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Old Woodhouse Manor Wedding – Victoria-Rose & Adam

Victoria Rose and Adam’s Old Woodhouse Manor Wedding was such an interesting wedding to be a part of! First up was a lovingly choreographed first look between this lovely, couple, followed by a classical music concert and then a delightful outside reception in the shadow of this delightful old manor in the Adelaide Hills.

Preparation

Both Victoria-Rose and Adam were being prepared in one of the many rooms in this delightful old Manor. Walking through the rooms was super nostalgic for me as the last time I had visited this Scout-run venue was over 20 years ago for a school camp.

This grand gothic sandstone house was built for one time Premier of South Australia and Chief Justice of South Australia Sr Richard Davies Hanson. Hanson built this large mansion in the 1860s, while the Australian Boy Scouts purchased the house and property in 1972 and to this day run the site as a training ground and popular camp site.

Victoria-Rose was keen on having a grand ‘first look’ with Adam next to the nearby stream so much of the time we were with Victoria-Rose as she got ready, Adam was with his groomsmen awaiting her arrival.

White suit jacket in tree
Groom having tie tied on verandah
Groom playing with cufflinks
Bride having makeup touched up
Engagement ring in red and pink bouquet
Groom pasing hallway
Engagement ring perched between shoes
Groom tie being adjusted in mirror
Wedding dress habging in window at manor
Bride smiling in small mirror
Groom talking to groomsmen
Grandma watching as girls get ready
Bridal party inbetween doorframe
Bridal bouquet closeup
Bride at Old Woodhouse Manor

Firstlook Photoshoot

Victoria-Rose and Adam held their first look at the bottom of the gardens surrounding the Manor, we made use of the nearby foliage for a bit of shade during the midday sun for a few glamour shots before heading to a nearby clearning for their ceremony.

Groom waiting patiently for first look
Bride arriving for first look
Bride approaching groom in first look
Smiles at first lok
Bride and groom hugs at first look
Bride leaning into her groom
Bridal party amongst the greens
Groom tickling his bride
Bride and groom on small bridge
Bride and groom close together through leaves
Bridal party silly photo
Bride and groom in the lush greens
Bride and groom embrace together
Bride and groom walking together
Bride and groom leaning in for kiss
Bridal portrait in the undergrowth

Old Woodhouse Manor Wedding Ceremony

Victoria-Rose and Adam’s Old Woodhouse Manor wedding ceremony took place under the shade of a large tree, nearby the car parking spaces reserved for people heading to the Manor.

Victoria-Rose arrived in a modern Mustang, with a rather brave driver, as they were completely off road and in heavy grass as they approached. I would have been worried aboult getting such a low car out of there!

Victoria-Rose walked along a small footbridge towards Adam and their congregation with Enya playing in the background and held a nice, simple ceremony topped off by having one of their grandmothers join in with a hand-fasting ceremony, which was a nice touch.

Groom looking out for his bride
Bride hitching dress up to walk in long grass
Old Woodhouse Manor wedding ceremony
Old Woodhouse Manor wedding holding hands
Groom looking at bride at ceremony
Bride looking at groom at ceremony
Placing wedding ring on her finger
Grandma joing in for hand fasting ceremony
First kiss at Old Woodhouse Manor wedding
Bride and groom exit on sunny day
Famiyl with wedding certificate

Old Woodhouse Manor Wedding Reception

Inbetween Victoria-Rose and Adam’s Ceremony and sit-down reception which was taking place in a large paved courtyard, shaded by the old manor, everyone was treated to a classical mucic concert as a surprise, put on by their parents.

Bride and groom walking up hill
Old Woodhouse Manor wedding reception setup
3 tiered white wedding cake with leaves
Bride and groom arriving at concert
Bride and groom cutting cake outside
Bride and groom enjoying concert
Mum and guest
Bride cork popping
Bride and groom leaning against large tree
Bride and groom under sunlight and trees
Fiurst dance at Old Woodhouse Manor wedding

Thankyou so much to Victoria-Rose and Adam for having my wife and I cover your wedding as both wedding photographer and Videographer! Was a lovely day!

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Lake Breeze Winery Wedding – Charlotte & Jake

Charlotte and Jake’s Lake Breeze Winery wedding was one of family, love and a wonderful couple in the center of it all!

Charlotte and Jake were keen to follow me about during Golden Hour and fended off all the bugs to get the most awesome photos in amongst the stunning surrounds that is Lake Breeze Winery.

Preparation

My wife and I began the day at Charlotte’s place of preparation in order to capture some of the early morning while the girls were getting ready.

Alice’s B&B was where Charlotte had chosen for the bridal party to get ready, and it featured a pretty amazing upper level with a neat triangular window overlooking the long, spacious grassy area out the back of the house. This allowed for some neat opportunities for both their makeup artist for natural light, and also to hang Charlotte’s dress in.

After a few shots of Charlotte and her bridal party getting ready, we head over to Jake and the boy’s place of preparation, then head back to Alice’s B&B again for the finishing touches.

Bit of a fun end to Charlotte’s preparation was a silly adaptation of a scene from Princess Diaries where Charlotte hid behind two images of her before her makeup, then has a reveal. Bit silly, but lot’s of fun!

Engagement ring in pink rose
Engagemant ring perched between shoes
Custom clothes hangers
Girls in pink robes
Bridal makeup process
Bridal makeup finishing
Baby
Bride putting on tiara
Wedding dress hanging in triangle window
Page boy portrait
Mum and Dad helping bride
Page boy sneaking a look
Bride standing in dress

Jake and his groomsmen were prepared nearby in another bed and breakfast, The Creek Cottage.

Bit of a different ambiance to where Charlotte was being prepared, this little cottage was covered in vines, and had an old, rustic vibe which was very cozy. The boys were keen on having a bit of a laugh throughout the preparation process and it was lovely to have Jake’s parents pitch in a bit too!

Grooms suit jacket hanging in ivy
Wedding rings on shoes
Groom having tie adjusted
Father of groom helping
Groom laughing with his groomsmen
Mother of groom helping
Groom putting on watch
Groom looking out window with white flowers
Groom putting on shoes
Groom waving through vines
Groom leaning on brick wall

Lake Breeze Winery Wedding Ceremony

Having only one wedding car to transport all of the bridal party to Lake Breeze Wines meant that the car had to do multiple trips both to and from their bed and breakfasts, and then to and from the ceremony location, out the back with the permanent arbour set up on the large grassy area out the back of the winery.

This resulted in a bit of an anxious wait for Jake, which was very cute having his pacing the front of their congregation and staring off into the distance – along with a few cuddles from their son.

Once Charlotte arrived, then their ceremony was nice and simple, with a short Disney themed reading from a family member, before reciting heartfelt personal vows involving a lot of good natured jabs at each other’s favourite football teams. That’s real football, not AFL.

They also had my live streaming service set up for guests who could not attend overseas!

Groom patiently waiting
Groom being Dad
Bride and Father of bride
Bride walking down aisle
Groom watching his bride walk down aisle
Bride listening to celebrant
Lake Breeze winery wedding ceremony
Groom saying vows
First kiss at Lake Breeze Winery weding
Signing the marriage certificate
Bridal exit at Lake Breeze winery wedding
bride and groom waving to their live stream

Glamour Photos

After the ceremony, their car was about to leave, so I made sure to use it while we still had it available, so we first took some bridal party photos with it, before using the drone to take a big group photo.

We then spent a little bit of time taking a few more group photos of the bridal party together before heading into the reception.

During the reception, I had Charlotte and Jake follow us around the grounds a bit during the best light for photos, and boy did the sun turn it on for us when I wanted it to! The day was otherwise overcast all day, expect for the time we were out for photos, and I’m so thankful it did!

The great thing about hosting a Lake Breeze Winery wedding is the variety of scenes one can get – from the usual vineyards shots from any winery, to little hidden footbridges, gum trees, long grass and old stone walls. you can spend hours taking photos here.

Wedding party with white car
Bridal couple with wedding car
Wedding guests in shape of heart
Bride and groom with love sign
Handpicked bridal party
Bridal party standing near gum trees
Bride and groom walking on foot bridge
Bride and groom on foot bridge
Bride and groom smirking under veil
Bride and groom walking holding hands
Lake Breeze Winery wedding photo
Lake Breeze Winery wedding portrait
Bride leading groom through long grass
Bride an dgrom under sunlight
Bride and groom portrait
Bride and grrom walking under sun
Bride and groom on Lake Breeze Winery bridge
Dancing on lake Breeze Winery bridge
Bride and Groom in Lake Breeze wines vineyard
bride and groom in vines
bride and groom walking in vines
Bridal couple peeking in vines
Bridal couple lift
Lake Breeze winery wedding photo at night
bride and groom in smoke
bride and groom with lights

Lake Breeze Winery Wedding Reception

After some lovely speeches, and the wedding shoe game, Charlotte and Jake danced the night away with their family and friends who all looked like they had an absolute blast!

 

Wedding cake in circle leaves
Wedding gift shot
Lake Breeze winery wedding setup
bridal entrance to Lake Breeze winery
bride and groom cutting cake
Shoe game
Children dancing
Dancing bride and groom
First dance at Lake Breze winery wedding
Guests dancing at wedding
Dancing guests at wedding
Guest with funny hat
Guests getting into the vibe
Bride using photobooth

Thanks so much Charlotte and Jake for having my wife and I capture your wonderful Lake Breeze Winery wedding day!

 

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Walking Down the Aisle? Awesome Tips and Tricks!

Walking down the aisle

Walking Down the Aisle

As a wedding photographer who has captured the special moments of over 350 brides walking down the aisle, from so many different cultural backgrounds, I’d like to share some tips on how to make your walk down the aisle go smoothly.

It’s understandable to feel nervous, and your bridesmaids may also share your jitters. However, with these tips, we can help make your experience a little easier and ensure that we capture the perfect shots of your grand entrance.

Bride and Father walking down aisle
Bride walking down aisle at Bremer Farm wedding
Bride and father approaching groom

Walking Down the Aisle? Here are some Tips!

  • Don’t worry too much about what the kids are doing.

Firstly, don’t stress about the page boys and flower girls. No matter what they do, it will be awesome and fun for everyone. Kids at weddings are always ‘fun’ either completely out of control, or cute and adorable – either way they add some great charm to your day.

Let them walk together for more confidence, and if they make a mistake, go with it, as it will be a memorable moment.

Page boys approaching
Page boy handing over rings
Flower girl walking down aisle
Flower girls watching ceremony

  • Don’t Rush

Take your time walking down the aisle. Don’t rush it, walk at a normal pace and soak in the moment. The wedding ceremony is all about the bride and groom, so don’t look at the camera. Instead, concentrate on the important things like looking at your partner, family, and friends smiling at you.

Not looking at the camera is important, it just looks so forced if you do so during such an emotion time as walking down the aisle!

Bride arriving with Mum and Dad

  • Be sure there is space between bridesmaids

I highly recommend instructing your bridesmaids to take their time walking down the aisle and to leave a generous gap between each other. Despite being your closest friends, most bridesmaids tend to be nervous, and walking too close to each other can make it difficult for me to capture clear shots of them. So, encourage them to spread out and create enough space for each to shine on their own.

A great way to be sure everyone is on the same page here is to have a rehearsal – and you can make a bit of a day of it, take them out to lunch or something, or make use of your wonderful venue if they are open – like most wineries.

bridesmaids approaching ceremony

  • Consider going unplugged

Consider having an unplugged ceremony, where guests are present and watching the ceremony, instead of trying to film or photograph it through their phones.

This not only allows your guests to be more ‘connected’ to what is actually going on, but it also looks so much better in your wedding photos if nobody is holding their phone or ipads!

Mobile phone
Bride walking down aisle

  • Think about who is going to walk you down the aisle

Traditionally, the father walks the bride down the aisle, but there is no reason why both parents can’t walk their daughter down the aisle or other alternatives like the bride walking herself, the groom walking up to meet the bride halfway down the aisle, or a stepfather walking the bride halfway down and then passing her to the biological dad.

It would also be very cute to incorperate fur babies like dogs into the entrance if your venue allows it!

Walking down the aisle
Bride arriving with Dad

  • Think about suppliers

It is important to tell your videographer not to walk down with you. It may seem like a strange point, but some videographers follow the bride down the aisle from the front. This can be intrusive and take away from the experience of walking down the aisle.

It might look great in your video, but the moment will be lost and chances are the photos you get will feature your videographer!

Something that really gets people talking and can make things very memoriable is engaging in a transport supplier like a flashy car, or helicopter? Perhaps even arrive by parachute if you’re that way inclined! Whatever you do just make sure it speaks to your personality, and have fun with it!

Helicopter approaching Chateau Yaldara wedding
Bride and groom walking towards their wedding ceremony from the helicopter

  • Think about how your groom or bride is going to be standing at the end of your entrance

One of my favourite photos to capture at a wedding is the reaction of (usually) the groom at the end of the aisle seeing his bride approach for the first time.

It’s so much fun seeing how they react! Be if tears, laughter or simply not even able to be looking in the direction of the bride! Whatever they do it speaks to their personality and makes the photography that much more special.

Think about how they are going to be standing at the end. Will they be facing away from you like they do in some customs, or will they turn around as you’re half way down the aisle? Or simply just standing they watching you enter?

Grooms first look in St Pauls Church
Grooms first look at Beresford estate wedding
Grooms first look at the cedars
Grooms first look at Chapel Hill winery wedding
Grooms first look at bride at Ingle wood inn wedding

Lastly, remember that it is your wedding, and there are no rules. Walk down the aisle however you want, whether it’s dancing, laughing, hugging family members, blowing kisses, crying, spinning, or singing.

In conclusion, walking down the aisle is an essential moment in a wedding ceremony. It’s essential to take the time to enjoy and embrace the experience. With these tips, it can be a much more comfortable and unforgettable experience.

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Announcing the 2023 Wedding Photo of the year contest!

Every year, I hold a contest for all the married couples whose weddings I covered in the previous year (2022). I request each couple to choose their favorite photo from the wedding photos I took on their big day and nominate it for the ‘SvenStudios 2022 wedding photo of the year’ title. The winning couple receives a $500 voucher to use in their personal cloud-based store to produce and print whatever products they want.

I maintain a hands-off approach with the selection of the images, leaving it entirely to the couples to choose their favorite pictures, even if they differ from my personal selection. I have created a slideshow video of my favorite images from each wedding I covered in 2022, in case anyone is interested.

To encourage more participation, I offer a cash prize of AU$100 to a randomly chosen voter after the voting period ends. To maintain fairness, I have an anti-duplicate detection system in place to deter any cheating or duplicate voting. This year, I am also adding an extra entry to the draw for anyone who shares their vote on social media.

Please note that sharing on social media is not mandatory to submit a vote, as not everyone has social media accounts. However, in past contests, the winning image has been the most voted and shared on social media. Therefore, every individual vote and share counts and goes into the draw to win the cash prize.

So, vote for your favorite photo and share it on Facebook to show your support. Remember, each vote and share is a chance to win the AU$100 cash prize.

Click here to vote and win $100!

Voting opens 25/2/2023

2023 Wedding Photo of the year contest entries

Chami + Bryce
Sonya + Jeff
Bianca + Josh
Jesse + Luke
Ritamaree + Sydney
SuzanneKaren
Emma + Nickolai
Emma + Stephen
Sandi + Daniel
Lauren + Trent
Cassie + Danny
Haley + Jordan
Sash + Dan
Jody + Simon
Dayna + Alex
Clare + Craig
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Wedding Sparkler Exit: A Guide to an Awesome Exit

The wedding sparkler exit is a popular and exciting way for the newlyweds to leave their reception.

As a photographer, adding light from sparklers to the dark is a sure-fire way to spice up your end of the night photos, so we really look forward to it whever a couple says they are planning on hosting a wedding sparkler exit!

However, things can sometimes go wrong. Here are some tips to make sure your exit is picture-perfect and unforgettable.

Wedding Sparkler Exit Tips

Check with Your Venue

It’s important to note that sparkler exits can (or should) only be done outdoors. This is due to fire regulations and smoke alarms. Before planning your exit, check with your venue to ensure it’s possible. Some wedding venues have banned sparkler exits because of safety concerns, so make sure you get the go-ahead before making any plans.

Beresford estate wedding exit

Display the Sparklers

Make sure to have the sparklers on display during the reception so guests can see what’s going to happen. Also, make sure to have a time written down somewhere so everyone knows when the exit is happening. This will prevent guests from leaving early and minimize the need for reassembling everyone.

What I’ve found to be best is to actually stage your exit earlier in the night so that everyone can be involved – not all of your guests are going to stay until you leave at 11:30pm (or later!) This allows for the elderly in your guestlist to join in, and everyone shouldnt be (too) drunk too!

First dance with sparklers

Have Enough Efficient Lighters

Sparklers burn quickly, so make sure to have plenty of lighters available. The more lighters, the faster everyone can be lit and the smoother the exit will be.

The best lighters aren’t just a smoker’s lighter, but rather butane torches that are readily available from Bunnings or any hardware store. These torches last forever, and emit a short, powerful flame that will light sparklers quickly and easily.

Use Long Sparklers

To ensure a successful exit, use long sparklers, not short ones. Long sparklers are sold specifically and marketed for a wedding sparkler exit,. and gives you enough time to get through the guests and make a statement. Short, regular sparklers you would buy from a supermarket burn too quickly and will be out before you’ve even made it past the first few guests.

Have Enough Sparklers for Each Guest

Even if some guests don’t participate, it’s still important to have enough sparklers for everyone – and I’m sure some of the more boisterous amongst your guets would be keen on having more than one! Younger guests may take a couple of sparklers and light them early, so having a full number of sparklers will ensure that everyone has one.

Sparkler exit at Chateau yaladara wedding

Make an Announcement and be ready!

Your MC should take charge of organizing the exit and instructing guests. They should make an announcement reminding everyone to form two lines and wait until everyone is outside to light the sparklers. This will prevent half the guests from lighting the sparklers immediately and having them burn out before the exit line is formed.

Make sure the couple is ready to leave before lighting the sparklers. Say your goodbyes to your family first and then light the sparklers. Avoid getting stuck talking to relatives or friends as this will result in a tunnel of smoke. This is another reason why you might opt to mock exit earlier in the night.

MC doing his thing on dancefloor

Create a Wide Tunnel

Instruct guests to hold the sparklers up high and have a wide enough tunnel for the couple to walk down. Walking down a path of fire and sparks is dangerous, especially if the bride is wearing a flammable dress and has a lot of hair spray. A wide gap will ensure everyone’s safety.

Be Safe and don’t run!

Don’t light a bunch of sparklers together. Doing so can cause a mini explosion and embers can fly everywhere, potentially burning someone. Also, your time walking through the tunnel. It’s better to walk, stop for a kiss, say goodbye to friends, and look at each other. Running will make the moment feel over too quickly, and running around flames isn’t smart!

It’s also smart to organise multiple buckets of water, and have the venue spread them out where you’re plannig on doing your exit – that way no random sparks from otherise dead sparklers won’t get anyone into any trouble.

First dance with fireworks at Adelaide Hilton Hotel

Think about who’s at the end of the wedding sparkler exit

Some might have your parents at the end of the tunnel so they can be the last people you say goodbye to, or whomever really – could be your dog? That’d be cute! Give them a farewell hug and kiss, it’s just a nice way to end your night.

Have Fun

Enjoy the exit! Dance, jump, sing, and kiss. Be in the moment with your family and friends and do whatever you want. Don’t worry about the camera or posing, just have fun and soak it in!

Bride and groom kissing at end of sparkler run

These tips will help you plan an awesome wedding sparkler exit. With a little planning and preparation, you can make this moment unforgettable.