Emma & Matthew

I hope this blog finds you all safe and warm - it's definitely getting colder that's for sure!

I'm still catching up with blog posts slowly but surely, only a few more and I'll be all caught up! Exciting!

Around the middle of December, I was contacted by the lovely Emma-Anne and her fiancee Matthew who were looking to book me to be their photographer at their wedding in late January.

These two are very young, and I'm sure when they first got engaged, they got lot's of sniggers and 'but you're so young!' and whilst they are young, from the moment I met them, there was a tenderness between them that was very honest and most of all, they were happy - with themselves and each other.

Upon on meeting these two, I knew I had an easy job ahead of me - they are a stunning looking couple, and the camera loves them for it, and whilst they briefed me, they asked me to simply 'capture the moments as they happen'.

I arrived at the brides house to find a very nervous bride-to-be with her maids and mother running around making sure everything was just so - I did my best to blend into the background and captured some shot's of the accessories and what was going on around me...



Soon enough it was time for me to make my way to the chapel to capture the grooms last moments as a bachelor, between gulping down glasses of water and having a mum and dad so proud fussing over him the groom was pretty chilled - I think he just wanted to see his gorgeous bride!


The bride arrived and was excited to get down the aisle to her man. I don't think there was anything in this world that could have removed the smile from her face at that moment...



The ceremony was beautiful - even with it's hiccups that made the guests laugh there was nothing that could dampen it for these two love birds.

Matt and Emma decided during their planning to have a candle ceremony - a ceremony where three candles are lit - 2 that signify the individual families, and one that signifies the coming together of the two familes. Their mothers are important people to these two, and they asked them to light the candles for them.

This next photo is one of my faves from the shoot...


There's just something about it... I can't quite put my finger on it... would love to hear your thoughts!

After the ceremony, group shots and other bits and pieces were captured as the couple were being congratulated... this is just a selection from this time...



Just as the ceremony reflected the true nature of this beautiful couple, I wanted their couples shots to also reflect this and so I was able to get creative and get some really lovely shots for them.


I love how her feet are all pointed in - so cute and innocent!




Have you ever seen a bigger smile than in that last photo?

After the bridal party shoot, it was time to head inside where a beautiful meal awaited us. followed by dancing, speeches and cake... Like most cakes it was gorgeous but I especially loved the decorations on it...




This post is becoming pretty big, but it was a big wedding, and as always I wanted you to feel like you had been through the journey also.

I just want to take this chance to congratulate Matt and Emma and to thank them for allowing me the honour of participating in their special day, and entrusting me with this special task. You're a beautiful couple and I can't wait to see what the future brings you!

May marriage bless you with a happy home and plenty of children to fill it!

Stay safe and warm dear readers, and as always, I'd love to hear your comments!

Love and light,

Melani

www.blackcatsangel.com

Jasmine's Make-up Trial

Just before Christmas, I had a phone call from a past bride Shannon asking me if I would be interested in doing the make-up for her dear friend Jasmine who had one whole month in which to plan her wedding!

Not one to miss an opportunity to help a bride with her big day I organised a make-up trial, and about a week or so later was on my way to Mornington to do her trial.

Jasmine was really excited to meet with me as she had seen the make-up I had done for Shannon and really loved it and was hoping I would be able to make her dreams a reality.

Jasmine is a beautiful young lady, who migrated here from Wales about 12 months ago after falling in love with her childhood sweetheart who moved over here a while ago now. She realised she couldn't live without him, moved to the beautiful land of Oz where he proposed to her and they decided that whilst her family were here from Wales for a holiday over Christmas and into the New Year, they would tie the knot - it was a last minute decision to have the wedding at that time and the wedding was pulled together in just over a month - give or take a day or three!

The day of Jasmine's trial, she briefed me that she loved lipstick and never leaves the house without it, and generally wears make up each day so she was comfortable with a more made up look. She really wanted a glamorous but not over the top look and showed me a beautiful photo which gave me a lot of inspiration.

So enough talk - here's Jasmine Before:

and the beautiful Jasmine after:


Eye Close Up:


Jasmine loved her look, and after tweaking the colours just a little on the big day she was supremely happy with her big day look, and was one very happy bride to be!

Congratulations Jasmine and Ash - may your marriage be a long and happy one!

And there you have it! Another blog - 3 in three days - I'm officially back in the blogosphere!

Tell me your thoughts on the make up or the post in general! I love finding comments in my inbox when I get home!

Love Melani

www.blackcatsangel.com

Catch up from December 2009

Back in December I left you with a lengthy post which took you up to the start of November with the promise of bringing you up to date the next day - so I might be a few days behind (read: MONTHS!) however I believe the saying goes, it's better late than never!

after the photo shoot with Sugardoll, it was off to Sydney for the beautiful Lil's Surprise Wedding!

The bride was beautiful and full of anticipation on her big day. Lil asked me in July to do the make-up for her special day, along with making the jewellery and of course I couldn't help but oblige!

Lil and Andrew are a beautiful young couple - untraditional in almost every way I can safely say that they are a well suited pair! Lil had been waiting for Andrew to pop the question for an age, when they decided that they would get engaged on their anniversary. They went shopping and got Lil's beautiful ring and after a day or so they bought it back home.

I was lucky enough to have Lil share her proposal story on a forum I frequent, so I hope she won't mind me sharing it with you (let me know if you would rather I didn't Lil!) I just don't think I would be able to do her story justice!
"I got home and took it off and put it in its box, and when Andrew got home, I dutifully handed the box over and told him he'd best keep it out of sight until our anniversary, the day we'd decided we'd like to make it official But he said "no, you should be wearing it", to which I responded, "no, I won't wear it until we're engaged". He just smiled and put the box aside. It was later that evening, after dinner, when I realised he hadn't put it away, it was sitting right behind me in our little desk-alcove, where the computer lives. He was on the phone at the time, sitting on the couch and watching with great amusement while I picked up the box, turned it over and over in my hands, studied it from every angle as I battled with my non-existant will-power. And then... I don't know how it happened, but the ribbon fell off the box... musta been tied too loose! And then, would you believe it, the lid came off! Mustn't have fit quite right or something... By this stage Andrew was off the phone and giggling away as he watched me act like a kid at Christmas, and once again I said to him "baby, I think you really need to put this somewhere out of sight until our anniversary". And again, "No, you should be wearing it." And of course I said "No I won't wear it until we're engaged - when you propose to me I'll wear it." At that point he just smiled and said "Actually, since you're such a modern woman and all that, I'd prefer it if you proposed to me." So I did! I went over and got down on my knee and said "Andrew will you marry me?" and he said "Yes I will"! And the ring went on my finger and that was that!"

The proposal was in April, and the wedding was in November - 7 months to plan a surprise wedding and the day of her dreams!

Having a fairly small budget and a small timeline, Lil decided that she would do a lot of DIY and enlist in the help of friends where she could. She loves to bake, and enrolled into a cake decorating course and baked and decorated her own cake, made her own bouquet and had her friend do her hair. Lil is one patient lady

A big thanks to Lil and Andrew for inviting me to be a part of their day, it was heartfelt, beautiful and definitely a day to remember!

As normal, here are some photos...








Congratulations Lil and Andrew and may married life treat you well!

After Lil's wedding, it was time to travel up to Newcastle to spend a week with Mellissa and Travis as they prepared for the arrival of their little bundle of joy!
Mellissa had just started her maternity leave and was busily rearranging the nursery and new pieces of furniture arrived only to be filled with baby belongings. The anticipation was hard to bear!

It was amazing to see just how much Mell's baby belly had grown, and the look in their eyes is hard to explain other than a mixture of excitement, love and the fear of the unknown!

I have no photo's of Mell's belly as she requested that I not take any as her and Trav wish to remember this special time privately. I promise I'll make it up to you in baby photo's!

After coming back from Newcastle, I was booked for a maternity photoshoot with the beautiful Elise and her handsome fiance Scott and son Hayden.

8 and a bit months pregnant, Elise was looking particularly radiant the day of our shoot and I'd been a bit concerned that Hayden would be a bit camera shy, luckily though he is a ham, and loved every second of being in front of the camera!

Enough talk - more photos!



Elise has since had her little bundle of joy and I am pleased to announce the safe arrival of Izabella Ruby! Mum and bub are happy and well, big brother is pleased as punch and Dad is super proud of his little girl!

Congratulations Elise, Scott and Hayden! May Miss Izabella bring you much joy and love!

Soon after the maternity photoshoot, I had a wedding to photograph. This was an unusual wedding in that the bride and groom were a little alternative.

Cathy and Bruce met on a blind date at the Royal Hotel Mornington, got engaged at the Royal Hotel and so it made perfect sense to get married there too! The day was very overcast and the threat of rain was high. However it held off long enough for the beautiful ceremony and some outside shots too in front of the hotel.




Congratulations Cathy and Bruce. May you enjoy many years of marriage together!

In December I was asked to do the hair and make-up for a friend who was going to her sons year 12 graduation ceremony.

TJ worked super hard to get Kris through high school. I guess it goes without saying that all parents work hard to get their children through high school, but TJ had to work doubly hard. You see, Kris has Aspergers a form of autism and this has resulted in quite severe learning disabilities - read more on Aspergers here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

It's not often TJ and Kirsty get to go out and enjoy themselves and celebrate Kris' achievements, so being able to help them look their best for such a special occasion.


Congratulations Kris on your graduation! There were a lot of hurdles along the way, but you overcame them and we are so proud of you!

This has become another mammoth post so if you've made it this far well done! I've caught you up to a point where the next post won't be so huge and I will be able to do a series of individual posts to catch the blog up to today!

I hope you're all well!

Love Melani

www.blackcatsangel.com