Ashleigh & Tom: A North Perth Town Hall Wedding

Tom and Ashleigh had a vision for their North Perth Town Hall wedding: to be the heart of a big, fun party. They wanted to feel the love radiate from everyone around them as they celebrated, they wanted to take moments to share and savour the day together without the pressure to perform, stress or rush. For me, as a wedding photographer who values capturing real memories over contrived poses, it was music to my ears!

Tom and Ashleigh also didn’t do anything for tradition’s sake. Every choice they made was made because it felt right. They weren’t doing anything on trend that didn’t serve their vision and values. They had built their own arbor and used plants from their home to green up the space. Ashleigh, a teacher, had asked her students to draw the table numbers. They had a station for creating your own lego character, and to take a polaroid selfie. They even set up a table with their parents and grandparent’s wedding photos along with a little personal shrine of sorts, which looked like a bookshelf from their home with all their favourite things.

We started the day at North Perth Town Hall where Tom and his groomsmen arrived early and then Ashleigh arrived soon after with her bridesmaids.  We kicked everyone out of the hall for a moment so they could share a private moment to come together and have a first look. Then we got all the family together for family photos.

Once this was done, guests were already gathering outside the hall so Tom and Ashleigh opened the doors and greeted the 100+ guests as they walked in. The bar was already open, served by the amazing team behind The Bar Boy, and guests were already mingling.

Soon after the Celebrant, Josh Henderson (aka Marry Me Josh and also owner of The Bar Boy) got everyone to come together and sit down, while Tom and Ashleigh and their parents and siblings went into the entrance hall to wait. First down the aisle was Ashleigh’s Mum and siblings, followed by Tom’s parents and sister – with everyone cheering along. Then Tom and Ashleigh walked down together with everyone clapping and cheering and the biggest smiles on Tom and Ashleigh’s faces.

Josh put together a wonderful ceremony which included introducing the wedding crew individually to the crowd, and letting Tom and Ashleigh choose who would read their vows first by rolling a D&D dice.

When they were announced as married, they walked back down the aisle and straight to the side doors which opened. They then stood on either side of the open doors and high fived all their guests on the way out to the grassed area where The Bar Boy had a bar ready to serve drinks. In the meantime family and friends were flipping the space inside ready for dancing.

Soon after the guests were welcome back inside to a grazing table by Grazing the Roof and the first round of speeches and then we left the guests to walk the neighbourhood and get some portraits. As Tom and Ashleigh didn’t want to spend too much time away from their guests, we didn’t walk far from the North Perth Town Hall.

When we returned to their guests, Mr Paella had begun serving dinner and guests were finding a seat on the communal tables and friends and family were taking turns DJ’ing. After another round of speeches Tom and Ashleigh then thanked all their guests for coming and cut an amazing cake… with a sword!

Then the lights went out, ready to show off the gazillion fairy lights Tom’s Dad had installed the day before and the dance floor started cranking. Behind the scenes both sides of the family were bringing their dessert contributions to the community dessert table to feed all their guests with sweets made with love. I made sure Tom and Ashleigh had first dibs on dessert and then all the guests joined in, either eating yummy home made desserts or killing it on the dance floor.

VENDOR LEGENDS

Venue / North Perth Town Hall

Celebrant / Marry Me Josh

Drinks Bar Service / The Bar Boy

Grazing Board / Grazing the Roof

Paella / Mr Paella Perth

Flowers / DIY

Desserts / DIY Home made by guests