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 🙂

Looking out window

Putting on dress

Next to window

Engagement ring

Ekhidna Wines

Looking in mirror

Bed love heart

Putting on dress

Hanging the wedding dress

Smiles

Out in the sun

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.

Bridal entrance

Vows

Ekhidna Winery Wedding Ceremony

Exchanging wedding rings

Holding hands

First kiss

Celebrant

Bridal exit

Groom patiently waiting

At the altar

Bridal party

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 🙂

Walking amongst the Ekhidna Winery vines

Amongst the olive trees

Under the sunlight

Playing Croquet

Ekhidna winery wedding

Amongst the olive trees

Through the vines

In the vineyards

Amongst the olive trees

Walking through the vineyards

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

Doggy

Mobile phone snap

Kids having fun

Smiles

Cutting the cake

Smiles

Sunset

Smiles

Wedding cake

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!

Putting on shirt

Putting on tie

Men standing about

Getting ready

Tardis cufflinks

Smiles

At the pub

Wedding rings

Help with the tie

At the pub

Train

Putting on cufflinks

At the pub

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.

Ladies together

Girls fussing

Smiling bride

Page boy

Ladies together

Dad looking on

Smiling bride

Wedding dress

Girls fussing

Engagement ring

Wedding dress

Smiling dog

Dad checking the time

At the front door

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.

Wedding bands

Exchanging wedding rings

Lefevre Community Church

Bridal entrance

Sitting out the front

Sitting together

Smiles

Inside the Sacred Heart Church Semaphore

Waiting groom

Kiss

Hugs

Groom’s first look

Smiles

Shaking hands

Close up of flower

Priest

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!

Under Semaphore Jetty

Walking along the sand dunes

The bridal party

On Crozier street

Semaphore Beach Sunset

Semaphore Merry-go-round

Crozier street

Semaphore Beach Sunset

Semaphore Merry-go-round

Under Semaphore Jetty

Semaphore Merry-go-round

Walking along the sand dunes

In the middle of Crozier Street

Semaphore Beach Sunset

On the Semaphore Jetty

Walking along the sand dunes

Semaphore Beach Sunset

On Crozier street

Wedding bands on hands

The Groomsmen

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!

Guest gift

Guys having fun

Wedding singer

Cutting the cake

Entrance

Dancing

Wedding cake

The Palais

Smiles

Drinking

Dancing

Bouquet toss

In streamers

Laughing

In streamers

Holding the little one

First dance

Conga line!

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 🙂

Outside the Christ The King Parish Church

Groom pacing

Organising things

Groom and best man

Groom looking about

Ready to get married!

Exiting the car

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.

Signing the registry

Priest

Priest talking

Bridal entrance

Exchanging rings

Groom and groomsmen looking on

Congregation

Mass

Bride and groom standing together

First kiss

Blessing the rings

Christ the King Parish Church Wedding

Mass instruments

Mass

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 🙂

Bride and groom together in the gardens of Stangate house

Walking through the gardens

Next to a tree

Engagement ring

Kisses

Bridal Party on the bridge

Laughing

hands on a tree

Standing together in the garden

Under the veil

Next to a tree

Walking through the gardens

Bride standing alone

Bride and groom together in the gardens of Stangate house

Standing together in the garden

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.

Balloon man

Baby

Guests enjoying themselves

Speech

Cutting the cake

Talking with friends

Laughing at speeches

Macaroons

Speech

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 🙂

Walking around

Putting on jacket

Walking around

Photo with dogs

Puppy dogs 🙂

About to walk out the door

Photo with dogs

Putting on jacket

Wedding rings

Helping get ready

Out and about

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.

Wedding dress

Wedding shoes

All ready to go

On the balcony

Standing in doorway

In a mirror

Helping get ready

Helping put on dress

Looking in mirror

Lacing up dress

On the staircase

Smiles

Engagement ring

Lacing up dress

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! 😀

Vows

Exchanging wedding rings

First kiss

Holding hands

Groom’s first look

Holding hands

Signing the registry

Best man and the rings

Holding hands

Bridal exit

Closeup of groom’s flower

Groom waiting

Sferas Reception Center Wedding Ceremony

Bridal entrance

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!

Under another tree

Inside a weeping willow

Hugs

Amongst the trees

With the bridal party

Kisses

Inside a weeping willow

Garden

Kissing under a tree

Together under a tree

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!