Grey suits against the bush
Our day began with Matt and his groomsmen at a house high on the eastern shore, where a bush-covered hillside rolls down to the rooftops. Low cloud sat on the trees, and we were glad of it: overcast sky is the softest light a groom portrait can get. Five grey suits lined up against the green slope, then Matt shook hands with a young groomsman with his hair tied back, both of them grinning. Inside, we caught Matt at a window looking out, the room dark around him, a calm moment before a busy afternoon.
A gown in the window
Across at Andrea’s, the lace gown hung in a big window with the river and the far shore behind it, and a pair of gold heels waited on a white bedspread. When a house has a view like that, we put the dress right in front of it so the place is part of the story from the first frame. At the dresser a bridesmaid in navy pinned the last of Andrea’s curls while two loved ones watched from the hallway, and another bridesmaid leant through the doorway, laughing at something we never quite heard.
Navy chiffon and white roses
Four bridesmaids in navy chiffon gathered around Andrea by the lounge windows, while her own bouquet of white roses trailed long fronds of greenery over the lace. She stood between an older couple for a family frame, then pulled the youngest bridesmaid in for a cheek-to-cheek hug. Group photos inside a family home are always tight, so we use the widest wall of windows as our light source and step back as far as the furniture lets us, which keeps every face bright and even.
A ring bearer on four legs
The ceremony was in a white marquee on the lawn, with greenery strung along the roof, hanging baskets of flowers and a red carpet for an aisle. Matt and his groomsmen waited in grey at the far end. The bridesmaids came down the concrete path beside the house, and then the ring bearer arrived: a golden dog in a blue harness on a bridesmaid’s lead, stopping to sniff every groomsman in the line. Matt crouched for a pat. Then Andrea walked in on her dad’s arm, smiling all the way along the side of the house.
A wipe of the eye
Matt took one look at Andrea and wiped his eye, and we were close enough to keep it. He read his vows from a small card, holding her hand, and the rings went on to a lot of laughter. A bridesmaid nearly doubled over at one line, and in the front row a group of older guests were in fits. White marquee walls work like a giant soft box, spreading the daylight evenly across every face, so even the back row looked lovely. A bridesmaid signed the certificate with a white rose resting beside the pen.
Hugs, groups and the river view
After the kiss came a long queue of hugs, then we took everyone out to the front lawn. The family groups lined up in front of the brick house under a big leafy tree, and the guests spilled across the grass with drinks. For the two of them we wandered down the street: Andrea and Matt touched foreheads under the trees on the front lawn, walked hand in hand along the footpath and stood at the top of the driveway with their arms around each other, looking out over the River Derwent towards the city. We shot that one from behind so the view could carry it.
Navy ribbons and long speeches
Dinner was set under the marquee on long white tables, with greenery running down the middle, gold wire lanterns holding candles and little gift boxes tied with navy ribbon at every place. We photograph the tables before anyone sits down, because a setting like that only looks perfect for about five minutes. Then the room filled. Groomsmen stood up with their notes, the head table laughed until Andrea had to hide her face, and guests at every table leant in close together for portraits between courses.
Blankets in the rain
After dark the rain arrived, and nobody minded. Guests made a dash between the marquee and the house with whatever they could hold over their heads, and one loved one marched across the wet lawn with a black and white patterned blanket held up like a canopy, the raindrops lit up by our flash. Back inside, half the room was wrapped in matching geometric blankets, which made for some of the funniest group frames of the night. Rain after dark is a gift for photos: a flash catches every drop.
City lights at the last dance
For the first dance we put a single light behind Andrea and Matt so it glowed through her lace sleeves and haloed them both, then let the dance floor take over. Couples spun on the grass inside the marquee and a group of groomsmen raised their drinks to the camera. Our last frame of these Hobart wedding photos was taken from up the slope: the marquee glowing white in the dark garden, Andrea and Matt kissing in its doorway, and the lights of the city strung along the river behind them.
