Erin Smith - Wedding and Portrait Photographer

[ Jasmine & James' Caloundra Wedding ]

admin — Thu, 30 May 2013 04:42:27 +0000

There’s something very special about these two. Every time they look at each other there’s so much love in their eyes. When Jasmine was dressed in her white gown and her hair and makeup were done, she looked around at her girls with a huge grin and said, “alright, let’s do this!” I’ve rarely seen a bride so eager to be on time to her ceremony! Later, when Jasmine was distracted by friends at their reception, James grabbed the opportunity to leave her a secret chalkboard message photo. It’s in this post, Jasmine! Enjoy!

I had so much fun photographing their special day, I almost felt like part of the family myself. And I know some boys who would be very jealous of those cufflinks, lads.

[ Faith & Heath's Ewingsdale Byron Bay Eureka Wedding ]

admin — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:57:31 +0000

After a super-rainy start to the year like we’ve had, the golden sunshine that lit Faith and Heath’s glorious wedding day felt heaven-sent. It bathed the girls suite at Victoria’s at Ewingsdale in a soft, elegant glow to match the luxurious rooms. It sent rainbows over Eureka Uniting Church’s pews and Faith and Heath’s guests through the beautiful stained glass windows. Then it sank behind the hills in a blaze of red and gold just in time for us to grab some spectacular images at the Byron Bay lighthouse. It felt like fate to have such a perfect day… for such a perfect day.

Here is Faith and Heath’s perfect, sunny wedding day.

Faith and her girls got ready at Victoria’s at Ewingsdale. They made their bouquets themselves.

[ Cathy & Jon's Fingal Sweetheart Session ]

admin — Sun, 05 May 2013 01:13:36 +0000

I love an impulsive couple! Cathy and Jon were visiting from Canberra when they decided they’d like to have some photographs taken, and our beautiful Tweed scenery was the perfect backdrop – and I was more than happy to help them out! We spent a sunny afternoon making some beautiful memories for them at Fingal. Hopefully these shots will keep them warm through the chilly Canberran winter!

[ Christie & Zane's Midginbil Hill Uki wedding ]

admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:24:39 +0000

Not much went accord to plan on Christie and Zane’s wedding day. It bucketed down all day over the Uki hills with no reprieve. A film crew overtook the area they’d planned to use for their ceremony (if it was sunny) and bridal portraits, and the dense cloud cover meant we lost the light far earlier than usual for an early April afternoon, but Christie and Zane weren’t bothered at all. They were surrounded by their closest friends and family from all over the world – quite literally! A bit of rain and a score of Fox Lights trucks weren’t even a blip on their radar, and their day was magical.

There were so many personal touches that made their day extra-special and drew each element together. Christie is an incredible milliner and created her own hairpiece, as well as the gorgeous hairpieces and hats worn by her bridesmaids, her mother, and Zane’s mother and Grandmother. She also added the custom embellishments on her shoes and the shoulder strap on her dress. This girl is talented! Each table at their reception was named for a place in the world that represented a chapter in their lives, and they surprised their guests with a live bush band and impromptu bush dancing lesson, just like Christie’s parents had at their own wedding. The day was full of joy and happy tears, and I’m so glad I got to be part of it.

Venue: Midginbil Hill, Uki
Ladies’ hairpieces: Christie Millinery Designs

[ Laura & Luke's Kingscliff Beach Wedding ]

admin — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:26:35 +0000

Let me introduce you to Laura and Luke. Laura is a genuine English rose. Luke is a master photobomber (and also English, though I’m not sure what he’d think if I called him a rose). Their wedding day was simple, elegant and completely overflowing with love. There was no fanfare, there was no fuss. Laura’s stunning dress and shoes were secondhand, and suited her perfectly. There was a little rain, but nobody was worried by it. There was a lot of joy. And it was perfect.

Laura’s preparation location: Peppers Balé
Ceremony location: Salt Beach
Ceremony styling: Penny at Circle Of Love
Celebrant: Clarah Luxford
Flowers: Banora Flower Shop

[ Jess & Casey's Kingscliff Cabarita wedding ]

admin — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:30:58 +0000

My favourite things about Jess and Casey’s wedding:

- The obvious joy in the air around everyone.
- Jess’s garter covering all of her old, new, borrowed and blue bases – especially her grandmothers’ rings stitched on to it – and her grandmother’s image tied safely into her bouquet. I’ll be borrowing these ideas one day for my own wedding!
- The look in Casey’s eye every time he looked at his glowing bride.
- Peanuts the horse. His involvement in our wedding portraits session was a surprise gift from Jess and Casey’s friends, and they didn’t find out until right after the ceremony – good friends or what?!

I’d love to hear what your favourite things about this wedding are.

[ Helena & Damian's Cobaki Wedding ]

admin — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:34:54 +0000

There’s something extra-beautiful about photographing the wedding of a friend. I’ve known Helena (or Noon, as she will always be to me) since we were both eleven years old. It was incredible to see her marry her dream man and help them and their family remember their beautiful day!

Helena and Damian are what I like to call a Disney couple. They are perfect together. Helena absolutely adores Damian. Damien is completely besotted by Helena, and he loves surprising her with the most romantic things – like a smoke-covered dance floor for the first dance as husband and wife (which was a little last minute and required some kitchen-sink dry ice experimentation that morning). Best of all, they’re both completely in awe of their gorgeous son Jonathan. There is so much love in their little family, and it’s obvious at a glance.

Take a look and tell me if you can see it too; the air of Disney one-true-love that this couple’s joy radiates. Congratulations, my beautiful friends!

Ceremony and reception venue: The Abbey Cobaki

[ Tess & Chris's Kingscliff Wedding ]

admin — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:34:06 +0000

There was so much that was special about Tess and Chris’ wedding day. It was the first sunny weekend in months. The boys went skydiving in the morning. Chris survived, so it’s obviously meant to be! Tess and her girls practised the first dance in their hotel room with sparkling eyes. Tess looked like a vintage doll. The two were married by their very charming longtime family friend, father Gerry, in Chris’ school church. EVERYONE got their best dance moves out for the celebration, even Tess’s 100 year old grandmother. Chris’ dad serenaded us all with a sterling rendition of the Joker. And, having lived “down the road” from Chris and his family my whole life, I felt like part of the family. It was a day I’ll never forget.

Vendors
Ceremony: St. Anthony’s Parish Kingscliff
Reception: Cudgen Leagues Club
Band: Fathom

[ Holly & Pete's Currumbin Wedding ]

admin — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:21:13 +0000

Holly ‘s name fits her beautifully. She has all the radiance of a famous flower, which is lucky because she married a Tulip. Pete Tulip. Excuse me while I get a little cheesy… Their wedding planted the seeds for their incredible future together.

… Maybe that’s why it rained so much.

At the beginning of the day, Holly told me she’d be happy if the rain let up for half an hour for us to get their wedding portraits. Later she said fifteen minutes. She didn’t even get five – it rained non-stop all day – but she didn’t let it get to her. Instead, she hitched up her dress and conquered the rain with some admirable umbrella wielding (with a little help from her new husband and a very chilled out bridal party) and we all made it to the reception smiling, if a little soggy. We were also super-blessed to have the beautiful undercover facilities at Amore Gardens in the Currumbin Valley to keep us dry!

Botanical references abound, even if it hadn’t rained on Holly and Pete’s wedding day, there wouldn’t have been a dry eye at their wedding ceremony. I’ve been to a fair few weddings these days, and even I got teary at Holly’s mother’s proud expression as she walked her daughter down the aisle.

Congratulations, Holly and Pete!

[ Shirley & Steve's Gold Coast Wedding ]

admin — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:10:39 +0000

There’s something extra-special about weddings that bring together two cultures.

Steve is a great Aussie bloke. Lovely Shirley is from Malaysia la. Together they are one seriously adorable couple.
Shirley was determined to stick to tradition as much as possible, but I loved to see the Chinese-Malaysian touches that crept though – thank you gifts for important people in Chinese New Year red packets, LOTS of photos taken by her friends and family at the reception, and a huge emphasis on celebrating with family – not necessarily the people you’re related to, but the people who make life amazing.

They really made me feel like part of the family, which made their wedding particularly special to me, too.

Ceremony: Hinterland Baptist Church Worongary, Gold Coast
Bridal portrait locations: Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens and the Spit, Southport
Reception: Southport RSL