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Crafers West NYE 20s Theme Wedding – Alana & James

  • Alana & James

    Crafers West NYE 20s Theme wedding

    Hugs in the last light of 2019

Alana and James opted to make their wedding a little bit of fun by holding their big day on New Years eve, and have a 20s theme wedding. All their guests would dress up in 1920s era clothing with a nod towards the fact that they were ringing in the 2020s. There were pin striped suits and flapper dresses galor on top of the hill at Crafers West and their reception ‘roared’ right into the early morning hours!

Preparation

Both Alana and James had made it fairly clear to me that they werent a huge fan of having photos taken, and requested that I mainly stay in the shadows for the entire day taking more candid shots of what was going on. This included the preparation period of the day. So after having set up the photo booth at the venue in Crafers West, I head down to the friend’s house that James was being prepared in. Alana and Jame’s son was getting ready there too, and made the whole scene a delight with his silly antics.

Groom Wedding shoes
Helping the little one
Putting on shoes
Putting on tie in bathroom
Looking out the door at guests
Groom getting ready in hallway
Groom getting ready at door
Boys hanging out
Having some fun
Pearls of wisdom
Hanging wedding jacket
Groom enjoying himself

Alana was being prepared nearby in the family home, surrounded by family and friends, and while most people I shoot state that they dont like being in front of a camera, I’m that kind of a photographer that likes to sneak in a shot or two during totally oragnic moments that capture a proper smile and authentic emotion. Thats what I feel as though wedding photography is all about!

Wedding dress hanging in hallway
brides wedding shoes
Girls having a chat
Putting on jewelery
Bride looking pretty in hallway
Little one looking on
Bride playing with bouquet
Smiling bride in natural light
Guests looking on
Bride having fun before the ceremony
Guests in kitchen

Crafers West NYE 20s Theme Wedding Ceremony

Usually when I do a writeup of a wedding I have covered as a wedding photographer, I like to make sure everyone knows the venue, however the venue that Alana and James chose isnt actually on the map. Although the oowners live on site, it is a venue that is public, and has held weddings and events in the past, but it’s not published anywhere due to the owners not feeling as though the site isnt quite ready yet. It is an amazing spot in Crafers West though, with sweeping views of Glenelg and everything inbetween. The fun part of having a New years Eve wedding here was that we could watch the Glenelg fireworks at 9pm and 12pm, although they were quite small and far away.

Asthis was a 20s theme wedding ceremony, all of Alana and James’ guests had dressed for the part and watched them get married over the nifty little duck pond found at the center of the property. Alana and James had set up their arbour overlooking the view, and although it was a fairly cloudy, and smokey day due to bushfires, it was a stunning view.

Groom patiently waiting
bride arriving at Crafers west
Under the arbour looking over Glenelg
Smiling couple during the wedding ceremony
Crafers west NYE 20s Theme wedding ceremony
Couple holding hands
Listening to his vows
20s Theme wedding ceremony
Hand fasting ceremony closeup
first kiss overlooking Crafers West
Walking back along the bridge together

Glamour Photos

As I mentioned earlier, glamour photos were not a thing Alana and James were looking forward to, so I made sure that our glamour shoots were short and to the point. I had them walk along the driveway surrounding the reception venue twice and that was it – I then tried to use some of the natural features of the garden during the night when convenient.

Walking along the driveway overlooing Glenelg
Dancing along the ridge together
Walking amongst the bush
Closeup smiles
Looking straight at camera
Walking together along the driveway surrounding the reception
Standing together with the arbour in the background
Together amongst the tall grass
Standing in the glowing haze of the dying sun
Hugs in the last light of 2019

Crafers West NYE 20s Theme Wedding Reception

The main event of the entire day was really the reception party – Alana and James had sources several food carts and caterers to feed and water their guests, while also making a splsh with an impressive champagn flute pyramid which was  filled up towards the end of the night. All their guests were very chummy with one another which made the whole 20s theme wedding really come together nicely and made the whole night a joy to be a part of!

20s theme wedding outfits
Guest through leaves
20s theme wedding getups
MC doing his thing
Aerial view of the Crafers West property
Smiling bub
Boys playing cricket
Guests hugging in the twilight
Giant jenga game
Lifting
Talking guests at sundown
Speeches with bride
Wedding cheese cake
Guests having a good trime
Watching the fireworks on their wedding day
Glasses pyramid
Having fun on the dance flor
Stting about chatting
Pointing at the camera
chatting in their 20s themed outfits
Bouquet toss

Thanks a bunch to Al;ana and James for having me as your wedding photographer! 😀

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Surprise Backyard Wedding in Woodville – Natasha & Jono

  • Natasha & Jono

    Surprise Backyard Wedding

    Bride and groom celebrating their wedding on Semaphore Beach

Natasha and Jono held their wedding in their backyard on what turned out to be a lovely day surrounded by intimate family and friends who had mostly travelled to Adelaide for their engagement party. Natasha and Jono decided, considering everyone had travelled to attend their party, they’ll turn their engagement party into their Surprise Backyard wedding instead. An alternative was going to be holding their wedding on a beach in New Zealand, but they figured it’d be easier for everyone if they held it here, in their backyard. 🙂

Preparation

Natasha and her bridal party were geting ready with a small selection of family and friends in a house nearby. I took photos of the girls getting ready, and together in their custom kimonos, before heading over to the boys before Natasha had put on her dress – as I was going to get that shot ust before the ceremony when she changes again.

Doing the hair
Gran looking on
Wedding shoes on bed
Bridesmaids helping out
Putting on makeup
Girls together
Hanging wedding dress
Chatting in the garage
Laughing in mirror

Jono and his groomsmen were getting ready on site at the couple’s home in Woodville. In between putting on their shirts, and trying on their new fedoras, they were also running about putting some finishing touches on small parts of the wedding reception setup in the backyard.

Smiles all round
Putting on shirt
Smiling groomsman
Groom’s flowers
Smiling groomsman
Wedding rings with bowtie
Putting on groomsman tie
Groom walking the hallways
Groom wearing a hat
Groom finishing up

Glamour photos

As their engagement party ruse was set up as an evening affair, with a marquee set up on the back lawn and food and drink available for dinner; Natasha and Jono decided to have their glamour photos done prior to their wedding ceremony. We head down to the Semaphore Beach to make use of the pristine sand and dunes available there for family photos, before heading just up the road a bit for the more photo friendly Largs Bay jetty.

bride and groom with their dog
Bride and groom on the beach together
bride and groom walking along the beach
Bridal party on the beach
bride and groom on Semaphore beach
Bride and Groom next to Semaphore Jetty
Bridal party on top of Semaphore Jetty
Bride and groom celebrating their wedding on Semaphore Beach
Semaphore Beach wedding photo
Bride and groom under the Largs Bay Jetty
Largs Bay Jetty wedding photo

To add a little bit of variety to the photos, and also because the sky was looking a little grey, I suggested heading through Port Adelaide and using the famed Crozier Street for a bit of an industrial slant to Natasha and Jono’s photos.

 

Black and White Crozier street
Bride standing in front of doorway
Bride and groom on crozier st
Bridal Party playing rugby on Crozier st
Bride and groom having fun in a doorway
Bridal party chilling in Port Adelaide
Bride and her bridesmaids together in a doorway
Crozier street wedding photo

Surprise Backyard Wedding Ceremony

Many of Natasha and Jono’s guests had travelled from around Australia and New Zealand in order to attend their engagement party that was set up in their backyard, and they continued this ruse riught up until the beginning of the wedding ceremony where Jono’s groomsmen carried out the arbour that was hidden in their shed. Natasha snuck off during a time where guests were mingling and settling in for a fun night of celebration to change into her wedding dress again before reemerging.

Talking to guests
Bride out waiting for guests to arrive
Kids having fun the the marquee
Bride playing with kids
Waiting for the Surprise Backyard wedding to start
Welcome to country
Bride and groom listening to the Welcome to country
Bride peeking out window
Smiling bride

Many of their guests were quite surprised about attending their wedding there and then, whichwas great to see! It’s often the case that the surprise is ruined well before by something, but their surprise wedding was quite successful! The ceremony itself was a nice affair with Aboriginal and Maori traditions coming together, complete with a ‘Welcome to country’, Maori songs, and even a didgeridoo procession. It was lovely to be a part of!

Groom waiting out the front
Groom waiting patiently
Bridal approach
Groom seeing bride at the wedding ceremony
Start of the wedding ceremony
Surprise Backyard wedding ceremony
Maori song
Groom looking at his bride
Holding hands during the ceremony
Bride looking at her groom
Backyard wedding ceremony
Exchanging wedding bands
Surprise wedding ceremony setup
First kiss under the arbour
Excited bride and groom
Digeridoo in the wedding ceremony
Smiles all round
Bride and groom exit

Surprise Backyard Wedding Reception

All the food was set up on a long table within their shed out the back, which guests were asked to serve themselves from, and drnks wer self served from a pretty neat rental bar with several different drinks on tap. During the night I took Natasha and Jono to a nearby spot to make use of the incredible sunset that had set in, and also made sure to get some of the spaklers within the photos during their first dance. It was a great night!

Sunset on the oval
Cutting the cake together
New Zealnad Themed wedding cake
The food
Sunset
MC doing her thing
Surprise Backyard wedding under the marquee
Speech
Smiling bride during the first dance
Lolly bar
Having fun during the first dance
First dance in the Surprise Backyard wedding
First dance with sparklers
Bridal speech

I’d like to thank Natasha and Jono for havingme be a part of their Surprise Backyard wedding, and I hope they enjoy their photos! 🙂

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Burbrook Forest Wedding – Brooke & Lachlan

  • Brooke & Lachlan

    Burbrook Forest Wedding

    under the veil together

Since Brooke and Lachlan got in contact with me to cover their wedding at Burbrook Forest, I had been looking forward to it as it’s in my opinion one of the best wedding venues in all of South Australia! I may also be biased as it was the venue for my own wedding, but anyway…

The weather was perfect, the trees were beautiful, and the day just turned out to be so awesome that I included a record number of photos on their USB, more than I have ever included on a USB 😛

Preparation

The day started for me at Brooke and Lachlan’s house in which they were in the middle of selling, so the whole place was set up like some sort of display home – perfectly clean and prepared to look awesome. This made my job that much easier! All of Lachlan’s groomsmen were being prepared along side his parents which made for a wonderfully heartfelt time!

Groom by window
Dad putting on grooms tie
Groom getting ready by window
Groom walking out door
Mum adjusting ties
Mum looking on
0 days to go
Wedding rings on shoes
Wedding ring box
Groomsmen gifts
groom enjoying himself
Groom and groomsmen on road
Groom smiling in mirror

Similarly Brooke was being prepared alongside all of her bridesmaids, her parents and even a gaggle of kids who made for some cute distraction to any wedding nerves that people may have been feeling. Brooke had found a delightful bed and breakfast just up the road from Kuitpo hall, and Burbrook forest which was super convenient, and also stunningly beautiful as a backdrop for their preparation photos!

 

Bride looking in mirror
wedding dress hanging in tree
engagement ring in flowers of bouquet
wedding shoes in tree
The bridal party together
Bridal affects
Little flower girl
Helping Dad get ready
Kids sitting together
Bridal book
Bride getting ready
Bridal party helping out
Dad’s first look of bride
Smiles all round
Bride standing alone looking pretty
bridal party ready to go

Burbrook Forest Wedding Ceremony

Brooke and Lachlan’s wedding day took place on a very hot and sunny day in which the nearby Kuitpo forest had been closed due to fire danger. Luckily, the privately owned Burbrook forest had no such restrictions so their wedding ceremony could take place with no interruptions. The tall trees surrounding the lovely gnarly ‘wedding tree’ (as it’s affectionately known) supplied some nice shade for the entire wedding congregation, and actually made the area quite comfortable.

The Burbrook forest wedding tree would not look out of place in any Harry Potter film, and it mades for an imposing setting for a wedding ceremony where the bride and groom would stand under it, with guests looking up at them with the tree overlooking the whole clearing. It’s quite a sight.

Wedding sign at burbrook forest
Guests waiting
groom waiting patiently
bridal arrival
Bride walking with Dad
Groom’s first look at Burbrook forest
Holding one another under the wedding tree
Wedding party standing under the tree
Together under the wedding tree
Burbrook forest wedding ceremony
Wedding ceremony
Groom smiling during ceremony
Bride smiling during ceremony
Burbrook forest wedding tree
Wedding under the wedding tree in Kuitpo
Guest speech
Kuitpo forest wedding
Holding hands
First kiss under the wedding tree

Burbrook Forest Glamour Photos

The main appeal for holding a wedding at Burbrook forest is using the awesome rows of pine trees with the sunlight shining through to create a stunning effect in photos. it’s a big reason why my wife and I also chose to be married here! After the family photos, we made sure to make use of these trees and sweeping views around the forest. We also made some time later in the day, during the reception to head back for the sun setting through the trees.

Unfortunately some clouds had appeared, hiding the sunset proper, but I’m pretty good with photoshop so… 🙂 It’s also a bit of a fun story to know that behind Brooke and Lachlan in some of the photos is Brooke’s mother crouching down spraying some ‘atmosphere in a can’ to frame them in a bit of a neat haze for the photos.

Loving embrace in the forest
Together amongst the trees at Kuitpo forest
Sun peeking through Burbrook forest
Burbrook forest bridal hug
bridal party standing in Burbrook forest
Bridal party standing in Kuitpo forest
Kisses for the bride
under the veil together
Kisses in the forest
Bride and groom in burbrook forest
Sun shining on bride and groom
Bride and groom in front of bridal party
Bride and groom sitting in front of wedding tree
Bridal party walking otgether in Burbrook forest
Dark shot in Burbrook forest
Veil floating about Burbrook forest
Bride and groom against a tree
Bride and groom in amongst the trees
Sunset
Bride and groom walking about Burbrook forest

Kuitpo Hall Wedding Reception

Kuitpo Hall, which is conveniently just down the road from Burbrook forest is a beautifully rustic spot to hold a wedding reception at. This is particularly true on a warm night, like what Brooke and Lachlan enjoyed, where guests can enjoy the large grassy field outside the hall itself. Brooke and Lachlan had the entire area lit with outside lighting and well stocked with barrels, and outside furniture so everyone was comfortable.

Wedding cake at Kuitpo Hall
Bridal party entrance
cutting the wedding cake
photos with guests
wedding favour
Wedding sign hanging at Kuitpo Hall
Bride and groom in Kuitpo hall
Guests having fun
Guests enjoying themselves
MC
Dad speech
Bridal party speech
best man giving a speech
First dance at Kuitpo Hall
First dance at Kuitpo Hall at night
Daddy daughter dance at Kuitpo Hall
Kuitpo Hall wedding reception

I’d like to thank Brooke and Lachlan for having my wife and I as a part of their wedding day! I had a blast as their wedding photographer at their Burbrook forest wedding and I hope they enjoy their photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!