Red + India’s Farm Wedding

Central Victoria Wedding Photographer

Where do I even begin?

This wedding.

These people.

Love.

Indi contacted me way back in August last year, she’d set a date and knew she wanted a farm wedding on her Dad’s property in Rushworth and was looking around for a photographer. I think we clicked straight away… Her love for the use of emoji’s in her messages in all the right places were so in sync with mine! I just don’t know how you can get your point across without them!

Our conversation flowed so easily, it was weird (in the best way!).

We arranged to meet up, and I was blown away by her beautiful nature. So loving and caring, and again, SO easy to talk to. We found out we had more than emoji love in common, in particular our love for Kmart, haha. We’d both lost a parent, we’d both recently built new homes, we both love home decor and Pinterest-ing home decor… It was just love!

So anyway, that’s how we met… If you’re thinking this is a love story between me & Indi… I promise I will get to the part where she marries her high-school sweetheart, and the love of her life!!

We had lots of chats leading up to the day, Indi sent me selfies with her wedding dress on, her makeup trial, and Red’s suit to seek advice and talk wedding styling with me (Which, I LOVE – I really love being part of the weddings I shoot, it makes me feel so involved) – I had this picture in my head of what it was going to look like… But my imagination did not even come close to doing this wedding justice!

I started off with Indi and her family at her new home that Red and her had just moved into. Her Dad, Grandparents, Aunty, Brothers & Cousins were all there. It was such a warm feeling to walk into that home with so much love free-flowing. I quickly learnt that Indi’s family were just as easy-going and fantastic as she is, and I felt like I was part of the family after about 10 minutes!

Indi + Red had chosen not to have a bridal party, but Indi’s cousins Merinda & Daisy were there so help Indi into her dress and drink champagne with her… You know the saying “Cousins by blood, Sisters at heart, Friends by choice”? Well that is these guys.

Indi’s Brothers and extended family cleared out to go and prepare for the wedding, and so Indi could have a moment alone with her Dad. Graeme (Indi’s Dad) waited patiently as Indi finished getting her dress on so he could see his baby girl for the first time in her wedding dress. We joked about tricks to stop yourself from crying, he knew it was going to be emotional. Graeme fixed his eyes on the ceiling and held his tongue to the roof of his mouth (my handy hint that was unsuccessful!) as he tried to stay composed.

Indi walked into the lounge room and in that first second he saw her, I could see so much pride & love. I think Graeme’s heart could have leapt out of his chest with love at that moment. These are the moments that I feel so unbelievably honoured to capture. Even as I sit here writing this, I have tears rolling down my face reliving the feelings that were there in that moment. I felt so much love, it was electric, but in some of that love there was sadness too, that Indi’s Mum was not there.  I can’t say what that felt like for Indi, or for Graeme. But having lost a parent recently, my heart did feel some kind of pain that I guessed would have been felt. A bittersweet moment, and probably one that would have played on their minds in the lead up to this day. All I can say is ‘Thank You’ to you Indi, and your family, for letting me into your lives and sharing your story and your loss with me – I am so honoured that I was the one to capture this moment in particular on the biggest day of your life.

~ Off to the Ceremony ~

I drove down the dirt road with a parade of gum trees either side to find this beautiful farm wedding, and was greeted by stunning giant letters with “I & R – Happily ever after begins here” and an arrow pointing me in the right direction. Indi is lucky enough to have some super stylists and florists in her family that completely decked out this vacant land into the most beautiful farm wedding venue. The seating was made up of hay bails, there were flowers & lace bunting forming a line to the ceremony area where a stunning arbor (Made by Red from old sleepers and oozing with flowers and foliage) awaited.

I found Red down at the arbor discussing with the celebrant whether or not to wear his suit jacket. It was 40 degrees that day, not a cloud in sight, and it was just hot. Sweltering heat. Everyone gathered into the open area with their umbrella’s and hats to wait for India and her Dad to arrive.

The look on Red’s face when the car pulled up.

Biggest. Smile… y’know, the ear to ear type.

The moment he had been waiting for… To lay eyes on his Bridey!

The ceremony was full of love and laughter, and a few tears. But the main thing I can say is the love that has so clearly enveloped these two was everywhere. There was no hiding their feelings, they were just SO happy to be there, marrying their best friend.

What an absolutely pleasure it was to spend the day with you Indi + Red, and your families. You are not just clients to me, but now great friends and I feel SO lucky to have been a part of this amazing time in your lives. You both deserve all the happiness in the world, and I’m sure it will continue to surround you because you radiate positivity and happiness to everyone you meet.

 I look forward to continuing this friendship and making more memories with you both!

Big Love, Leah

Suppliers:

Dress & Veil: Wtoo by Watters (purchased from Michele’s Bridal, Shepparton)

Bouquet & Ceremony Decor: Sitting Pretty Events

Hair: Gloss Hair & Beauty, Shepparton

Makeup: India Clifford Makeup (Indi did it herself… AMAZING!!!)

Red’s Suit: Talisman Menswear, Mooroopna