James and Jen - A Hunter Valley Wedding at Wandin Valley Estate - David Henry

Here’s more of the photos from James and Jenni’s Hunter Valley wedding. The Hunter is always a great place as a wonderful backdrop (not forgetting that I grew up on the other side of the Hunter River from the vineyards). The danger to the Valley is that one can never be certain what the weather might do on any given day – it could have been 40 degrees, windy, rain, bush-fires, hail…! You just never know. So this day was blessed with just the right conditions!

Jen got ready at the cabins within the Estate after having her hair done back in town at Cessnock. A great venue with the heavy evidence of dense foliage on the vines.

It’s always a privilege to be in the midst of the family preparations for a wedding. Especially when the family clearly loves each other. This wedding was no exception. As a photographer, it’s our job to observe the goings-on – the quiet hugs, the laughter, the dabbing of tears, the seconds of panic when something is missing (it does happen but it’s never disastrous)… Nothing is ever the same at any wedding. They’re all unique. All beautiful. All have stories to tell – it’s the walk down the aisle that might be different (in this case, Jen and her Dad really sped up for the last part of the red carpet as the song came to an all too early finish – everyone’s smiling because of it), it’s the kiss of a grandparent from half a world away, it’s the sun bursting through the clouds at just the right time.

And its moments that you never know are going to happen – was just getting through the family photos when James and his siblings grabbed one of their own cameras and did some shots – the reactions are priceless.

Actually, James and Jenni provided plenty of funny moments together too – couldn’t help but throw in that shot of them holding their rings, the boys mucking about on the road, or the girls laughing at Sarah’s camera (yes, she does take plenty of good shots too) while holding Jenni’s leg.

And then there are the photos that just show the beauty of the Pokolbin area in the background. It’s good to get out of the city every now and then.

Thank you, James and Jen, for allowing us to photograph your beautiful Hunter Valley wedding day.