I love heading to the Willunga Peacock Farm as a local Mclaren Vale wedding photographer. The venue has a stunning variety of lovely backdrops to use in photographs, and this is precisely what I drew upon at Aubrey and Darcy’s wedding. They had me as their wedding photographer for 7 hours which saw me at their wedding ceremony through to after their first dance at their reception venue out at the One Paddock Winery at Currency Creek.
Willunga Peacock Farm Wedding Ceremony
As usual I arrived a little early to the Willunga Peacock Farm so I was able to wander about capturing some shots of Aubrey and Darcy’s guests as they arrived in the beautiful Autumnal sunshine. Â I was pleasantly surprised to see that the centerpiece of the venue – the pond – was full of water as last time I covered a wedding here it was unfortunately dry. Their wedding ceremony was set up on the grassy area next to the pond which allowed for a lovely backdrop to the entire scene.
The Willunga Peacock Farm is an all-in-one wedding venue that is built around an organic, completely self sustaining farm. The venue boasts a rustic reception hall set within a covered veranda connected to a heritage listed farmhouse built in the 1800s. Theres also a bed and breakfast and gardens on site suitable for wonderful wedding photography.
Bridal party procession
Signing the registry
Willunga Peacock Farm wedding ceremony
Bride and groom getting married
Wedding ceremony
Wedding ceremony
Bride arriving
Exchanging wedding rings
Vows
Groom waiting for bride
Willunga Peacock Farm wedding ceremony
Hugs
Walking back down the aisle
Sun flare
Groom waiting for bride
Groom waiting for bride
After the ceremony I gathered everyone together to take an aerial photo with my drone which has become one of the most popular aspects of my wedding photography service.
Drone group photo
Willunga Peacock Farm Glamour Photos
Walking about the Willunga Peacock Farm’s gardens and surrounding historic buildings is a wonderful experience, especially as a wedding photographer. The scenery lends itself well to the kind of natural wedding photography I’m known for. During May, the sun was setting quite early in the day which was fantastic as I managed to capture it in the most beautiful way in the backdrop of many of the photos.
Walking across the bridge
Walking together
Smiles all round
Smiling at the camera
Wedding rings
Walking across the bridge
Sun setting behind the bride and groom
Willunga Peacock Farm Wedding photography
Walking across the bridge
Garden wedding photography
Bride and groom looking back at bridal party
Bridal party ripping bride and groom apart
Bridal party walking through the gardens
Wedding photography in the gardens
Holding one another in a tree
One Paddock Winery Wedding Reception
The One Paddock Winery down in Currency Creek was a bit of a drive away from the Willunga Peacock Farm, so by the time we arrived for the wedding reception, it had already turned dark. Once I arrived the guests were enjoying themselves in the lobby having a wonderful time chatting and having a few drinks. The wedding reception itself took place in the large reception hall they have decorated with winery paraphernalia such as wine barrels and plenty of rustic metal and wooden decor. It’s a beautiful, homely venue which suited Aubrey and Darcy’s wonderfully personal and intimate wedding day.
Light Painting
Group photo
Wedding Cake
Outside the front of One Paddock Winery
Group photo
Guest laughing
Speeches
Group photo
Selfie
Reception hall setup
One Paddock Winery
Using the props
Guests chatting at the bar
Table setting
Chatting bride
Bride and groom entrance
First Dance
Thanks to Aubrey and Darcy for having me capture their wedding photography!
Georgia and Ben travelled from Tasmania for their Coriole Winery wedding in McLaren Vale, where I photographed their first look and ceremony. in Mclaren Vale. And despite the weather being slightly overcast, the weather stayed fine and was a wonderful afternoon for all involved! Georgia and Ben opted to have me as their wedding photographer for 3 hours, capturing their ‘first look’ photos, through to the end of their ceremony. As it turned out this was a smart way of doing things as their ceremony happened to be quite late in the day, and by the time the ceremony had ended there was hardly any natural light left to use!
First look
A ‘first look’ is a trend at weddings where by the bride presents herself to her groom before the wedding ceremony in order to capture the emotion from the meeting in a more intimate place rather than at the altar. The idea also being usually that their glamour photos are to be taken before the wedding even takes place. In this regard it’s not the most traditional of wedding activities, but if you’re planning a later wedding ceremony, it may be your only option.
Groomsmen getting ready
Smiling groom
Sneaking up on the groom
Grooms flower
Groomsmen standing around
Smiling bride
Smiling bride
After seeing each other for the first time, we had around an hour to walk around the Coriole Winery and use it’s incredible scenery as the backdrop to their wedding photography. I myself originally wanted to use Coriole Winery as the wedding venue at my own wedding, such is my love for the place. The Winery boasts rolling hills of vineyards, and and old house, complete with a pretty little garden surrounding.
Walking through the garden
Smiling groom
Coriole Winery Wedding
Smiling bride
Holding one another in the vineyards
Engagement ring
Holding one another at Coriole Winery
Bride, groom and flowergirl
in the Coriole vineyards
Dancing in the Coriole vineyards
Drone photo in the vineyards
Holding one another in the Coriole vineyards
Smiles
Sneaking up on the bride
Holding one another in the vineyards
Walking about together
Smiling ladies
After walking about the winery taking these photos, we had a bit of a rest period before the wedding ceremony took place. The girls hid themselves within the house to hide themselves from their guests that were arriving slowly, and the men sat outside.
Groomsmen having a rest
Flowergirl holding engagement ring
Groomsmen at the bar
Coriole Winery Wedding Ceremony
Wedding ceremonies that take place on location at the Coriole Winery usually take place in one of two locations if it isn’t raining, either within the courtyard area of the house, or in Georgia and Ben’;s case, overlooking the incredible valley that is Mclaren Vale on the grassy area to the side of the house. As the light was fading quite quickly during the ceremony, by the end the sun had well and truly left.
Coriole Wedding ceremony
Groom seeing bride walking down aisle
Bride looking anxious
Groom and groomsmen
Smiling bride
Signing paperwork
First kiss
Bride and groom getting married
Wedding
Exchanging wedding rings
After the ceremony, I quickly launched the drone to take an aerial photo of all the guests together, with the Coriole Winery in the background. As I said however the light was fading very fast, so it was pretty tricky! I hung around for a bit after to capture their entrance to the reception, and also to have the groomsmen smoke their celebratory cigars!
Bride is hungry!
Coriole Winery Wedding
Entrance
Groomsmen smoking
Food
Thanks so much to Georgia and Ben for having me as their wedding photographer. I hope you like your photos! 😀
It was a beautifully sunny day for Ciara and Max’s Adelaide Botanic Gardens wedding in April, which was great considering the kind of unpredictable weather we had been having leading up to the big day. With Ciara’s Irish heritage and Max’s Korean heritage, their wedding was a wonderful example of the coming together of two very separate cultures within one of the most multicultural of cities, Adelaide. I was asked to be their wedding photographer for the entire day, and we made good use of the time, covering a lot of ground to get the most diverse portfolio of wedding photography as possible in and around the Adelaide CBD and botanic gardens.
Preparation
I was to cover the preparation of just Ciara and her bridal party, who were getting ready nearby in the Mayfair hotel, as Max was spending the morning running about putting final finishing touches on things before the wedding ceremony. The girls were fairly laid back and had a lovely morning being pampered and getting pretty. Unfortunately the plan was to have a few photos taken in the upstairs Hennessy rooftop bar, only to find out it required a prior booking. This didn’t dampen spirits however while we took a few photos in and around the hotel room instead.
hair spray
Walking across King William st
Wedding Shoes
Putting on wedding dress
Mum helping
Engagement ring
Bridal party dresses
Bride in mirror
Smiling bridesmaid
Putting on veil
Smiling bride
Smiling bride
Wedding dress
Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding Ceremony
Ciara and Max’s Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding Ceremony took place on the far side of the gardens, nearby the ‘Friends Gates’ on Plane Tree drive. The location boasts a beautiful grassy area, bordered by a small stream and a picturesque footbridge in the background of the whole setting. Despite the Adelaide Botanic Gardens being a public place, the venue can easily host around 3-4 weddings on the same day in different locations around the gardens without having too much of a hassle with members of the public wandering in the way of any photos or guests attending a wedding. The area also provides for some top notch vantage points for some incredible wedding photography, so I always enjoy visiting the gardens!
The ceremony was a lovely affair, complete with a traditional giving away of the bride by the father, and a rather beautiful hand binding ceremony that brought together the customs of the celtic together with Korean culture by using a traditionally woven sash brought from Korea specially for the occasion. The sun was out, and provided for a stunning backdrop filtering in through the giant gum tree Ciara and Max were wed under.
Sun lit wedding ceremony
Whole congregation
Bride arriving
Bride under her veil
Smiling groom
Exchanging wedding rings
Bride and Groom
Speeches
Walking back down the aisle
Hand binding ceremony
Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding Ceremony
Holding hands
Hugs
Bride saying vows
Best man and the rings
Father taking arm
Groom’s first look
Smiles
Speech
Wedding Ceremony
Picking something out of his hair
Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding Photos
After taking the family photos, Ciara and Max, flanked by their bridal party went for a walk around the gardens for their glamour photos. As I said before, I love covering Adelaide Botanic Gardens Weddings as the area in and around the vicinity of the gardens provides for an incredibly diverse pool of scenery I can call upon as a wedding photographer.
Having a rest
Crest of a hill
Walking through the foliage
Walking together
Holding hands with wedding rings
Walking to the footbridge together
Groomsmen jumping
In the bamboo forest
Walking through the foliage
Holding the bouquet together
Big oak tree
Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding
Autumnal colours
Adelaide Botanic Gardens wedding
Lounging about
Under a tree
Once we exhausted the areas we wanted to visit within the gardens, we said farewell to the majority of the bridal party to expand out around the Torrens and North Terrace where we made use of Government House, and the buildings in and around Adelaide University. Ciara and Max had one of their first dates near the Torrens so it was important for them to revisit on their wedding day.
Adelaide University
Adelaide Museum
Bride and Groom together
On the steps of Government house
Adelaide Museum
Near the Torrens
Adelaide Museum
Adelaide University Wedding
On the steps of Government house
Adelaide University Wedding Photo
Adelaide University Wedding
Bride and Groom in Adelaide University
Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding Reception
What was absolutely glorious about Ciara and Max’s wedding as opposed to any other wedding I had covered at the Botanic Gardens was that they chose to have their reception at the cafe located at the very center of the entire place which meant that I had the very rare opportunity to make use of the Gardens after dark! The Botanic Gardens Restaurant is a lovely intimate venue that can cater for a smaller wedding guest list. The food was wonderful, and staff more than friendly which all combined for a wonderful evening.
Cutting the cake
First dance
First dance
Hugs
Gangnam style!
Cheers!
Girls together
Dancing guests
Smiling groom
Wedding Cake
Dancing guests
Guests talking
During the night I took Ciara and Max out into the night to make use of the magnificent arch way of trees at night, which is a rare opportunity as member of the public aren’t allowed to enter the gardens at night.
Light Painting wedding photo
Light Painting wedding photo
Light Painting wedding photo
Thanks so much to Ciara and Max who had me as their wedding photographer and I hope they enjoy their photos as much as I enjoyed taking them! 😀
It was quite an exciting time when Rya contacted me from Indonesia asking me to shoot her engagement shoot as she was coming out to Adelaide specifically to use the Autumn colours around the Thorngrove Manor for her engagement shoot. I had never shot there before, but I had seen it’s beauty in the past through other wedding photographer colleagues in the AIPP. Rya was quite keen on having a castle-style photo shoot and chose the Thorngrove Manor as her ideal location. She also originally planned to go on a whirlwind tour of Adelaide, shooting at the Manor, Mt Lofty Botanic Park, then head up to Cleland nature preserve to hug a kangaroo, and also head into the city to use Veal Gardens and North Terrace, all within 3 hours. We ended up only going to two of these locations, but I think they turned out great!
Thorngrove Manor Shoot
The Thorngrove Manor is a small luxury hotel located amongst the side streets of Crafers. Despite it’s medieval looks, the hotel was actually built relatively recently, only around 32 years ago. The hotel is billed as one of the most romantic and intimate places to hold a wedding, or photoshoot as the surrounds are something out of a fairytale. It really is quite an incredible place to shoot at.
Thorngrove Manor
Thorngrove Manor engagement shoot
Wedding dress
Couple next to the fire
Bride and groom standing in front of their hotel door
Couple next to the fire
Engaged couple at the door of Thorngrove Manor
Smiles
Looking at each other
Playing the harp
Castle awning
Castle awning
At the gate of Thorngrove Manor
Holding hands
On the balcony
Playing the harp
Smiling bride
Kisses
Hugs on the balcony
Bride framed in the castle fixtures
Engagement ring
Mt Lofty Botanic Park Shoot
After the shoot around the Thorngrove Manor, we head down the road to the Mt Lofty Botanic Park to make use of the waning autumnal colours still present around the gardens. With the sun popping over the hills, the colours came to life quite quickly however and created some lovely bright  scenes – much to the delight of Rya. 🙂
Bride and Groom walking
Bride and Groom on bench
Autumn colours at the Mt Lofty Botanic Park
Bride and Groom holding one another
Bride and Groom on bridge
Autumn colours at the Mt Lofty Botanic Park
Bride and Groom in autumn
Autumn colours
Bride and Groom at Mt Lofty Botanic Park
Bride and Groom walking
It was a lot of fun shooting at the Thorngrove Manor and I hope Rya and Evan enjoy their photos! 🙂