St Bernards Hotel, Mt Tamborine Wedding Photography & Videography Ben & Rachel

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A love like both Ben & Rach is something we all aspire to have, it's that warm love early in the morning, and waking up with their two beautiful children, that shows just how love is supposed to operate. 

Hi everyone, Rob here. Today’s blog is of great importance to me as its a wedding I hold very close to my heart. Not only was it a special day, but it was also one of the most important and significant days to one of my best mates Ben, I could not have thought of any better wedding gift then to be able to capture this moment of a life time and every moment in between for someone so near and dear to me. 

Onto of this I also got to work alongside another one of my best mates & amazing photographer Tim Smallman, Tim is our resident Melbourne Photographer but for this wedding in particular it was evident to me that he needed to become apart of the experience as well. Prior to the big day I had meet with Ben & Rachel at their chosen wedding venue - St Bernards hotel located in Mt Tamborine. I love getting the opportunity to have a thorough view of my clients chosen venue to discuss the possible positioning of all the precious moments we will soon be capturing, taking into consideration all of the different backgrounds we can utilise as well as getting them comfortable within that environment. 

Moving forward to the wedding day I meet with Ben, his best mate Luke, brother & soon to be brother in law Ryan. All the guys were getting themselves ready at Ben’s mum Anette’s house in Nerang. While the best man was doing some last minute ironing Timmy and I begun to take some images of the accessories as well as covering Ben putting his suit on whilst Luke was lending a hand. To Ben’s surprise, Rach had left him a small gift on the bed. As Ben opened the card he came to realise it was a signed wedding gift from all the Manly Sea Eagles football team (his favourite team), wishing him a happy wedding day you could see Ben’s hands start to tremble as his eyes filled with tears of love & joy. To see all of that beautiful emotion it was a reminder to us all of just how thoughtful Rach is, and as per usual this one this moment got me a little teary. 

Moving on to the beautiful Bride to be Rachel was getting prepared for her big day at St Bernards, which has a absolutely breathtaking view of the entire Gold Coast surrounded by beautiful rambling gardens providing me with endless image opportunities. With their elegant Grande Marquee or better known as the stylish Rafters Room accomodating anywhere from 20 to 200 guests I was already excited for all of the amazing photos I was about to have the opportunity to capture. Also on this beautiful property there was an awe-inspiring cottage, with wide open windows and an amazing indoor setting this is where Rachel, Bec, Melissa & Natasha began the unforgettable voyage of getting the gorgeous bride ready, her hair & make up was looked flawless the girls from VIP Bridal Beauty (Tennille and Liv) did a great job. Her dress was equally beautiful supplied by Bohemian Brides Miami and flowers by Matamata Home Florist.

Again, emotions were running high with a few special moments taking place, for example the moment the girls & her father laid eyes Rachel in her stunning dress for the first time they were all lost for words. Then her two handsome little men Jimmy & Henry arrived,  it took little Henry a while to work out that the beautiful princess before him was his mother, as its not every day the little man gets to see his gorgeous mother looking like Cinderella. 

Racing up to set the tripod up in preparation for the ceremony which was styled by Beautiful Weddings Gold Coast Hinterland, a multiple award winning wedding styling company specialising in creating dream wedding ceremonies & receptions and they didn't disappoint as it was Beautiful. It was great to see a few familiar faces while I set up multiple camera angles covering each view of emotion as well as my professional audio straight from the celebrants PA it was time for action.

I believe it is of great importance to get quality audio especially in an outdoor wedding such as this, with the wind surrounding us you really need to ensure your getting the audio straight from the celebrants microphone. 

The ceremony itself was extremely touching to all who attended, as well as those who have taken the time to view the wedding video itself. Firstly you will see the wedding celebrant announcing Ben’s two beautiful little men coming down the isle, turning to Ben you could see how high the emotions were running. Overwhelmed with the happiness & love of this very special day Ben for a slight moment turned away and by this point I already had tears in my eyes, then down came the gorgeous bride to be. 

As I approached Rachel & her father I realised she was crying to the point where for a brief moment they had to stop for a second. Seeing, feeling & breathing in this pure emotion it was safe to say by this point I was sobbing myself. 

I am so so grateful to be apart of these special moments, being able to capture the raw emotion bride, groom & everyone surrounding feels so deeply is something I take the time to appreciate significantly. 

Once we were all settled the ceremony went well with a great mixture of emotion & laughter. The celebrant was Sarah May Alexander, Civil Marriage Celebrant, who as she always does did a amazing job, she really is dedicated and you can tell that she loves what she does.  

Moving onto the photos section we had a lot of fun together creating images and capturing those moment they will never forget. The bridal crew were getting really involved and I love to see that, makes for a much better end result and an all over happier experience. Jimmy & Henry were also full in action with beaming smiles and an over flow of excitement ready to get in both the wedding photos & videos. We went through all the gardens at St Bernard's with the bridal party, finishing up with just our newly weds referring back to those locations we found in the initial meeting I had with the couple prior to the wedding. 

Straight into the reception we started with the bridal parties entrances all being announced as each pair came through, followed by speeches and then of course the amazing food starting promptly after this. The speeches were very heartwarming for me, seeing my good mates Nick & Luke giving the speech of a lifetime as well as Ben’s mum Anette it was very touching for me as well as everyone else in the room. 

Getting onto the first dance we got started, wasn’t long before the two little rock stars took over the dance floor putting on a show with some wild moves learnt from none other then father Ben. The DJ and photo booth where both a big hit as they where playing some of Ben's classic favorites like red hot chilli peppers aswell as Rach's popular stuff. The photo booth was always full and was a big hit, The great part about that is that it was actually the same company that supplied both All Star.  

A massive thank you to Ben & Rach for allowing me the pleasure of being apart of their special day.  Also a big thank you to Timmy for sharing his unique skills & passion for being an awesome photographer on this day. Ben & Rach have decided to get a wedding album which we worked very closely on to tell there story for the day that will be passed on for many generations to come. Please feel free to comment & share! Would love to hear your thoughts. 

Rob Bampton 

Celebrant - Sarah May Alexander, Civil Marriage Celebrant, Qld
Hair/makeup - VIP Bridal Beauty (Tennille and Liv)
Venue - St Bernards Hotel
Wedding coordinator - Sharon ( St Bernards)
DJ/photo booth - All Star
Cake - Cakey Creations Cakes
Styling (ceremony and reception) - Beautiful Weddings Gold Coast Hinterland
Dresses - Bohemian Brides Miami
Flowers - Matamata Home Florist

Highfields Cultural Centre Wedding Photography/Video Toowomba, Aaron & Nicole

The crew at J'adore had a massive day ahead with a 10-hour wedding package at Toowoomba, thus being our next exciting leg of the journey. We noticed the difference straight away, from the country music that changed when we were going up over the range, to the laid back nature that seemed to stem around the whole area, & we couldn't be more thrilled to be shooting here.

What was even better was the amazing temperature we were given throughout the whole day.  As we turned up a half an hour early at the groom’s house, we got right into the action of things by sorting out where Aaron would be getting ready as well as finding his tie & cuff links.

What we were lucky enough to discover upon talking to Aaron, is the fact that they both were childhood friends, growing up to eventually be two people who found love within each other; what was even better was the glint in his eyes as he talked so fondly of his childhood crush Nicole.

As Aaron was almost finished getting ready with his assemble of groomsmen, we knew that the next few stages was going to be a little emotional as Nicole had left a box with multiple gifts & a card.   

We couldn't help but almost cry ourselves as Aaron unwrapped his gift from Nicole, the emotional scene made excellent video & photo, as everything Aaron was feeling for Nicole was a raw feel of emotion breaking through. 

With both our ceremony & reception being at the same location to which was at the High fields Cultural Centre Toowoomba, the four of us were lucky enough to be able to store all of our extra camera gear in the reception room for later in the evening. The ceremony was an outside affair done under the treetop canopies, & as it was perfect weather for the occasion we couldn't be more excited to see what creativity we could come up with. As Nicole's bridesmaids turned up, each individual adjourned a different shade of both silver & pink. Nicole couldn't have looked more exquisite as she walked down the aisle.

Before we knew it we were venturing off to the photo section was at SpringBluff, this interesting set photo section had as getting some surprising yet awesome footage of an old freight train passing through as we ventured through the whole area, between finding an old barn shack that made for amazing sneaky fun photos/videos of the bridal party, to some more intimate 'dip' footage under the archway. 

Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach Wedding Styling by Wishes Event, Photography by J'adore Weddings

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We are lucky enough to have a great relationship with some amazing wedding vendors on the Gold Coast & in combination with Wishes Events & the Beautiful Wedding Venue Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach it really is a exquisite combination for the wedding of your dreams  working with Bonnie & her team was a pleasure. 

Here is some information about the venue. Dreaming of a luxurious wedding by the most beautiful beach on the Gold Coast? At Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach, our breathtaking wedding reception venues & award-winning cuisine ensure that your celebration will be one to remember for years to come. Centrally located in the heart of dynamic Broadbeach, our 5-star hotel is the perfect choice for intimate family gatherings or lavish ballroom banquets for 220 guests.

Amazing views serve as a gorgeous backdrop, every moment will be perfect as your personal wedding planner designs the wedding of your dreams. Located only 200 metres from the beach and beachside parks, Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach offers an array of beautiful settings for photographs & outdoor wedding ceremonies. Either follow the link or contact Bonnie direct via this link.

J'adore can't wait to be apart of a the upcoming weddings at Sofitel for both wedding photography & wedding videography.  

Fiji Destination Wedding Photography & Videography of Australian Couple Zach & LIz,

It was around about 5 or so years ago now that I had crossed paths with Lizzie, and ever since we’ve always stayed in touch. So when she had contacted me informing me of not only the amazing proposal from the man of her dreams.. but the wedding location every girl dreams of she asked me to accompany them both on their journey to becoming husband and wife. As a wedding photographer/videographer with the aspiration to capture their true essence of love, I found myself planning my next big adventure to Fiji. 

The excitement was overwhelming, being provided this amazing opportunity to not only be shooting in tropical paradise but to also have an adequate amount time to spend with the love struck couple prior to their big day enabled me to get to know them both, gaining a meaningful connection which in turn formed a great bond. Having this time to engage, connect and embrace the couples love gives me a deeper sense of connection when capturing those precious unforgettable moments. 

At first, the task of doing both photo and video seemed like a difficult and extremely challenging endeavour. Only completing this a handful of times as you could imagine I was hesitant. After communicating this concern we had come to the conclusion that we had two major factors on our side, both time, and a limited amount of guests. These two components in turn made this exercise much more achievable. Discussing that sufficient time could be taken also enabling me to produce quality content, even if some had needed a few shots.. we had the time! 

I had decided to spend a few days on the mainland of Fiji to explore some of the more popular wedding venues such as the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort  which had a great chapel named The House of Love so I really look forward to booking a wedding there., The Intercontinental Fiji Resort & Spa which offers Exotic Island Wedding & honeymoon's in Fiji, I also got to visit the Sheraton Fiji Resort  which was great because I love shooting at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Gold Coast. 

After scooping out the wonderfully exotic island of Fiji, my location in which I had decided to stay was at Double Tree Hilton. The amazing Fijian service was impeccable, they didn't hesitate to go above and beyond creating such a peaceful and relaxing environment for each and every guest. On the journey of a lifetime I had decided to face one of my biggest fears, getting in front of the camera myself to start my very own Jadore video blog. 

Many people tell me that I should share my many stories and adventures, others ask me how I got to where I am today… and my answer never changes.. I followed my passion for photography, combined it with my determination for success, and now just sit back watching it take me all over the world fulfilling all of my life long ambitions. I figured that blogging my adventures as well as filming them would be a beneficial way to share my journeys with all those interested in tagging along.

Next stop for me was Plantation Island, which is around about an hour from Nadi travelled to by boat. On arrival I received the traditional Fijian welcoming featuring a guitarist accompanied by some talented singers welcoming us to the island. Not long after arriving I decided to head straight over to the Lomani Island Resort to meet both Lizzie and Zach. Straight away we begun our adventures together, inclusive of scenic bike riding, paddle boarding across crystal clear waters and a breath taking stroll along Lomani beach front finishing up our journey with a relaxed conversation swaying in the hammocks. Taking full advantage of the beautiful energy surrounding them I got them to answer just a few questions in which I had prepared earlier to assist in telling the their story in front of the camera. 

Good quality audio is priceless when it comes to couples telling their stories, helping the people watching to really connect. Day 2 was the wedding, I meet first with Zach to cover his preparation. Zach truely is one of the nicest guys I have ever had the pleasure of crossing paths with, as long as everyone else around him is happy, he is happy. A rare quality to find in not only one person but also their partner as-well. Lizzie obtaining this exact same trait they really just were the perfect match for one another. Being with them in this special time it was like nothing else mattered, the love they shared and the love you felt just being in their presence was truly breathtaking. I enjoyed watching them both get so lost in each other. 

They only had a handful of family that attended, keeping it nice and simple making room for all the love to flourish through the air as this special day took place. I then went over to spend those few special moments with the bride before her life changed forever and she was to become Mrs Hansford. I find these moments with my brides before they get married to be very special,  and often find that a few well placed genuine words of wisdom help as well as building that connection. 

Both deciding that their dream day would take place in the backyard of their villa at Lomani Island Resort as they'd just fallen involve with its beautiful scenery at first sight. The ceremony itself was breath taking, it was a pure reflection of of the beautiful love and passion they shared for each other. I mentioned to the couple not long after that seeing the love they shared for each other most certainly brought a big man to tears. For me, I feel as though this is one of my biggest assists. Being able to feel those raw emotions as well as having the passion for love myself I believe this works to my advantage enabling me to tell their stories and share those precious emotions with others. After the ceremony had concluded myself and the family all went over for lunch accompanied again by 2 local musicians entertaining the group. 

Our bride and groom shared their first dance together as husband and wife. After having a chance to cool down we then spent the afternoon down by the rocks on the beach getting creative together. I really felt like I nailed a few of the images, showing them to the bride and groom we all got very excited over the shots captured. 

Coming into Day 3, my last day with the couple we decided to make the most of our remaining time together and went to go check out the surrounding forrest, ending this beautiful morning down by the ocean which I believed to be some of my most favourable moments. It truely was an amazing experience getting to spend this special time with the couple and their loved ones in such a beautiful place, I felt very privileged to of had the opportunity to capture the true love they shared with each other. 

If you have gotten this far, props to you! I would love to have you engage with your comments and thoughts. I am currently on my way to my next big destination Costa Rica, again lucky enough to have an amazing connection with my next upcoming couple I cannot wait to continue my epic journey. 

 

Rob Bampton. 

 

Advancetown Wedding Photography/Video Gold Coast, Rhys & Abbey

We had such a great time shooting for Rhys and Abbey's wedding, that by the end of the night some of the crew was on a joking basis after the formalities were conducted. 

As we turned up to Rhys's house we were excited as today was a full day of both photo and video. Having only three goomsmen. The first thing we did was go outside and start an epic bucks night cards game that consisted of drinking and a few punches if chosen the wrong card. 

We pulled up a few blocks away from the ceremony to get some extra footage of the girls ,what I was avidly excited/surprised to see Abbey's wedding gown. As it clung to her body, the white lace elegantly collaborated with the pink underlay matching perfectly with her chosen bouquet of wild flowers. Here we got some great moving footage of the girls just joking around and being themselves, it was great to just get some natural emotion on camera, and boy it was amazing! because the girls weren't camera shy at all, which made great footage.

As we turned up at Advancetown in the hinterland of the Gold Coast, we were delighted to note that it was an outside ceremony, this makes for great lighting. It was a wide and open setting to which meant we had a lot of room to muck around with, even with all of Rhy's and Abbey's closest friends and family watching. With our tripod's set up and our groom audio'd up we were ready! 

Abbey turned up in the combi van, and watching Rhy's as she descended down the aisle after her beautiful bridesmaids wearing a shade of dark grey. It was here we got to learn a little more about the couple. and it's also one of our favourite parts of any day, the vows! We got a little teary even at the whole process, and all too soon it ended with a kiss and the signing of the offical documents. 

As the rest of the afternoon was setting out to be rainy with showers starting to sprinkle on consistently throughout the day, for the photo section we went to an array of different locations across the hinterland of the Gold Coast.  Our first area to play around in though was an open lake above a dam. This provided some amazing intimate shots of the couple with an amazing background showing the hues of purples and blue that a storm creates. 

We then started to travel back to the reception but not before stopping at another photo section where an we had a wide an open lake to get creative with, and the rain definitely didn't deter us from getting those killer shots of this awesome couple. 

The Markette was set up and everyone was in full swing of starting to the party, with a list of congratulations were being thrown around. This quickly escalated into a party game that kicked off the start of the reception. With a series of questions that the crowd had to start answering, this caused a few laughs to erupt from everyone.