St Joseph’s Chapel Wedding – Diana & Michael

Pre-Ceremony

Our day began at St Joseph’s Chapel in Kensington, where we were waiting for Michael to make his grand entrance. He wasn’t arriving in just any vehicle, either! Michael had chosen to drive his pride and joy, a car that clearly meant a great deal to him. Naturally, it deserved a little attention before the ceremony.

We spent some time photographing Michael with his boys alongside the car. They weren’t officially groomsmen, but that didn’t stop us from getting some great group shots! Everyone was in good spirits, and the car made a fantastic centrepiece for a few relaxed portraits. It was a fun way to kick off the photography before Michael headed inside to await his bride.

Diana had also chosen a meaningful vehicle for her arrival, travelling in another treasured family car driven by her brother. I love seeing couples incorporate these sorts of personal details into their weddings. Rather than simply choosing something impressive for the photographs, both Diana and Michael had included cars that already held a special place in their lives.

Before entering the chapel, Diana had arranged a little first look with her father. It was a sweet moment for the two of them to share away from the assembled guests. There’s always something rather touching about capturing a father’s reaction to seeing his daughter dressed for her wedding, particularly when they have a few precious moments to themselves.

With everyone gathered inside and Diana ready to make her entrance, it was time for the ceremony!

St Joseph’s Chapel Wedding Ceremony

Located within the grounds of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in Kensington, St Joseph’s Chapel is a historic religious setting for an Adelaide wedding ceremony. Its traditional architecture and intimate atmosphere give it a sense of occasion that feels quite different from a modern wedding venue.

From a photography perspective, the chapel presents one rather significant challenge: it’s incredibly dark inside!

Low-light church ceremonies require a little extra care, particularly when you want to remain discreet and avoid disturbing the service. Without abundant natural light, capturing sharp photographs while preserving the chapel’s atmosphere can be tricky. Fortunately, after photographing hundreds of weddings, I’ve become rather accustomed to dealing with difficult lighting conditions!

Diana and Michael had organised a harpist and singer to perform during their ceremony, and the live music sounded beautiful within the chapel. It brought an elegant touch to the proceedings without needing anything particularly elaborate. The music accompanied Diana’s entrance and helped set the tone for the heartfelt service that followed.

There was something particularly lovely about the simplicity of their ceremony. Surrounded by family and friends, Diana and Michael exchanged their vows in a place rich with history. The focus was firmly on the two of them and the commitment they were making, which is exactly how it should be.

Once the ceremony was complete, we headed outside for family and group photographs. The nearby buildings feature some attractive old brickwork, including an archway that provided an ideal spot to gather everyone together. Having a designated location for these photographs kept things organised and allowed us to work through the various family combinations without too much fuss.

With the formal photographs finished, Diana and Michael could enjoy a little time together while we explored the chapel grounds for their first portraits as newlyweds.

St Joseph’s Chapel Wedding Glamour Photos

One of the advantages of having a St Joseph’s Chapel Wedding in Adelaide is the opportunity to take photographs around the surrounding property. The combination of historic buildings, established gardens, and secluded outdoor areas offers several interesting backdrops without needing to travel elsewhere.

Diana and Michael were happy to spend a little time wandering through the gardens with me. After the excitement of their ceremony, it was a chance to enjoy being newly married while we captured some more relaxed photographs.

I always prefer to keep wedding glamour sessions feeling natural rather than turning them into an endless series of posed portraits. A little direction goes a long way, and Diana and Michael were perfectly comfortable interacting with each other while I worked around them. It made the photography feel more like an enjoyable stroll than another item on their wedding schedule.

The older brick buildings added warmth and texture to some of our photographs, while the greenery provided a softer setting for romantic portraits. I particularly enjoy working with locations that offer this sort of contrast, as it creates variety in a wedding gallery without requiring a complicated setup.

We also made use of the garden pathways and architectural features around the property. Sometimes the simplest backgrounds are the most effective, especially when the couple is relaxed and enjoying themselves.

For anyone planning their own St Joseph’s Chapel Wedding photography, it’s worth allowing some time after the ceremony to explore the grounds. With a little planning, you can capture your family photographs and some lovely couple portraits before heading off to the reception.

Our next destination was Sunnybrae, where we had another collection of photography locations to explore before the evening festivities began.

Sunnybrae Glamour Photos

Arriving at Sunnybrae was a treat because Diana and Michael were the only couple celebrating their wedding at the venue that day. With no other weddings taking place, we had the freedom to explore the property without worrying about interrupting another ceremony or wandering into someone else’s reception.

Sunnybrae has several garden areas surrounding its reception halls, and we made good use of them for the afternoon’s photography. There were plenty of different backgrounds to work with, from landscaped greenery to the character of the buildings themselves.

Having the venue to ourselves also meant we could take a more leisurely approach to the portraits. There was no need to rush between locations or work around other wedding parties. Diana and Michael could enjoy their afternoon, and I had the flexibility to find the most flattering light and compositions as we moved around.

One of my favourite things about photographing weddings is making use of the surroundings rather than relying on elaborate posing. At Sunnybrae, the garden paths and greenery gave us opportunities to capture the couple walking together, sharing a laugh, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

Diana and Michael were great sports throughout the photoshoot. They were happy to follow a little direction when needed, but much of the time I could simply let them be themselves. Those spontaneous expressions and little interactions are often the photographs couples end up loving the most.

The afternoon also gave us a chance to create a collection of images with a different feel from those taken earlier at St Joseph’s Chapel. The combination of both locations meant Diana and Michael would have a varied wedding gallery, balancing the traditional atmosphere of their ceremony with a more relaxed garden setting.

We wrapped up the glamour photographs as the reception approached, giving everyone an opportunity to head into the newly renovated Ikos space for the evening’s celebrations.

Sunnybrae’s Ikos Wedding Reception

Diana and Michael held their reception at Ikos at Sunnybrae, a newly renovated space that was ready to host a seriously fun evening. After a lovely afternoon of portraits, everyone was eager to celebrate, and it didn’t take long for the party atmosphere to get going.

One thing Diana and Michael were particularly excited about was their alternative to a traditional wedding cake. They had arranged a tiramisu tower, and I have to say, that’s a pretty delicious way to do things!

Wedding cakes come in all shapes and sizes, but a tower of tiramisu certainly stands out. I always enjoy seeing couples choose something that suits their tastes rather than following tradition simply because it’s expected. Diana and Michael were clearly thrilled with their choice, and it made for a memorable reception detail.

The celebrations were full of energy, with guests enjoying themselves and plenty happening throughout the evening. Diana and Michael weren’t planning to spend the entire night sitting down, either. They had every intention of making the most of their dance floor!

Before the party really kicked off, however, they had something rather spectacular planned for their first dance.

Instead of dancing inside the reception hall, Diana and Michael chose to have their first dance outside in Sunnybrae’s courtyard, complete with fireworks illuminating the night around them!

What a moment!

Photographing a first dance outdoors at night always adds an extra challenge, particularly when fireworks are involved. There’s very little opportunity to repeat anything, so timing and anticipation become incredibly important. You need to balance the couple’s movement with the brightness of the fireworks while making sure the atmosphere of the moment comes through in the photographs.

Diana and Michael’s dance was a definite highlight of the evening. The fireworks created a dramatic backdrop as they shared their first dance as husband and wife, producing some of the most memorable images of their wedding.

Once everyone headed back inside, the dance floor became the centre of attention. Diana and Michael had organised light-up wands for their guests, and these proved to be a fantastic addition to the festivities.

As the music played, glowing wands were waved through the air, creating colourful streaks of light across the dance floor. There was plenty of enthusiastic dancing, laughter, and wonderfully silly behaviour to photograph. Exactly the sort of wedding reception I love!

The light-up wands added an entertaining visual element to the photographs, particularly as everyone became more energetic throughout the night. They also encouraged guests to get involved, giving the dance floor a lively, colourful atmosphere.

I always find these unplanned little interactions some of the most enjoyable parts of wedding photography. While ceremonies and formal portraits are important, there’s something brilliant about capturing guests completely letting loose. Those expressions, dance moves, and spontaneous moments often tell you just as much about the celebration as any carefully composed photograph.

Diana and Michael certainly embraced their evening at Sunnybrae. Their tiramisu tower was a hit, the courtyard first dance was spectacular, and the dance floor saw plenty of action well into the night.

What stood out to me about their wedding was how comfortable they were doing things their own way. From arriving in treasured family cars to choosing live music for their ceremony and swapping a traditional cake for tiramisu, their personalities were woven throughout the celebrations.

Their St Joseph’s Chapel Wedding in Kensington, followed by a reception at Sunnybrae’s Ikos, was a fantastic combination of family, romance, and a genuinely enjoyable party.

Thank you, Diana and Michael, for inviting me along to photograph your wedding day! It was a pleasure capturing everything from those early moments outside the chapel to the fireworks and dance floor antics that rounded out the evening.

And I must say, after seeing Diana and Michael’s reception, I wouldn’t be surprised if tiramisu towers started appearing at a few more Adelaide weddings!