“If you want to know how much I love you, count the waves.” ~ Anonymous
Today’s feature is a little about us and of course A LOT about them. It’s about waiting and that good things do happen in the course of time. It’s about love, the beach & sunshine, what it means to come home and be surrounded by the unconditional love of family & friends, culminating in an epically fabulous wedding week. Cortnie & Matt, we had been sooooo waiting…
This is an excerpt of a BLOG POST from 2012. This wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty. And you can see more pictures on the 37 Frames Blog here.
For us it was our first trip home in almost 2 years, post earthquake. So it was always going to be emotionally charged, hopelessly special and the perfect way to celebrate – a whole week together for Trace’s youngest brothers’ destination wedding in Noosa. Sure at a mad time of year… but a perfect escape.
Yes, we’d been waiting and when we couldn’t wait any longer we were planning and dreaming of toes in the sand, family time and how to document it all. A world away from our kimonos, shrines, rigid rules and timelines. Our gift to them, we couldn’t not do it. And when the wait was up it was of course over in a flash.
A beautiful blur of stunning white gowns, breathtaking scenery, laughter still echoing, Pat Benatar tributes at the surf club, bridesmaids dancing in the sunset, evenings that melted into mornings, groomsmen (pretty much) under control, hammocks, and early spring days at the coast. It was about taking time to celebrate – really celebrate and feel connected after the past 2 years in flux. And to be creative, working with and in the elements (wind, free-flowing bubbles ALL WEEK & yes, relatives…) being out of the regular comfort zone and to keep pushing ourselves. The beach, cocktails, fishing off the back deck, time with the godsons, some geocaching and catch-ups late into the night all helped…
And honestly how we wish we were there right now – away from the depths of editingeditingediting, the end of the year push, isolation, the inbox and seemingly impossible deadlines & requests. Was it really well more than a month ago? So we click our sparkly heels (which we throw off once we’re down on the beach) and say “there’s no place like Little Cove”. And there truly, truly isn’t. And we’re transported back to that magical, dreamy day just before Cortnie emerged from a rainforest of sunbeams to find her Matt right there waiting…
All roads led to Little Cove & a gorgeous love affair so very meant to be. So on with the show… It lasted a week, the best way to do a wedding. Everyone is there and present. Away from daily life. With one goal in mind… cel-er-brate-good-times-come-on… So naturally several thousand images taken… and we have tried our very best to edit…hopelessly of course… We’ll save the oodles of family photos for our Fine Art Books, currently a duo series (The Week of the Wedding & The Wedding). And once we come up for air after we’ll feature some highlights of the pre-wedding story…
But for now it’s back to the Big Day…
The boys… they had a schedule. It had been hammered in all week. That and a series of default positions to get those 5 groomsmen and all the best friends somewhat wrangled. Be ready at 11am for photos. Then you can relax. They were more or less ready… more or perhaps less, which gave us a time for the details and to ohhh and ahhh over the rings and the Tiffany cufflinks (a beautiful gift from Cortnie to Matt). We so love the getting ready wherever in the world we are. Noosa Parade was no exception… beautiful light, chaos, men in hammocks, nerves, a family first look and the delightful anticipation of all that is to come… Hamptons-style.
Groom & groomsmen… Hotness… although Trace feels very awkward about me writing this as she has known all of them since they were about 10 (and 2 of them are her brothers)…
Then with the boys sorted it was high above Hastings street we found the girls. Laughter, joy, the volume way up and bottles of bubbly welcomed us. Looking gorgeous even before it all came together. There were nerves, endless giggles and the fragrance of happiness only a wedding day can bring. The details so sweet, effortlessly elegant, beautifully simple. Seriously, the personalized clutches…swoon. And Cortnie’s Johanna Johnson dress…exquisite. The bridesmaids equally darling and the perfect accompaniment to a glowing bride. Some family love ensued not long before it was showtime.
A vision…Cortnie you looked every inch as beautiful as you truly are…sigh…just stunning. This is just sooooo you.
Meanwhile…at Little Cove…under simply stunning blue skies, the very timely tide is out, the guests show up, the groom arrives, somewhere high above the beach the bride takes off her heels and a walk through the rainforest is all that keeps them apart.
Has there ever been a more beautifully real walk down the aisle? Sunbeams and star-bursts, the sounds of home, the ebb and flow of life. And yes, a ‘bridesmaids meets the Beatles’ shot on the crossing…Who could resist? For at the end of the aisle was just the beginning and it was going to get all serious (well, for just a little bit…).
“Do you?”
“I so do. “
And it was a done deal.
And the party starts continues…
Somewhere in here the family formals took place which again will feature in the albums to make this blog post somewhat less epic. And as guests drifted off to the reception, the sun started to set and we took off up to the end of the beach for the Bridal Party (in the truest sense of the word) series. And to say it was fabulously fun would be an understatement… The boys were a well-oiled machine…We find bringing bottles of champagne will certainly work in corralling 12 people. The boys wowed us. Matt would yell out “default” they’d make their infamous V position and we’d take things from there. Generally, then taking a break 30 seconds later. They had to keep hydrated. The girls…well…they danced to the beat of their own drum – gorgeously. Stunningly. And this dancing occurred mainly in the water, at the waters edge or during the group shots. The bouquets were microphones at one point. Which ultimately makes then our most favorites bridesmaids ever…
That perfect photo-bombing seagull is sooooo real.
And with the Bridal Party completely unraveled it was time to let them go. Off into the sunset. Very dramatic, very romantic. Just the right time for a little alone time with Mr & Mrs Taylor. To be themselves, together, to take it all in…To remember, to celebrate, to fall in love just a little bit more…
Trace climbing all manner of rocks in her formal wear – wedding hair still somewhat in tact… perched, lying down, becoming one with crabs and sealife on rocky outcrops to get some of these intimate shots. It was so worth it.
Sunset was spectacular… a sure sign of all good things to come. A halo of shimmering gold as day became night, signalling the start of the casually chic reception at Bistro C, right on the beach. And it was some party… one that we adored. Touching and hilarious speeches. With the odd embarrassing tale or two plus moving tributes of a much-loved couple.
It is never easy to be guests and photographers at a wedding. In fact it can be challenging as inevitably it is difficult to be fully present in either role. When catching up with family and rellies, there’s always the feeling that you’re missing shots. When focusing on the story and in the zone there’s always a sense of loss that you are not with loved ones you may not have seen for years. Thankfully with 2 photographers and a more cinematic approach we had most of it covered… but we owe endless thanks and hugs and games (when we’re home next) to godson and 9-year nephew Kai who decided to “assist” us during the evening. We lent him one of our old backup D700’s and he did an amazing job.
Treated both the camera and the task at hand with the utmost respect. And listened to all of Trace’s instructions of what to do. He was off Auto by the end of the night. Although somewhat frustrated that he “wasn’t getting what we were getting” … in his words. However, at one point he slid on his knees to get a shot at an angle neither Trace or I could ever inamillionyears get. He’s on the payroll now, for sure. Paying in cuddles and geocaching until he’s on to us. Favorite moment…and there were many… he was randomly clicking during the dancing…So I yell “Hey Kai, shoot with purpose!” He screams back over the band. “I am.” I shout back, “Do you know what that means?” Kai replies, “I have no idea!!” We all dissolve into fits laughter and more shutter bursts. Trace can cull later. Lovethatkid and his brother JJ so much. Some reception highlights…
The magic of a first dance, Matt & Corts style – The Ship Song by Nick Cave. Bold choice. We all approve. We’re still in tears.
And it takes no encouragement at all to get everyone up and moving and on the dance floor.
Still my favorite bridesmaids… our secret “Bridesmaids” series outside Bistro C & in homage to a movie of the same name will not feature. You are safe for now…
The end and just the beginning all at the same time. Sealed with a kiss. Cortnie & Matt the whole day, the whole week, the whole experience couldn’t have been any more a reflection of both of you. The planning, the details, the care you took of everyone was spectacularly special. You are soulmates in every sense and we just adore spending time with you. And we cannot thank you, love you or be more excited for you both and all that is to come. It was an honor to be part of telling your most beautiful and oh-so-real of love stories. Thank you for putting up with our (ok…my) endless one-more-shot requests, for getting closer, and closer still, for dancing on the beach, for trusting us and letting go, for forgetting we were there, for being yourselves and for all the joy, beauty and love that you bring to so many. It was the ultimate celebration and one we’ll keep going indefinitely if you don’t’ mind…
With love, Tracey & Dee x
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