Brazilian Greek Wedding at Astral Ballroom | Michele & Nick

We were driving to photograph Michele’s preparation photos a splatter of hail was landed on the windscreen. Hmm that’s a little too dramatic start to the day. Throughout the bridal preparations we looked out the window and suddenly the sky was full of fluffy white clouds, next thing we knew it was clear blue skies and we were joking about how the weatherman got it wrong. And then we looked out the window again and it was a shade of grey. Now we were joking that Michele and Nick had brought Melbourne weather over with them when they’d moved to Perth one week before the wedding.

Of course we know that crazy weather always results in unique and awesome photos, and luckily Michele and her Brazilian bridesmaids Bruna, Simone and Cristiane were so easy going and entertaining they didn’t let anything worry them. And the vibrant sunny yellow bridesmaids dresses were enough to brighten any room!

The limo ride to the church felt like it was the middle of Carnival with some crazy Brazilian singing. The ceremony was held at the Greek Orthodox Church of Evangelismos in West Perth. Richard and I drive past and admire that church so often, so we were excited to finally photograph our first wedding there. Richard arrived earlier at the church where Nick was patiently waiting, with his groomsmen Charles, James and Russell. The priest, Father Emmanuel is Nicks cousin, so it made for an extra special ceremony. The church’s interior was as stunning as its exterior, and luckily we were allowed to use it for the formal family photos as well.

The rain held off so we took some photos with the limo outside the church before heading to UWA. Although it was one of the rainiest days we have photographed a wedding on, it was also some of the most well behaved rain, mostly coming when we were under cover in the church, driving in between photo locations or safely in sheltered photogenic places. Although our plans for going to the beach for bridal party photos didn’t seem like such a good idea after seeing the sideways rain and wind at UWA.

Instead we stopped by a huge field of long grass near Burswood, where we photographed the most dramatic dark clouds before sunset. There was a cute trail through the middle of the field, and some cool puddles to double the awesomeness and take some photos with reflections. It was the perfect location for a photo shoot (well except for the chilly wind) and just shows that whilst it’s great to do lots of planning, sometimes it’s best to play it by ear. And a big thank you to Micheles and Nick for venturing into the long grass.

The reception was held at Crown Perth, in the Astral Ballroom, the room looked amazing! We are just wondering, is it a Greek thing to communicate to the Best Man that he is indeed been chosen for that role by simply asking him how his speech is coming along? It’s always very emotional when part of the family is from overseas and the reception was very touching. Nick’s sisters’, and Bruna’s speech in Portugese had many in the room bawling. We liked the story of how Nick first told his sisters when he had first started going out with Michele… “I got a Brazilian!”

That must be the ultimate mix for a party; energetic Greek dancing, mixed in with Brazilian and Samba music. It was an awesome night and there’s plenty of fun dance photos to prove it! Thank you for an amazing day.

Supporting Cast:
The Dress: Raffaele Ciuca
Hair and Makeup: Sparkling Belle
DJ: Dj Vic Stambelos
Limos: Showtime Limousines
Flowers: Flowers on Scarborough
Wedding cake: Sugar Cascade
Decor: Magic by Design
Shoes:Alan Pinkus
Stationary: Amazing Invitations (Melbourne)

Bride in a long veil and groom in a black suit standing in tall grass beneath a stormy sunset sky
Faceted glass perfume bottle beside a pearl-brooch invitation for Nicholas and Michele in golden light
Bright yellow bridesmaid heels and white bridal shoes lined up beneath an ornate wrought iron wall mirror
Diamond stud earrings in an open black box beside a bouquet of orange and cream roses on dark timber
Bride in a white robe smiling beside her hanging veil while holding a yellow bridesmaid dress
Close-up of sunny yellow bridesmaid dresses on wooden hangers beside a bride in a white robe
Three yellow one-shoulder bridesmaid dresses hanging on wooden hangers against soft outdoor light
Veiled bride with dark curls gazing down over orange and cream bouquets in warm window light
Bride applying lip gloss in a mirror and laughing with a bridesmaid in a striped strapless dress
Bridesmaids in pink and black-striped dresses leaning in laughing beside the smiling bride in her robe
Bride in a white robe and veil checking her reflection in a softly lit bedroom mirror
Smiling bride in a white robe and veil posing beneath vivid orange outback paintings
Parents of the bride laughing together in a lounge, mother in a pink ruffled dress, father in white shirt
Split portrait of the bride beaming in her robe and a suited father watching thoughtfully by a bright window
Bride in a one-shoulder lace gown as yellow-dressed bridesmaids arrange her full ruffled skirt
Bride descending a dim staircase from behind, her long veil glowing in the light above
Bride in a ruffled gown and veil glancing back over ornate black stair railings in warm light
Three bridesmaids in yellow one-shoulder dresses sitting side by side and laughing on a couch
Split portrait of the bride in her lace gown beside a smiling bridesmaid in a yellow dress
Two smiling bridesmaids in yellow one-shoulder dresses posing cheek to cheek indoors
Bride in a ruffled gown posing with her parents and bridesmaid beneath a pale column
Bride holding white roses beside three bridesmaids in yellow clutching orange posies indoors
Veiled bride leading her laughing bridal party down a brick driveway past cream townhouses in sunshine
Bride and her father raising a champagne toast inside a dimly lit stretch limousine
Bridesmaids clapping inside a neon-lit limousine while the couple sits at the far end
Michele & Nick wedding photos at Astral Ballroom, Perth — Albedo Photography — photo 1638
Soft-focus coral bell flowers glowing against a hazy golden backdrop beside the church
Glowing brass chandeliers hanging above the ornate carved iconostasis of the Orthodox church
Groomsmen with yellow rose boutonnieres laughing as one aims a vintage camera at the lens
Beaming bride leaning from the limousine window with white roses as the church reflects in the door
Smiling bride arriving with her father beneath a blue sky and a priest by candlelit chandeliers
Bearded Greek Orthodox priest sharing a laugh with the groom in his dark suit before the service
Ring bearer in a tiny tuxedo with his flower girl and yellow-clad bridesmaids by stained glass
Priest greeting the bridal party as a small page boy carries the rings down the church aisle
Wedding guests standing among the pews of an icon-filled Orthodox church beneath glowing chandeliers
Two bridesmaids in yellow walking the red-carpeted aisle of the candlelit Orthodox church
Father walking his veiled bride slowly down the aisle as she smiles holding white roses
Bride on her father's arm approaching the altar beneath a domed ceiling of painted icons
Father lifting the bride's veil beside the groom as the priest looks on at the icon screen
Jewelled wedding crowns tied with white ribbon resting on an ornate red and gold gospel book
Yellow and white rose bouquets held by bridesmaids as the veiled bride waits behind
Couple standing before two priests at the candlelit iconostasis while guests watch from the pews
Priest raising the gospels before crowning the couple beneath the church's painted icons
Priest placing ribboned crowns above the bride and groom during their Orthodox wedding ceremony
A boy in a tuxedo and bow tie watching the ceremony with a yellow rose pinned to his lapel
Priests blessing the couple at a small table while the bridal party gathers inside the icon-filled church
A little flower girl in white sitting alone on the church steps while guests stand watching nearby
Wedding congregation seated in wooden pews beneath bright icon murals and hanging chandeliers
Michele & Nick wedding photos at Astral Ballroom, Perth — Albedo Photography — photo 1661
Bride laughing as she signs the marriage register while her groom grins broadly beside her in the church
An older guest kisses a laughing woman in teal on the cheek at Michele and Nick's church ceremony.
Michele and Nick smile by the iconostasis with the petal-strewn aisle of the Orthodox church behind.
Michele and Nick walk beaming from the church doors into sunlight with their page boy and guests close behind.
The newlyweds kiss in the church doorway, then pose by their white limousine under the Byzantine bell towers.
Family and friends gather around Michele and Nick for a group portrait inside the candlelit Orthodox church.
The full bridal party gathers in the church, yellow bridesmaid gowns bright against gilded icons.
Michele and Nick hold hands before a blue wall of Byzantine warrior-saint icons, smiling warmly.
Groomsmen in black suits share a laugh with the newlyweds in front of the church's painted saints.
Bridesmaids in sunny yellow dresses line up with pale bouquets beside the couple among the icons.
Michele throws her veil in celebration beside the silver limousine out the front of the church.
Groomsmen twirl black umbrellas on the footpath by a honey-toned stone wall before the ceremony.
Two portraits of Michele and Nick cheek to cheek against a rough limestone wall in soft light.
Michele and her yellow-dressed bridesmaids grin skyward beneath brooding clouds on the university lawns.
Nick and his groomsmen stand beneath the stormy sky by the university clock tower in black suits.
From below, Nick and his groomsmen loom under heavy grey clouds beside the sandstone clock tower.
Nick shields Michele with an umbrella across the rain-soaked lawns of the sandstone university cloisters.
Michele and Nick steal a kiss and a smile in the dark stone arches of the university quadrangle.
The veil trails behind Michele as the couple walks hand in hand through the warm-lit colonnade.
Three bridesmaids in navy blazers and yellow dresses laugh together holding rose bouquets.
Michele and Nick embrace at dusk, backlight flaring between them on the quiet lawn.
Michele and Nick embrace in tall golden grass beneath a fiery sunset sky after the storm.
Laughing in windswept grass, Michele lifts her gown while dark storm clouds roll behind the newlyweds.
Forehead to forehead, the couple stands close in the windswept grass under a moody evening sky.
Two dusk portraits of Michele and Nick reflected in still floodwater beside the river reserve.
Hand in hand under brooding clouds, Michele and Nick pause in the open parkland at dusk.
Storm clouds mirror over the waterhole as Michele and Nick embrace on the far bank.
The glowing dome of Crown Perth rises into a stormy dusk sky above the trees.
A warm-lit brass plate marks room 807 on the dark timber door of the hotel suite.
Michele reclines on the white hotel bed, veil spread, smiling in the lamplight.
Nick sits on a red lounge as Michele rests a hand on his shoulder in the gold-lit hotel lobby.
Michele and Nick walk hand in hand beneath the sails of the soaring hotel atrium.
Beaming, the couple enters the Astral Ballroom to begin their reception as staff look on.
Two guests in embellished dresses smile during speeches at the candlelit ballroom table.
Black and white candid of the groomsmen laughing as a best man delivers his speech.
Bridesmaids clasp hands at the podium, one wiping away tears mid-wedding speech.
A bridesmaid dabs tears at the bridal table as speeches unfold under soft monochrome light.
A little flower girl in white aims a compact camera across the yellow-sashed ballroom.
Michele and Nick cut their four-tier white cake before a full ballroom of smiling guests.
The page boy strikes a pose in dry-ice haze before spinning his flower girl on the dance floor.
Wreathed in mist, Michele and Nick share their first dance under the glowing ballroom ceiling.
Two angles of the misty first dance, Nick dipping Michele in her billowing tulle gown.
Michele dances arm in arm with guests on the packed ballroom floor amid warm golden light.
Guests kick high in a hand-in-hand Greek circle dance across the ballroom parquetry.
A dapper older guest high-kicks and spins through an exuberant solo turn on the dance floor.
Amid swirling haze, a sequinned dancer twirls and a guest swings the delighted flower girl.
Two frames of a groomsman tumbling and leaping across the floor as guests clap and cheer.
The page boy slides on his knees down the dance floor, flower girl beside him, guests delighted.
A groomsman in loosened tie kicks and knee-slides through a wild solo dance under lens flare.
The silver-haired guest kicks high and spins with arms flung wide on the crowded dance floor.
Michele crouches to a little girl's level as her parents embrace in the warm reception glow.
Bride in a strapless lace gown embracing a guest as couples hug on the warmly lit Astral Ballroom dance floor
Michele and Nick hold hands walking a dirt track through open grassland beneath dramatic storm clouds at dusk