Some weddings don’t announce themselves loudly.
They stay with you in quieter ways.

Abby and Tom’s wedding at The Merribee was one of those days.

It was summer, but not in the way you expect. The heat never arrived. Instead, the day stayed soft and gentle — as if nature itself understood exactly what was needed. The gardens felt still. The air calm. Everything moved at an unhurried pace.

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A Ceremony That Chose Its Own Path

Abby walked toward Tom from an unexpected direction, choosing her own way through the Italian garden. It was simple and instinctive — and somehow made the moment feel even more personal. No grand reveal. Just presence.

Their dog, Bailey, waited patiently nearby — the goodest boy, quietly taking his place in the story. Moments like that matter to me. When fur babies are included not as an afterthought, but as family.

There was no bridal party. Just Abby, Tom, and Claire standing with them. Three humans in front of everyone who mattered most. Laughter mixed with tears, exactly as the best ceremonies do. Raw. Real. Unfiltered.

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A Gathering of People Who Came a Long Way

Many of Abby and Tom’s guests had travelled from overseas to be there.

That kind of effort changes the energy of a day. It slows things down. Makes every conversation linger a little longer. It turns a wedding into a true gathering — where people who may never have met before become connected through shared experience.

The Merribee held space for all of it beautifully.

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Light, Stillness, and Letting Things Unfold

Cocktail hour drifted easily through the manicured gardens. Tables were set beneath the crepe myrtles, looking as though they’d always belonged there. When dusk arrived and candles flickered to life, it felt less like something being created — and more like something being revealed.

We wandered through the gardens as the light softened, finding small pockets of golden hour along the way. But Abby and Tom never needed direction. They simply needed space to be themselves.

They’re the kind of couple who feel like old friends almost immediately — relaxed, open, and entirely present with one another.

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When a Place Becomes Part of the Story

The Merribee was more than a backdrop that day. It became a quiet participant — holding space for emotion, movement, and connection. For families from different parts of the world to come together. For garden paths to turn into memory lanes.

Nothing about the day felt forced. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about moments — and trusting that those moments were enough.

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A Few Words from Abby & Tom

“Scott made us feel so relaxed and natural in front of the camera, like we were just hanging out with a friend. The photos are absolutely stunning and truly captured the feeling of the whole day.”
— Abby & Tom

Tom later emailed to say that watching the film and reading the blog made him feel like he’d fallen in love with Abby all over again. That’s not something I take lightly.

I’ve photographed many weddings at The Merribee over the years, and days like this are a beautiful reminder of why it continues to stay with me.

If you’re planning your own celebration here, you can see more weddings I’ve photographed — and read more about my approach — in my guide to photographing weddings at The Merribee.

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Close your eyes again.

Maybe you remember the way the crepe myrtles moved at dusk.
Or the sound of laughter drifting through the Italian garden.
Or maybe it’s just the feeling — that on this unexpectedly cool summer day, everything was exactly as it should be.

That’s how I remember Abby and Tom’s wedding at The Merribee.