Ana & Paulo’s Wedding at Apollo Fields
Ana & Paulo’s Wedding at Apollo Fields
The First “I Do” in the Great Room
Every space has a beginning — a moment when it shifts from concept to something alive. For Apollo Fields, that moment came with Ana and Paulo.
Before that day, our Flemington farmhouse had been the heartbeat of our photography company — a creative space filled with late-night edits, farm dinners, and the gentle noise of life unfolding. Yet we knew that one day that this space would host weddings, too: the kind of intimate celebrations that blur the line between art, hospitality, and storytelling.
Ana and Paulo were the first to make that vision real. Their wedding didn’t just inaugurate our Great Room as a venue — it gave the house a new pulse.
Morning on the Farm
The farmhouse stirred awake with quiet energy. Light fell softly through the windows, catching on glassware and eucalyptus stems as the Great Room began to take shape. Chairs were aligned facing the tall windows; candles lined the mantel. The air smelled faintly of coffee and something sweeter — Ana’s handmade Brazilian desserts cooling in the kitchen. She had baked for days, crafting brigadeiros, beijinhos, and caramel tarts by hand, each one rolled and dusted with care. Ana arrived mid-morning, her expression calm, unhurried. There was a grace to the way she carried herself — confident but grounded, the kind of presence that sets an entire day at ease. In the farmhouse suite, soft bossa nova played as makeup brushes moved and laughter filled the air. Upstairs, Paulo buttoned his shirt in the upstairs bedroom, quietly focused, a small smile playing on his face.
It was the kind of morning that felt deliberate — slow, steady, intentional.
The Ceremony in the Great Room
When we designed the Great Room, we imagined it as a space that could hold light — literally and emotionally. That afternoon, it became exactly that.
The setup was simple: rows of wooden chairs, candles flickering on the mantel, greenery draped along the windows. The sound of quiet conversation drifted through the air until the music began — soft guitar and the faint hum of anticipation. Ana entered, bouquet in hand, her dress moving like a whisper against the wood floors. Paulo’s eyes met hers, steady and sure. Their vows blended English and Portuguese, each line intentional and measured. There was a stillness in the room as they spoke — not silence, but presence. When they kissed, the applause came easily, filling the house with warmth.
A Space Comes to Life
The Great Room shifted into its next act — the same space now became alive with laughter, conversation, and the kind of energy that only comes from a day unfolding naturally. It was surreal to watch. Ana’s dessert table became an anchor point in the room — trays of brigadeiros and sweets arranged with an artist’s eye. The table wasn’t overdone, it was magnetic. People gravitated to it all evening, first out of curiosity, then devotion.
“They’re traditional at Brazilian weddings,” she said modestly when someone asked about them. But each bite told a richer story — one of craft, memory, and quiet pride.
The Celebration
The Brazilian dinner was served family-style: roasted vegetables, pasta, rice and beans, and steak from their caterer. The sound of cutlery against plates mixed with laughter and conversation, the glow of candles softening everything around it. Ana and Paulo moved easily through the night — greeting guests, dancing, pausing to sip wine together between songs. There was no hurry, no timeline to chase. The celebration had a natural rhythm, an ease that comes only when a day feels like it’s unfolding exactly as it should. At one point, the music softened into a slow song, and they danced barefoot — no choreography, no performance. Just the two of them, swaying in the space that had become theirs for the day.
Capa and Oliver peeked briefly from the loft above, half-curious, half-tired, watching the house come to life in a way they hadn’t seen before. Then they disappeared again, leaving the grownups to the rhythm below.
The Sweetest Signature
By the end of the night, the dessert table was nearly empty. Only a few brigadeiros remained, evidence of their success. Guests lingered, espresso martinis in hand, unwilling to leave quite yet. Ana and Paulo sat near the window, shoes off, leaning into one another as the last candles flickered out. It wasn’t the kind of ending that needed grand gestures — just a quiet moment of reflection, the kind that stays long after the night ends.
A New Chapter for Apollo Fields
For us, Ana and Paulo’s wedding marked a turning point — the moment Apollo Fields became more than just a photography company. It officially became a home for celebrations that value soul over spectacle, for stories that unfold slowly, and for couples who see beauty in authenticity. Ana and Paulo’s wedding, our first at Apollo Fields, will always hold a special place in our hearts.
It wasn’t just a wedding. It was a beginning.
