Anne Marie and Brendan

Hello Monday! I thought I make this Monday a little easier for those of us at our desks in front of computers by sharing with you a brand new photographer to Polka Dot Bride (one we hope we will see much more of) with a gorgeous Brisbane wedding!

Anne-Marie and Brendan were married on a gorgeous summers day, Anne-marie tells their story “We met in February 2005 at a mutual friends’ 21 birthday party (at a lawn bowls club!).  To be honest we think that it was actually a bit of a set up but it all worked out well in the end.”

Today’s photographer is Feather + Stone Photography.

Anne-Marie & Brendan held their ceremony at Corpus Christi Church in Nundah. It was the same church Anne-Marie attended Sunday School services as a child. It was also where her mother, aunty, sister and Anne-Marie all went to school.

Anne-Marie walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s “Canon”

Long time family friend Father Rizzo flew from New Zealand to marry the couple.

Stay tuned this afternoon for more Anne-Marie and Brendan’s fun filled wedding!

Photography by Feather + Stone Photography.

This photo is from the wedding of Eileen & Matthew (see more here) captured by One Love Photo. I love the childike wonder of children at weddings, and this precious one just captures something really special.

Photo by One Love Photo.

I have sweet little engagement shoot of Allison and Mark (also a photographer!) with an unexpected proposal mixed in for you today!

Today’s photos are by Pobke Photography

A little background from Allison “Mark and I found each other just over 4 years ago on an online dating site, met in person at a coffee shop a week later, and quickly fell head over heels for each other.  Over the years we drove across Canada together, visited Europe, and backpacked around South America and into the Amazon rainforest.  When I finished my PhD a year and a half ago, and got a job in Australia, Mark moved too.  We didn’t know what he would do here but it didn’t matter.  All that mattered was that we would be together, discovering life together halfway across the world.  Then this past Christmas, while in Hong Kong, we bought the engagement ring together, before backpacking with it pinned on the inside of our money belt through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand for the next 2 ½ weeks.

I didn’t know when the big moment would be.   When Mark suggested a couple’s photo shoot to help out his friend with her portfolio, my spidey-senses were on alert, but then again, he’s a wedding photographer, so it wasn’t too far-fetched.  Each time he mentioned it, I gave him a suspicious look, but wasn’t sure it was anything but a photo  shoot.  But then Mark was so casual that day; I went to the gym, we watched the Olympics…  I thought guys are supposed to act nervous and weird beforehand!  So, I let down my guard and didn’t think anything was going to happen.  I was completely surprised, and absolutely delighted with how he asked me. And now we have these amazing pictures to always remember the moment.”

Photos by Pobke Photography

I love the feel of today’s wedding, it has a moody feeling with the rich tones of the New Zealand landscape, but a soulful feel to it too. The rustic touches, the heartfelt moments.

The wedding reception was held at Jon’s mother’s home. Zilla says  “Margaret Campbell, Jonathan’s mother is a powerhouse and very generously agreed to hosting the wedding at her 7.5 acre property. We had expected her to mow the lawns and mop the floor of the living room but what she undertook was 5 months of hard labour. There isn’t anything Margaret can’t do”

Zilla says “The entire wedding was DIY however most was DIY ring ins. Both Jonathan’s sisters are artists and worked to create the rustic loved look we were after but incapable of DIY ourselves.

Kate lives on K Road and must know everyone in Auckland as she pulled together the most incredible team. She some how managed to sweet talk Renee Coutler who owns Coco’s Cantina to cater the wedding. The food was exceptionally delicious. Hot smoked whole salmon and beef with the best ever horseradish cream I have ever had the pleasure of eating.” Guests also enjoyed a cake from City Cake Company.

Zilla says “Everyone pitched in, but the day could not have run as perfectly as it did without Rachel Turner who performed her role as wedding coordinator with generous gusto!”.

Zilla says of their first dance “Oh dear, this would have to go down in history. We took some lessons from Sally Clarke who is an exceptional choreographer and we had such fun learning the routine.

danced to Angus and Julia Stone’s song “Just a Boy”. Mother of the bride Helen Turner, attempted to steal the brides thunder god love her by cutting in for a dance with ‘oooh my new son in law’. Needless to say said bride was none impressed however Sally taught us well and the dance continued and I didn’t stalk off to my trailer in a huff. Although i did contemplate this for one nanosecond.”

Guests were keep on the dance floor all night says Zilla ” Music was by the brilliant Henry and Amber who also own and run a great bar on K Road called D.O.C”

I could sum up today’s wedding by telling you that the guests partied on all night, or that they lived happily ever after. But Zilla ended her written story so perfectly, I’m going to leave it all to her.

“To sum up the wedding I would have to say that it was a true reflection of our personalities and i think that was the most important thing for us to achieve. We had a ball and and are great advocates for marriage. AND using Jonas Peterson as your wedding photographer. He will capture everything you could have dreamed of and then so many other beautiful and surprising moments that will melt your hearts.”

Congratulations Zlla and Jon on your marriage and thankyou for sharing your words with us today! May you have a lifetime full of laughter together. Thankyou also to Jonas Peterson for sharing this wedding with us today!

Photos by Jonas Peterson.