Fremantle Wedding | Charlene and Phil

Charlene and Phil

When we first met Charlene and Phil at the consultation meeting we all knew that it was “meant to be”. By coincidence Charlene’s dad is from the same fishing town in Vietnam as where Richard was born, and we knew that Charlene and Phil would be a blast to spend a day with. And knowing that Charlene was part Vietnamese Richard was looking forward to practicing his Vietnamese! I was looking forward to photographing my first wedding in the historic Freo Town Hall.

Charlene and Phils big day started out at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle, where we photographed the girls and guys getting ready in their hotel rooms. The day went smoothly except for Phil’s missing shoes, which eventually turned up in the hotel room. Not before it was seriously considered that he rush off to Myer and buy a new pair.

The ceremony was at Monument Hill, overlooking Fremantle Harbour and the surrounding suburbs. The ceremony was very romantic, and Tiger-Lilly and Jasmine both gave very touching speeches. The girls had pretty parasols, and the boys had Halo button holes (the character from Xbox 360). By late afternoon the sky had turned stormy, although the rain held off. This amazing textured sky with shades of blue and grey, and the high vantage point made for some stunning photos!

Charlene and Phil entered centre stage into their reception at the Fremantle Town Hall. The ceremony flew by, with costume changes, an amazing buffet, funny speeches all set against the most beautiful backdrop of the town hall. One of the highlights from the evening was Tiger-Lilly, Kiara and Jasmine singing Mine by Miley Swift. You guys rock!

Thank you Charlene, Phil, your lovely bridal party, family and friends for a fantastic day :)

Charlene laughs beside Phil in a white vest as the couple relaxes together in soft indoor light
A bridesmaid checks her makeup in a gilded mirror while Charlene smiles at her dressing table
A bridesmaid cradles her baby before Charlene fastens a bold silver necklace amid morning preparations
Charlene's silver glitter platform heels stand toe to toe on a pale floor before the Fremantle ceremony
Hands clasp a beaded bracelet onto a wrist beside a row of well-used makeup brushes
A groomsman cradles a sleeping newborn against a grey wall in quiet morning light
A young flower girl in black inspects her earrings before scribbling a note to Charlene and Phil
Three flower girls in black dresses with white sashes smile together during wedding preparations
Phil fastens his cufflink and grins in a crisp white vest ahead of the Fremantle ceremony
Black and yellow toy-figurine buttonholes pinned to the groomsmen's lapels in a playful close-up
A groomsman grins as he settles his black suit jacket beside a warmly lit hallway portrait
Charlene wears a dark statement necklace beside a back-lit view of her lace-trimmed gown
Charlene rests her chin on her hand in a softly lit portrait before the Fremantle celebrations
Phil kisses Charlene's cheek on a leather lounge beside a glowing red lampshade
Charlene laughs riding in the bridal van before posing on a red and black tiled verandah
Phil twirls Charlene before a yellow-graffitied brick wall as she wanders a tagged underpass
Charlene leans smiling against a sunlit stone wall before spreading her arms across great black studded doors
Flower girls in black and white line a weathered alcove then kick up their heels around a street lamp
Charlene and Phil flank their bridesmaids and groomsmen beneath the cream arches of a grand Fremantle facade
A young flower girl peeks over a white paper parasol against a sun-warmed ochre wall
Phil and his groomsmen loom cheerfully in black suits over a pale overcast sky
Family members crowd a sandstone memorial as children clamber over it during outdoor portraits
Two flower girls race downhill through a green park swinging their white bouquets
Bridesmaids with paper parasols lead the bride along the esplanade above Fremantle harbour
Groomsmen in dark suits stand shoulder to shoulder beneath a hazy coastal sky
Wedding guests in summer dresses and dark shirts gather along a terrace beneath an overcast sky
Charlene and Phil face their celebrant and guests on an esplanade terrace above Fremantle port
Charlene and Phil exchange vows on the memorial steps beneath a brooding sky with parasol bridesmaids
Charlene and Phil hold hands on memorial steps flanked by groomsmen and parasol-toting bridesmaids
Phil beams at Charlene beneath her flowing veil in a close-up against a pale ceremony sky
A giggling junior bridesmaid covers the microphone before Charlene hugs her beside the memorial
Charlene gazes up at Phil before her bridesmaid and flower girl clasp hands during the ceremony
Charlene slides a black wedding band onto Phil's finger in a close-up during their vows
Phil hugs Charlene then trades laughs with her as harbour-side guests look on after the vows
A flower girl and a bridesmaid pose with paper parasols against the pale sky after the ceremony
A hand signs the marriage certificate in close-up, pen resting on the official register
The best man signs the register as Phil and Charlene lean in beside the memorial plaque
A parasol-shaded bridesmaid gazes aside before Charlene and Phil share a kiss at the signing table
Bridesmaids and flower girls in black hold white paper parasols in a soft-lit ceremonial line
Charlene and Phil pose with their full wedding party around the signing table beneath the memorial
The wedding party waves cheerfully from the memorial steps around the seated newlyweds
Charlene wraps her arms around Phil for a kiss beneath the memorial lettering after their vows
Phil grins beside his groomsman before Charlene embraces a friend beneath the memorial plaque
Charlene and Phil gather both families on the memorial steps for a sprawling group portrait
Every guest crowds the memorial steps as Charlene and Phil pose at the heart of the crowd
Charlene and Phil join family on the headland before a night view of Fremantle's clock tower
Charlene and Phil hold hands beneath a moody sunset sky then embrace on the headland grass
Charlene's gown billows in the dusk wind as she dances on the headland beneath storm clouds
Charlene in her strapless gown gazes upward through a narrow gap between dark elevator doors
Two bridesmaids in purple and magenta lace ao dai smile in softly lit companion portraits
Twin portraits of bride Charlene in a red embroidered ao dai and matching hat, and in an orange lace gown
Candlelit round tables await guests beneath the ornate ceiling and balcony of a heritage hall in Fremantle
Wedding guests applaud as Phil claps and laughs among candlelit tables in the warm glow of the heritage hall
Men in black gold-embroidered silk robes bow playfully during the tea ceremony, Charlene laughing behind them
Three girls in pink ao dai and matching hats strike playful poses in the red doorway of a timber hall
Toy figures wielding lightsabers stand back to back on top of the white wedding cake in dreamy bokeh light
Phil dips Charlene low across the parquetry dance floor during their first dance in the grand hall
Seen from above, Charlene and Phil gaze up from a sweeping spiral staircase against a deep green wall
Charlene flings her bouquet over her shoulder to friends reaching skyward on the dance floor at night

CHARLENE AND PHIL’S GALLERY

This wedding, in context

Love this style? Check your wedding date