Maja and Don | St Annes and Pan Pacific Golden Ballroom

Maja first laid eyes on Donato the day his family moved in next door, when she was just 16. Maja and her bridesmaid Kelly spent that day trying to pick the cutest of the four brothers from the safety of Maja's front window. Little did they know, Don was Maja's husband to be!

After photographing Don's brother Joe, and the lovely Jess in 2012 we were happy to be asked to photograph the wedding festivities for the family again. After visiting Don and his groomsmen Joe, Phil, Giovani, Dinko and Matt, we headed over to Maja's where the house was abuzz with excitement. Maja's bridesmaids Kelly, Jess, Elyce, Adriana and Michelle were super organised and everything went to plan... besides the strap on Maja's dress snapping as she climbed into the limousine. Luckily she had a pre-threaded needle in her handbag, so a crisis was adverted!

Maja and Don's ceremony was held at St Annes Croatian Church in Fremantle, followed by bridal party photos near the river, and also in Fremantle. A big thank you to the lovely owner of the Caterham classic car who kindly let us borrow it for a few photos!

Their huge reception, with over 250 guests was held in the Golden Ballroom at the Pan Pacific, which has been recently refurbished and looked even more opulent than usual!

A big thank you to Maja and Don for inviting us to be part of your celebrations, and for such an awesome day!

Maja's long veil catches the breeze as she perches on a blue roadster with Don at the wheel

Close-ups of the polished wedding bands above Don smoothing his jacket in a crisp white shirt

Groomsmen in dark vests share a laugh while fastening the groom's collar and cufflinks

Don fastens his tie in soft window light, then grins in an embroidered white waistcoat

Seven groomsmen in dark suits straighten ties and lapels against a pale wall in two poses

Don's mother pins a white rose boutonniere to his lapel as he laughs in a grey suit

Collage of Maja's lavender and cream rose bouquet beside a Donato and Maja gift card

Maja has lipstick applied in a butterfly robe before laughing with bridesmaids in floral robes

Maja's glittering navy peep-toe heels beside her lace wedding dress hanging in warm light

Bridesmaids in grey dresses adjust Maja's tulle skirt as she fastens an earring

Maja fastens a necklace before her mother helps with the veil in a sunlit bedroom

Maja and her bridesmaids in lilac gowns hold lavender and cream bouquets indoors

Soft close-ups of Maja's blue eyes and lace cap sleeves as she glances down

Maja and bridesmaids walk the driveway past a ribboned limousine on a sunny morning

Maja beams beside her father in the limousine, his weathered hand in hers

Kids peek from a red pew below the brick facade of St Annes church under bright sun

Groomsmen seated on a wooden pew while bridesmaids walk the red aisle to the altar

Maja walks the crowded red-carpeted aisle on her father's arm toward the altar

Don waits at the front of the church as Maja and her father reach the altar steps

Maja laughs during the vows as bridesmaids and groomsmen line the church altar

Maja and Don share their first kiss at the altar with the priest smiling behind

Signing the register at the altar, from a jewelled pen to Don's careful signature

Maja and Don walk back down the red aisle past cheering guests and out the doors

Guests hug the newlyweds outside St Annes while children leap from the church doors

Full bridal party poses at the altar, bridesmaids in lilac and groomsmen in black

Maja and Don smile hand in hand before the church altar in three framed portraits

Don leaps high against a deep blue sky as Maja laughs and swings her veil by the river

Maja and Don pose on a lawned riverbank, her veil sailing in the wind

Maja and Don stroll a tree-lined path hand in hand in the late afternoon sun

Six groomsmen in black suits stand shoulder to shoulder against a vast blue sky

Maja and Don walk a sunlit street, pose at white doors and smile with her bouquet

Bridal party lines a stone facade with arched windows beside the newlyweds

Maja rides a silver and blue roadster past the courthouse, veil streaming behind

Groomsmen stride down a leafy lane flanked by bridesmaids and the laughing couple

Maja cradles Don's face as they touch foreheads among soft green foliage

Maja and Don kiss by a stone doorway and walk past the white stretch limousine

Long shadows of Maja and Don holding hands stretch across sunlit pavers

Maja sweeps her tulle train along a colonnade after stepping from the limousine

Don grins at Maja as low evening sun silhouettes them against a deep blue sky

Maja and Don stand among manicured hedges as string lights glow at dusk

Close-ups of lavender and cream bouquets and Maja's hand in Don's at dusk

Bridal party poses around a reflecting pool and clipped parterre hedges

Collage of held hands, quiet garden close-ups and Maja laughing with Don

Maja and Don's reflection shimmers in a still pool beside golden autumn trees

Maja and Don wander a lantern-lit colonnade in warm golden hour light

Maja's bouquet, a sunset bridal portrait and the hotel's Presidential suite door

Maja and Don embrace on a twilight balcony above the river before relaxing on a suite sofa

The Golden Ballroom set with white chair covers, tall rose centrepieces and lit tables

Soft close-ups of pink and lilac posies and oil favours on the reception tables

Maja and Don enter the ballroom hand in hand past clapping, cheering guests

Maja and Don's bridal party seated along a white-draped head table in the Pan Pacific ballroom

Maja and Don smiling side by side at their bridal table before cutting a white tiered cake

Maja and Don share their first dance under dim light as guests wind ribbons around the couple

A speaker in a white shirt addresses the room from a podium while guests laugh at dressed tables

Guests raise champagne toasts among tall blush flower displays during a lively ballroom reception

Maja's bridesmaid and groomsmen deliver speeches at the Pan Pacific podium in soft evening light

Guests roar with laughter at dressed tables before Maja throws her bouquet to eager friends

Parents and older guests dance under warm light as Maja twirls with her father and flower girl

Don kneels to lift the garter from a laughing Maja as groomsmen dance wildly around the floor

A guest throws his arms up beneath glowing pink ceiling domes while Maja dances with her father

Ceremony venue: St Annes in North Fremantle
Priest: Father Nikola Čabraja
Makeup Artist: Rebecca Joanne
Flowers: Jacquie Vinci from Violet Lane
Reception Venue: Golden Ballroom, Pan Pacific
Videographer: Global Image Photography and Video
DJ: Jason from Da Doo Ron Ron www.dadooronron.com.au/
Cars: Allegiance Limousines
Brides dress: Pronovias - Tuscany Bridal

This wedding, in context

More real weddings at Pan Pacific Perth:

Pan Pacific Grand River Ballroom | Karis and NathanView the wedding →Crystal and Joe | St Josephs Church and Pan Pacific WeddingView the wedding →Simone and Adam's Wedding | St Mary's Leederville and Pan Pacific Grand BallroomView the wedding →

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