEY

I feel like I really clicked with Matt and Mel from the get-go. When we first met at their engagement session, we pretty much laughed for an hour and a half.
They shared with me their amazing engagement story — How Mel had just arrived home from the gym thinking they were heading off for a weekend of camping. Matt (who had arrived home earlier, coming straight off night shift), had decorated their bed with flowers and 'Bonfire Heart' by James Blunt (their song) was playing. Matt had laid out a dress for Mel to get changed into, along with a letter he had written describing their future and all the things he hoped they would achieve together. The letter finished with inviting Mel into the kitchen, where she found the room full of balloons and photographs of all the memories from their past that they had already made together. Mel then found one last note that said "Go outside to our present, will you marry me?", where he was waiting for Mel on one knee. 

Matt and Mel chose Wallalong House for their day, as it had a story of its own that they could share with their friends and family. I think I had to pick my jaw up off the ground a few times. Everywhere you looked there were beautiful backgrounds. The breathtaking views across the farmlands provided the perfect backdrop for the ceremony, which was held beneath the 190+ year old fig trees on the property.

Mel loves a good DIY and created the designs for their stationery, she put together the gifts for their guests, and handmade the incredible fur shawls for her bridesmaids (which were later referenced to Game of Thrones by the bridal party).

Matt and Mel truly are a special couple and that was well reflected by the loving atmosphere of their family and friends. Three of the longest tables I have ever seen were filled with their nearest and dearest (Rowlo's Ruckus, Krazy Kota's and M&M's all sorts). They were so appreciative of having so many of their loved ones join them to celebrate.

The whole marquee was in stitches after two of Mel's bridesmaids, Louise and Tess gave speeches about how they had met Mel, and shared some hilarious moments that they had experienced together, including the recount of how Matt and Mel broke the "friend zone".

Mel's Dad started his speech with a line that I won't forget;
"I am Mel's Dad. The happiest Dad."
Both Matt and Mel's Father's gave touching speeches about how proud they were of Matt and Mel, and all they have achieved professionally and together as a couple.

The whole day was just so fun and had this amazing energy, which I am so grateful to have been invited to be a part of. The bridal party and guests were so easy going and welcoming that it made me feel as though I was just one of their mates with a camera.

I often get asked what made me want to get into photographing weddings, and it's families and friends like this that inspire me with their stories and make me love what I do.

Matt and Mel are both so warm and down to earth with this amazing ability to make you feel like an old friend and are simply just all round legends! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for these two incredible humans!

Mel x

Venue: Wallalong House
Florals: Little Willow Floral Design
Hair and Make Up: Bellus - Bridal Hair and Make Up
Catering: Mason Restaurant

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Some kind words from Mel & Matt:

"I've been putting off writing this review because I know nothing I say will be able to credit Mel with the amount she did for us on our wedding day!
She gave the job her all and we are so appreciative to have had her there sharing our day with us! We just received our photos and we have just been blown away at how absolutely perfect they are! She honestly has captured our day so flawlessly! She is truly so talented and if you are unsure of whether or not to go with Mel, do not even hesitate. It's so worth it! She is so relaxed, organised and genuinely excited leading up to the day. I don't know if it's a normal occurrence that your wedding guests contact you and tell you how much they loved your photographer!
Thank you so much Mel!
Love Mel and Matt!"

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