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Botanic Gardens’ Sunken Garden Wedding – Anna & Isuru

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  • Anna & Isuru

    Botanic Gardens’ Sunken Garden Wedding

    Bride and groom embrace

It was a delightfully sunny day for Anna and Isuru’s wedding at the Adelaide Botanic Garden‘s Sunken garden wedding ceremony venue with a small group of close friends and family in person, and plenty watching a livestream! (When Isuru’s phone worked!)

The plan was to hold a small intimate ceremony here in Adelaide, and when COVID goes away hold another interstate with more guests.

Preparation

Anna was prepared in a room of the Mayfair hotel on King William St along with two of her friends. The atmosphere in the room was one of fun and excitement for the wedding ceremony and if Anna was feeling any nerves, she hid them well!

I made use of the Mayfair hotel lobby for a couple of shots on their spiral staircase while also heading out to the intersection for a few shots on the road, which the girls seemed to find amusing 😀

Hanging wedding dress
Having makeup done
Engagement ring in middle of bouquet
Having makeup done looking out window
Makeup artist doing her thing
Smiling bride in makeup chair
Girls watching makeup be done
bride holding bouquet black and white
bride holding bouquet smiling
bridal aprty ready to go
Bridal party on stairs
bridal party walking accross Hindley st
closeup of bouquet while bride looks out window
bridal party under green trees
bridal party under green tree

Sunken Garden Wedding Ceremony

The botanic Garden’s Sunken Garden Wedding venue provides for a lovely private spot to hold a ceremony in what is usually a rather busy place on a such a lovely day! The set up was lovely for me as a wedding phtoographer as the sun was right behind whre Anna and Isuru were standing which made for some lovely ethereal photos.

The heat of the day was quite powerful, as Iruru’s phone soon found out as unfortunately they had a bit of trouble keeping the livestream going – thankfully I was also recording the ceremony using 360 Virtual Reality technology as I always do so they made good use of that the next day!

Anna and Isuru’s wedding ceremony was full of personal insight into the couple’s relationship complete with in jokes and fun little things that had the entire congregation smiling and laughing along as they watched.

Grooms first look at the Sunken Garden
Botanic Gardens Sunken Garden Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Ceremony in the Sunken Garden
laughing groom during ceremony 2
Botanic Gardens Sunken Garden Wedding Ceremony 2
Smiling bride during ceremony 2
Holding hands during wedding ceremony
Holding hands during wedding ceremony under arch
Smiling groom looking at bride 2
Wedding ceremony at the SUnken Garden Botanic Gardens
Exchanging wedding bands closeup
Botanic Gardens Sunken Garden Wedding Ceremony through leaves
Sunken garden First Kiss
Smiles all round with the bride and groom
Wedding bands on hands
Bride and groom exit from Sunken Garden Ceremony

Adelaide Botanic Gardens Glamour Photos

We had a short amount of time for some photos in amongst the Adelaide Boatnic Gardens after having family photos done at the Sunken Garden so we hopped right to it making a beeline to the friendship gates then walking slowly back towards the National Wine Center.

I wanted to use the lovely trees that you can find in the nearby Botanic Park for some photos before walking back through the gardens. We were lucky enough to be walking back through the gardens a little later than allowed due to having the reception at the National Wine Center as we got to capture the dying sun through some of the trees on display around the grounds.

bride and groom amongst the foliage
bride and groom amongst foliage
Walking in the trees together
Huge trees in the Botanic Park
Adelaide Botanic Park wedding photo
bride and groom leaning in some ivy
Ivy wedding photo
Adelaide Botanic Gardens wedding Photo
bride and groom togteher in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Adelaide Botanic Gardens Sunset wedding
Amongst the tall trees wedding photo
Sunlight wedding phtoo
Bride and groom walking in the sunlight
Bride and groom embrace
bride and groom looking at camera on their wedding day
Bride and groom against a large tree

National Wine Center Reception

Anna and Isuru’s National Wine Center reception took place in their ‘Gallery’ room which boasts a huge glass wall overlooking the rest of the wine center’s grounds.

As their guest list was on the smaller side, only one long table was set up to make the entire setting feel quite opulent and grand! It also allowed all their guests to sit together and not have to travel a million miles to see everyone!

Adelaide WIne Center bridal entrance
Bride talking to guests at reception
Adelaide Wine Center Gallery Room
Selfy
Little girl running about
having some fun with the kids
Adelaide Wine Center Sushi
Kiss at the table
Isuru Speech
bridal hugs

I’d like to thank Anna and Isuru for having me photograph their Botanic Gardens’ Sunken Garden wedding, and I hope they enjoy their photos! Super happy to travel interstate for your other celebrations too! 😉

Botanic Gardens Adelaide Wedding – Georgia & Nick

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  • Georgia & Nick

    Botanic Gardens Adelaide Wedding

    Bride and groom holding one another in the undergrowth

On what must have been the busiest wedding day in decades, October 10th was the date for Georgia and Nick’s wonderful wedding at the Botanic Gardens Adelaide. Based mainly on the repetition of the date and fun addition of the date and month numbers ot make the year, then combined with COVID-19 rescheduling, I must have had dozens of enquiries for 10/10/20! And what a wedding Georgia and Nick’s turned out to be! Beautiful weather, lovely people and possibly the best spot to take photos in the Adelaide CBD :).

Preparation

I began the day as I usually do with Nick and his groomsmen getting ready in a hotel room in the city. Their room overlooked the northern part of the Adelaide CBD in quite a striking fashion with a great view of the new royal hospital and even Adelaide Oval!

When I arrived the boys were sitting about watching some horse racing, so I began the day by getting them to get a bit hyped up by placing fake bets on a horse race – this allowed for everyone to let go of any nerves thay may be lingering around and loosened everyone up for their preparation photos which we took in and around their room.

Wedding rings box 2
Wedding rings perched on shoes
Groom watching TV 2
Adjusting his shirt
Adjusting shirt
Groomsmen looking fab
Groom leaning on wall
Groom basking in sunlight
Smiling groom in his suit
chilling groomsmen

Georgia and her bridal party were being prepared at the couple’s house in Hillcrest. The girls were getting ready along side their paresnts and some well wishers that arrived half way through. The atmosphere was very laid back with allowed for some beautiful natural smiles and showing of emotion. It was especially endearing when Dad first saw his daugher sporting her wedding dress!

Bridal bangle
Engagement ring in bouquet 3
Bride having hair done 2
Bride’s Mum having makeup done
Bride having makeup done
Bride silhouette
bride getting ready 4
Putting on bridal shoes
Bride looking at bouquet
Bride in hallway 2
Mum looking on 2
Father’s first look of his daughter

Botanic Gardens Adelaide Wedding Ceremony

Finding a park at the Botanic Gardens Adelaide at the best of times can be quite tricky, but on a wonderful warm day such as Georgia and Nick’s wedding day it was extremely hard which led to Georgia being a little later than she had planned to be on the day, leaving Nick to pace about at the front of their congregation showing that he was not aty all nervous.

Georgia and Nick’s wedding ceremony took place at the Araucaria Avenue ceremony spot which boasts a lovely row of New Caledonia Pines (or Araucaria columnaris) leading off into where the sun sits which makes for a lovely,m sunlit backdrop for any wedding ceremony.

As the weather on Georgia and Nick’s wedding day was perfectly sunny, the whole ceremony was delightfully backlit creating a nice halo effect over everyones’s heads all throughout. It does make it ricky though to take phtoos from the side as the light makes for some harsh shadows form that angle. Still beautiful none the less. 🙂

My favourite part of the ceremony was the level of coordination Georgia and Nick’s guests showed with the birdal sendoff, blowing ample bubbles into the aisle to create quite an impressive send off! It’s often the case that not many bubbles show up in photos, but in this case it worked very well!

Groom waiting 2
Groom waiting patiently 2
Groom’s first look of bride 2
Botanic Gardens Wedding ceremony 2
bride during wedding ceremony
Wedding ceremony botanic gardens
Wedding ceremony botanic gardens adelaide
Wedding ceremony botanic gardens adelaide 2
Groom looking at his bride during the ceremony
reciting vows
Exchanging wedding bands 2
Wedding cermeony at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 3
First kiss 2
Bridal exit under bubbles

Botanic Gardens Adelaide Glamour Photos

Directly after the group pho0tos and a bit of a rest to thankeveryone for coming, we hopped right into the glamour photos wandering about the botanic gardens. It was the plan to do this and then head out to North Terrace, or even the Adelaide Zoo to take photos with the animals as that’s where their reception was taking place, but on the day we opted to stay within the botanic gardens which made things easier.

As the sun was beating down rather harshly, I tried to stay in shaded areas for the most part, utilising the lens flares the sun was throwing up through the foliage and occasionally using the brightness as a backdrop to some of their photos.

All the plants at this time of year in the Botanic Gardens Adelaide are super green and lush which makes taking shots throguh the foliage that much easier and satisfying to see!

In between the Botanic Gardens and the Adelaide Zoo we also made use of some of the Morten Bay fig trees around the adjacent Botanic Park for some photos!

Bride and groom next to tree 2
Bride and groom under a hollow tree
Bridal party walking away form ceremony
Standing in amongst the foliage
Bride and groom amongst the bamboo 2
Sun shining on the bride and groom
Wedding party in the bamboo
Bride and groom closeup in bamboo
Wedding photo at the Adelaide botanic gardens
bride and groom in the bamboo at the Adelaide botanic gardens
Botanic Gardens Adelaide wedding photo
Bridal party together in the tree
Botanic Gardens wedding photo in the elms
Bride and groom holding one another in the undergrowth
Bride and groom together under the trees
Bride and groom looing at the camera
Sun shinging through the leaves on the bridal couple
Botanic Park wedding photo
Bridal party in the Adelaide Botanic Park

Adelaide Zoo Wedding Reception

Georgia and Nick’s wedding reception at the Adelaide Zoo took place within the Sir Thomas Elder Rotunda which is a huge, circular structure that was draped with weather proof plastic sheets to keep guests warm. When sitting inside this marvellous structure, the decorations that were set up really made this space feel like a pretty wedding space with ribbons hanging from it’s center and soft lighting illuminating the whole scene. It’s quite and impressive sight!

Georgia and Nick’s guests were quite happy to make the most of the recent change to COVID-19 regulations in South Australia and very much enjoyed ‘virtical consumption’ of alcohol and of course made the most of the newly allowed dancefloor!

3 tier Wedding cake
Bride and groom entrance
Cutting the wedding cake 2
First dance at Adelaide Zoo wedding reception
First dance at Adelaide Zoo wedding reception 2
Guests talking to bride at head table
Guests at a table
Adelaide Zoo wedding reception
Main course
Maid of Honour with stick
Maid of honour toast
Groom shaking hands

I’d like to thank Georgia and Nick for having me as their wedding photographer at their Botanic Gardens Adelaide wedding, and I hope they enjoy their photos! 😀

Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Engagement Shoot – Olivia & Dimitri

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  • Olivia & Dimitri

    Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Engagement Shoot

    Hugs under the maple leaves

 

It wasn’t the nicest day to go out and do a photo shoot out and about high in the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, but I’m so glad Olivia and Dimitiri were keen to head out anyway as the colours you can get here are just incredible! Also the rising mist from early in the morning just made the feeling of their engagement photos that much more surreal!

Olivia and Dimitri were umming and ering over where to go for their photoshoot, thinking maybe a beach, or the Belair National Park but in the end were very keen on heading to the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, mainly due to it was where Dimitri had originally proposed.

As this engagement shoot was happening only a few weeks after when they were supposed to be married, I thought this was quite appropriate! Olivia and Dimitri had had to postpone their wedding due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Once a location was chosen, I really wanted to make use of the lovely light either in the late afternoon for the golden hour, or early morning.

We ended up getting up early on the freezing morning for the gates to open at 8:30 as the COVID-19 restrictions had just been lifted and we expected the Botanic Gardens to be packed with people trying to get out and about a bit! The early start, coupled with the drizzly weather meant we had the whole Gardens to ourselves.

Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Engagement Shoot

We began our photoshoot walk at the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens lower carpark, nearby the dam wall. Our first reaction when arriving was that we were super lucky to still have some colours in the autumn leaves that made these botanic gardens so magical! I was kind of hoping to get a bit of fog into their photos, but it was fast rising.

We quickly hopped up the nearby hill to make use of some trees that were losing their leaves, then head down to the water’s edge as I wanted to use my favourite tree in all of the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, but unfortunately it had already lost all it’s leaves 🙁

Laughing through the red leaves
Walking along the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens dam
Holding one another at the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens
Cuddles by the water
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Autumn colours
Walking together in the Autumn colours
Close up of engagement ring

Olivia and Dimitri certainly made it easy as their carefree attitude was present all throughout the photoshoot and they had plenty of smiles on their faces!

We then head across the dam, which I feel is always an awesome shot to get, making the couple feel as though they are out in the middle of nowhere on ther path way. It’s a very tricky shot to get though as usually the dam walkway is always full of dozens of other people walking across!

Walking along the Mt Lofty Botanic Dam
Couple on the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Dam

The big draw of the Botanic Gardens are the wonderfully vivid autumnal colours you can get at this time of year, and thankfully we were able to capture some before they all fell from the trees. The colours, coupled with the misty morning really made for some wonderful scenes!

I had a blast taking photos with Olivia and Dimitri during this weather, but it’s so rare to get a couple to get up this early and head out in bad weather like this! 🙂

Just have a ook at the types of unique scenes you can get in weather like this! from fog, to muted autumnal colours!@ It’s a great time to take photos! Just not so great if you want to stay snug and warm :/

Couple under the yellow leaves
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Bridge
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens in winter
Couple under the orange trees
Laughing and playing
Hugs under the yellow leaves
Walking together with the mist
Hugs under the maple leaves
Looking at the camera under the maple leaves
Looking at a flower

I’d like to thank Olivia’s sister in law Thalia whose engagement shoot had been given to them by her mother for giving Olivia and Dimitri their engagement shoot! It’s always nice to know that people appreciate their photos so much they have their family and friends also have their photos taken with me! 🙂

Adelaide Botanic Garden Wedding – Sophie & Robert

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  • SOPHIE & ROBERT

    Adelaide Botanic Garden Wedding

    Exit

A beautiful, sunny day greeted Sophie and Robert on their gorgeous mid-February Summer wedding amongst the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The sun was shining, and so were the personalities of the bride and groom, amongst the smiling faces of their friends and family as they took the plunge and exchanged vows amongst the tall pine trees at the center of the gardens.

I was asked to be their wedding photographer for their entire day after having been recommended by one of Robert’s groomsmen who I had cover their wedding for back in 2016! It’s always nice to be recommended by previous brides and grooms like that as you know you’re doing something right!

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Preparation

When I arrived at Robert’s place of preparation, south of the city I was greeted by all the boys admiring Robert’s Mini, which was unfortunately so I gathered, sitting idle in the garage for quite some time – apparently it was one of those hobbies that Robert has , but not really done much with 🙂

The morning went smoothly with his groomsmen making sure no nerves were showing on Robert’s face and playful banter echoing throughout the house.

Putting on tie
Shoes
Wedding rings
Putting on flower
Getting ready
Getting ready
Putting on shirt
Mini
Putting on tie
Putting on tie
Mum helping

Sophie and her bridesmaids were being prepared quite a bit closer to the Adelaide Botanic Garden, in a room of the Mayfair hotel in the city. While the room was fairly cramped for around 10 people getting dressed and prepared for the wedding, we managed to all get ready in high spirits. Sophie, by her own admission later in the night was really feeling nervous throughout the morning so her bridal party did a great job in getting her looking fantastic for her big day!

I always love capturing the response of the parents, in this case Sophie’s father, in seeing the bride in her dress for the first time, so when Mum and Dad came into the room it was lovely to see the beaming smile light up Dad’s face as he saw her ready. The flower girls were flitting about being helpful in their own way but were not super keen on having photos done, except when asked and I think they turned out great 🙂

Buttoning up the back
Hotel stairs
Putting on earrings
Smiling bridesmaid
Smiling bridesmaid
Wedding dress
Engagement ring
Hotel stairs
Smiles
Hugs with Dad
Waiting for the limo
In the hotel hall way
Buttoning up the back
Putting flower on Dad
Flower girl

Adelaide Botanic Garden Wedding Ceremony

Sophie and Robert’s wedding ceremony in the Adelaide Botanic Garden took place in the spot known as ‘Araucaria Avenue‘, a delightful spot, lined by pine trees and on top of a hill which creates a sense of intimacy amongst the congregation. Later in the day, as Sophie and Robert’s ceremony was, the sun creates a delightful backdrop of light that filters directly through the trees behind where the arbour is usually setup. The trees surrounding the area also provides ample shade for the entire congregation on a sunny day, but the sun can cause annoyance for the bride trying to catch a glimpse of her groom as she walks on her approach to the altar 🙂

Sophie and Robert’s ceremony itself was sweet and to the point, punctuated by heartfelt and humorous vows to one another which made the otherwise formal occasion that much lighter, causing ripples of laughter from both the bride and groom, and their family and friends.

Exit
Together at the altar
Groom’s first look
Bridal party
Adelaide Botanic Garden Wedding Ceremony
Amongst the pines
Married couple
First kiss
Smiling groom
Mobile phone photography
Wedding sign
Adelaide Botanic Garden Wedding Ceremony
Sweeping veil
Smiling bride
Bridal approach
Holding hands

Glamour Photos

As the day was fairly warm – as you can expect from Summer weddings in Adelaide, I attempted to keep to shaded photo spots around the Adelaide Botanic Garden as possible, so once the ceremony and family photos were done, we set off south, directly towards North Terrace before working our way North through the gardens, taking our time, and enjoying the warm up sounds made by a nearby Adelaide Fringe concert that was also taking place within the gardens that night.

Just on a side note, I cannot write an overview of Sophie and Robert’s day without mentioning that I was super impressed by their organisational skills when it came to family photos! What they did was organise their friends and family into dozens of groups which were then given a number within their wedding program. When it was time to take the family photos, all I had to do was shout out the next number and that group came to the fore! Now of course those of you familiar with family photos at a wedding know that it never goes that smoothly, with family members wandering off, but I admired the effort!

Bridal Party
Under a tree together
Under a tree
Walking together
Bridal party
Carrying his bride
Wedding ring!
Amongst the bamboo
Flower girls climbing a tree
Elm Walkway
Sun flare and tree
On a bench
Under an arch

Adelaide Botanic Garden Restaurant Wedding Reception

While I’m at the Adelaide Botanic Garden quite often for weddings, its always delightful to know that the reception is right in the center of it all, at the Botanic Garden Restaurant. Not in the least because they serve great food, but because of it’s exclusive location within the gardens, which are usually closed off to the public during the later hours of the night. which allows for some nice night photography. That said however, there was  Fringe concert also occurring at the same time as Sophie and Robert’s reception, so that exclusivity was non existent for their night.

The iconic restaurant boasts a delightfully vintage, round sitting area suitable for small to medium sized reception parties, while in Sophie and Robert’s case their dance floor was outside on the brick pavement.

Wedding cake
Dad talking to guests
Bridal Party waiting to be announced
Before the bouquet toss
Goody bags
Under the archway exit
Food
First dance
Guests enjoying themselves
Bouquet toss
Organising a group shot
First dance
Cutting the cake
Last dance
Inside the Adelaide Botanic Garden Restaurant

I’d like to thank Sophie and Robert for having me cover their wedding photography and I hope they enjoy their photos! 🙂

Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding – Emma & Daniel

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  • Emma & Daniel

    Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding

    Lift

Emma and Daniel were wed in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens under what’s known as the ‘Barbershop’ Gazebo, pretty much in the center of the gardens. I was asked to be their wedding photographer for a short stint of 3 hours before heading over to their early reception at the nearby Hackney Hotel.

The whole day was rather laid back affair, with Daniel showing some nerves, arriving very early to the gazebo to greet everyone and make final arrangements before Emma arrived. But after the ceremony, Daniel relaxed a little and hopefully enjoyed our walk around the gardens for photos 🙂

 

Adelaide Botanic Gardens Wedding Ceremony

The Barbershop gazebo is located at the end of the two famed wisteria arches in the center of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, and nearby the central cafe. It’s suitable for smaller weddings like Emma and Daniel’s and provides for some protection from any weather that might arise. In Emma and Daniel’s case it was nice to have as the clouds forming over head were always threatening, but thankfully never started raining.

Approach
Holding hands
Smiling bride
Wedding sign
Exchanging wedding rings
Gazebo wedding
Gazebo wedding
Kiss on cheek
First kiss
Smiling groom
Celebrant

Glamour Photos

After the ceremony, Emma, Daniel and I went for a little walk around the gardens, for our glamour photos. They did not have a bridal party, so the entire shoot was fairly laid back and informal and was complete in quite a quick time, allowing us to also use the wonderful moreton bay fig trees out in Botanic park before hopping in an uber to head to the Hackney Hotel.

Dancing
Smiling
Smiling
Under the bamboo
Adelaide Botanic Gardens money shot
In front of door
Adelaide Botanic Gardens money shot
laughing
Walking together
Big Tree
Milton Bay figs
Smiles
Lift
Under branches
Walking under the arch
Under a tree
Walking under the arch
Engagement ring

Hackney Hotel Wedding Reception

Emma and Daniel’s reception took place in the smaller of the two function halls at the Hackney Hotel, which is a cozy little room suited for smaller, more intimate parties. The air was casual and everyone involved looked to have a great time 🙂

Cutting the cake
Wedding cake
In the Hackney Hotel
Spread
Smiles
Smiling groom

Thanks so much to Emma and Daniel for having me as your wedding photographer! 🙂