Mikaela + Matt | Sault Restaurant | Daylesford, Australia

Its not often you get to fulfill a dream, so when the opportunity presents itself you have to go for it!  This is how I came to photograph Mikaela and Matt’s wedding on a lavender farm is Daylseford, Australia.  My sister Ashleigh currently resides is Melbourne Australia and it is because of her and her beau Hayden (brother of the bride) that this opportunity arose.  I have always dreamed about photographing a wedding at a lavender farm, but the fact that this was also in Australia was a too good to be true!

The wedding day itself was perfection…amazing weather, a picturesque venue and wonderful families and friends that welcomed me (and my family) with open arms.  Mikaela was simply radiating with excitement when I arrived the morning of the wedding and I instantly fell in love with her lace Luci Dibella dress.  Then I saw her bridesmaid’s dresses by Anna Campbell, and wow, I knew this wedding was going to be GORGEOUS with touches and details I would fall in love with.

When we arrived at Sault Restaurant, the sun was perfectly peeping through the trees of their ceremony location and I was excited to witness and document the events to follow.  Mikaela smiled and laughed the entire walk towards her groom, and Mr. Thomson looked so proud to have his daughter on his arm.  As Mikaela and Matt exchanged vows there were many tears shed by their families and guests.  I’ll even admit to a tear or two myself!  Following their nuptials we hit the lavender fields, something I was excited to do all day.  The evening lighting was gorgeous, soft and warm just as I had imagined it to be and Mik and Matt were so happy in love.  The rest of the evening was filled with laughter, more tears and plenty of wild and crazy dancing.  It was a day to remember and one of my all time favorite weddings.

I am really excited to also have had this wedding featured on  Style Me Pretty Australia so please be sure to check out more images from Mikaela and Matt’s wedding here:  Daylesford Wedding at Sault Restaurant from Verve Photo Co.

A very special thank you to Mikaela, Matt, Hayden, Ashleigh and the Thomson Family for including me and my family in all the wedding festivities.  We really felt at home with you all, and we  look forward to our next visit.

Mel xo

When photographing Mikaela’s beautiful bridal bouquet, it was pointed out to me that her Grandpa’s war medal was attached as her “something old”.  I had a realization in that moment that 2 years prior at my own wedding, Mikaela’s brother Hayden received a phone call that Pa was ill as we walked the beach of Tofino.  Now, fast-forward a couple of years and here I am photographing this memento of Pa. It was a bittersweet moment that really made me feel tied to this family…

Before the reception commenced I was able to sneak in a few family photos:)  Here is my sister Ashleigh with her beau Hayden and my daughter Bijou.  Although I didn’t get to see much of my little girl while I was shooting I thought she looked adorable in the little outfit Ashleigh had purchased for her to wear to the wedding.  Special thanks to Hayden for capturing the photo of Bijou and I in the lavender field.  We had a little playtime in the golden sunlight before heading inside Sault Restaurant.

The décor, cake and florals were simple and elegant.  Each table was adorned with a variety of fresh blooms in different shaped vessels and shades of pastels.  The florist Brooke from Whitemoss really made the room look soft and romantic, just as Mikaela had envisioned.  The cake was created by Sweet Tiers and perfectly tied in with the colors and ambiance of the room…and it was delicious!

Guests were entertained all evening with fabulous live music by The Baker Boys Band.  The dance floor was alive and the party was heaps of fun to photograph.  Even my daughter Bijou was tearing up the dance floor and personally cheered and clapped for the band after each song!  Best dancer of the night…hands down, Mikaela’s dad Mr. Thomson.  He was the life of the party!