With all the happenings of the modern world the idea of heading to such wide open spaces and experiencing complete silence while surrounded by nature can seem quite impossible to some. It’s a big reason why I love heading up the Murray river on a houseboat – as although you’re never really too far away from civilisation, the act of saling yourself down the middle of the river makes you feel as though you’re the only people within miles – particularly during the winter!
Last week I got back from one such family holiday where my family and I sailed up past Renmark, into Victoria and New South Wales and back again. While doing so I made sure to make a bit of a family photoshoot near Renmark, where I made the best of the camping nature that you get on a houseboat making fires, and also the stunning natural beauty on display along the sides of the river.
Heading out to the Riverland for photography is very much like visiting a different country! the creative juices get flowing being surrounded by such different scenery and allows everyone to be relaxed while being in front of a camera as everyone is having a great time! The changes in weather – particularly in the winter really makes for some stunning changes in scenery too! One morning we woke up to a thick pea soup fog which I quickly ran off the boat to meander through the bush – really reminded me of Hans Heysen’s paintings.
It was a stunningly sunny day for Kirsty and Andrew’s Sedan Lutheran Church Wedding. The small town of Sedan, near Renmark in the South Australian Riverland was the setting for this fun wedding where everyone just seemed to want to have a good time! I was asked to be their wedding photographer for their preparation through to the beginning of their reception, so lets jump straight into it shall we?
Preparation
I began the day at Kirsty and Andrew’s new house nearby the town of Sedan. I was quite excited to see some awesome gum trees on the horizon and rolling golden hills that I was hoping to use later in the day for their wedding photos.
Kirsty and her bridal party were being prepared here, and the atmosphere was quite laid back, with Kirsty more worried about where her boots were than any nerves she might have been feeling due to her being married a bit later.
As they had just moved into their new home, it was quite a neat thing to have the entire front room quite free in order to use while putting on the wedding dress – made taking photos that much easier! 🙂
Bride hanging her dress
Engagement ring in bouquet
Hanging wedding dress
Putting on makeup
Girls together in kimonos
Laughing bridesmaids on couch
Wedding boots
OMG it’s an engagement ring
bridal hanger
Helping put on the wedding dress
bride holding her hands
bridalparty lacing up wedding dress
Smiling bride while she gets ready
Bride looking pretty in black and white
bride playing with bouquet
Bride holding bouquet
bride on her own under a tree
Bride standing with bridal party
Andrew and his groomsmen were getting ready in another farm house nearby, but this spot had some very nifty old ruins, which of course I made use of in the short amount of time I had with the boys. One thing I found very co-incidental is that Andrew and his boys were enjoying some clay shooting prior to me arriving for their photos, which I had only ever seen for the first time at the wedding I covered just the week prior! Is this a new trend? 😀
Wedding rings on top of one another
Grooms wedding shoes
Helping put on tie
groomsman putting on tie
groomsman standing in front of car
Groomsmen messing about together
Groom and family in ruin
Groom standing with gun
Sedan Lutheran Church Wedding
You simply cannot miss the Sedan Lutheran Church as it towers over the rest of the small town with it’s huge steeple and traditional small town church styling. It’s also located right on the intersection of 4 roads that lead into the center of town. The church itself is a bit on the small side, with only a single aisle leading through the middle of the church. As it was a reasonably hot day, it was a struggle for some guests to stay cool – but it wasn’t overly stifling. One neat feature of the inside of the church is the ability for some guests to venture to the upper level – I got some neat shots from up there.
Kirsty and Andrew’s Sedan Lutheran Church Wedding was presided over a priest who was friend of the couple and began with the tolling of the church’s bells, which I dont see very often! It was a reasonably simple ceremony with a number of readings from guests and blessings from their priest.
One great thing about church weddings like this is when the bride and groom exits out the front, and if the guests are keen to help – I can tee up a fun shot of everyone throwing the rose petals over the couple – which of course I did!
Sedan Lutheran Church 2
Bride arriving in front of church
Smiling priest
Grooms first glimpse of bride
Standing together at the altar
Sedan Lutheran Church wedding from above
Bridal party at the front of church
Inside the Sedan Lutheran Church
Exchanging wedding bands
First kiss at the Sedan Lutheran Church
Preist blessing
After the ceremony
Bride and groom leaving the Sedan Lutheran Church
Bride and groom celebrating in front of the Sedan Lutheran Church
Glamour Photos
After the required group photos out the front of the church, we head back inside of the church in order to take a few glamour photos using the pews and interior a little before heading out to the Renmark foreshore to make use of the greenery there. My favourite glamour photos from Kirsty and Andrew’s Sedan Lutheran Church Wedding though were taken on a portion of Kirsty and Andrew’s family land.
We drove to a spot where there was a ruin of an old cottage and barn which we made use of for some great shots, before moving to the nearby hills which I had a lot of fun flying over with my drone! We finished off in amongst the lovely gum trees growing out of a dry creek bed nearby.
Bride walking towards groom in church
Standing together in front of altar
Holding hands on pews
Hugs under the rotunda
Dipping under the Renmark rotunda
Walking along the Renmark foreshore
Groom looking at bride in ruin
Bride and groom hugging in ruin
Hugging bride and groom
Groom picking up bride through window
Groom picking up bride
Bride and groom walking along hilltop
Bridal party on hilltop
Bride and groom amongst gum trees
Bride and groom under the sun
Walking together along the creek bed
Bride and groom under tree in the sun
Close up of bridal bouquets
Walking together
Holding hands Walking together
Fun together in front of bridal party
Bride and groom out the front of the Sedan Lutheran Church
I was with Kirsty and Andrew for the very beginning of their reception at a hall in Sedan before heading off! I’d like to thank Kirsty and Andrew for having me take their riverland wedding photography and I hope they enjoy their photos! 😀
 