My name is Michelle and I am one half of Hunter Valley Wedding Photography based business, Michelle-Leigh Photography. In 2004 I photographed my first ever wedding. I shot it on fuji film, with a old Minolta SLR camera, and looking back now I would say that I did ok. Just ok.

8 Years on and hundreds of weddings later, I think I’ve come a long way. There’s very little similarity between the way I shot that wedding and my current shooting style. Fashion, technology and traditions have changed so much, yet through all of these changes some things remain the same.I want to share with you some of the things I’ve learned about weddings and people in general throughout my photographic career. If you are currently planning your wedding, consider this a head’s up…

1. No matter how beautiful the bride looks on the day, if she has an adorable toddler in the bridal party they are guaranteed to steal the show (in a good way!).

2. Mums always cry. No exception (but maybe when they think no one is looking).

3. Every groom, no matter how gentle, will at some stage either stand on his bride’s train or tear her veil out of her hair. And he will continue apologising for the rest of the day.

4. Even the biggest, toughest, blokiest dad will get a little choked up when he sees his daughter in her wedding dress for the first time. Even the darkest sunglasses will not hide his emotion.

5. There’s a goofball in every bridal party. He or she will tell dirty jokes and incriminating stories about the bride and groom during the speeches, play up to the camera during photos and dance like nobody’s watching on the dance floor.

6. Don’t expect anyone under the age of 30 to know how to use a disposable film camera.

7. Don’t expect anyone over the age of 60 to know how to use a digital camera.

8. Everyone has an iphone and everyone is on Facebook. Before the bride and groom have even signed the marriage certificate at least 15 of their friends will have posted a photo of the happy couple on facebook with the caption congratulations Mr and Mrs!

9. Wearing a big white dress makes you a celebrity. If you go out in public be prepared for cars to stop in the middle of the street for you, horns will beep at you, kids will wave at you and the occasional stranger will try and photograph you.

10. Your middle-aged aunt and uncle are likely to be the first and the last dancers on the floor. And probably the best ones too.

11. It’s highly likely that later in the night someone will try to get their gear off. If they are not under the age of three then they are well and truly under the influence.

12. The single ladies will push and shove and dive for the tossed bouquet, however the single men will hide in the toilet, head to the bar, or join the smokers outside just to avoid the possibility of catching the bride’s garter.

13. Men have no clue how to pin on their buttonholes. Your wedding photographer on the other hand, is most likely an expert.

14. At every wedding there is always a coeliac, vegan, lactose intolerant guest. Just to make planning the menu a challenge.

15. The most important thing that I have learned from shooting weddings is that love touches everyone. It’s not just confined to the bride and groom- I see it in the faces of the parent’s as they give away their daughter to her new husband, in the way the couple that have been married for 40 years squeeze each other’s hand as they watch the bride and groom say their vows. I hear it in the groom’s speech when he thanks his parents for the love and guidance they have given him throughout his life. When the maid of honour speaks about the strength of the bond she has with her best friend, the bride, and the pride she feels standing beside her on such a special day. I truly think weddings bring out the best in people and it’s an honour for me to be a witness to such powerful moments of love and emotion.

Photography by Hunter Valley Wedding Photography

Ms Gingham says: That’s life!! Some things are constant and human nature is definitely one of the constants! But as Michelle says, that’s what we love about weddings!

Michelle says: “I am a photographer for Michelle-Leigh Photography and I just got married to the most wonderful man on the 2nd of July 2011. It’s the second time around for us and we both have kids, so now we are a big, happy, crazy, blended family of six. Our wedding was a vintage style High Tea in an old homestead, with a very kid-friendly vibe.”

Michelle shared her own beautiful High Tea wedding day with us here.