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Sinclairs Gully Winery Wedding – Suzanne & Karen

It had certainly been a while since I covered a Sinclairs Gully Winery, so I was super excited to head back to this secret little spot in amongst the Adelaide Hills!

The weather unfortunately wasnt the best for their big day, but it certainly diddnt seem to phase Suzanne and Karen with their own sense of quirkyness and fun, they had smiles on their faces all day!

Sinclairs Gully Winery Wedding Ceremony

The Sinclairs Gully Winery at Norton’s Summit is a delightful little Adelaide Hills wedding venue hidden amongst very dense bushland. The whole area feels like a campground in that you wouldn’t know you were anywhere near civilisation – it’s a beautiful spot boasting huge white gum trees and quite a bit of native flaura and fauna about the place!

Suzanne and Karen’s wedding ceremony took place on the small grassy clearing set up just off the driveway into the cellar door. Hidden amongst the trees, the setting is very intimate and suited for small ceremonies like theirs. The unfortunate thing about being such a ruggen location however is that on a rainy day such as this one – there was quite a bit of water underfoot to contend with!

The personality of these two shone through the entire ceremony, beginning with a rugged ‘flower man’, a dancing number performed by Suzanne and Karen and delightful quirky touches such as a broccoli bouquet and bubbles all over the place!

Ceremony sign
Flower man
Arriving for the wedding ceremony
Dancing together in the aisle
Smiling listening to celebrant
Celebrant talking to couple
Couple standing in front of doors
Wet wedding ceremony
Couple listening to celebrant under umbrella
Laughter during ceremony
Exchanging wedding bands at Sinclair Gully winery wedding
Blowing bubbles through the door
Signing the marriage certficate
Sinclairs Gully winery wedding

Glamour Photos

After the ceremony, we took a quick drone photo of the group just as it started to rain – so we got plenty of umbrellas in the shot! Thankfully the weather cleared up a bit more after though!

We made sure to use the stunning tall, white gum trees nearby for some bush shots, and also the beautifully curvy driveway leading into the Sinclair Gully Winery cellar door.

One neat reason why Suzanne and Karen chose me as their wedding photographer was my affinity for landscape work, so I made sure to work in the surrounds as much as possible! Not that I dont do this anyway – it’s just how I approach my weddings!

Group shot with drone
Wedding rings on broccoli
Married couple inbetween trees
Married couple under the tall white gums
Couple holding hands in tall white gum trees
Walking through the gum trees together
Married couple holding one another in the trees
Holding hands smiling near the gum trees
Talking to one another in the trees
Leaning against a gum tree together
Close up of engagement ring smiling
Sinclairs Gully winery wedding photo
Skipping down the driveway
Dancing on the driveway
Together on the SInclairs Gully Winery driveway
Dancing in the rain together
Newly married couple holding drawing
Sinclairs Gully winery wedding

Sinclairs Gully Winery Wedding Reception

Suzanne and Karen’s reception was a simple affair taking place under the porch area of the cellar door. We made time for some group photos of guests and simply had a bit of fun enjoying each other’s company!

Dancing guests in group
Ball Wedding Cake
Homemade Granola wedding favour
Picking food
Smiling guest at wedding
Wedding gift box
Smiling guest at camera

Thanks go out to Suzanne and Karen for having me cover their Sinclairs Gully Winery wedding, and I sure do hope you enjoy your phtos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

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Chateau Yaldara Wedding – Clare & Craig

After having to hold an ‘official’ wedding ceremony a year earlier with a lot fewer guests at the Mt Torrens Hotel due to the COVID pandemic. Clare and Craig were finally able to host their dream Chateau Yaldara Wedding on an amazing winter day!

Clare and Craig went to great lengths to produce a most amazing day for their guests who many travelled, including hosting a screening of their offical ceremony a year earlier, and then also recreating the ceremony in front of the impressive Chateau Yaldara cellar door!

Preparation

The day began at Clare and Craig’s house nearby as the two of them were being prepared at the same house surrounded by lush Australian bush and sweeping paddocks belonging to neighbouring farms.

It was definitely a display of the personalities of both Clare and Craig – with broadswords and metal bouquets on display due to Clare’s affinity for the medieval, while their dirtbikes played a central role in some of their group photos a bit later.

Sword and bridal shoes
Groomsmen cufflinks
Engagement rign in metal bouquet
Wedding rings on slate
Dog with tie
Motorcycles lined up
Groom putting on cufflinks in light
Groom putting on tie in hallway
Wedding dress habing on gum tree branch
groomsman helping adjust tie in window
Bride standing smiling
Smiling groomsman while adjusting collar

Pre Ceremony Photoshoot

We made sure to use the surrounding scenery of Clare and Craig’s house for some photos before heading to their Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony.

As Clare and Craig had already spent a bit of time having photos together at their wedding at Mt Torrens, a focus was put on trying to get group photos at every opportunity throughout the day. We first used the gum trees and nearby dam on Clare and Craig’s property, along with their dirtbikes before heading to a pine forest.

Before the ceremony took place, Clare and Craig held a bit of a screening of their last wedding ceremony using a projector for all theguests who could not attend the first time. During which Clare and her bridal party hid in the cellar door area of Chateau Yaldara waiting for their recreation ceremony to begin.

Groom with groomsmen
Bride chatting with bridal party
Bride and Groom with sword next to tree
Bridal aprty with motorscycles
Bride and groom in front of pond
Bridal party with reflection in pond
Bride and groom amongst ghost gum trees
Smiling bride and groom
Groom dipping bride in pine trees
Bride and groom in sunlight between pines
Bridal party in pine trees
Bride and groom kiss in between bridal party
Bride and groom walking through pine forest
Bridesmaid amongst bridal party
Bride and groom in front of old building at Chateau Yaldara and new
Chateau Yaldara wedding setup
Bride chilling with bridal party before ceremony
Classic Bridal portrait

Chateau Yaldara Wedding Ceremony

Taking place on the lawns in front of the cellar door, Clare and Craig’s Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony was set up so that the backdrop fo the main building was framed nicely by the tree on the grounds, while also having the rest of the estate in the background. The time of day was also great for me due to the sun hitting the building nicely.

A bit of photoshop was needed to remove a few overly zealous members of the public and their phones taking phtos of Clare as she walked down the stairs, but it all worked out well.

Their recreated wedding ceremony was a short, sharp affair, simply put together just so that their guests could attend in person – which I thought was a delightful way to forget the past few years of annoyign COVID restrictions.

Groom and entourage walking together
Bride approaching Chateau Yaldara Wedding Ceremony
Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony landscape
Bride approaching Chateau Yaldara Wedding Ceremony from cellar door
Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony
Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony portrait
Bride sharing vows at Chateau Yaldara wedding
First kiss at Chateau Yaldara wedding
Group photo at Chateau Yaldara wedding

Glamour Photoshoot

After the ceremony, and the family photos which we took on the steps of the cellar door, we head inside to the back room which Clare quite enjoyed sipping port amopngst the rustic wooden walled room.

We then used the balcony overlooking the front lawned area, and finally the staff-only cellar area which had some incredible opportunities – despite Clare and Craig’s dislike of ‘silhouette shots’ :D.

A fun thing about hosting a Chateau Yaldara wedding is not just the winery grounds, but also the nearby dam and natural rocky ground on which some epic scenes can be had – particulary at sunset!

At night we also head out again with some lights and smoke to make use of the steps again in a grand night shoot!

Groom and groomsmen at bar
Groom serving Bride at Bar
Bridal party on Balcony of Chateau Yaldara
Bride and groom in Chateau Yaldara Cellar
Bride and groom in Chateau Yaldara Bottle Cellar with light
Bride and groom in Chateau Yaldara BottleCellar
Bridal party walking along creek
Bridal party berched on rocks
Bride and groom perched on rocks
Bride and groom perched on rocks portrait
Bride and groom on rocks in middle of creek
Bridal party on rocks in middle of creek
Bridal party walking together near creek
Bridal party in front of tree
bride and groom in cellar doorway
Bride and grrom in the belly of winery
Bride and groom looking at camera
Bride and groom nearby wine barrels
Chateau Yaldara Wedding photo at night
Groom having fun with groomsman at night

Chateau Yaldara Wedding Reception

Clare and Craig’s reception was put on specifically to celebrate with family and friends who mostly travelled to be with the ‘newly wed’ couple. The night was full of heartfelt speeches, fun games and a photobooth set up to capture their guests whenever I diddnt!

Two tiered wedding cake
Custom beer stein
Cutting wedding cake laughing
Bride giving speech
Wedding shoe game at Chateau Yaldara reception
Speech giver in front of barrels
Groom speech in front of barrels
Bride listening to groom speech
groom being used as a game piece
Dacning the night away
First dance at Chateau yaldara
Bride with swords on the dance floor
Bridesmaid lifing bride

Thanks so much Clare and Craig for having me as your Barossa photographer at your amazing Chateau Yaldara wedding day!

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Adelaide Bridal Photoshoot and Reception – Emre & Sara

After Emre and Sara held their wedding ceremony insterstate, they wanted to celebrate with their family and friends back here in Adelaide!

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t brilliant for our Adelaide Bridal Photoshoot in the Botanic Gardens, and around North Terrace, but we got some great shots despite trying to keep Sara’s spectacular dress as clean as possible before their reception at the San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre.

Preparation

Both Emre and Sara shared a Mayfair Hotel room to be prepared alongside Sara’s bridal party. Everyone was running about trying not to get in each other’s way before heading out for photos, but the atmosphere was otherwise energetic and exciting!

There was aplan to make use of the Hennesy Rooftop bar, only to realise that the bar needed to be booked far in advance – it was ok though as we were running a fair bit late already before heading out to meet their wedding car.

White suit jacket
Grooms watch
Engagement ring in white bouquet
Bridal jewellery on white shoes
Bride and bridesmaid fiddling with dress
Groom buttoning shirt looking out window
Bridal makeup
Closeup of bride hands
bridesmaid helping with bridal gown
Groom adjusting hair in mirror
Bride framed by circular mirror
Smiling bride looking at camera
Groom surveying bowtie
Groom and bride in mirror together
Bride in front doorway

Adelaide Bridal Photoshoot

The weather put a bit of a hamper on mobility throughout our Adelaide bridal photoshoot, with Sara’s incredible dress taking a bit of moving each time we moved locations. It ceratinly made for some fun shots though, I particularly enjoyed when we carried her train across King William Road with the whole bridal party! Certainly made everyone smile!

After clambouring into their car, we head over to Botanic Park to make use of the beautiful Moreton Bay Fig trees and head into the Adelaide Botanic Gardens via the northern Friendship Gates.

As we were trying to keep Sara’s dress as clean as possible for their reception later, we attempted to stay on the concrete paths throughout the Botanic Gardens, and even head into the famed Bicentennial Conservatory Dome to avoid any rain.

We then head to North Terrace for a few shots in front of the pretty architecture in front of the buldings along there and also the Old Police Barracks behind the Adelaide Museum.

We even found time to drive to Adelaide Arcade and the Adelaide Railway for a few photos there – all the while attempting to avoid the rain as much as possible.

Bride and groom on Mayfair Hotel’s staircase
Laughing bride as crossing road
Bridal party crossing King William road
Bridal party with wedding car next to Mayfair Hotel
bride and groom inside bridal car
bride and groom in Botanic Park
Botanic Park wedding photo
Bride and groom holding one another in Botanic Park
Bridal dip in the roots of a Moreton Bay Fig tree
bride and groom head butt in front of tree
Bride standing aloe with long wedding gown train
bride and groom laughing together
Adelaide Botanic Gardens wedding photo
Bride and groom through low foliage
bride and groom leaning on tree with fairy lights
Bride and groom framed by foliage
Bride smiling looking at groom
Bride and groom in front of ornate doorway
Bride and groom through foliage and doorway
Bride standing alone in doorway
bridal embrace amongst pillars
groom leading bride in front of artwork
Groom leading bride up stars
Bride and groom on old Adelaide Police Barracks
Bride and groom in doorway at the old Adelaide Police Barracks
Groom sheilding bride from rain
Bonython hall wedding photo
bride and groom in front of Bonython hall’s doors
bride and groom under autumnal leaves
Adelaide Arcade wedding photo
Bride and groom in Adelaide Arcade
Adelaide railway wedding photo
Bride and groom in the lights of the Adelaide railway
Bride and groom in the pillars of the Adelaide Railway Station

San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre Reception

After out whirlwind Adelaie bridal photoshoot, we head to the San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre for a recepotion full of traditional dancing and performaces, including a grand entrance complete with drummers and dry ice.

Throughout the night, traditional Afgahn cuisine was served and circle dancing from different groups took place before culminating in a fun knife dance where the groom had to steal the cake cutting knfe from a dancing member of the family.

White wedding cake
San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre Wedding
Dancing guest alone on dancefloor
Bridal entrance with drummers
Bridal entraance dance
Groom banging drum
Excited groom in entrance
Dancing guests
Dancing performers
Guests watching the dancing
Dancing guests in circle
Groom on chair in middle of dance
Groom chair dance
Dancer in circle
Knife dance
Knife dance grinning lady
Bride and groom cutting cake

The whole day was great fun and I’d like to thank Emra and Sara for having us at their Adelaide Bridal Photoshoot and their wedding celebration!

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Darwin’s Dudley Point Wedding – Melanie & Kerry

It was so good to be up in Darwin again for a wedding, and I was super excited for Melanie and Kerry’s as it was the first time as a frequent Darwin wedding photographer to be in the Top End for Territory day!

I had heard stories of the fireworks and how crazy the streets of Darwin gets, but I finally was going to be in town to see it! Even better they head out to East Point for a spot of private fireworks the night before – awesome!

Melanie and Kerry’s big day’s weather turned out brilliantly – if not a bit chilly for Darwin, and it was an awesome day to be a part of!

Preparation

Melanie and Kerry had a pretty nifty set up for their preparation, having two separate properties connected via a shared backyard, where Kerry and his groomsmen got ready in one house, while Melanie and her bridal party got ready in the other!

I spent the time I was with them walking inbetween houses as things were happening and using the nifty surrounds which included pools, lush green trees and triple tiered interior of one of the houses!

The whole aesthetic of Melanie and Kerry’s day was very beachy, laid back and fun. The boys were dressed in Hawaiian shirts, while the girls were dressed in nice, short dresses with a blue theme for the beach.

Wedding rings in shell
Groomsman talking to groom
Blue engagement ring on yellow flowers
Bridal jewellery on rock
Wedding dress hanging in tree in Darwin
Flower girl watching bride get ready on balcony
Groomsman with socks on head
Groom and grooms men in middle of pool
Groom standing in middle of pool
Bride having her hair done
Flower girl makeup
Flower girl admriing herself in mirror
Bride decending down stairs
Bridesmaids in blue helping bride
Naked cat
bride putting on ear rings nearby window
Bride walking down stairs
bridal party on stairs
Bridal party next to pool

Dudley Point Wedding Ceremony

The East Point Reserve, just north of the Darwin city center was where Melanie and Kerry chose to hold their wedding. It would have to be one of my favourite spots in Darwin to take photos, so that was great!

Their Dudley Point wedding ceremony took place in the corner of the picnic area, with a view of the nearby cliffs. There was enough room for a large number of their guests, while also being intimate due to the fact the ceremony took place on top of the cliffs.

The ceremony itself was a lovely, simple affair with stories of how the two met, their vows were personally written and heartfelt – and everyone was all smiles at the end walking through bubbles!

Tesla Arriving at Dudley Point Wedding
Bride exiting Tesla
Posing in front of Tesla wedding car
Relaxed groom
Bride arriving at Dudley Point Wedding Ceremony
Grooms first look of bride at Dudley Point wedding ceremony
Bride andgroom talking at Dudley Point wedding ceremony
Dudley Point wedding Ceremony
Darwin’s Dudley Point wedding Ceremony
Bride smiling at her groom during ceremony at Dudley Point
Bridal vows
Bride and groom framed by square arbour
First kiss at Dudley Point wedding ceremony
Bride and groom exit from their Dudley Point wedding ceremony

Glamour Photos

Time was running short once we had sorted all the group photos, and I had managed to corral all members of the bridal party for a short walk along the cliff top to what I affectionately call ‘pride rock’ as it looks like the bride and groom are perched upon a thin sliver of sliff top, when it’s quite a wide chunk of rock – and it kind of looks like Pride Rock from the Lion King.

I wanted to head here first as I feared being the 2nd of July – it would be a super busy day in Darwin for weddings, and I presumed we would have to beat many other couples off this spot with a stick. Surprisingly no other weddings showed up! So we actually had the run of the place before driving out towards the Fannie Bay Foreshore for the sunset on the beach.

I also stuck in a firework photo I took the night before because I thought it was cool 🙂

Bride and groom out on clifftop
bride and groom nearby the tree on Pride Rock
Bride and groom with ocean in background
Bride and groom admiring sunset
Darwin East Point Pride Rock wedding photo
bridal party at East Point
Wedding socks
bride and groom with sunset in background
Groom elading bride through the undergrowth
Bride and groom share embrace surrounded by foliage
bride leads groom along beachfront
Bridal portrait of bride and groom
Bride and groom walking along Darwin beach
Bridal party with Darwin’s cliffs as a backdrop
Darwin’s Cracker night couples photo

Darwin Wedding Reception

After their Dudley Point wedding ceremony and their glamour photos, Melanie and Kerry held their reception at turned out to be a huge shed that they had spent untold hours setting up for their party!

Thousands of fairy lights adorned the ceiling over their huge u-shaped table seating all their guests – it actaully made for a pretty neat group photo spot!

The night was full of fun, speeches, great food and was great to be a part of!

Darwin reception setup in shed
wedding memorial table
group shot of all wedding guests
Grooms speech in front of white backdrop
Another angle of Darwin wedding reception
Bride’s speech
Triple wedding cake
Cutting their wedding cake
Bridal couple dancing
Groom having some fun
Bouquet toss result

Thanks so much to Melanie and Kerry for having me at your Dudley Point wedding!

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Sferas Wedding – Rita & Chad

Rita and Chad held their Sferas wedding on a lovely, if not a bit chilly day in late June surrounded by their closest family and friends!

They made use fo the on site chapel for their ceremony, with photos throughout civic park, before returning back for their Sferas wedding reception.

 

Preparation

When I arrived at Chad’s place of preparation, I was greeted by numberous pets and animals, including the most impressive collection of large, talking parrots who kept me company as I began taking photos of Chad’s groom accessories.

Chad’s groomsmen were running late a little, and Chad preoccupied himself running aorund the house a bit for a cat he had temporaly misplaced, which meant we had not much time left for photos before we had to head off to Sferas for Rita’s preparation.

Grooms golden watch
Grooms rings and cologne
Grooms jacket hanging in tree
Pet bird
Groomsmen getting tie put on
Groomsmen looking at the camera
Groom playing with ring on hand
Groomsman helping groom with tie
Groomsmen helping groom with suit
Groom peering out window
Groom standing in front of window black and white
Groomsmen standing together in field
Smiling groom with groomsmen in background
Groomsmen placing ribbon on car
Groom and page boy

Rita and her bridal party were being prepared in the largest room available at the Sferas Convention center. The room boasted a huge, curtained window suited for hanging the wedding dress on, only it has no view as it overlooks the main Sferas lobby.

As rita and her bridal party were being prepared with hair and makeup, my wife and I busied ourselves simply documenting what was going on. At one point we also popped downstairs to get a few shots of the reception setup.

spiral engagement ring in red rose
bridal jewellery
Wedding dress hanging in front of long curtains
generational wedding bands
bride having hair done in front of wedding dress
Flower girl watching bride get ready
Bridal party having a chat
Bridesmaid playing with hair
Flower girl holding flowers
Bridal party fussing around bride
Bride standing in front of white window holding bouquet
Bride holding bouquet looking at camera
Bride admiring son
Bride admiring wedding dress

Sferas Wedding Ceremony

The Chapel area of Sferas, hidden behind it’s main ballroom, and overlooking the nearby Civic park was Rita and Chad’s ceremony venue. The space alows for two rows of chairs set up with a grand piano and wall covered in green ivy as the backdrop.

Rita and Chad’s ceremony was a simple affair with heartfelt personal vows exchanged before sharing rings, and their first kiss.

Sferas marque wedding chapel
Groom waiting patiently at his sferas wedding
Page boy and flower girl
Bride and her son
Grooms first look at Sferas wedding
Bride and groom holding hands at Sferas wedding ceremony
Sferas wedding ceremony
Sferas wedding ceremony in Chapel
Groom talking into microphone
Bridal couple through heads of guests
Bridal couple sharing vows
First kiss at sferas wedding
Bride and groom signing documents

Glamour Photos

After having everyone on the grass nearby for a group photo using the drone, Rita, Chad and their bridal party went for a little walk about Civic park for a few glamour photos. After I had taken a few with the bridal party, they wewre able to retire back into the warm Sferas building, while Rita, Chad and I went for a further walk across the street to the lovely weeping willow nearby for more photos.

I felt a bit bad having Rita walk all that way as the weather was getting a bit chilly, and it wasnt a short walk in a wedding dress!

wedding guests in heart shape
bride and groom leadning in between two gum trees
Bride and groom embrace in tree
Bride smiling at her groom closeup
Bridal party walking through civic park
Bridal party walking through civic park closer
Bridal party kissing bride
Groomsmen picking up groom
Bride and groom standing near dry creek bed
Bride and groom headbutt in sunlight
bride and groom backlit by sun
Groom leading bride across field
Bride and groom hgolding each other in field
Bridal couple under weeding wilow tree
Weeping willow wedding photo
Bride holding groom under weeping willow
Bride and groom in front of Sferas at night

Sferas Wedding Reception

Once photos were complete, and Rita had a bit of time for retouching makeup and having guests take their seats, Rita and Chad were announced as husband and wife at their Sferas wedding reception.

The  highlight of the night was definitely the dry ice first dance they had organised, while everyone seemed to also have a blast with my photobooth which I had set up in the morning.

Festivities ran late into the night, culminating with a bouquet toss, and garter throw before the newly wedded couple exited under a traditional archway made from their guests.

Table center pieces
guests who could not attend reception
3 tier white wedding cake
Rita place marker
First dance at sferas wedding
First dance at sferas wedding reception
bride and groom dance with light
Bride and guests in front of photo booth
Bouquet catch
Dancing bride and groom

I’d like to thank Rita and Chad for having both my wife and I document their special day with our photography and videography! Your day was a joy to be a part of and we hope you love your photos!