A Bride’s Perspective: My Mosman Wedding, February 2010
My name is Kate Branch, founder of Mosman Bride. My husband, Jean-Claude, is the CEO of Emerald City Hotels, whose crown jewel is The Albert Mosman, where I also have the privilege of serving as Chief Marketing Officer.
This is our wedding story, and the advice I’ve gathered from my own experience that I hope will help make your wedding everything you’ve dreamed of.
Take the time to capture your getting-ready photos somewhere special. You will cherish these images.
The Albert Mosman wasn’t part of our story when we married in 2010, although I often say I wish it had been! Back then, its beautiful Victorian heritage features were hidden behind walls and boarded-up windows.
For our wedding, I made sure I carved out time for beautiful portraits as soon as my hair and makeup were finished. I’m especially glad I did, because it rained on our wedding day and I was soon rushing to the wedding car.
Back in 2010, the pre-wedding reveal wasn’t really a thing yet. And honestly, I think it’s a wonderful idea.
Standing there saying your vows in front of everyone you love can actually be quite daunting. Having a private moment together beforehand, where you can see each other for the first time and simply take it all in, feels incredibly intimate and special.
Of course, it’s completely up to you. But if private reveals had been a thing when I got married, I would have absolutely, 100% made time for one with my now-husband.
There’s something rather beautiful about having a few quiet moments together before the celebration begins. 🤍
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Always have a backup plan. You can’t control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are for it.
I woke up on my wedding day to what felt like one of the rainiest days of the year. And when I say it rained, I don’t mean the occasional shower. It absolutely poured.
Thankfully, I had planned for exactly this possibility. My backup plan involved the Balmoral Rotunda, a bottle of Champagne and a willingness to make the most of whatever the weather threw at us.
Whenever the rain eased, we’d dash outside for a few photos, then retreat back under cover and take another sip of Champagne while we waited for the next break.
We still have those Champagne glasses today, which makes me smile.
Wear your wedding shoes before the big day. Wear them around the house, to give yourself time to break them in properly.
A few hours a day in the weeks leading up to your wedding will help soften them and get your feet used to them.
You’re going to walk a lot on your wedding day, often more than you realise, so don’t wait until the ceremony to discover where your shoes rub or pinch. Your feet will thank you by the end of the night.
The less time you spend travelling, the more time you get to spend celebrating with the people you love.
Keeping your ceremony, portraits and reception close together means your guests aren’t left waiting around, you can get back in time to actually enjoy cocktail hour, and your photographer has more time to capture a beautiful variety of images without everyone feeling rushed.
With a little planning, your wedding photographs can become a joyful part of the day rather than a race against the clock.
And honestly, when you look back at your wedding photos, you’ll want to remember the people, the atmosphere and how much fun you had, not how much time you spent sitting in a car.
Try to make it to your cocktail hour.
I’m probably going to get some flak for saying this, but you’ve invested so much into your wedding reception, please enjoy it!
Your cocktail hour is part of the celebration too. Have a drink, eat the canapés, mingle with your guests and actually take a moment to enjoy the atmosphere you’ve spent so much time creating.
Your photographer can capture plenty of beautiful portraits without taking you away for the entire cocktail hour.
You’ve spent months planning this day. Don’t spend so much of it being photographed that you forget to actually experience it. 🤍
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One of my favourite details from our wedding was displaying photographs of our parents’ and grandparents’ weddings.
Seeing generations of love stories celebrated side by side created such a beautiful sense of connection and history. It was a reminder that our wedding was not just about the two of us, but about the families, traditions, and relationships that brought us to that moment.
brought to you by the albert mosman
Your wedding day begins with cherished moments spent preparing with loved ones, and ends with the comfort and tranquility of a perfect night’s stay. Let us be part of both.