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Cheri & Luis – Mirboo – Rustic Wedding

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We have known Cheri for many years, she was a bridesmaid at our own wedding and despite not always seeing each other on a regular basis. We always manage to catch up during important times and events and we pick up where we left off.

So when she told us that she was getting married to her long time love Luis. We were absolutely ecstatic for her and Luis. When she asked us to take some shots of her day – we were over the moon as we loved the idea of being able to capture elements of her day exactly how she wanted and give her images that would be memories to last a lifetime.

Cheri was very clear with us that she was having a very relaxed wedding on her country property in Mirboo, it was to be just with a set of close friends and relatives and she definitely didn’t want us to be working overtime taking shots. She just wanted a few nice shots to commemorate the day and capture it the way it was.

We had never been to her property before, but when we got there. we were absolutely amazed. No wonder both Cheri and Luis love coming here and spending their time there. It was a country house set on a hilltop where the back of the house and decking overlook the most amazing vista of hilltops and a valley down below.

The ceremony was absolutely lovely and after getting getting the all important group shot of everyone that was there. It was time to relax, have a drink and some food and take in the most wonderful scenery on a beautiful sunny day. It was even complete with no less than a flock of 5 eagles flying overhead and spiralling down into the valley.

Everyone laid back on the couches as the Venezuelan band started to play tunes that echoed throughout the valley. Quite often when you are asked to be both a guest and take shots of the day it can be quite hard to balance the two. However, this day seemed magical, the happy vibes seemed to permeate throughout the whole area, as people got up to dance on the hilltop decking whilst others were happy to sink back into the couches and watch whilst nibbling, sipping their beverages and exchanging in conversation with others.

It was exactly, how both Cheri and Luis had envisioned, a close knit cohort of friends and family relaxed and enjoying the beautiful day, the scenery and the music to celebrate their coming together as a family.

There was no strict timing as to when things were to happen and so the party went well into the night as a fire was lit to gather around and embroidered blankets were given as gifts to keep warm.

I have to say this wedding was one of the most unique we have ever been too let alone captured and we felt privileged to be apart of it. Not just as a photographer but to share it with one of your close friends was even more special.

Kasey & Tom – Marybrooke Manor – Autumn Wedding

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When Kasey contacted us to capture her wedding, we realised that this was going to be a very special event for us. Kasey was essentially family and she just happened to be marrying Sharne’s childhood next door neighbour, Tom. So straight away there was a connection and a desire to do our absolute best to deliver what Kasey had envisioned for capturing her wedding day.
Kasey was very organised and as we sat down to talk to her about what she wanted it became apparent that what she was planning was very much an all family affair. With the majority of vendors including the celebrant and videographer being either a family connection or well known to the couple.
They were planning their wedding to take place at Marybrooke Manor. A vast estate set in the hills around the Dandenong ranges with a heritage listed manor that is steeped in history dating back to the 1900’s.
There was even stories of ghost encounters in some of the rooms with unexplained occurrences and chills that make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.

Despite this Marybrooke Manor is a lovely estate set amongst the hilly forest that made for some great autumn wedding scenery.
The ceremony was absolutely lovely with personalised declarations that were unique to both Kasey and Tom. Being childhood sweethearts, it was evident that they had grown together as a couple and supported each other throughout the years. Even their beloved dog was present to witness the two declare the love for each other and tie the not.
After getting some gorgeous autumn shots of the couple utilising the unique grounds of Marybrooke Manor. It was time for the reception. And it was evident that Kasey and Tom had a close knit relationship with their friends and family where they could really let their hair down and have a good time, especially on the dance floor.
It was a wonderful privilege to be invited to capture Kasey and Tom’s wedding. Seeing how much they value family and friendship it felt like an honour to be apart of, and we had such a good time capturing their special day.

Michaela & Ben – Boneo Wedding

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When Michaela first came to meet us, she was planning something that was really unique and wonderful for her wedding day.
She was planning to have her wedding all take place on her parents property. We have done weddings where the couple get married at their house or the parents house. But this property was unique.

It was a large expanse of land that overlooked Port Phillip Bay with an assortment of large open spaces, vine yards, olive groves, large pine trees and cows for good measure.
Michaela had explained to us in the meeting that it was quite a large property, but nothing prepared us for just how awesome the property would be and how many opportunities for eye candy were in the vicinity.
The problem for us was two things. One, we had to narrow down our choices and choose specific locations that would maximise our time. And second, that it was very large open space that would require us to double time to get from one location to the next.
The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, taking place on a small hilltop where looking left you could see Port Phillip Bay in the distance.

Jessica Edwards did a beautiful job officiating and Michaela and Ben’s personally written vowels were funny and heartfelt. They even opted to bury a time capsule with a bottle of wine, so after ten years they can open it and share and reminisce about just how far they have come as a couple.
After getting our beauty shots of the bridal party and couple encompassing such an expansive property, It was time for the reception.
They had a vast marquee set up in front of the house, fitted with fairy lights that really set the scene, especially at sunset. where even the moon seemed to be looking down on the event.
The speeches and first dance were beautiful and was a highlight of the night. Ben lifting Michaela into the air during their first dance was a move that was definitely a crowd pleaser.
We had so much fun working with and capturing this very unique and special wedding on such a picturesque property that we wouldn’t normally get to see.

Cheeky Bride

Real Wedding – Melissa & Alan – Stillwater @ Critenden

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Melissa and Alan had a really unique story with how they met and even how Alan proposed. They met at a mutual friends 21st, Mel says that Alan was following her around, whereas Alan insists that he wasn’t. Whatever the case some time after being together Alan thought it was time to propose. He arranged for Mel and himself to go and see some Alaskan Malamute puppies at a nearby breeder.  

It was very much a surprise for Mel, going to see the puppies and when she cuddled up to one particular puppie – she noticed that on it’s collar it said “will you marry me”. She immediately turned around and saw Alan down on one knee. 

For Mel and Alan, family and heritage was an important part of what they wanted to include in their wedding day. From the celtic tradition of “tying the knot”, to pinning rosemary to guests before the reception.

The ceremony, had a great vibe with equal parts sentiment and laughs, that was beautifully officiated by Jessica Edwards

The beautiful venue of “Stillwater at Critenden” served as a magnificent backdrop to a very fun and happy event that was blessed with fantastic weather for the day and made for some really great light for wedding video and photography. as you can see in the photo’s.

During the reception, we had some really original and funny speeches which had the room in stitches and later when it came time for the first dance. Mel and Alan chose to do something really unique whereby members of their family, fathers and mothers followed by the bridal party slowly one by one came to join them on the dance floor.

Mel and Alan really had a unique vision for their wedding, everything from Mel’s bridal style and flowers to Alan’s homage of wearing a kilt. It really was a great day.

 

 

 

 

beach wedding, Mornington, Mornington Peninsula, wedding photography, professional

Rhys & Suzie – Mills Beach – Mornington

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Rhys and Suzie opted to have a small wedding with just close friends and family. They thought what better way to get married than to have an intimate ceremony right on the beach. After looking around most of the beaches around the Mornington Peninsula, they found and fell in love with Mills Beach in Mornington. After some inquiries they found that they could have a ceremony right on the beach and a celebrant to officiate the proceedings in  Jessica Edwards – celebrant

Jessica did an absolute fantastic job of performing an intimate ceremony on the beach whereby friends and family found themselves front and centre of the proceedings which was full of fun, laughter and heartfelt gestures.

When Rhys and Suzie first came to us – Jiva Workshop, they wanted some really great photography of their day. They knew they had picked a picturesque setting and wanted their wedding photo’s to not only capture the scenic location but also the love they felt for each other.

Not having shot at the beach before we, went down to Mills Beach in Mornington to scout the location and see what would be the best way to shoot the couple on the beach and surrounds.

We knew we would get some absolutely fantastic shots of the couple with the beach, the beach boxes and the sea, butwe wanted to try something different and get a different angle that most haven’t seen before. That is why we decided to use a drone for photography only. As you can see by using the drone we were able to get shots that no one else would be able to get otherwise.

We were really ecstatic as were Rhys and Suzie at how they turned out and will be using the drone again to get shots that are truly unique.  

 

Real Wedding – Daniel and Rochelle – Portsea Hotel

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Daniel and Rochelle contacted us after attending a wedding that we had the pleasure of capturing. After seeing our work and what we had done, they were both impressed enough to hire Jiva Workshop to capture their special day.

Daniel and Rochelle already had two children and it was important to them to be able to include them both in the wedding ceremony. They had already booked the venue at Portsea Hotel for the fantastic venue with sweeping views of Port Phillip Bay. This made for a picturesque setting for their special little family to come together and for both Daniel and Rochelle to say their vows to each other.

Their celebrant Karen Wilmot did a magnificent job of presiding over the ceremony with beautiful stories of how Daniel proposed and courted Rochelle, not to mention growing into a beautiful family of four. Daniel and Rochelle chose to do a hand fasting ritual during the ceremony. Hand Fasting is an old Celtic tradition where the hands of the bride and groom are bound together to represent the bond they will have together as man and wife.

 

After the ceremony we headed down to the Portsea Pier to get some loved up images of the bridal party. Timing it perfectly for Golden hour, we got some fantastic candid images of everyone on the pier with the water in the background.

We finished by heading back to The Portsea Hotel where Daniel and Rochelle had a cocktail / meal reception – The entree’s were a mixture of cocktail platters whilst the main meal was served as a sit down meal. Something that i had not seen before, yet seemed to work quite well for everyone present.

Daniel & Rochelle Wedding Highlights – Portsea Hotel from Jiva Workshop on Vimeo.

 

We loved working with Daniel and Rochelle, they brought humour and fun to our day and they had the cutest most adorable children you could have witnessed. Congratulations Daniel and Rochelle we wish you all the best for your future.

Real Wedding | Matt & Kate | Lindinderry – Red Hill

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Matt and Kate really wanted an intimate wedding with a few special family and friends. They wanted the backdrop of the rolling hills that Red Hill had to offer and so opted for a small wedding at Lindenderry at Red Hill. When Matt and Kate came to us they especially wanted us to capture the very special ceremony that they had planned and after seeing what took place it’s easy to understand why.

The Ceremony

With Matt waiting nervously down the aisle Kate made her entrance walking between the massive elm trees that stand to attention along the aisle. 

when it came time to say their special vows, Matt had tears of happiness in his eyes but managed to get them out without seeming to unmanly. Kate then said her own vows which again took on special meaning and made the crowd say a collective Awwww.

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After the ceremony and group shot, we whisked the bridal party away for some location shots around the magnificent grounds of Lindinderry at Red Hill. Although it seemed like it might rain during the day, the weather held up and we were able to get some great light for our shots around the ground.

After the location shots, Matt & Kate made their grand entrance into the reception. They didn’t want to waste much time on formalities and so jumped pretty much straight into speeches.

The speeches really were a highlight of the night as what seemed like what would be a short and sweet affair turned into many heart felt messages and hilarity at stories of Matt’s past exploits as an Ebay reseller.

A great night was had by all and i wish both Matt and Kate all the best for the future. 

Beach Wedding Mornington Peninsula

Real Wedding | Brendan & Natalie | Sorrento

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Sweethearts Brendan and Natalie when deciding where to get married really wanted a beach wedding overlooking the sea. So when Brendan finally popped the question they settled on a destination wedding down at sorrento at all smiles. All smiles is the one venue that overlooks the Sorrento back beach and makes for a magnificent venue and atmosphere.

Being very laid back they opted for a cocktail party that could host their many family and friends as well as have the outlook and atmosphere that the background scenery could offer. 

Brendan and Natalie both came to us again by looking at some of our work that was featured on our facebook page and knew they wanted Jiva Workshop to capture their special day. They opted to get us to do both photography and video and together we looked at many different idea’s of how to get the best Photography and Video of their day.

All smiles ceremony

The ceremony took place at the back of the venue which is more or less a cliff top that has the magnificent backdrop of Sorrento Back Beach. It was a beautiful ceremony whereby even Brendan had tears in his eyes when he saw the beautiful Natalie for the first time coming down the aisle. 

After the ceremony was said and done we ventured off with the bridal party to get some location shots down on the beach and some special ones at a secret pier location in Sorrento.

Brendan & Natalie Wedding Highlights Sorrento from Jiva Workshop on Vimeo.

After the location shots were done and dusted. The couple came back to the venue with one thing on their minds and that was to party. With so many of their friends and family that have gathered they danced into the night and even at one stage held Natalie above their heads crowd surfing. It was a great night for both of them. 

Celebrity Wedding | Dave & Lauren | Baxter Barn

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Well some TV fanatics might recognise the bride in this wedding. Lauren was the chef from “Wings & Fins” restaurant that featured in the channel 9 reality series “The Hotplate”, where competing restaurants battle it out against each other to take out best restaurant.

It was just before the series started filming that Dave and Lauren first met and started a relationship whereby Lauren had to say goodbye suddenly and start shooting the tv show. They survived the ups and downs of the show and after everything had settled, they had a loving relationship and baby on the way.

Dave and Lauren first came to us wanting to capture their special day after seeing some of our previous work. They both had some very special moments that they wanted captured. One in particular was having a butterfly release during the group shot after the ceremony at Baxter Barn. We had concerns over how to capture a few hundred butterflies flying up all at once, however it was an obvious choice to shoot the video in slow motion at 200 frames per second.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was placed at the back of the barn facing the grand wisteria encompassing the back porch. It was a intimate ceremony that was personal to both Dave and Lauren with stories about how they met and what they mean to each other. When it came time for the group shot, coordinating the release of hundreds of butterflies is no easy task, however it was managed very well and what it resulted in was truly a unique piece of vision for their wedding video.

 

 

The location shots

After all the formal ceremony proceedings were done and dusted, we managed to get the bridal party away for a few location shots in and around the rustic scenery that is Baxter Barn.

We were able to get some memorable shots of the couple, and with the sun setting in the background made for a really fun and candid shoot. 

Dave and Lauren’s wedding was most memorable and intimate. Being somewhat recognisable it was important to both Dave and Lauren that they had a small but memorable and intimate wedding, which really was achieved with great food and wine and mingling in the back decks of Baxter Barn.  

Sunset Lake wedding

Real Wedding | Sarah & Chris | McClelland Gallery

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Sarah and Chris first met at a friends wedding when they were unexpectedly seated together. Chris was quite shy around knew people whilst Sarah was quite outgoing and accommodating so much so she ended up finishing Chris’s meal at their friends reception. And So this is a story where the couple hit it off at first sight and never look back. 

When Sarah and Chris first came to us they really wanted a small but meaningful wedding. It was important to both of them to include Chris’s daughter into the day and Sarah had prepared special vows not just to Chris but to Kayla as well. 

Originally both Chris and Sarah were opting for a backyard wedding at Sarah’s Parents house, with a beautiful backyard it would make a great scene for a cozy small wedding that they wanted. When they saw The McClelland Gallery & Sculpture Park and realised that they could have weddings there, they knew it was the perfect place to hold their small but fun wedding.

The ceremony was held in front of the picturesque lake and as they both said their own vows to each other and to a surprised Kayla, the tears began to flow and people began to choke up. It was very meaningful and you could feel the emotion in the air.

IT was after the ceremony that we ventured into the sculpture park to take some great shots of the bridal party and the couple. It was the first time we had tried to use smoke bombs and although it was a little temperamental some of the results were astounding. Making use of the sculptures and the natural surrounds we were able to get some fantastic imagery. 

Sarah & Chris Wedding Highlights – McClelland Gallery from Jiva Workshop on Vimeo.

Then after all the formalities such as the speeches were over it was over to the great band of Inkasounds  which led the party in all night fun and dancing. It really was a fantastic wedding and we had so much fun and laughter capturing it.