Kirsty & Steve’s Sanctuary Cove Gold Coast Resort Micro-Wedding

Kirsty and Steve married in a tiny, intimate ceremony right before international travel was closed down in March 2020. Their timing truly couldn’t have been better - they got spoiled with perfect early March sunshine over the iconic Intercontinental courtyard at the Gold Coast’s picturesque Sanctuary Cove, got to see their Aussie VIPs when hugs and kisses weren’t taboo, married in a super-chill and low-pressure tiny ceremony, and made it home safely to France before the world turned upside down.

Huge socially distant high fives to the team that made it happen:
Venue: Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove
Celebrant: Chiquita Mitchell
Kirsty’s makeup: Leigh McCoy
Flowers: Flower Shed Murwillumbah

Ali and Andrew’s Country Engagement Photos - Plus PUPPIES!

The only way to make a gorgeous sun-drenched golden hour/blue hour engagement shoot better? Dogs. It’s a no-brainer.

Ali and Andrew (and their puppers Princess and Nix had already jumped in front of my camera once, but when they booked in for their wedding they jumped at the chance to do an Engagement Shoot Part 2. We popped out to one of my favourite spots - a grassy field about an hour’s drive south of Brisbane city - and had a good frolic as the wind blew, the sun set and the pups showed us their best behaviour.

Our first shoot was still gorgeous, but so different - we didn’t get rained on, but the sky was dark and moody and a storm was rumbling nearby. Princess, the sweet German Shepherd you’ll see below, is a bit of a sook and wasn’t very keen on the thunder, and Ali got eaten alive by mozzies. We made a collection of photos I’m still so proud of over a year later. This time we had golden light and the opposite of a stormy sky - but I may have led Ali into a muddy bog by accident! I’m sorry Ali - my Air Max 90s never quite recovered either! Andrew managed to make it out unscathed.

One thing you need to know about this couple is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. When I delivered their gallery from this shoot, I separated all the hilarious “outtakes” photos into their own folder called “LOL” - there were 34 shots in that folder alone. I’ve included a few below for your viewing pleasure! A bunch of them also made it into their engagement album.

These two officially tie the knot in May after a decade of life together, and I’m counting down the days - I know Ali is too!

Taylor and Tristan’s Brisbane Country Backyard Wedding

What could be sweeter than a backyard summer wedding for two childhood sweethearts? Taylor and Tristan tied the knot on a balmy December afternoon on Tristan’s family’s property in Burbank. Both the city and the country were represented, and there was no wiping the smiles off the faces of these newlyweds as they celebrated under the stars.

Teigan & Jesh’s Crystal Creek Rainforest Elopement

At the time of Teigan Jesh’s wedding in mid-February this year, we thought they were super lucky to have been able to go ahead - the days before had seen the roads around their venue at Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat flooded. We were so glad everyone was able to get there - we had no idea what else 2020 had coming for us! Knowing how quickly things changed after this point makes looking back at their tiny rainforest wedding all the more special - there was only love, togetherness and the most beautiful rainforest scenery.

Teigan’s hair by Erin Strong Hair Artistry
Ceremony by Chiquita Mitchell, who was a total champ when a palm frond fell from a tree right on her head

Kristina & Kyle’s Gold Coast Micro Wedding

When we first chatted about Kristina and Kyle’s wedding, the plan was completely different. Bigger. Then COVID came calling, and everything changed.

As the wedding date got closer restrictions started to ease, and rather than calling it off Kyle and Kristina made some tweaks instead. An intimate gathering, a different venue, self-catered - and in those last few weeks, everything fell into place.

The day was dream-like, emotional and precious. I think 2020 has taught us all to live in the moment a little more, and it showed. Kristina combined Etsy, ASOS and her signature pink hair to become an effortlessly ethereal forest fairy, Kyle rocked a stylish green ensemble - his favourite colour - and an A-Team of family and friends stepped up to move chairs, sew hems, help document and best of all, celebrate. The icing on the cake (besides the actual cake, of course) was the scores of free range birds wandering the grounds at Bend of the River, chickens and guinea fowl and peacocks and ducks and geese joining the party, overseeing proceedings and making sure everyone was having a good time.

Thank you to everyone who stepped up, reworked, altered and showed compassion while these guys pulled together a phenomenal day in a very short amount of time!

Venue: Bend of the River
Celebrant: Julia of Creative Love Ceremonies
Makeup: Nicola of Goddess Makeup Design
Hair: Kisha of Beechtree Bride
Flowers: Gather Australia
Party Hire: Kool Kombi & Bug Hire
Videography: Wide Angle Vision
And photos by Erin, hello, that’s me! :-)

Baby Jude’s Newborn Family Photo Session

Baby Jude is a pretty cool dude. He’s only been here for a matter of weeks and he’s already got “charming” down pat, plus he’s been working on his super-dextrous toes party trick. We hung out on a cosy Friday morning with his mum and dad, who’ve graced the blog before (a few times), and got some snuggly cuddly photos - and a few porchtraits! Because a baby born in COVID times absolutely deserves a porchtrait - a portrait on the porch.

I used to be scared of newborn shoots because I thought I HAD to shoot them like the ones you see in dentists’ offices - cherubic sleeping babies snuggled in flower pots or sprouting fairy wings, and I never felt like it was the right fit for me. I’ve since worked out that my newborn shoots don’t HAVE to be that. They can be much more real.

Now I’m all about capturing the family enjoying these special days together in their home, where all these lovely firsts are happening as they learn and grow. Newborn babies have the most mesmerising eyes, and I love being able to preserve those memories with big wide eyes and sweet expressions and interacting with their parents as well as snoozing in a cosy swaddle. Those real baby moments are just as precious as the styled ones, and they are absolutely worth remembering.

Tiffany & Rashaun’s Autumn Mt Tamborine Garden Engagement Photo Session

Tiffany and Rashaun like to walk slowly, they told me while we hung out on a Saturday afternoon. As a serial speed-walker, I could learn something from them here. When you walk too quickly, you miss things. When you slow down, you can take it all in.

I have to agree that slow is the best pace for a romantic stroll around the gardens - plenty of time to smell the roses, spot the kookaburras, and let your photographer scoot all around you for some super sweet photos!

We managed to squeeze this gorgeous shoot in back in March, right before QLD locked down. All of Mt Tamborine came alive in the golden afternoon sunshine, and the heavens put on the most spectacular show for us for the big finale at the Rotary Lookout, the sky on fire over the sweeping views.

Mari & Brett's Kingscliff Beach Osteria Wedding

Remember the times before COVID-19? Let me paint a picture for you: It was mid-November, and the bushfire season was ramping up. The sky was tinged grey with smoke haze through the day, but sunsets were stained brilliant reds and oranges. And people could travel - and travel they did. Mari's family and friends travelled all the way from Sweden to Kingscliff to celebrate her wedding to Brett. Brett's family traveled from Cobar in central NSW. Both distances feel monumental right now.

I always love hearing the stories of how far guests have journeyed to celebrate with a couple - interstate, overseas, or an hour's drive away, it shows they are loved fiercely, no matter how close or far away. It's a thought I've been holding onto while staying home, catching up on some reading and drinking endless cups of tea; we can't gather together, but we're loved fiercely. From afar, and from a few suburbs away.

From the wild coastal winds blowing through their hair at the ceremony to the impromptu dance party on their entrance to cocktail hour to the huge ACDC air guitar performance during Mari's dad's speech, Mari and Brett's bilingual wedding day unfolded in a way that was so natural, so joyous and so open to each moment. Looking back on this wedding really has me missing my job right now!

Thank you to the incredible vendors who brought this day to life! I don't have all your details - if you see your work here please let me know so I can give you the credit you deserve!

Venue: Osteria Casuarina

Mari's dress: Lovingly handmade by Mari's gorgeous friend Emelie Knuts

Bridesmaid's dresses: Melvani Creations

Makeup: Sabrina Chenoa

Hair: Emma Andersson

Cakes: Commune Cafe Burleigh

Connie & Jack's Kalbar Country White Chapel Wedding

I've decided, since March is upon us, to encourage autumn weather by flashing back to this late-autumn wedding. Connie and Jack are a pair of lovebirds with colourful souls, so it made perfect sense for them to marry in the idyllic countryside of Kalbar, their lashings of Connie's favourite lavender dancing brilliantly against the classic black and white of White Chapel. Their precious pup Foster was never far away throughout the day - quietly helping the girls get ready, winding around Connie and Jack's feet as their exchanged vows and rings, and even cosy in his own little bed in a corner of the garden while the party pumped.

Venue: White Chapel Kalbar

Coordination by The Secret Bridesmaid

Ceremony by Annette Richards

Connie's gown and the bridesmaids' outfits by Simmi De Luxe

Kombis from Kool Kombi Bug & Party Hire

Catering by Cuisine On Cue

Talya & Daniel's Crystal Creek Rainforest Micro-Wedding

Remember overcast days? I feel like most of Australia has forgotten what those look like lately, but when Talya & Daniel were married in the heart of the rainforest in Crystal Creek back in October, we were worried we might get rained out. That's a big deal when you've planned for your wedding to happen under a huge, picturesque tree! Thankfully we lucked out - not a drop of rain fell, only beautiful soft light that cast a dramatic spotlight on the happy couple, their 17 guests and their proud and lace-clad baby-bump.

Talya and Daniel's wedding was planned and officiated by Chiquita Mitchell of Life Celebration. They married at Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat. Talya's hair and makeup by Rachael Harris, Talya's gown is by Spell Designs and flowers by Flower Shed Murwillumbah.