Royal SA Yacht Squadron Wedding – Anika & Phil

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  • Anika & Phil

    Royal SA Yacht Squadron Wedding

    Sitting on the yacht together

The wedding of Anika and Phil took place on the sunny day in April, amongst the wonderful surrounds of the Royal SA Yacht Squadron. I was asked to be their wedding photographer for the entire day so I was shooting from both locations of preparation, through to the end of their reception. The entire day from the Ceremony took place on the grounds of the Royal SA Yacht Squadron and we were lucky enough to be able to utilise a yacht that was moored within the marina – which is a very rare occurrence! Was fun.

Preparation

I arrived at the house where Phil and his groomsmen were getting ready, only to find that no one was there! Apparently the guys were chasing some choice sushi in the city before heading back to get ready. Once there, we had less time than usual to shoot some choice photos, so the morning was a bit rushed, but still pretty organised regardless!

Groomsmen getting ready
Putting on the flowers
Cufflink
Wedding rings
Groom getting ready
Groomsmen getting ready

The girls on the other hand were nice and organised, sitting about waiting for the makeup artist to finish, and having set up all the items I needed to take photos of before I arrived. The atmosphere was laid back and they were keen on having a good time and some fun leading up until they left. They ended up leaving a little late,m but that’s just to be expected. 🙂

Putting up the hair
Smiling bride
Engagement ring
Putting on wedding dress
Putting on wedding dress
Wedding dresses
Talking ladies
Flying veil
Looking in the mirror
Bride leaving the house

Royal SA Yacht Squadron Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony took place on the decking area located next to the bar behind the boat shed. This was a major difference to the other times I had covered wedding ceremonies here, with others opting for having their ceremony on the large, open grassy area located nearby the boat house. The location Anika and Phil opted for however was wonderful for such a sunny day however, as the sun provided for a wonderful backdrop to the ceremony, and it helped keep their guests cool under the umbrellas.

The Sailing club has been on this location since 1924 after having been founded at Birkenhead in 1881. The Royal SA Yacht Squadron has recently been renovated into what has become quite a popular wedding venue, with myself heading there quite a few times a year!

Smiling bride
Groom’s first look
Drone shot of the Royal SA Yacht Squadron
Walking back down the aisle
Holding each other
Exchanging wedding rings
Wedding ceremony
Wedding ceremony
Wedding ceremony at the Royal SA Yacht Squadron
Wedding ring exchange
Bride and father
Married!

Glamour Photos

After the group photos and family shots on the grassy area, we used the inside of the historic boatshed for a few shots, then walked about the marina taking some shots with the magnificent sunset as a backdrop. We were lucky enough to be able to use a family member’s yacht for some photos, in which case I was super keen to bust out my drone to get some unique angles of the bridal party on the yacht from the water.

Bridal Party
Sitting on the yacht together
Royal SA Yacht Club Boat House
Sitting on the yacht together
Catching a bride
Royal SA Yacht Club Boat House
Bride and her bridesmaids
Dancing in the boat house
Kissing in the marina
On the stern of the yacht
Sunset at the Royal SA Yacht Squadron
Walking into the sunset

Royal SA Yacht Squadron Wedding Reception

Anika and Phil had set up the Royal SA Yacht Squadron’s function hall with a slightly nautical theme, making sure that their personalities and heritage was on show. With Phil’s affinity for fishing, and a beautifully cultural wedding cake the night was topped off with a live band which kept the dance floor full the entire night! Anika’s bouquet throw was quite a bit different as she held a ‘reverse’ bouquet through were only married women were allowed to be in contention. The MC then had them all dance and having them leave the dance floor the longer their wedding has gone on, with the winner being the longest married women receiving the bouquet. I thought it was sweet and a great way to hold a bouquet throw when there arent many single ladies in attendance!

Speech
Bride dancing with brother
Wooo!
Bride and groom entry
Listening to speech
First Dance
Guys at the bar
Night shot on the dock
Wedding Cakes
First Dance

Anika and Phil’s wedding was a blast to be part of, and I very much hope they enjoy their photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

SC Pannell Winery Wedding – Anna & Josh

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  • ANNA & JOSH

    SC Pannell Winery Wedding

    Bride and groom in vineyards

It had been a while since I covered a wedding at the picturesque SC Pannell winery, so when Anna and Josh asked me to be their wedding photographer, I was quite excited! The day turned out to be a wonderful day, complete with a stunning sun set showering golden light right across the SC Pannell vineyards to top off such a wonderful day.

Preparation

The day started with Josh and his boys. Both myself and my wife as my second photographer attended the boy’s place of preparation and were quite surprised at the boy’s eagerness to get into their suits! Everyone except Josh had already been dressed in their finery before sitting down for their lunch! Such was the excitement in the house, there was a real buzz of joy in the place.

Groom getting ready
Wedding rings
Dad helping out
Train of preparartion
Sunnies in pocket
The Groomsmen
A toast toi the groom
Putting on cufflinks
Helping get dressed

After greeting the boys, I left them for the girls who were being prepared around the corner from SC Pannell, in a bed and breakfast in Port Willunga. Unlike the boys, the girls weren’t as fussed with getting dressed too quickly, and the atmosphere was much more laid back, enjoying a few sips of wine and playing with the flower girl who was running about the place enjoying the attention. I had a bit more time with the girls, so after having some photos taken inside, having makeup put on and putting on dresses, we went for a little walk down the road to use the wonderful natural light gleaming in over the sea.

Smiling girls
Flower girl and dresses
Wedding shoes
Flowergirl and bridesmaids
Cheeky page boy
Putting on shoes
Flowergirl and bridesmaids
Putting on makeup
Engagement ring
Looking up at the camera
Smiling bride
Putting on dress

SC Pannell Winery Wedding Ceremony

The SC Pannell Winery is located joust out of Mclaren Vale in a prime position to benefit from rolling hills covered in vineyards in all directions and is a wonderful spot to make use of a sunset. The winery itself I heard were actually not taking any more wedding booking after Anna and Josh’s, due to undergoing renovations on their function room. So I’d love to hear any news about this if anyone out there knows?

SC Pannell Winery was established as a wedding venue in 2014 when their new base of operations were relocated to Olivers road in Mclaren Vale. The winery boasts a large grassy area to hold a wedding ceremony with vineyards at it’s back, and a large function room that can be opened to the elements if the weather permits for receptions.

Grinning groom
SC Pannell Winery wedding
Bride and Groom at altar
Walking back down the aisle
Bridal party
Wedding decor
Kids being kids
Grinning groom
Signing registry
Father and daughter
Smiling bride
Bride and groom
Holding hands
Wedding cars arriving at SC Pannell

Glamour Photos

The weather became a little windy as Anna and Josh’s ceremony began which forced me to ground my drone for the group photos after, but the wind whipped up some stunning clouds that made the sunlight bounce around beautifully. It was a lot of fun to shoot! We walked up and down the entrance driveway to the cellar door, and had a waltz around the back vineyard to make use of the magnificent rolling hills on display.

Walking into the sunset
Wedding cars
Walking down the SC Pannell driveway
Bride and groom in vieyards
Bride and groom in vineyards
Bride and groom in vineyards
Bride and groom in the vineyards
Bride and groom under tree
Bridal party in front of cars
Bride and groom in vineyards
Sunset in the vineyards
Groom and groomsmen

SC Pannell Wedding Reception

The reception hall at SC Pannell is a big open area that has the option of closing off it’s open walls with large weather-proof canvass. In Anna and Josh’s case, the weather was starting to get rather chilly at night, so they were closed and the heaters turned on. The atmosphere was comfortable and fun, with everyone itching to get onto the dancefloor all night, even to the point that the DJ had to force everyone off for the first dance! The single ladies got right into the bouquet toss, and the men really had a go with the garter too, the entire night was an absolute blast to be a part of!

Food
Dad’s speech
Dancing
Garter toss
SC Pannell Wedding Reception Hall
Cutting the wedding cake
Wedding cake
Speeches
Anna and Josh sign
Speeches
First dance
Dancing
Guests having fun
SC Pannell wall

A great big thank you for Anna and Josh for having me as their wedding photographer and I very much hope they enjoy their photos! 😀

Wedding Shoe Game – A fun reception game

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One of the most prevalent and interactive games that’s bound to put a smile on your guest’s face at your wedding reception is the Wedding Shoe Game. As a wedding photographer, I’ve come across quite a few different little fun games the bride and groom can play with their guests, or for their guest’s amusement, and the Wedding Shoe Game is one of my favourites!

Groom shoes
Wedding shoes
Wedding shoes

How to play the Wedding Shoe Game

Basically, the idea of the game is to make your guests laugh at your antics as you answer questions about your relationship together, and to see if you both have the same answer to questions that you ‘should’ have the same answers to 🙂 For example, a common question might be “Who of you said ‘I love you’ first?”. Now if both the bride and the groom were paying attention to their relationship, one would assume both would answer the same – but this is where the fun comes in as sometimes answers differ.

The reason why it’s called the ‘Wedding Shoe Game’ is because in order to play, both the bride and groom sit facing away from each other – usually in the middle of the dance floor – and take off their shoes. They then trade one of their shoes for the other’s so that each has one of the groom’s shoes and each has one of the bride’s.

The MC, or whomever, then reads out a list of questions about the couple’s relationship. In order to answer, the bride and groom holds up one of the shoes – if the answer in their mind is the groom, then they hold up the groom’s shoe, if the answer is the bride, then the bride’s shoe.  Hilarity ensues when they both hold up different shoes as neither of them know what the other’s answer is.

Shoe game

Sample questions for the Wedding Shoe Game

The great thing about the Wedding Shoe Game is that you are able to customise the questions that are asked based on the bride and groom’s personality and interests. There are the usual overarching questions such as the ones below, but say for example the bride and groom used to play against each other in Table Tennis; perhaps one of the questions might be ‘who is better at table Tennis?’

The idea is to keep the questions not too serious, but light and fun, also it might be an idea to narrow the list down to around 20 questions, just so the game doesn’t take all night.Whose idea was it to play this game?

  • Who said “I love you” first?
  • Who is more romantic?
  • Who is a better dancer?
  • Who is the most organized?
  • Who has the most clothes?
  • Who has the most shoes?
  • Who spends more time on Facebook?
  • Who spends more time on Instagram?
  • Who is the better driver?
  • Who calls their parents the most?
  • Who will pay the bills?
  • Who will wake up first?
  • Who works out more?
  • Whose friends will be over more?
  • Who buys the best gifts?
  • Who is more likely to be running late?
  • Who is a better dresser?
  • Who spends more money?
  • Who will be doing the grocery shopping?
  • Who is more likely to get a traffic ticket?
  • Who will be doing the laundry?
  • Who is the loudest?
  • Who has the smelliest feet?
  • Who planned the honeymoon?
  • Who is the better kisser?
  • Who will be making dinner every night?
  • Who always replaces the toilet paper roll?
  • Who chooses where you eat for dinner?
  • Who is the better cook?
  • Who got better grades in school?
  • Who made the first move?
  • Who is better at keeping secrets?
  • Who is the messiest?
  • Who would drive on a road trip?
  • Who remembers family and friends’ birthdays?
  • Who will squeeze the toothpaste from the middle of the tube?
  • Who will make the bed?
  • Who loses things the most?
  • Who will make the coffee in the morning?
  • Who is better at sports?
  • Who is more creative?
  • Who watches the most tv?
  • Who is more likely to kill a spider?
  • Who mows the lawn?
  • Who wants a baby first?
  • Who will pick your next vacation spot?
  • Who will clean the house?
  • Who will use up all the hot water?
  • Who always knows what time it is?
  • Who will determine the next car you buy?
  • Who has the craziest family?
  • Who loves the other more?

It’s a great game to play to break up the evening, and there are tonnes more silly little games that people have thought up over the years, but if you’re looking for a sure winner that will make people laugh, try the Wedding Shoe Game!