I first met Reena and Andrew over FaceTime, and we got along instantly; I listened to Reena's vision for their day as she walked me through every perfect aspect of her plan and boy, oh boy, it was going to be the most magnificent wedding. Reena and Andrew's wedding was held over two days, with their 'white wedding' at Parliament House and their traditional Indian wedding at Florey Temple. Before the start of their week-long wedding rituals, Reena and I toured Parliament House so that we could scope out the perfect photo locations for their day. As we made our way through the magnificent building, graced with grand artwork, tradition, and notions of democracy, we were confident that their wedding at Parliament House was going to be an experience that guests would never forget.  

Andrew and Reena's ceremony took place at the entrance to the Formal Gardens on the eastern side of Parliament House. Traditionally installed at the gates of imperial and government buildings in China, the gardens are flanked by two giant marble statues of guardian lions, gifted to the Australian Parliament by the Chinese Embassy. The gardens themselves are inspired by English and French formal garden designs and surrounded by 3500 flowers at any one time. With the mix of French, Chinese, English and Indian, Reena and Andrew's wedding was a true coming together of cultures. 

After the ceremony, the guests made their way to the Marble Foyer in the main building of Parliament House. As Reena and Andrew waited anxiously at the top of the marble stairs, I couldn't imagine a more memorable way to start their married life together. The stunningly beautiful Marble Foyer features 48 marble columns that evoke the muted pinks and greens of the Australian landscape, with the two marble staircases featuring stone finials inspired by the seed forms of Australian trees. As you make your way past the limestone walls, you can see that they are detailed with ancient fossilised corals, sponges and crinoids, or 'sea lilies' that existed some 345 million years ago. 

Reena and Andrew's reception took place in the Great Hall, another of the Capital's most impressive settings. With its soaring ceiling and polished jarrah, blackbutt and ebony parquetry floors, The Great Hall is the venue for many significant national events. As you'll see in some of the photos, the space is dominated by the Great Hall Tapestry, designed by renowned Australian artist Arthur Boyd.

What I loved most about this wedding came after all the formalities. As the sound of traditional double-headed Indian dhol drums reverberated through the timbers of the Great Hall, the room came alive; it was literally one of those WOW moments. The guests jumped to the dance floor, seemingly knowing incredibly intricate and complex dance routines, interacting and intertwining with one another as if they'd been rehearsing together for years. As I captured these moments, I felt as if I had been transported to a Bollywood film and I couldn't stop smiling... THIS is what weddings should be about. 

I know I say this all the time but, I don't even know where to begin with these two. Reena and Andrew are the type of people you want to be best friends with. They are the sweetest example of a genuine best-friend kind of love. It was such an honour to capture their love and the story of their wedding day; I really do feel that I was a part of something truly extraordinary.