Both so dear to my own heart {Byron Bay Wedding}

Apr

couple, On Location, Personal, Photography, Wedding, Yearly Family Album

A couple of weeks ago my dearest sister, Lucy, married her love, Umberto. Above all else they wanted to have a wedding day that was true to themselves. A day that was authentic, genuine and true. A beautiful and meaningful reflection of the feeling and regard they have for each other.

I deeply admire my sisters strength and determination in managing the juggernaut of preconceived ideas of what a “traditional” wedding should be. It was a delicate balancing act and I know they put many many hours of hard thought and work into keeping the day true. They did it though. Oh boy did they do it!

Lucy and Umbi are very playful together, always joking and laughing on the surface but there has always been an undercurrent of deep love and respect in their relationship. They don’t talk about this openly but you know it is there…the way they look at each other when they are in your presence and you know they are talking to each other a thousand words with “that look”, but only they know what it means to them.

The wedding ceremony itself was full to brim with their characteristic playfulness and joy but also it was amazing to hear them speak about the deeper parts of their relationship. How much they mean to each other and all they wish for together in the future. Every part of that ceremony was SO true, authentic and genuine. It would have been easy to say the “traditional” words , and this still would have been beautiful and meaningful, but they put in the extra work to make that ceremony more then that; to make it authentic to them. I’m so thankful they choose this path as they revealed so much of the beauty that is their life together in this way.

As for all the rest of this amazing wedding, the dress, the flowers, the beautiful details of the menus and name cards, the location, the food…the photos can tell you all about that. Unfortunately this blog doesn’t do smell ‘o’ vision as it is a crying shame I can’t share the AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL assault to the senses those flowers were. A terrifically potent combination of rosemary, lavender and beautiful simple daisies… I will remember every last detail of this day always now whenever I smell those smells.

And finally I will leave you with a quote. Our dear friend Geri read this at the ceremony. It paints the picture of marriage for me and I love it.

Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the day, it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every cranny of your body. No, don’t blush, I am telling you some truths. That is just being “in love”, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.

Louis de Bernièrs’ Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

p.s we also discovered that my son Harry LOVES to boogie : ) He stayed up late into the night dancing to all the awesome tunes my brother put together. How awesome is it when your kids grow old enough to share these special occasions with you!

p.p.s you’ll also notice that i’m in many of these photos as I was sister of the bride, bridesmaid, speech giver and photographer on this magical day. My darling Paul excelled himself in stepping up the challenge of shooting most of the preamble and ceremony as the solo photographer. Have I ever told you how much I adore this guy?