“I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.”

– Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved anything to do with weddings. 

I remember sneaking into my mother's bedroom and eyeing off her lace curtains and imagining them as my own bridal gown!
I remember how I used to wrap myself in those curtains and pretend I was a bride. I remember the smell of my mum's bedroom while I was swirling and giggling among my impromptu 'wedding dress'.

Sometimes, I would play with her rings, that had been so lovingly placed in her crystal jewellery bowl on her dressing table. 
This is one of the many heartwarming recollections I have from my childhood. It's  small, yet smile-inducing memory of a little girl who had dreams of growing up and having her own 'happily ever after'.

Now, as an adult, I am blessed to be able to photograph and capture the moments surrounding couples embarking on their own "happy-ever-afters".
I no longer dance among the lace curtains or play with my mother's jewellery but my love for all-things-weddings is still the same as that 9-year-old little girl who used to dream of one day becoming a bride. 

When I started my photography business a few of years ago, I never considered that I would take on the challenge of photographing weddings.
At that time, my photography business was blooming,  I was accepting plenty of bookings, and I felt satisfied and happy that I was serving others, and I was in my 'happy-place' !
Truth be told, I was (and I still am) happy to be capturing beautiful family sessions, loved up engagements, baby-bump maternity sessions, newborn babies and eager high school graduates embarking on the next step of their life journey.  

So, when I was asked to photograph a friends wedding, I have to admit, I was reluctant, and I'm not afraid to admit I was terrified of taking on that responsibility. 
I knew at that time through my photography friends that 'shooting' weddings is hard work... Like, really really hard work. - Especially when you are starting out and in my case, self-taught!
I knew that it took a certain type of person to be able to photograph these logistically planned, magical, exhilarating days of love-induced madness, and at that time, I just didn't think I was capable of successfully succeeding in achieving that challenge!

Spoiler alert ....I did photograph my friends' wedding. I photographed it gorgeously, and my love for capturing unobtrusive and beautiful weddings was born.

Something I have learned from photographing weddings, is that as well as a wedding photographer, I've also become quite gifted as an impromptu event planner, a friend, a 'bossy' pose producer, a shoulder to cry on,  a lipstick applier, a mother-of-the-bride-calmer, a tree climber, an extra tissue carrier, a stealth-like 'get this shot' ninja, a drink holder, a food holder, a chair carrier, a bouquet holder, a weight lifter (my equipment is so heavy) and everything in between!

I've learned to manoeuvre in 'stealth mode' through tight spots with Bruce-Lee-Like precision, in order to capture that perfect picture.
I carry heavy equipment around all day long and sometimes forget that 6 hours has passed since I went to the bathroom or had a sip of water!
I can give directions like the best of the best until my voice is hoarse and I can barely speak,  -and I wouldn't have it any other way!

I photograph weddings because I love what I do, and I am so grateful that Brides & Grooms entrust me to capture their amazing day. 

And yes... carrying tissues at weddings is always an essential necessity for me, because I still cry at EVERY.SINGLE.WEDDING! 

...Oh and Ps...
No more dancing among the curtains for me - this girl is getting married in 2018!

“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. 
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other.
Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion for the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place to begin the days of your life together.
May your days together be good and long upon the earth.”

                                                               — Apache Blessing