Nicola and Chad, a Sunshine Coast based couple, decided to get married in the bride’s native country of Ireland. We’re so happy they decided this and also that they wanted us to photograph their gorgeous destination wedding there.
The beautiful, rustic, country venue Ballilogue in county Kilkenny was the chosen place for this bride and groom to say “I do.” From the old stone buildings to the rustic wood floors to the butterflies dancing around the gardens, Balllilogue is a venue with so much to fall in love with.
Nicola and Chad are two very relaxed people, so it comes as no surprise that their day reflected this quality in them both. In fact the bride was choosing which spot she would like to hold the ceremony, around the wedding grounds and gardens, just a few hours before the start time.
The bride and groom were surrounded by some of their immediate family and a few close friends from Australia throughout this very intimate wedding day. The ceremony even stopped mid-way through so she could feed her baby boy, Oisin. For the majority of the wedding ceremony Nicola and Chad’s little family of four were altogether in front of their friends and family.
After the ceremony we took a few family photos before exploring some of the gorgeous gardens and buildings on the property. The afternoon light was pure magic which was perfect for the couple to have a few moments to themselves.
Tears and laughter, food and wine, music and dancing were enjoyed by all the guests who attended this wedding. A local folk duo came along to so sing some old Irish tunes which everyone loved. The kids particularly were up and dancing at the sound of the first notes played. The musicians told hilarious anecdotes in between songs that only the Irish people laughed at, purely because the Australians couldn’t understand a word they were saying!
This was a very special, family-oriented wedding day with ups and downs but most importantly, a tonne of love and laughter.
We wish you solar systems of love and happiness Nicola and Chad, just as you deserve!
Big Love,
Jesse & Mikala
Gabbinbar Homestead Destination Wedding - Sunshine Coast Photographer - Isaac & Eunice
Isaac and Eunice were treated to perfect weather at their perfect wedding venue, Gabbinbar Homestead (Toowoomba). The bride and groom’s friends and family travelled from around the world including Singapore, Sydney, Brisbane and many of other places to witness these two beautiful souls marry each other.
To say Gabbinbar Homestead (3 hours from the Sunshine Coast) is grand is an understatement. Gabbinbar is opulent, historic and magical yet still so welcoming, rustic and natural. It is truly a one of a kind wedding venue that is without a doubt one of Australia’s best and most loved.
Eunice got ready in what is one of our favourite rooms in Gabbinbar, the luxurious brides retreat. The curtains, the oversized mirror, the chandelier, the couch - all the details create an absolutely stunning yet relaxed atmosphere which the bride, her bridesmaids and her family all loved being in while preparing for what was an unbelievably memorable day.
Before the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom held a tea ceremony in the Gabbinbar Homestead library (another of our favourite rooms - they’re all amazing rooms though, even the toilets are!). Some of Isaac & Eunice’s family members took turns in sitting on the couch in front of where the now married couple were kneeling. Each time a new family member or two sat on the couch, one of Isaac’s brothers brought a tray over with a tea pot and two tiny clay tea cups. The bride and groom then gave a tiny cup of tea to each person who was sitting in front of them. The couple then received a gift. This was a wonderful family tradition to observe and photograph.
The bride got dressed post tea ceremony, then had some final moments with her bridesmaids and close family members.
Isaac and Eunice’s Nephew was the pageboy and he was looking very dapper in his little outfit. Instead of walking down the ceremony aisle he was sitting in a large toy car which was steered with a remote control by his Mum. This was one very unique way for a pageboy to make his way down the wedding aisle!
The wedding ceremony was so lovely and relaxed. The bride and groom’s vows were said under shade of a stunning tree surrounded by all their loved ones.
After all the formalities of signing their marriage certificate, being congratulated by all their guests and family photos we took a walk around the Gabbinbar Homestead grounds first taking some bridal party portraits. Then we took some photos just with the bride and groom who were SO much fun to photograph. They’re a playful, thoughtful, kind and happy couple which definitely shines through in the photos taken.
The wedding reception was in a word, magical. The pink candles added an intimate touch to the styling and atmosphere, highlighting the gorgeous flowers and greenery laid out on each table. There was an enormous amount of effort put in to the design and decoration of this beautiful wedding reception.
The now married couple enjoyed some wedding games when they first entered their reception, followed by delicious gourmet meals (which are a guarantee at Gabbinbar Homestead), hilarious and heart felt speeches, cutting of the cake and what was one of the most entertaining first dances I’ve seen to date! These two had a spectacular day with their nearest and dearest friends and family which finished with some let-your-hair-down dance moves. So. Much. FUN.
We wish you all the love in the world Eunice and Isaac!
Enjoy…!
Jesse & Mikala X
Gabbinbar Homestead, Toowoomba
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian
Destination Wedding Photographer
Best Drone Wedding Photos of 2018 - Sunshine Coast Destination Aerial Photographers
Our drone has received quite a workout this year at the weddings we’ve photographed across the Sunshine Coast - Noosa, Maleny, Montville, Mapleton, Caloundra, Nambour, Yandina, Valdora, Obi Obi, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Kawana, Point Cartwright, Point Arkwright, Coolum, Beerwah and more. But our trusty drone also travelled to Villa Botanica (Airlie Beach, The Whitsundays), Ireland, Portugal, London, Hong Kong and Melbourne.
We want to thank all the brides and grooms, bridesmaids, groomsmen, friends, family and randoms who trusted us as photographers and also who laid down on sand, grass, wood, rocks, pebbles, bridges, piers, boats, roads and dance floors to get THAT shot. We certainly have a lot of fun during the drone wedding and engagement photo sessions but also ironically our brides and grooms often comment that it was the most relaxing part of their wedding day.
Needless to say our trusty sidekick drone is taking some well earned R&R over the Christmas and New Year break.
Please enjoy some of our favourite drone moments captured at some stunning venues and locations around the world featuring some gorgeous newlyweds.
Merry Christmas and a super Happy New Year to you!
Big love,
Jesse & Mikala X
Maleny to Noosa to Caloundra, Sunshine Coast,
Queensland, Australian Destination
Wedding & Family Photographers
The Best Wedding Photos of 2018 - Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Photographers
2018 has been a MASSIVE year of wedding photography for Mikala and I. We have photographed loads of beautiful weddings around our hood on the Sunshine Coast, from Noosa to Maleny, Montville to Caloundra, Obi Obi to Coolum, Maroochydore to Beerwah, Mooloolaba to Sunshine Beach. We’ve also travelled to Melbourne, Ireland, Portugal, Hong Kong, London, Fraser Island, The Whitsundays (Airlie Beach) photographing destination weddings along the way while exploring the extraordinary globe we live on.
We feel so privileged to have worked with so many gorgeous couples at some absolutely stunning wedding venues including Gabbinbar Homestead (Toowoomba), Villa Botanica (Airlie Beach), Kingfisher Bay Resort (Fraser Island), Noosa Riverdeck (Sunshine Coast), House of Laurels (Maleny), Montville Chapel & Poet’s Gallery and the list goes on and on.
We have an enormous amount of gratitude for the couples who have chosen us to photograph their wedding day and capture those one off moments, never to be repeated, so they can enjoy them for the rest of their lives.
Thank you to all the awesome, now married couples we’ve worked with in 2018 and also a big thank you to the wedding ceremony and reception staff, owners, helpers and guests who have made our year rich in laughter, love and everything in between.
Big Love and we look forward to another wonderful year of wedding photography in 2019!
All the love and happiness in the world to you!
Jesse & Mikala X
