Tag Archive for: lgbtqi+

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K1 Winery Wedding – Mitch & Nick

When it comes to weddings, it’s all about celebrating that love in a way that is meaningful and special to the couple. For Mitch and Nick, their wedding day was a dream come true as they embarked on a beautiful journey together.

Their picturesque K1 Winery wedding was nestled in the heart of the stunning surrounds of Kuitpo which is famed for it’s incredible forest and beautiful, hidden surrounds.

Preparation

As the excitement and anticipation built up, Mitch and Nick got ready together at the same house before heading out to Kuitpo forest for a pre-wedding photoshoot. Breaking away from the traditional gender norms of separate preparations, they chose to share this special moment together, cherishing each other’s company as they prepared for their big day.

I had actually met Mitch and Nick in the past at another wedding I had covered a few years earlier! I had obviously done something right at Claire and Nathan’s wedding at Ekhidna Wines for them to have me as their wedding photographer in Mclaren Vale – it’s always nice to hear!

Dog looking through doggy door
Wedding bands in tree
Grooms affects on floor
Jacket hanging in tree
Boys getting ready in mirror
Groom buttoning up
Groom dancing about
Grooms helping button each other up
Groom looking at his groom in the morning
Grooms helping belt up
Mum having flower put on
Groom contemplating pocket square
Grooms getting close
Grooms with best doggo

Pre-Wedding Photoshoot

Kuitpo forest, with its towering pine trees and serene atmosphere, provided a breathtaking setting for the pre-wedding photoshoot. The couple’s love shone through as they posed amidst the tall trees, with rays of sunlight filtering through the branches, creating a magical ambiance. The forest became a witness to their love, and the photos captured the pure essence of their relationship – joy, laughter, and unbridled happiness.

Girls of the grooms party
Grooms kissing with boys
groom with wedding party
Grooms head butt
Grooms together in pine trees
Grooms walking together in Kuitpo forest
Grooms together leaning on pine tree
Groom filming groom with super 8 video camera
Grooms with wedding party in pines
Grooms looking into difference through trees
Grooms under sun in pine trees

Throughout the day I was also having a bit of fun with an old school super 8 camera to produce a short vintage video of Mitch and Nick’s day.

Using a Super 8 camera at a modern wedding adds a touch of nostalgic charm and whimsy to the celebration. In the era of digital photography, where everything is instant and flawless, the grainy, vintage aesthetic of Super 8 film brings a sense of authenticity and uniqueness to the wedding footage.

It can capture the little moments, the candid smiles, the spontaneous dances, and the heartfelt emotions in a way that feels raw and genuine. It’s a fun and creative way to document the day, and watching the footage brings back a flood of memories, reminding the couple and their loved ones of the magical moments that made the wedding day truly special.

K1 Winery Wedding Ceremony

Mitch and Nicks’s wedding ceremony took place at the enchanting K1 Winery, known for its chateau-style cellar door that hangs over a tranquil pond. The winery’s stunning architecture and picturesque surroundings made it the perfect choice for Mitch and Nick’s special day. As they exchanged vows in front of the serene pond, the beauty of their love was reflected in the shimmering water, creating an unforgettable moment.

Their ceremony was punctuated by personal in-jokes, a bit of a fun from the celebrant referencing drag shows and of course the heartfelt vows these two exchanged to one another.

The wedding was not just about the stunning venue and picturesque scenery; it was about celebrating love in all its forms. Surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones, Mitch and Nick’s wedding was a joyous celebration of their relationship, and a milestone in their love story. The air was filled with laughter, tears of joy, and heartfelt speeches as everyone came together to honor and support the couple’s love.

Arbour at K1 Winery wedding
Groom approaching with family
Groom watching his groom walking down aisle
groom approaching wedding ceremony
K1 Winery Wedding Ceremony
Grooms standing together under arbour
Grooms listening to celebrant during cermeony
grooms holding hands during ceremony
Grooms watching speech
Clebrant having fun during ceremony
Groom vow
Groom listening to his groom’s vow
Grooms about to be married
First kiss at K1 Winery wedding
Grooms exit at K1 Winery wedding
Smiling groom after ceremony
Laughing groom after ceremony
Drone love heart photo

Glamour Photos

Mitch and Nick, accompanied by their exuberant wedding party, had a blast as they strolled around the gorgeous K1 winery grounds for their glamour photos. The tree-covered driveway served as a natural canopy, casting dappled sunlight on the group as they struck playful poses and shared heartfelt laughs.

With the serene vineyards and picturesque scenery as their backdrop, they reveled in the joy of the moment, making memories that would last a lifetime. The laughter and camaraderie of the wedding party filled the air

Grooms together on driveway
Grooms wedding party wth champagne
Groom trying to drink Champagne
Grooms together under trees
Grooms skipping under trees
Married couple skipping
Married grooms hugging
Grooms in gum trees looking off
groom helping groom get up
Grooms sitting toegtehr under sun
Grooms kissing maid
Grooms standing together in sunlight
Grooms with jackets over shoulders
Grooms leaning on arbour
Grooms under sun in long grass
Grooms kiss together in trees
Grooms hugs in vineyard
Grooms smiling at camera
grooms walking through vines
K1 Winery wedding photo
Grooms in light at night
Grooms in smoke

K1 Winery Wedding Reception

Mitch and Nick’s K1 winery wedding reception was a night to remember, filled with laughter, love, and non-stop dancing. The atmosphere was electric as guests mingled and shared in the couple’s joy. The highlight of the reception was the photobooth set up, where guests donned quirky props, struck poses, and captured candid moments of pure happiness. The booth became a hub of merriment, with friends and family posing for photos and creating lasting memories.

The speeches were heartfelt and filled with laughter, showcasing the special bond between Mitch and Nick and their loved ones. As the night progressed, the dance floor came alive with upbeat tunes, and everyone let loose, busting out their best dance moves and celebrating the love of the newlyweds. The energy was contagious, and the dance floor was packed with joyous revelry well into the night, creating an unforgettable celebration that Mitch, Nick, and their guests would cherish forever.

Custom wedding favours
Groom putting finsihing touches on tables
Table centre pieces
macaroon wedding cake
Long table setup at K1 Winery wedding
MC talking
K1 Winery wedding reception
Guests enjoying the photobooth with hats
Groom talking to guests on table
Speech giver
Guest talkers
grooms giving speech at their wedding reception
Grooms first dance
Hugging guests
Groom having fun with guests
Guest with MrMr glasses
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Adelaide’s Pilgrim Uniting Church Wedding – Jesse & Luke

I was very much looking forward to covering Jesse and Luke’s Pilgrim Uniting Church Wedding from the moment they asked me to be their wedding photographer, and my excitement was well founded – what a celebration it was!

So much so that I know it’s hard to show while reading this blog but I’ve been sitting here staring at my screen thinking about what next to write. Jesse and Luke were surrounded their entire day with loving family and friends who just made their day that much better – let alone the incredible celebration they had planned that night!

Preparation

Jesse and Luke were prepared in separate rooms at the Hilton Hotel, in sight of the Pilgrim Uniting church across Victoria Square in the center of the Adelaide CBD. This was great as I was able to flit inbetween their rooms while they were being prepared – if things weren’t progressing in one room, then I’d head over to the other, and visa versa until it was time to leave for the ceremony.

Both Jesse and Luke were prepared with their parents and their entourage which made the whole time kind of hectic, but also quite a bit of fun trying to get everything ready to go.

Wedding rings perched on men’s shoes
Bowtie Cologne and watch
Wedding Bands on shiny bench top
Wedding ring perched in between champaigne glasses
Lady helping man with tie
Groom adjusting tie in window
Bridesmaid helping groom get ready
Mother of groom helping get ready
Groom adjusting tie looking out window between curtains
Groomsman looking at camera during preparation
Smiling groomsman helping groom get ready
Bridesmaids kissing groom on cheek
Bridal party sitting together on couch
Groom adjusting sleeve on jacket
Groom looking at camera during preparation
Groom putting on shoes with window backlight
Groomsman looking close at grooms tie
groom flanked by bridesmaids
Groom sitting on shae lounge surounded by bridal party
Groom sitting looking out window

Pilgrim Uniting Church Wedding Ceremony

Jesse and Luke’s Adelaide Pilgrim Uniting Church wedding ceremony was quite an impressive sight with it’s albiet dark, but impressive architecture inside. Jesse and Luke also had a chior singing below the church’s impressive organ which made for a beautiful atmosphere!

Both Jesse and Luke were walked down the aisle separately with their mothers after their fathers had lit ornamental candles on the church’s altar which I thought really helped bring both families togetheras part of their ceremony involved Jesse and Luke sharing the flames into one candle.

readings were read, vows were shared and Jesse and Luke were married!

Inside Pilgrim Uniting church Adelaide
Groom arriving at Church
groom standing behind car
Page boy walking down aisle
Groom walking down aisle
Groom walking down aisle with Mother
groom walching his groom walk up aisle
Groom and groom holding hands during ceremony
Adelaide Pilgrim Uniting Church wedding ceremony
Two grooms holding hands
Grooms holding hands together at altar
Goom looking at his groom during ceremony
Goom smiling at his groom during ceremony
First kiss at Pilgrim Uniting church
Celebrating newly married couple at Pilgrim Uniting Church
Newly married grooms exiting Pilgrim Uniting Church

Glamour Photos

The weather wasn’t the best all day, so we were quite lucky to be able to have the entire congragation out on the church’s steps for a group photo before heading back inside for smaller group photos.

Once they were done, we used the stunning interior of the church for a few shots with their entourage, while also waling around the church a bit to use it’s wonderful architecture. As the weather wasn’t great I was delighted to see that the church had turned on it’s outside lighting earlier than usual, so we got an awesome glow coming out of the archways at the front – was fun to use.

We then sped over to the Adelaide Railway station for a few photos, while dodging all the Crows fans who were walking through to get to Adelaide Oval at the same time.

Finally during the reception, and in the rain we head out to Victoria square to use the pretty lighting thats set up!

Wedding party in front of Pilgrim Uniting Church
Grooms together in front of Pilgrim Uniting Church
Grooms together in front of Pilgrim Uniting Church Adelaide
Two grooms cuddling
Newly wed couple smiling at one another
Together Singing in the rain
Protecting one another from the rain
Grooms together in front of church door
Groom and groom having fun in front of church
Lifting groom off church steps
Groom lift on church steps
Two grooms in front of church altar
Adelaide Pilgrim Uniting church wedding photo with organ
Wedded couple walking across wet road
Grooms together in Adelaide Railway Station
bridal party sitting together int eh Adelaide Railway Station
Newly wed grooms on bench in railway station
Bridal party in front of funky lit wall
Grooms standing together in black and white
Grooms headbut under city lights
Water bending groom
Two grooms in embrace under lights
Adelaide city lights wedding photo

Adelaide Hilton Wedding Reception

Jesse and Luke’s wedding reception at the Hilton was certainly one to remember! Huge chandeliers framed the gigantic cake they had set up in front of the head table, fireworks flamed into life during Jesse and Luke’s entrance and first dance, and to top it all off a 19 piece band was playing all night as entertainment! In their own words their wedding theme was ‘gaudy’!

What made me crack up was a quip from Jesse that even the cake wasn’t straight – and indeed it wasnt, as it was leaning offto one side due to it’s enormous size!

Their whole night was full of plenty of drinking, fun and dancing, culminating in the throwing of bears that held a likeness to Jesse and Luke in liew of any bouquet toss.

Wedding favour lollies
Wedding cake on display at Hilton Adelaide
Tall wedding cake
Grooms entrance kiss at the Hilton Adelaide
Grooms welcome drink
Grooms both giving speech
Groom giving speech in front of reception
MC doing his thing on dancefloor
Grooms hug
Groom excited to enter
Groom pointing at camera
Mother cheers
Grooms cutting cake together
Guests acting like paparazzi
grooms sharing drink in front of cake
First dance with fireworks at Adelaide Hilton Hotel
Grooms dancing on dancefloor
Dancing guest at Hilton
Dancing guest at Hilton Adelaide
Dancing guests at reception
grooms holding teddy bears
Bear toss

It had been a little while since covering a same sex wedding, so covering Jesse and Luke’s Pilgrim Uniting Church wedding was awesome to be a part of, particularly at the beginning of pride month! Thankyou for having me and I hope you enjoy your photos!

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Plan Your LGBTQI+ Wedding – Questions to Ask

Same-sex wedding cupcake display with dance figurines and floral accents.

Plan Your LGBTQI+ Wedding – Questions to Ask

If you have stumbled onto this blog post, then congratulations on getting engaged! Planning a same-sex wedding may be time-consuming and tedious—as well as exciting, don’t get us wrong—and it is important to make sure that you have everything figured out before the big day. One of these essential tasks is finding the right photographer to help you plan your LGBTQI+ wedding.

Since a LGBTQ+ wedding may not be exactly the same as a heterosexual one, there may be some considerations you need to think about before agreeing to hire a specific photographer. When it comes to taking pictures with your partner, you want to make sure that you are able to find a photographer that has experience approaching your wedding the way you would like.

Questions to Ask the Photographer when you plan your LGBTQI+ wedding

Here are a few questions that you may want to ask the photographer you are thinking about working with.

1 – Have you ever worked with a LGBTQI+ couple before?

It is important for you to ask this question. A photographer who has already had working experience with an LGBTQI+ couple will have an idea of what you may be interested in when it comes to the pictures on your wedding day. 

However, take note that you should never totally dismiss a photographer from the onset just because they do not have experience photographing a same sex wedding yet! It just may make things a little easier to educate them on what you expect and any social faux pas to avoid.

Lego brides

2 – What is your photography style?

Look into their individual style. Great photographers will be able to capture the emotions that are present in each moment. Many photographers are able to have various photography skills that may stretch across different styles to help you negotiate with them as to what type of style you want them to use for your wedding pictures.

Brides having fun at their Adelaide Sailing Club wedding

3 – May we see some of your samples?

It is incredibly important for you to ask for samples of past work and projects that they have worked on in the past. These samples may be able to give you an idea about what style they have. Not only samples too – try to view a full album of what they have presented to past clients – hopefully similar to the wedding you are planning for yourselves.

When it comes to wedding pictures, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What your friend or family member may consider to be a beautiful picture may not be exactly what you envisioned! Looking at a photographer’s samples will help you decide if their output is within your preference. 

Brides sharing a moment

4 – Is there any family drama that may rear it’s ugly head?

It’s an unfortunate fact that when you plan your LGBTQI+ wedding it can bring out the ugly side of certain family members. If you know of any such issues perhaps take certain steps to avoid these personal issues from impacting on your day, and let your photographer know.

When you plan your LGBTQI+ wedding, while it may be hard try not to invite guests you know don’t agree with your choices, or if unavoidable be sure to let them know they are loved so they can show the same.

It’s a tricky issue but thankfully society has finally come around to the idea of LGBTQI+ weddings abut there may still be some closet troglodytes around.

brides on the beach together

5 – All the other usual questions you might ask a wedding photographer

Your wedding is still a wedding, even if you plan your lgbtqi+ wedding, plenty of questions will be the same as a hetero wedding. Question about insurance, turn around time, how you will receive your photos, etc. I’ve written about this in depth in past blogs here.

Simpsons pig wedding cufflinks

Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life, as well as your partner’s. You will want to make sure that everything is as close to perfect as possible when you are planning for this special day!

If you are shopping around for wedding photographers in Adelaide, come to SvenStudios! We understand how crucial your wedding photos are, and we want to play a part in helping you immortalise your special day. We will be ready to show you wedding photo samples and discuss packages with you. Entrust your wedding day photography to our professional photographers; contact us today!

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Halloween Themed Wedding at St Francis – Leticha & Carrie

brides in a tunnel of dark trees

Halloween Themed Wedding at St Francis – Leticha & Carrie

Leticha and Carrie held their Halloween themed wedding at the delightful St Francis winery on October 31st last year, and what a delightful day it was! Surrounded by supportive friends and family, they also included guests that could not attend due to COVID by using my livestream service which made it all the more inclusive.

Leticha and Carrie’s Halloween themed wedding included pumpkins lining their aisle, suitibly coloured bouquets and bridal party, and even my greenscreen photo booth complete with a Halloween themed backdrop!

Preparation

I began the day with Carrie and her family being prepared at her parent’s place nearby. Her bouquet was orange in colour, to suit the Halloween theme, and everyone there was wearing a matching orange item. Her entourage were wearing orange vests, while Dad was wearing an orange tie. It was a really nifty detail to add!

Engagement ring in a rose
Bridal high heels
Helping out with bridal party
Putting on Dad’s flower
Mum helping put on wedding dress 2
Mum helping out with buttons
Bouquet closeup
Bride holding her bouquet
bride looking pensive in hallway

Leticha’s colour scheme was green, complete with an impressive green stoned engagement ring. Her entourage and bouquet was also green – contrasting the orange of Carrie, and also following the halloween theme.

One small detail I really enjoyed though was that Leticha and Carrie also made sure their own personalities and interests was really put on display throughout the day. They obviously love boardgames and other ‘nerdy’ things by having their invites UNO themed, Harry Potter items were strewn about the place, and later on their wedding cake was based on Cluedo!

Emerald engagement ring
Wedding band in box
Wedding invites based on uno
reaching for the dress
Dad helping put on shoes
Hugs with Dad
bride looking pretty in bright room
bride walking towards doorway

Halloween Themed Wedding Ceremony at St Francis Winery

Leticha and Carrie’s Halloween Themed Wedding Ceremony took place on the grassy area in front of the St Francis winery pond. Their aisle betwenen guests were decorated with pumpkins and ivy, perfectly complementing the Orange and Green theme that the bridal couple had chosen.

As this was a same sex wedding, both leticha and Carrie were walked down the aisle together at the same time, flanked by their fathers which was a really nice touch.

Bride looking out car window
bride about to hop out of car
Flower girls approach
Brides entrance with fathers
St Francis Winery wedding ceremony
Holding hands during wedding ceremony 2
Smiling at her bride
bridal couple out the front of the wedding ceremony
bride smiling at her bride
Gathering the wedding rings
Waiting for the paperwork to be completed
First kiss at St Francis winery
St Francis winery wedding ceremony exit
Hugs after the ceremony
Heart group photo at St Francis winery

Glamour Photos

After the group photos, we made use of the St Francis Winery gardens and lovely weeping willows to take a few glamour shots, before heading off to a bike track with some rather spooky, dark trees which I thought would suit the Halloween theme nicely.

Along that same vein of thought, I also took Letchia and Carrie outside once it got dark with some smoke in a can to try and create a moody shoot under the lit weeping willows.

It was a little bit of fun thinking about how to create some moody, creepy wedding photos while still making them ‘weddingy’.

group photo with flower girls
Looking into each other eyes
Standing under the St Francis Winery weeping willows
Group photo with the bridal party
Kiss on the cheek
Walking together under the willows
Group shot on the old cart
Another kiss on the cheek
Looking at each under under the tree
Together amongst the foliage
brides under the willows
Togther under the weeping willows
Brides under creepy trees
Wedding photo under dark trees
bridal party photo under the dark trees
Brides sharing a moment
brides under a canopy of trees
brides in a tunnel of dark trees
night wedding photo at St Francis Winery
Wedding photo at St Francis winery

Halloween Themed Wedding Reception

The St Francis winery wedding reception area naturally has a neat, dark vibe to it due to it being an older building and built as a storage area for wine it’s aesthetic is rustically bare bones – making it quite a nice choice for a halloween themed wedding.

Their guests enjoyed making use of the green screen backdrop with a Halloween image superimposed behind them in each shot, while the dancefloor also got quite a workout by Letchia and Carrie’s guests. I was also in character whole wearing my Jason hockey mask that I have as a photobooth prop while taking photos 😀

The personal touches that they had spent time in preparing really made the whole night come alive!

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Cluedo themed wedding cake details
Brides cutting their Cluedo themed wedding cake
Cluedo themed wedding cake
brides first dance
Dancing bride at St Francis
Lego brides
bride listening to guests
Flower girls drawings
Brides dancing on the dancefloor
bridal hugs

Thanks a bunch Leticha and Carrie for having me as your wedding photographer!

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Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding – Andrea & Gerry

Brides having fun at their Adelaide Sailing Club wedding

Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding – Andrea & Gerry

The sun was hot and bright for Andrea and Gerry’s beautifully intimate Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding at the end of February! Gerry had scouted me out as she was an AUSLAN interpreter at another wedding I had done a few months earlier, and thought I did a good job  there so asked me to be her photographer too! It’s always nice to know that people are impressed by what you love doing!

 

Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding Ceremony

I was Andrea and Gerry’s wedding photographer for a short while on their day, seeing me cover their ceremony on the Adelaide Sailing Club’s lawn with the beach in the background through to the speeches at their reception. The Sailing club is set off to the side of the West Beach Boat ramp and looks out over a small ‘private’ beach made by the boat ramp’s water break. I was a little worried about a surf life saving event happening right nearby with a hovercraft making a bunch of noise – but diddn’t make much of a noise during the ceremony thankfully.

It was a marvellous coincidence that both Andrea and Gerry arrived wearing almost identical clothing, neither opting for a white gown as brides; but rather white formal attire. It was lovely to see their reactions as they both arrived together and remarked at what each other was wearing.

Andrea and Gerry’s approach to the arbour was preceeded by a group of young children acting as flower girls and ring bearers, while also being flanked by family members before the two brides approached together.

The ceremony itself was quite moving with their celebrant talking about Andrea and Gerry’s family while also their story of coming together as a couple. The sounds of the waves crashing on the nearby beach added perfectly to the ambiance as the ceremony unfolded, coupled with the loving gestures made by both Andrea, Gerry and their guests.

Andrea and Gerry’s wedding sign
Andrea and Gerry approaching the ceremony
Holding hands
Approaching the wedding ceremony together
Approaching thre wedding ceremony
ready to start the ceremony
Kids out the front
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding Ceremony
Smiling bride during the ceremony
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding
Holding hands under the arbour
Smiling brides
All hugs during the vows
Ring bearer
Exchanging the wedding rings
Just married
First kiss under the arbour
Smiles at their beach wedding
The crowd swamping the couple

Glamour Photos

Often I would bust out the drone to have the group shots done, but the Adelaide Sailing Club is right in the flight path of the Adelaide Airport which means it would be quite illegal to fly there. So the group shots were done by having me run up to the top floor and shooting down at the group from the conveneint balcony. It was fun shouting down instructions while the AUSLAN interpreter was also trying to direct everyone down stairs 🙂

Andrea and Gerry weren’t overly keen on spending too much time having glamour shots done and were more concerned with spending their time with family and friends at the reception. As a result we went for a short walk down to a nearby beach and walked back again.

beach wedding photo
Bridal couple on the beach
Closeup of bridal bouquets
Brides having fun at their Adelaide Sailing Club wedding
Fun beach wedding photography
Walking along the beach together
Casual beach wedding photo
The two brides together on the beach

Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding Reception

I really like the reception area available at the Adelaide Sailing Club – it’s a nice big, closed off area with a huge bar and giant balcony perfectly suited to watch the always amazing Adelaide Sunset as it drops below the horizon. Andrea and Gerry had decorated the area with lanterns and lighting which made the whole space come alive with a bit of festivity.

There were also no less than 3 wedding cakes on display, one usual cake and two cheese cakes (as I understood) – that is two rolls of cheese that are made up to look like cakes – not ‘cheesecakes’. It’s something that has become quite a common sight at weddings as it caters to those who arent too keen on cakes, or have allergies, etc

Close up of cheese
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding Reception
Having a good time
Wedding cakes
Chatting with guests
Listening to her wife’s speech
Lit Candle
Fun times
Cheers
Brides sharing a laugh
Guest group shot
Group shot
Having a chat with one another

Thanks so much to Andrea and Gerry for having me as your wedding phtoographer! I enjoyed myself immensely and I hope you enjoy your photos! 🙂