Nearly 15years ago she was my maid-of-honour, at a celebration with 200 of our nearest and dearest. This afternoon it was party of five. After spending months planning their big day, Corona restrictions were changing almost daily towards the end of March, until the

‘slightly pared down outdoor’ wedding,

became the ‘family only, we’ll DIYcatering from Coles’ wedding,

which became the ‘none of our family can actually get into the country let alone across the state borders’ crash

which led to the ‘let’s just do it anyway and have a huge party in December’ elopement

which led to an empty room in the Perth Registry Office, with five love hearts on the ground (spread exactly 1.5m apart), a bride a groom, a celebrant and two witnesses who conveniently doubled as florist/photographer/YouTube live streamer/ring bearer/DJ/crowd and driver!

As a wedding photographer, it feels like I’ve spent the last six weeks grieving with my friend and with each of my couples as they have grappled with lifelong expectations dashed by current realities. In the end, what has surprised and encouraged my heart, is seeing them all find peace in the process. What has followed, are some of the purest, and sweetest celebrations of love that I have ever seen. After all, what better way to enter a marriage, than alongside someone you KNOW will weather the unknown storms of life with you.