Ruby & Mike’s Ashley Park Wedding; A Real Album Story

Ashley Park House is one of those venues that just feels made for documentary photography. The space, the light, the lake... it all lends itself to real moments unfolding naturally and when you get a couple is as drop dead cool & easygoing as Ruby and Mike, it makes for a very special kinda day to photograph.

This isn’t one of those blog posts that’s all about my favourite photos. Instead, this is a look at what they chose for their album. It’s always interesting to see which moments end up mattering most to a couple. I find that the album tells the real story of the day, better than any Instagram post ever could.

Both Ruby and Mike got ready on-site at Ashley Park and because myself and Annie were both photographing this together, we were able to bop between both Ruby & Mike. Ruby was in the dining room with her bridesmaids. Mike and the lads were in the courtyard suites. There was a nice rhythm to the morning. Hair and makeup was underway by 7am, and the room was full of laughter, coffee, and little pockets of calm.

The light there is beautiful. Soft and natural. It suits the kind of work I do perfectly. Quiet moments, people just being themselves, nothing forced. That’s the stuff that will really hold up years from now..

One of the things Ruby and Mike told me in advance was that they didn’t want to miss the reception. They wanted photos that included everyone, but they didn’t want to spend an hour lining up for group shots. That’s exactly how I like to work so we got through the main family shots quickly, and then they were back in with their guests. Shannon, Mike’s sister, had a list of friend groups they wanted photos with, so we did that in a really relaxed way during the drinks reception. Nothing stiff. Just fun, natural interactions.

I love when couples let me share their album selections. It’s the most honest representation of what my photography means to real people. It’s not about staged shots or trends. It’s about connection. Ruby and Mike’s album shows what a documentary approach can look like at a place like Ashley Park - relaxed, emotional, and full of life.