Real wedding | Jodi Weisz | June 2026

James & Fiona at Sergeants Mess, Sydney

James and Fiona got married in June under a big tree at Sergeants Mess.

The morning was calm for James and his groomsmen at his family home. Fiona's was the opposite, and emotional.

Because it was winter, we went straight out for photos before the ceremony. It was lovely. James calmed Fiona down, and I watched her slow down and settle into him.

The speeches had her laughing into her hands. By the end of the night she was lying on the floor of the bridal suite, still laughing, while a staff member tried to ask her a question.

Colour photo of a man in a black tuxedo and a bride in lace holding hands on a rocky shore above a calm sea.

Black and white photo of a man in a white shirt and dark trousers seen through a diamond-mesh security screen door beside a brick wall.

Black and white photo of men dressing in a lounge room, one buttoning a white jacket beside a dark wooden cabinet.

Black and white portrait of a man in a dark suit and bow tie adjusting his wristwatch, lit by window light from the right.

Colour photo of four men in black tuxedos holding drinks and chatting in a room with floral wallpaper.

Black and white photo of a woman in a lace off-shoulder gown embraced from behind by another woman beside white cabinetry.

Colour photo of a bride in a lace off-shoulder gown laughing among bridesmaids in dark green dresses outdoors in warm light.

Colour photo of a bride seated on a bed in a lace gown as a woman in a red patterned top helps fit her shoe.

Bride in lace gown smiles as an older man in a checked shirt touches her shoulder beside a white brick wall.

Black and white photo of a bride with a bouquet walking on a road as a smiling man in a dark suit passes nearby.

Colour photo of a smiling man in a dark suit embracing a bride in a lace gown holding a red bouquet beside green trees.

Colour portrait of a smiling bride in a lace gown and a man in a dark suit, with a red and cream bouquet among trees.

Colour photo of a bride and a man in a dark suit holding hands and walking down a path, with bridesmaids in green behind them.

Colour photo from behind of a bride in a lace gown walking across grass as her long veil trails behind her.

Colour photo of a bride laughing and a smiling man in a dark suit holding hands on a grassy lawn under a pale overcast sky.

Colour photo from behind of a bride and a man in a dark suit raising their hands toward a distant figure on a lawn.

Black and white portrait of a smiling bride in lace and a man in a dark suit standing close, his hand on her waist.

Colour photo of a bride holding a red bouquet and a man in a dark tuxedo walking across a lawn.

Colour photo of a bride with a billowing veil and a man in a dark tuxedo holding her hand on a lawn.

Black and white photo of a couple embracing from behind on a grassy hill, overlooking a calm bay and distant headland in soft evening light.

Colour photo of a bride in a lace gown and a man in a dark suit embracing and smiling at each other beside open water.

Black and white photo of a man in a dark suit embracing a bride in a lace gown, his face pressed into her hair.

Colour photo from behind of a bride in a lace gown walking on a rocky ledge above water, with sailboats in the distance.

Colour portrait of a bride in a lace gown and a man in a black tuxedo standing side by side on rock above water.

Black and white photo of bride in lace off-shoulder gown kissing groom's cheek, veil blowing, open field and water behind at dusk.

Groom in black suit and bow tie kisses bride's forehead as she looks down, veil and lace gown in soft evening light.

Smiling groom in black tuxedo looks off to the side beside bride in lace gown, her hand on his chest, overcast light.

Black and white shot of a man in a dark suit seen from behind, hands clasped at his back on grass.

Black and white photo of bride in lace gown standing by water with train spread out, groom's blurred back in foreground.

Couple in black tuxedo and lace gown walk hand in hand down a grassy slope, bride holding a dark red bouquet.

Black and white photo of bride with veil streaming behind her and groom in dark suit walking away across grass.

Black and white photo of couple holding hands on a paved path, veil trailing behind bride at dusk.

Close-up of groom's hands with a wristwatch and green beaded bracelet holding bride's bare back, veil and lace in frame.

Black and white photo of bride and groom facing each other, holding hands and smiling on a shaded path lined with trees.

Black and white photo of bride smiling as she holds groom's hand on a shaded path, backlit by late light through trees.

Black and white motion-blurred photo of bride with arm raised in a dark room, a guest visible beside her.

Bride in lace gown with veil touches her hair in a mirror, a bridesmaid in green dress seated in a dim room.

Black and white photo of groom in dark suit standing among guests on an outdoor staircase, a man raising a phone.

Smiling groom in black tuxedo stands beside a floral arch during the ceremony as a celebrant speaks, water visible behind.

Groom in black tuxedo with floral boutonniere grins beside a floral arch, guests in green dresses behind him under trees.

Black and white photo of smiling groom holding bride's hand, groomsmen in a row behind him under a balcony.

Wide view of a waterside ceremony with bride and groom under a tree, seated guests in rows and bridesmaids in green.

Black and white photo of bride in lace gown looking down while holding a ring, groom's shoulder in foreground.

Bridesmaid in green dress holds a microphone and reads from a black folder while bride listens beside a floral arch.

Black and white photo of guests in dark formal wear clapping beneath a large tree, tall grasses in front.

Bride in lace off-shoulder gown smiles over her shoulder while holding groom's hand, a bridesmaid in green beside her under trees.

Groom in black suit holds bride's hand as she glances back smiling, large tree branches overhead.

Black and white photo of man in dark suit shaking a young boy's hand beside a harp, seated guests behind.

Black and white photo of a girl with a pearl headband hugging an older smiling woman seated in a white chair, foliage behind.

Black and white shot of two women clasping hands on a dim dance floor, one in black lace, one in a white dress.

Black and white flash photo of a woman in a palm-print maxi dress beside a side table, a startled guest at left.

Black and white photo of a woman in glasses hugging another guest while holding a white card, lattice screen and reception tables behind.

Couple kisses mid-room at a reception while guests raise white napkins, with burgundy floral centrepieces on the table in front.

Bride in lace off-shoulder dress laughs with a hand to her face at a table while a speaker holds a microphone behind her.

Older man in grey suit with a boutonniere holds a microphone and wine glass while giving a speech in a warm reception room.

Black and white photo of a bride in a lace gown glancing sideways at a dinner table while a man speaks behind her.

Black and white photo of a smiling man in a dark tuxedo, chin on his hand, with a woman's head in foreground.

Black and white photo of a smiling man with hands clasped under his chin, beside a woman in a lace gown.

Black and white photo of a man in a bow tie with hands on hips and a woman with arms outstretched, laughing.

Bride in lace off-shoulder gown smiles over her bare shoulder at a reception, with a man in a dark tuxedo seated beside her.

Black and white photo of three people laughing at a reception, one with hands over her face, velvet chairs in the foreground.

Black and white wide shot of a reception room with floral centrepieces on a long table, a bearded man standing near a woman.

Bride in lace gown raises a champagne flute and smiles as a bridesmaid in a dark green dress reaches across to clink glasses.

Older man with white hair in a dark knit jumper laughs and claps while seated in a grey upholstered chair, another man smiling behind.

Black and white photo of a smiling man in a tuxedo holding a microphone, beside a woman in lace gown laughing with her head back.

Couple in formal wear holds champagne flutes and hands beside a cake decorated with red and white flowers in front of wood panelling.

Black and white photo of a bride and a man in a dark suit dancing close, surrounded by guests with arms linked in the foreground.

Black and white photo of a bride in a floral lace gown holding hands with a smiling man, guests' arms raised around them.

Black and white photo of a bride in a lace off-shoulder gown and a man in a dark suit embracing closely in a dim room.

Bride in lace gown dances hand in hand with a guest in a teal dress, surrounded by clapping guests in a dim room.

Low-angle shot past a blurred dancer in the foreground toward a man dancing with arms out on a reception dance floor, guests around him in warm light.

Woman in a dark dress throws both arms up and shouts in a dim room, with a bride in a lace gown laughing beside her.

Smiling woman in striped top dances in dim room while a guest in a red patterned dress holds a white cloth; green exit sign above.

Woman in black one-shoulder dress cheers with fist raised among dancing guests in a dark room, with men in dark suits nearby.

Waiter in dark vest holds a tray of coffee cups as a guest in a cream jacket reaches for one at a table with flowers.

Black and white photo of a toddler beside an older woman at a reception table, with a woman in a fur stole standing at left.

Bride in floral lace gown laughs while seated on a parquet dance floor, with a man in a black suit cheering beside her.

Black and white photo of a bald man in a dark suit holding a small object while a bespectacled man leans in from the right.

Woman in a pale gown sits alone at a reception room with grey chairs and round tables, lit by warm lamplight, looking at her phone.

Black and white photo of a bald man in a light shirt dancing with raised hands among guests in a dark room, flash-lit.

Black and white photo of raised hands in a crowd, with a man in a dark suit and smiling guests in white shirts gathered around.

Close crop of a bearded man in a dark suit and white shirt eating a small golden pastry against a black background, silver watch visible.

Bride in lace gown with hand raised to her face looks up wide-eyed in a dark room, lit by a green exit sign above her.

Round white-linen table with coffee cups, juice glasses, small flower vases and scattered place cards, lit by a harsh spotlight.

Black and white photo of a bride in lace gown sitting beside a groom in a dark suit, with a diamond-patterned mirror wall behind.

Bride in floral lace gown leans against a groom in a red velvet armchair beside a mirrored wall.

Bride in floral lace gown and groom in black tuxedo hold drinks and smile at each other in front of a red diamond-quilted wall.

Bride in floral lace gown glances back over her shoulder while walking barefoot past a metal railing, a drink held in the foreground.

Dark frame with two silhouetted pairs of legs and feet standing in a pool of red light on the floor, casting long shadows.

Black and white photo of a smiling woman with outstretched arms dancing in a dark room, a raised glass at right.

Man in white shirt and khaki trousers leans low on a parquet floor, arm outstretched, between two women in green dresses.

Bride in lace gown laughs mid-dance with a glass in hand, while bridesmaids in green dresses lean in around her in dark room.

Bride in lace gown leans back with arms raised under pink light, a groom in a black tuxedo grinning beside her on the dance floor.

Black and white photo of a dark corridor with a silhouetted figure in the foreground and two people sprawled on the floor beyond.

Dark corridor with a mirror reflecting a woman in dark clothes beside a man in a white shirt, warm amber light and a doorway beyond.

Woman in white dress lies on a carpeted room floor beside a red bag and scattered belongings, a silhouetted figure at left edge.