Ekhidna Winery Wedding – Kelli & Ben

Kelli & Ben
Ekhidna Winery Wedding

It was a beautiful day for Kelli and Ben’s wedding at the Ekhidna Winery in Mclaren Vale. Their wedding ceremony was a bit later in the day so that, despite me only being with them for 3 hours as their wedding photographer, I was still able to make the most of the amazing light that presented itself during the later periods of the day for some great shots!

Preparation

Kelli and her bridal party were being prepared in the bed and breakfast directly next door to the Ekhidna Winery, so it was a very convenient walk in between the two locations once they were done getting ready for the ceremony. The morning was jovial, with the girls all having a blast as they were getting ready – very little in the way of nerves were visible 🙂

Bed love heart

Putting on dress

Next to window

Looking in mirror

Out in the sun

Putting on dress

Smiles

Ekhidna Wines

Engagement ring

Looking out window

Hanging the wedding dress

Ekhidna Winery Wedding Ceremony

Ben was standing out the front of the congregation, waiting for the slightly late bridal party having a bit of fun with his entourage of groomsmen. It was great to see the groomsmen making light of the time before the ceremony as it allowed Ben to relax a bit and help their little boy run about getting the flower petals ready to distribute amongst their guests. The ceremony itself took place overlooking the lovely vineyards out the back of the Ekhidna Winery cellar door, in beautiful mid afternoon light with just a touch of wind which blew the white shawl over the arbour nicely.

Celebrant

First kiss

Holding hands

At the altar

Exchanging wedding rings

Bridal party

Groom patiently waiting

Ekhidna Winery Wedding Ceremony

Vows

Bridal exit

Bridal entrance

Glamour Photos

Once the whole group photo was done with the drone, we first head back to the bed and breakfast where Kelli was being prepared for some group shots with the whole bridal party – there was some lovely trees there that I wanted to use 🙂 We then head back to use the vineyards and finally drove into Mclaren Vale to utilize the Olive grove along the main street to take a shot I’ve a little bit famous for 🙂

Playing Croquet

Amongst the olive trees

Through the vines

Amongst the olive trees

Under the sunlight

Walking through the vineyards

In the vineyards

Walking amongst the Ekhidna Winery vines

Amongst the olive trees

Ekhidna winery wedding

Amongst the olive trees

Ekhidna Winery Wedding Reception

Once the glamour shots were done, we head back to the Winery for Kelli and Ben’s reception where we did the group family photos and generally had a nice party! I noticed however that there was a stunning sunset brewing, so luckily I was able to draw Kelli and Ben outside for a bit to utilize it! Using the drone and getting above the Ekhidna winery vineyards always creates a special shot and it’s a huge drawcard for the venue.

Smiles

Wedding cake

Doggy

Kids having fun

Smiles

Cutting the cake

Sunset

Mobile phone snap

Thanks so much kelli and Ben for having me as your wedding photographer!

December 28, 2018/by Steven Duncan

Wedding preview, Wedding

Sacred Heart Church Wedding – Katie & Jakob

Semaphore Beach Sunset

Sacred Heart Church Wedding – Katie & Jakob

OK, this wedding turned out to be an absolutely stunning day, beautiful people, an organised – well thought out timeline, amazing locations and topped off with the most incredible sunset which Katie and Jakob were more than keen on heading out to use! The Sacred Heart Church in Semaphore was the historic venue of their ceremony, while we head out to Port Adelaide’s famed Crozier Street, and the Semaphore Jetty for some beautiful glamour photos before retiring to the Palais for their reception. I was lucky enough to be asked to be their wedding photographer for their entire day and I’m so pleased they did! I’ve provided them with almost 800(!) photos from their day which is about 150 more than usual just because it was such an awesome day!

Preparation

Jakob had an unusual request to begin the day at his local pub, sharing a beer with his groomsmen at the crack of dawn for some photos which was a great way to shake off any nerves and have some fun with is boys before starting to get dressed back at his parent’s house. The entire morning was jovial and if Jakob was feeling any nerves, he didn’t show it!

Tardis cufflinks

At the pub

Train

Putting on cufflinks

Men standing about

At the pub

Putting on shirt

Help with the tie

Wedding rings

Getting ready

Putting on tie

Smiles

Katie and her entourage were being prepared at a house a short distance away, perfectly suited for taking photos as the walls were painted with a neutral grey and was just a stunning house overall! Katie and her ladies were a bit late in getting there as her makeup artist was on the other side of the city, so putting on the dresses and putting the finishing touches was a little rushed before heading out – but we got it all done.

Dad checking the time

Smiling dog

Wedding dress

At the front door

Smiling bride

Dad looking on

Smiling bride

Ladies together

Page boy

At the front door

Girls fussing

Ladies together

Wedding dress

Engagement ring

Girls fussing

Sacred Heart Church Wedding Ceremony

The Sacred Heart Church is a stunning historic Catholic church located nearby the beach front of Semaphore. It’s a huge church with ample room for hundreds of people and even enough room for me as a wedding photographer to walk about and not get in anyone’s way – despite the Priest’s concerns 😛 Katie and Jakob’s ceremony was a traditional Catholic one, taking around 50 minutes to complete finishing with the two of them walking back down the aisle while hugging and kissing everyone on the way out.

Smiles

Shaking hands

Groom’s first look

Waiting groom

Bridal entrance

Sitting out the front

Sitting together

Wedding bands

Close up of flower

Exchanging wedding rings

Priest

Hugs

Kiss

Inside the Sacred Heart Church Semaphore

Smiles

Lefevre Community Church

Glamour Photos

For glamour photos, I was super excited to hear that Katie had booked the Semaphore Merry-go-round for a photo session! I had always wanted to shoot a wedding there, and I enjoyed myself immensely! We also used the Semaphore jetty onf beachfront of course, while also venturing to the famed Crozier Street Wool sheds in Port Adelaide for a more industrial look – just to add variety to their photos. During their reception the most incredible sunset appeared over the Semaphore foreshore so both myself and their videographer had an absolute ball capturing them in front of it!

Semaphore Merry-go-round

Semaphore Beach Sunset

Wedding bands on hands

Semaphore Beach Sunset

Crozier street

Under Semaphore Jetty

Semaphore Merry-go-round

Walking along the sand dunes

In the middle of Crozier Street

On the Semaphore Jetty

The Groomsmen

Semaphore Beach Sunset

Under Semaphore Jetty

Walking along the sand dunes

On Crozier street

Semaphore Merry-go-round

The bridal party

Semaphore Beach Sunset

Crozier street

Walking along the sand dunes

On Crozier street

The Palias Wedding Reception

The Palais on the Semaphore foreshore was the venue for Katie and Jakob’s wedding reception. I love this place, it’s a beautifully cozy half tent, half shed area dressed up as a lovely event hall suitable for mid to large parties. A live band was on site and the entire night was a blast to be a part of due to their fun loving guests!

Conga line!

The Palais

Smiles

In streamers

Dancing

Holding the little one

Dancing

Bouquet toss

Guys having fun

In streamers

Cutting the cake

Guest gift

Dancing

Wedding singer

Entrance

Wedding cake

Drinking

Laughing

First dance

Thanks so much to Katie and Jakob for having me as their wedding photographer! I hope they enjoy their photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

December 24, 2018/by Steven Duncan

Wedding preview, Wedding

Christ the King Parish Church Wedding – Claire & Anthony

The Christ the King Parish Church in Lockleys was the setting for Claire and Anthony’s wedding on a beautifully sunny day in early November. A traditional Catholic ceremony preceded a lunchtime reception at the beautiful Stangate house in Aldgate and I was honoured to be their wedding photographer for 3 hours 🙂

Christ the King Parish Church Wedding Ceremony

As I usually do I arrived far too early to the Church before even the doors were properly unlocked, allowing me to grab a few shots of Anthony running about putting the finishing touches on the Church before the congregation and Claire arrived. The open and empty space of the Church made for some lovely moody scenes of Anthony pacing about keeping himself busy 🙂

Groom pacing

Outside the Christ The King Parish Church

Groom looking about

Ready to get married!

Groom and best man

Exiting the car

Organising things

The Christ the King Parish church is a beautiful, modern church with a huge domed roof connecting to a large window letting light into the church at one end, and an impressive simplistic altar at the other. The wonderful thing about modern churches is that they often have walkways around the outside of the pews for us photographers and videographers to walk down without getting in anyone’s view of the ceremony!

Claire and Anthony’s ceremony took place at the beginning of the service, with vows and the first kiss occuring reasonably quickly, before conducting a Catholic mass where all the guests took part.

Congregation

Christ the King Parish Church Wedding

Bridal entrance

Exchanging rings

Groom and groomsmen looking on

Priest talking

Mass instruments

First kiss

Bride and groom standing together

Blessing the rings

Priest

Mass

Signing the registry

Stangate House Glamour Photos

It was a bit of a drive to Aldgate for Claire and Anthony’s reception at Stangate house, but I always love heading there for photos, the gardens are just beautiful and the setting is wonderfully intimate. The sun was beating down all afternoon, so I tried to stay in the shade most of the time, mitigating the sun’s hotspots on people’s faces and harsh shadows, but most of the time the sun streaming through the foliage is just a dream 🙂

Bridal Party on the bridge

Next to a tree

Standing together in the garden

Bride standing alone

Bride and groom together in the gardens of Stangate house

Under the veil

Kisses

Bride and groom together in the gardens of Stangate house

Standing together in the garden

Laughing

Engagement ring

Walking through the gardens

hands on a tree

Next to a tree

Reception

As is often the case at a Stagrate house wedding, the reception was set upon the bottom tier of the tiered garden allowing for a picnic atmosphere where guests were able to mingle while playing lawn games and perhaps explore the heritage listed gardens and house. It’s a perfect family-oriented location with beautiful greenery all around.

Claire and Anthony opted to have a set of sit down tables for guests to sit at and enjoy the speeches and formalities that a wedding reception entails.

Speech

Guests enjoying themselves

Macaroons

Talking with friends

Cutting the cake

Balloon man

Laughing at speeches

Baby

Speech

Guests enjoying themselves

I’d like to thank Claire and Anthony for having me as their wedding photographer and I hope they enjoy their photos! 🙂

December 11, 2018/by Steven Duncan

Wedding, Wedding preview

Sferas Reception Center Wedding – Liz & Dan

Liz & Dan
Sferas Reception Center Wedding

The Sferas Reception Center was the backdrop for Liz and Dan’s family oriented wedding on a sunny day in early November. They made use of Sfera’s little on-site chapel and went for a walk in the nearby reserve for their photos before retiring to the Starlight room also at Sferas for their raucous reception party! The dance floor was hardly seen all night!

Preparation

Before the big day though, Dan and his boys got ready at the family house, along with Dan’s beloved dogs who wanted to be in all the photos too! Once the boys were dressed we went for a bit of a walk around a nearby park for some glamour photos while looking all smart 🙂

Wedding rings

Photo with dogs

Putting on jacket

Walking around

Out and about

About to walk out the door

Walking around

Puppy dogs 🙂

Helping get ready

Putting on jacket

Liz and her bridal party were being prepared in a room at the Largs Bay hotel. I always love heading here for preparation photos as the historic nature of the hotel is a fantastic backdrop for preparation photos, and allow for some grand scenes both on the balcony,. and using the awesome staircase rising through the middle of the building.

Lacing up dress

On the staircase

Lacing up dress

Smiles

Engagement ring

On the balcony

Wedding shoes

Looking in mirror

Helping get ready

Lacing up dress

Helping put on dress

Smiles

Wedding dress

All ready to go

Standing in doorway

In a mirror

Sferas Reception Center Wedding Ceremony

The Sferas Reception Center’s little on site chapel is large enough for small to medium sized congregations, and for Liz and Dan’s family oriented ceremony, it was the perfect size. As it was a nice, sunny day the little room was illuminated beautifully and the sweet little ceremony was over before I’m sure they knew it! 😀

Groom’s first look

Bridal entrance

Best man and the rings

First kiss

Bridal exit

Signing the registry

Closeup of groom’s flower

Holding hands

Groom waiting

Exchanging wedding rings

Holding hands

Sferas Reception Center Wedding Ceremony

Vows

Glamour Photos

Once the family photos were out of the way, we began the glamour photos by having the bridal party follow us through the manicured gardens right next door to the Sferas Reception Center, before heading across the road to the nearby reserve, where it’s turning out to be one of my favourite trees for having wedding photos shot under! There’s a huge, wonderfully shaped weeping willow right across the road, a short walk away from Sferas that I just love using whenever I’m shooting a wedding in the area!

Inside a weeping willow

With the bridal party

Hugs

Inside a weeping willow

Together under a tree

Amongst the trees

Kissing under a tree

Garden

Kisses

Under another tree

Inside a weeping willow

Sferas Reception Center Wedding Reception

As I mentioned earlier, Liz and Dan’s wedding reception was a boisterous one! With the dance floor filled the entire night with family members enjoying seeing one another again on a night to celebrate! It was a bunch of fun to be a part of!

Outside at night

Bridal entrance

Guest group photo

Wedding cake

Guest having fun

Table setting

Head Table

Guests!

Guest having fun

Gran having fun

Cutting the cake

woo!

First dance

Guest dancing

Dancing

Guests dancing

My thanks go out to Liz and Dan for having me as their wedding photographer, and I hope they enjoy their photos! 😀

December 5, 2018/by Steven Duncan

Wedding preview, Wedding

Tea Tree Gully Golf Course Wedding – Lorena & Ashraf

It was a bit of a different wedding day for Lorena and Ashraf, incorporating a bunch of traditional Lebanese sweets, dancing and family fun! It so great to get to be a part of these weddings where there’s always something going on, and the energy of everyone involved is on show for all to see! Started the day with a glamour shoot, while the real fun started at Ashraf’s house where his entire family had congregated for some fun Lebanese dancing then headed over to the Tea Tree Gully Golf Course for their lunch time reception.

Glamour Photos

We started early on the day with a glamour shoot around Inglewood and the park nearby the Sferas Convention Center where we made use of the awesome trees and rustic ruins scattered about.

Holding one another

Bride

Closeup of wedding bands

Under a tree

Laughing together

In the park

Under a weeping willow

Wedding dress

Forest grove

Walking between trees

Under a weeping willow

Sitting

Wedding rings

Walking together

Inglewood house

Together under the sun

Engagement ring

First meeting

Lebanese Wedding Dancing

When Ashraf was warning me of the kind of different experience I was in for when we met to talk about their wedding photography on their wedding day, I wasn’t overly expecting him to start dancing about like a hooligan in the middle of their street! It was great fun to witness all his friends and family join in with the drumming, making as much noise as possible and dance moves bordering on dangerous! 🙂

Waving

At Lorena’s house

Outside with everyone!

Smiles

Smiling guest

Lorena looking on

Banging the drum

Dad

Dancing bride

Celebrations!

The drummers have arrived

Groom beginning to dance

Tea Tree Gully Golf Course Reception

The dancing continued all throughout their lunch time reception at the Tea Tree Gully Golf Course reception hall. They used up the entire large area with hundreds of guests, all keen on squeezing on the dancefloor and bop to the amazingly loud drumming and singing!