Last year, Kelly from 7 to 1 photography and I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Caitlin and Kishore’s wedding.
Their East Perth wedding was filled with love. Not just love for each other but love for their families, for their traditions, and I was blown away by the love their family and friends have for them and they ways that so many joined in to make the day so very special for them both.
*note: all photos can be clicked on to be enlarged
Before the wedding we went out and did an engagement session. It was an afternoon filled with laughter and joy. There were a couple of reasons for doing an engagement shoot. Caitlin and Kishore have photos to celebrate their engagement, they were able to get comfortable in front of the camera, we got to check out the venue and where they were hoping to have their bridal portraits taken. It’s always good to be prepared.
On the wedding day my daughter came along as lighting assistant to where the bridal party were getting ready. The bridal party had taken over the brides sister’s (Angela) mother in law’s house and a huge thank you to Julie for being such an amazing and accommodating host! I really appreciate that furniture was moved etc to allow us space to capture these moments.
Photographing wedding details
I always start by photographing the details and there were so many details! Everything had been thought of. Caitlin and her family had made the invitations which were beautiful.
Kishore had organised amazing gifts for Caitlin including a nose ring he designed to match her engagement ring and created by Stelios and perfume and a travel diary for their honeymoon. Kishore’s parents and sister gifted Caitlin with the beautiful bracelet and earrings.
The dresses.
Then there were the dresses.
Oh the dresses.
This wedding was the union of an Australian bride with a Sri Lankan groom and so Caitlin had wanted to incorporate that into as many elements of the wedding as possible.
The wedding gown was designed by Caitlin and created by Pearl’s Bridal in Guildford. Caitlin wanted the saree elements in her gown and the bridesmaids dresses which she also designed and were lovingly crafted by family friend Susie Baskin. Caitlin had considered whether to get married in a saree but decided on the fusion style wedding dress. It turns out she didn’t have to decide as the grooms parents gifted her a stunning saree made by an Indian fashion house so Caitlin could change into the saree mid way through the reception. And to finish off the bridal party dresses there was the Bridal Fairy dress made by family friend Loanne Smith.
Oh and did I mention shoes? Caitlin had three pairs of shoes for the day, (incidentally that is the exact number of pairs of shoes my husband owns!) a girl after my own heart, you can never be too prepared when it comes to shoes!
While I was capturing the details the bride and her special people were all being beautified. Caitlin’s eyelash extensions had been applied the day before by Han Mi Lashes and Clare Kenward Make Up Artistry and Hair by Karin were getting the ladies ready for the big event.
Everywhere you looked at this wedding there were small touches that showed Caitlin and Kishore’s personality and how much they had thought about each other and included bits of themselves and each other in the different elements. A great example was the bouquets by Flower Design School where Caitlin had included chillies into the bouquets because of Kishore’s love of chillies (they were a theme that ran through the wedding).
While I was with the girls, Kelly was out with the boys capturing their details. The belt that Caitlin had made for Kishore (by Ties N Cuffs) with Aladdin’s lamp to acknowledge the proposal and their wishes coming true. There was the amazing ring box complete with rings by Stelios, custom cuff links and while with the bride we had a bridal fairy, with the groom we had security!
Kishore’s suit was by InStitchu and the groomsman suits and ring security suit were by Britton’s formal wear.
Bridal portraits
Groom portraits
Brides gift to her groom
Did I mention how much these two thought about each other and how they wanted to make the day as special as possible for each other? Caitlin organised for Kishore to arrive in style. In traditional Sri Lankan weddings the groom often arrives on a beautiful horse, often with flowers in it’s mane or otherwise suitably decorated. Again finding that perfect fusion of Sri Lankan and Australian, Caitlin organised for Kishore to arrive by horse power. Well a Ferrari has plenty of horse power does it not? and the logo is a dancing horse so it totally counts! Most importantly Kishore’s face lit up!
Caitlin’s carriage
Caitlin arrived in a slightly more traditional wedding car. Caitlin hadn’t been intending to hire a wedding car for herself or the bridesmaids but her beautiful parents, Narelle and Glenn, organised for the ladies (and Glenn) to arrive in style in a classic car through Belle Limousines.
The ceremony
The ceremony was held at Perth City Farm in the Art Room and was officiated by Pr Andrew Skeggs. Caitlin walked down the aisle with both her parents as Matt Burke played an acoutis version of Butterfly Kisses. It was a beautiful ceremony with so many elements including the Thali given to Caitlin by Kishore’s family during the ceremony. Their friend, Nicole Sarader sang ‘You are the reason’ as the bride and groom signed the wedding register.
The details
The wedding planner, Andrea Hayes, did an amazing job. There were so many beautiful details everywhere.
Butterfly release
There is a belief that says that if you whisper a wish to a butterfly it will carry the wish on it’s wings up to the heavens and your wish will be granted. At the end of the end of the ceremony Caitlin and Kishore released butterflies from Butterfly Adventures. I think that one of their strongest wishes would have been for Caitlin’s brother Jared to have been able to be with them to see his baby sister marry her Prince Charming. While he wasn’t there in body he was certainly on everyone’s mind as those butterflies were released and there wasn’t a dry eye (myself included).
Bridal party portraits
Family is very important to both Caitlin and Kishore and so the majority of their photography time between ceremony and reception was taken up with family photos. We did manage to squeeze in a small amount of portrait time though.
The reception
The reception was still at Perth City Farm but it was in the Historic Barn. Again no detail had been over looked. Caitlin’s brother in law Logan was the MC for the evening, they had a caracture artist, Ricky Adams from Sketch my Event, there to entertain the guests, a chocolate fountain by Chocolate Fountain Hire, the lighting (LOVE, festoon lights and the furniture) was by Sundown Events and Party Hire, the band and DJ for the reception was Arthur King Duo and catering by Agni.
Everything had a story from the chillies on the table to the songs chosen (The first dance was to Set in Stone which Kishore would listen to on take off every time he flew FIFO in their first year together and they exited to Sun is Shining which was their song from early on in their relationship after a trip down south).
Cutting the cake
I have to mention cutting the cake seperately for two reasons. The first is that, not only was it beautiful, it was a joint project where so many people came together to make it happen. The cake was made up of multiple layers baked by Caitlin, her mum Narelle and friend Nicole Sarader. The layers were then assembled and decorated by friend Jeanie Walker! Caitlin and Kishore really were surrounded by a village for this wedding!
I also have to mention it because I’ve never had to interrupt a cake cutting before so there is a first time for everything. Caitlin and Kishore were trying to cut the cake but the knife didn’t push through the cake. As Kishore went to push on the top of the knife I had to run over and interrupt. They had the knife upside down! Quick reset and the knife slid through the cake beautifully!
Saree
Caitlin surprised Kishore by finishing the reception in a beautiful saree given to her by Kishore’s parents.
It was an absolutely beautiful wedding filled with so much love, joy and happiness and I am so grateful to Caitlin and Kishore for trusting me with these important memories!
