Nicky & Matt knew exactly what they wanted from their Worrowing wedding experience. They wanted to throw a colourful wedding festival for all of their friends and family to enjoy to it’s fullest. And you know what? They knocked it squarely out of the park. The wedding festival weekend started with a catch-up at the Huskisson Pub the night before as everyone arrived from around Australia (and overseas). The perfect way for everyone to have a few drinks and get excited about the celebration that was to come. I always love a wedding weekend because it truly gives you every chance to spend much time as possible with your favourite people.

This incredible wedding day had it all, from beautiful styling and colours, crazy weather, a heart warming ceremony, speeches that brought the house down and a dance floor that had everyone bringing their A-game. Nicky & Matt started their day by exchanging cards and sharing a final moment before they went their separate ways to get ready for the main event. The energy was simply buzzing in both prep houses as the wedding party got into the spirit of the day and that exciting build up to the ceremony. As the big bus rocked up and the guests arrived, Matt and his grooms party headed up near the homestead to get ready for the ceremony. Everyone was so excited for what was to come, and that was a gorgeous ceremony delivered by Nicky and Matt’s close friend Kenny. Many laughs and a few tears later; Nicky and Matt danced their way back down the aisle to the delight of their family and friends as the newly crowned Mr & Mrs Coote.

At this point the skies finally decided to open up and give us a splattering of rain, but that didn’t stop this crew. Everyone grabbed a few umbrellas, some drinks and we had some laughs and took photos in the rain before we made our way over to join the rest of the party. As the formalities of the night began, the weather cleared and gave us a shimmer of golden light across the beautiful property. The amazing food rolled out as everyone drank and ate their way into the evening. Beautiful speeches were followed by a night of dancing outside under the festoon lights. Just magic.

To top it off, Matt arranged a special performance by himself and numerous guests, singing some memorable songs and music festival favourites to Nicky.

Please enjoy seeing this wedding festival unfold below.

P.S – Keep an eye out for all of the little touches that pay homage to South Africa and Nicky’s family heritage. It’s beautiful.

The post Nicky & Matt – Worrowing Wedding Festival appeared first on Jack Chauvel Photography.

Fiona & Neal and their incredible Walcha Wedding on the family farm. It was pretty much the perfect way to start 2020. When these two got engaged they had talked about waiting a year or more for their wedding day. Quite insistently Fiona pushed and said she didn’t want to wait and suggested they tie the knot in a few months time. Neal’s family were planning on visiting for Xmas from the UK and what better way to celebrate a visit than with a beautiful summer wedding at the farm. Who knew that making that decision at the time would have put everyone on cloud nine before the COVID adventure that was to come.

And so on the 3rd of January 2020 friends and family converged at the farm outside of Walcha in the Northern Tablelands of NSW. It was still a precarious time in Australia with the bushfires that had been ravaging the country for months still burning away. The whole drive to Walcha I had driven through recent fire zones, the landscape was dry and the sky was hazy from the smoke still in the air. Friends and family had done such an amazing job in preparing the property for the wedding. The front lawn was a lush green and the ceremony space and arrangements for the party were amazing.

Nearing ceremony time the clouds rolled in (bear in mind that the whole place was dry as a bone). As the ceremony began it started to sprinkle. By the time Fiona was walking down the aisle the sky eased itself into a heavier pour before bucketing down. The whole wedding made a dash through the pouring rain to the marquee where 150 people gathered in close under the marquee and reveled in the moment. After some hugs, congrats and mingling the skies cleared and we went up on top of the hill behind the homestead. This amazing light fell over the landscape as the sun came through but the layers of smoke still sat on the horizon. I remember standing there taking it in and wanting to do this justice.

The evening carried on with some heartfelt speeches, great food, many drinks and lots of fun on the dance floor.

As I sit here 1 year (to the day) my mind wanders over the year that has been and how unexpected it all was.  I must say I am thankful that throughout 2020 I have still been able to capture beautiful celebrations like this and I hope to do so for many years to come.

Please enjoy the story as it unfolds in images below.

Family Farm WAlcha Wedding

12 months on and the world looks very different, but it has been delightful revisiting this beautiful story. This was an amazing way to start 2020, especially with such a wonderful wedding story. This really was a wedding where the many hands of family and friends came together to make this wedding happen.

Click here to see some more of the destination weddings I have photographed.

The Wedding Vendors

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Family Farm in Walcha, NSW, Australia
Celebrant: Sophie Fletcher
Florals: By the Bride, Bridesmaids and Family
Styling & Themes: Beatrice Designs – Jordy Beatrice Young
Wedding Dress: Karen Willis Holmes
Wedding Shoes: Louis Vuitton
Hair & Makeup: Chique Hair Face Body
Bridesmaids Dresses: Cue
Catering: Swan Fine Foods
Marquee & Dancefloor Hire: A1 Hire (Tamworth)
Wedding Website & Invitations: By the Groom (Neal Thompson)
Band: Baker Boys Band

The post Fiona & Neal – Family FARM WALCHA Wedding appeared first on Jack Chauvel Photography.

I had the pleasure of travelling to the Amalfi coast in Italy to capture the gorgeous destination wedding of Jordan & Cassandra. I was not prepared for just how amazing the Amalfi Coast is. From Sant’Agnello to Capri to Ravello; around each and every corner is a breathtaking view and a place to take it all in.

Ravello is situated high above the coastline and has an intoxicating atmosphere and presence. It almost feels like it’s the best kept secret in Italy as you roam the little lane ways and hillside cobbled streets. The views are next level and the best thing is you get to see them from so many different angles and vantage points as you explore the old town. Famous for it’s Opera and beautiful gardens; it is popular with tourists but often overlooked by many for other towns like Positano and Sorrento. During the day time the streets are flooded with day trippers but come nightfall, there is a tranquillity unlike I had experienced anywhere else on the Amalfi coast. What better place than to get together with your favourite people and celebrate one of those momentous occasions that brings everyone together.

Spring time on the Amalfi Coast is gorgeous with warm days and cool nights. I arrived a couple of days early and explored the town and local area to find some of my favourite spots for photos (as I always do). When Jordan, Cass and the guests arrived the excitement started to build towards the big day. The beauty of a destination wedding is all the extra time you get to spend with your favourite people in the lead up to, and after the wedding. Jordan and Cass also had family trips (with both sides of the family) and extra travel times with their son Elijah planned around the wedding too.

On the wedding day we were treated to a sunny afternoon for the ceremony on the terrace overlooking the coast and sea. It was a beautiful and heartfelt ceremony that was delivered by Alex (Jordan’s sister). It didn’t leave many dry eyes amongst the guests. Post ceremony there were many hugs and laughs before we ventured into the streets of Ravello for the bridal photos. It was so much fun shooting amongst the old buildings and churches, interrupting a wedding procession, meeting the local police chief and receiving rounds of applauds in the main square of town. At dusk I whisked Jordan & Cass out for some photos leading down the hillside, capturing the last light as it fell over the stone work of the town, streets and sea. The evening was full of good food, wine, toasts, conversation, traditional Italian wedding cake and of course dancing.

I could write 100 pages about the experience but I shall let the photos show just how magical this wedding story in Ravello was.

Amalfi Coast Destination Wedding

12 months on and the world looks very different, but it has been delightful revisiting this beautiful story. Especially in times when a little spark to each day goes a long way. I love what I do, I am still very humbled that people ask me to travel this beautiful earth to capture their love story for them.

You may recognise these two as I have shared their gorgeous Amalfi Coast Engagement before (which I captured with them the day before their wedding day).

The Wedding Vendors

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Hotel Rufolo
Bride Prep: Hotel Ristorante Garden
Groom Prep: La Dolce Vita Ravello

The post Jordan & Cassandra – Amalfi Coast Destination Wedding appeared first on Jack Chauvel Photography.

Elopements are one of my favourite things to photograph. This is because the focus of the elopement is completely about the couple, their relationship and what matters to them. Without the need to worry about other people, I love elopements because I can give my undivided attention to you and what you want.

There are no rules. No pressure to do this or do that. No people to please (other than each other).

And given that it is Sydney, the most obvious locations for an intimate wedding are found near the harbour!

Recommended for you: I’ve mapped out the best spots to elope in Sydney

What is elopement photography?

The main difference between elopement photography and wedding photography is that there are less people to worry about – both for you and for me. In most cases, elopement photography is less intense, more relaxed, fun, natural, candid and often the shooting time is shorter (and this is often reflected in the price).

Some elopements are symbolic so no celebrant is required – in these instances, it’s just you and me and this makes for some very intimate moments – more so than on a typical wedding day.

The main difference between wedding photography and elopement photography is that there is no formal reception to cover. This means you can spend more time doing what you want to do.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of couples are opting to elope! This is due to make up for lost time, have a no fuss celebration in the way they want.

Another popular reason for eloping is being able to celebrate each other in a unique destination.

Are adventure weddings the same thing?

The words elopements, adventure weddings, intimate weddings, adventure elopements and secret weddings can be used interchangeably. I like to photograph all celebrations (and am not fussed in what you want to call it).

How to elope (in Sydney)

This is what you need to do:

1. Pick a kickass celebrant (they will help you lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage).
2. Pick a date.
3. Pick a spot (check out my list of recommended places to elope to within the Sydney region).
4. Ask two people to act as your official witnesses (I can serve as one of them).
5. Do a little dance.
6. Get hitched and have the best day of your lives.

If you wish to keep numbers to an absolute minimum, I have been asked to act as a marriage witness on numerous occasions (and I can legally act as one of your witnesses). This means that you will need to ask one additional person to act as a witness (because your celebrant cannot be a witness). Although if you are the adventurous type, you can try to ask a total stranger on the day if that’s your thing! Hey, it could make for an interesting story down the track! No judgement here. If you do get in a pinch, I am sure I can help assist in getting another witness onboard for you.

By the way, just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean that you cannot have a beautiful wedding/elopement ceremony setup because you totally can! I can recommend a number of wedding stylists and florists to you and they can elevate your intimate wedding/elopement even further. And if you’re afraid it’ll be too quiet and intimate, I know some live musicians who can soften the mood and provide a beautiful sound track for your elopement as well.

Elopement FAQS

Are elopements legal marriage ceremonies?

Elopements do not necessarily have to be legal marriage ceremonies. Many international travellers choose to elope to Sydney to take advantage of our beautiful landscapes whilst choosing to get legally married back in their country of origin.

Australian law requires that each partner sign a witnessed Notice of Intended Marriage (NoIM) form a minimum of one calendar month prior to the wedding. The same rule applies to elopements (If you wish to be legally married).

In order to get married in New South Wales partners must:

• not be married to someone else.
• not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild or sibling.
• be at least 18 years old, unless a court has approved a marriage where one party is aged between sixteen and eighteen years old.
• understand what marriage means and freely consent to marrying.
• lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) – PDF with an authorised celebrant or minister at least one month before an intended date of marriage.
• be married by a registered celebrant or authorised minister of religion and use specific words during the ceremony.
• provide their original birth certificate or passport. If these are not in English they must be officially translated.

What’s the difference between a small wedding and an elopement wedding?

Elopements tend to be minimalist with the bare minimum number of attendees. Under Australian law, the minimum number of people required at a wedding is five (5). That is, you and your partner, a marriage officiant, and two witnesses.

Small weddings on the other hand, can have anywhere from 5 to 30 people in attendance. Small weddings often have a formal (or informal) reception (lunch or dinner).

It’s really a matter of semantics. I enjoy photographing all types of weddings – from secret weddings, elopements, to large weddings.

How much do you charge?

Elopement photography packages start from $1700. Here is an elopement adventure I covered in Iceland. And click here to see a Sydney Harbour elopement.

What are the best spots in Sydney for our elopement?

Sydney boasts an iconic harbour foreshore and some beautiful gardens. Check out my top elopement location recommendations here.

Hi I’m Jack of Jack Chauvel Photography

As you can see, when it comes to elopements in Sydney – I’m your guy.

If you are considering having a bigger wedding in Sydney and love the harbour, then check out my Sydney Harbour Wedding Venues page for more inspiration.

Because eloping is a very personal choice, get in touch with me and we can chat some more about how we can make this happen!

The post How To Plan An Elopement Wedding In Sydney appeared first on Jack Chauvel Photography.

Deckhouse Wedding

The post M&L – Deckhouse Wedding appeared first on Jack Chauvel Photography.

DK & Adam had the most beautiful Sergeants Mess wedding. They both got ready at their parents houses before Adam travelled to DK and they both paid hommage to DK’s family with a traditional tea ceremony. This tea ceremony paid respect to both DK & Adam’s family; with an outfit change in between the two.

After the tea ceremonies had finished; we scooted off to Sydney Harbour for some beautiful portraits before making our way to Sergeants Mess for the civil ceremony and reception. It was a gorgeous wedding celebration right on the harbour; with plenty of laughs, tears and good times had by all.

Sergeants Mess Wedding

Are you planning a wedding in Sydney? Are you thinking of getting married on Sydney Harbour? Then check out my Sydney Harbour Wedding Venues page for some more inspiration!

The post Diana & Adam – Sergeants Mess Wedding appeared first on Jack Chauvel Photography.

Kate & Josh wanted a no fuss and intimate wedding with their closest family and friends when they stumbled across Cornwallis House. A beautiful location tucked away on the outskirts of Sydney, it was the perfect location for the wedding party they wanted. Not much for a big show, the aim of the day was to keep the formalities to a minimum so they could just spend quality time with their wedding guests.

The big Queenslander house on site had enough space for both Kate & Josh to get ready separately (as the final bits and pieces came together on the day). Kate also got to have a few sneak peeks of the setup unfolding and guests arriving. With each little look out the window as she got ready there was another smile or squeal of excitement.

The styling of the day was perfect, especially the use of colours and that the orchard was full of oranges on the trees and grounds. The guests were treated to a beautiful grazing/feast table for food as well as many many donuts and smores for the camp fire. It’s the little touches and going that extra mile that always pulls together and makes the celebration that little bit more special. Kate’s family brought along her grandfather’s historic car (which was lovingly restored) to incorporate that memory into the day also, and it was perfect for some photos with Kate, Josh and the whole family.

A late afternoon wedding ceremony meant the guests could enjoy the ceremony before diving straight into canapes and drinks. We made the most of the afternoon light before re-joining the party as dusk fell over the property. With festoon lights strung up outside, the day seamlessly turned into night and was quite the sight. The camp fire was lit, the formalities begun and the party started.

I think from the entire set of photographs that you can just feel how much fun this wedding was, and I am very thankful to Kate & Josh for having me there to document it for them.

Cornwallis House Wedding

A little spot tucked away on the Hawkesbury River on the outskirts of Sydney. I didn’t know about this little slice of Sydney until I scouted the area for locations one day. A beautiful Queenslander style house on an orange orchard which makes for a very beautiful spot to get married. You have full use of the beautiful venue and it’s nice and private, perfect for a fun party with your nearest and dearest.

Click here to see some more of the destination weddings I have photographed.

The Wedding Vendors

Wedding Location: Cornwallis, NSW
Ceremony & Reception Location: Cornwallis House
Celebrant: Ruth Inglis
Florals & Styling: Ellebore
Coordination: Susie Earnshaw Ness from I Do Crew
Hair: Taylor Made Hair
Makeup: Louise from Luxe Makeup Design
Brides Dress: Karen Willis Holmes
Cake: Sunny Bakehouse
Bridesmaids Dresses: Glamcorner
Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Bentex
Music/Band: Baker boys

The post Kate & Josh – Cornwallis House Wedding appeared first on Jack Chauvel Photography.

I absolutely love the whole Mudgee region and was very excited when Teresa & John got in touch about me heading to Burnbrae Wines to capture their autumn wedding celebration. I love weddings in the country, they always just have such a laid back and fun vibe to them (much like Teresa & John). These two wanted no fuss, just to bring everyone together (as they and their families live all over NSW) and have an awesome wedding party to celebrate.

I headed up the day before the wedding to scout photo locations and check out the Burnbrae winery. Being autumn I knew there would be some beautiful colours around, and thankfully in the week before the wedding they had a little rain and Burnbrae was looking beautiful. I was greeted by Andy (the owner) who showed me around and gave me a run down of the winery. Andy and his lovely wife Trine were the perfect hosts (and also part of the family) and I was happy to see them join in the fun and the dance floor.

Teresa had found a beautiful big farm house for her family and bridesmaids to stay/get ready in. It was wonderful having so many people under the one roof as it creates such a fun atmosphere in the lead up to leaving for the wedding.

The ceremony was in the main garden at Burnbrae which was beautiful in the afternoon sun. John’s mum had done all the florals for the day and the arch for the ceremony looked especially stunning. After many laughs throughout the beautiful ceremony there was some mingling, family and bridal photos. I then took Teresa & John to a couple of the locations I had scouted the day before. We were treated to the most glorious light that afternoon, so after a whirlwind of photos (so we could get back to the party quicker) I got them back to the vineyard to kick start the evening.

The reception setup was glorious under the festoon lights and stars. The food was incredible and the drinks were flowing. Many laughs, tears and Robbie (and the band) got the dance floor rocking. It was a superb night to capture and just before it all wrapped up I snuck Teresa & John outside for a photo among the vines with the stars overhead.

A special note as well for Teresa’s gorgeous gold sequin dress!

Burnbrae Wedding

I have always loved visits to the Mudgee region and even more so now that I am able to document beautiful weddings. There are so many wonderful wineries and wedding venues, but Burnbrae has to be one of my absolute favourites.

Click here to see some more of the destination weddings I have photographed.

The Wedding Vendors

Wedding Location: Mudgee, NSW
Ceremony & Reception Location: Burnbrae Wines which is run by the wonderful Trine & Andy
Celebrant: Misha Harding Celebrant
Florals & Styling: DIY by the mother of the groom
Hair: Travelling Hair by Shal
Makeup: All About Beauty by Olivia
Brides Dress: Jane Hill
Cake: Food at Yours
Bridesmaids Dresses: Shona Joy
Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Myer
Catering: Relish Catering Narabri
Music/Band: Robbie Mortimer

The post Teresa & John – Burnbrae Wines Mudgee Wedding appeared first on Jack Chauvel Photography.

Bendooley Estate Wedding

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2019 has been another incredible year in documenting celebrations and weddings in Australia and abroad. As always I am excited to share more of these stories, but alas I am still in the editing stage for quite a few of them. Rather than indefinitely putting off a share of what I have captured, I have decided to put together a mini-highlight until I can do a full year in review.

So here we have it, 1 photo from each of the weddings and engagements I photographed this year. It was incredibly hard to share just one frame from each, but I look forward to sharing many many more in time. I also photographed families, did a maternity session and captured many elopements and I shall include these in my full year review.

Thank you to every one of my clients who had me along for their wild ride. I have already loved my start to 2020 and cannot wait to see the year unfold.

And so here are my 2019 highlights!

2019 Highlights

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I am not even sure where to start with a story like Nelly & Anthony. These two glorious humans are lucky to have found each other in life. They live their lives with their hearts on their sleeves and make amazing connections with those that enter their worlds. I know from the first time that we met that we would get on like a house on fire, and where we are having delivered their wedding and walked away as friends.

When we first spoke about themselves and their wedding day, all they wanted to do was to host an amazing celebration for their family and friends. The focus was on everyone else, and maximizing the fun with each and every one of them. Seclusions provided everything they could have wanted to and more from a wedding venue (especially the wonderful owners Malynda & Russ). An experience they could share with everyone travelling for a weekend away in the Blue Mountains. They carefully picked vendors that resonated with them and the wedding they wanted to have. A focus on the time spent and providing the experience they wanted for everyone at the wedding.

So on the last day of winter in 2019 they tied the knot on a chilly day in the mountains. Everyone huddled together for one cozy celebration. We lucked out with some of the most glorious winter light as we captured photos during golden hour. We got to have photos with the beautiful animals at Seclusions, as well as some inquisitive horses who came to check us out down by Lake Lyell. As the party wrapped up and the bus picked up all the guests, we ventured back into the cold to make the most of the clear night sky. Before the fog rolled in we captured some photos in the dark, capturing a field of stars and the milky way. The best way to wrap up an incredible wedding day.

Seclusions Wedding

The Blue Mountains has always been a special place for me. It has been delightful to have the opportunity to explore even more of the region and capture some beautiful weddings.

Click here to see some more of the destination weddings I have photographed.

The Wedding Vendors

Wedding Location: Rydal, NSW
Ceremony & Reception Location: Seclusions Blue Mountains
Celebrant: Patrick Seyrak (Friend of the B&G)
Video/Cinematography: Cloud Herd Film Co
Florals & Styling: DIY by the Bride & Groom
Hair: Chantelle from Boho Hair & Makeup
Makeup: Kristin Brett
Brides Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Bridesmaids Dresses: Kimmy Tailor (Vietnam)
Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Custom Made (Vietnam)
Catering: Bev’s Catering
Music/Band: DJ Slavv

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Sergeants Mess Wedding

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