Weddings by Leoni Bolt Photography
Enchanted Forest Wedding: Cedar Creek Lodges
Dreams come true in this enchanted forest wedding.
Spending the rest of her life with her beloved Arden became less of a dream and more of a reality for Rebecca when they tied the knot at Cedar Creek Lodges. In the beautiful Tambourine Mountain, QLD, Rebecca strolled down the aisle elegantly dressed in her own design masterfully created by Jane Yang in a dainty lilac embodied dress with a vivid lilac belt for her blissful enchanted forest wedding. Keeping in touch with her out of the box yet creatively genius theme of an enchanted rainforest, the couple swapped their own vows covered by a canopy of gorgeous trees and fairy lights whilst holding bright and beautiful bouquets filled with sunflowers (A favourite flower of the couple) by Brisbane Market Flowers.
Opposite to the beautiful ceremony and the fun reception at Island Glade, the planning of the creative ceremony was fairly rocky for the blissfully happy couple. 12 months before the wedding, the eager couple unfortunately lost their jobs. Furthermore, the couple moved down to Melbourne hence throwing another spanner in the works for the perfect pair. Staying true to their instincts despite their location, Mr and Mrs Fraser decided to stay with Cedar Creek Lodges because of the helpfulness of Monica Stekhoven their excellent wedding planner who was provide through Cedar Creek Lodges in addition to their wedding package.Natasha Hill played Celebrant for the ceremony as the beautiful rings from Michael Hill were swapped and the delicious home-made mother-daughter cake was eaten
While Black Jacket Suiting decked the groom and the groomsmen from head to toe in their suits, cufflinks, shoes and almost everything else besides their grooming which was expertly styled by Fahria. The  beautiful bridesmaids waltzed behind Rebecca in stunning pale yellow strapped dress from JJs house.While the flower girls tittered after the bridal party holding gorgeous large sunflowers to continue the creative theme and match their bold and beautiful yellow gowns with a large sash belt with a large yellow flower bought at Flower Girls For Less.
Finally, what special day would be complete without all the people behind the scenes? With outstanding make-up that creatively matched the theme by Bayley Allure, the perfect and on-point lighting that lit the night by Explosive Entertainment. Â Most noteworthy though was the amazing family and friends who made this wedding the perfect day for Rebecca and Arden. It seems like this couple will finally live their enchanted happily ever after.
Bohemian Country Destination Wedding
Bohemian Country Wedding
This bohemian country destination wedding set at Marlowe House just outside of Coffs Harbour NSW has to be THE most epic wedding I have seen in 2015!
When I was contacted by Mark (Singha) to photograph his wedding to his bride to be Lucy I knew it was going to one hell of a party!
You see Singha and I used to work together in bars in Byron Bay. He was the big guy standing at the door carding you as you went in, and I was the crazy little one behind the bar. Singha went on to become an outstanding publican in his own right, and has the coolest group of friends around.
I only met Lucy the day before the wedding, and I feel like I’ve known her forever. These two are just made for each other. He’s the milk to her shake, she’s the shake to his bake – well you get the picture!
Although Singha did the majority of the planning, with the guidance of North Coast Luxury Weddings, Lucy’s eclectic and bohemian style was reflected in the styling, complete with dream catchers hanging from the trees and photos of their adventures together.
Friends and family all pitched in in the days leading up to the wedding day decorating, constructing and putting together the flowers.
The grounds of the private property were dressed with lounge chairs made from hay bales and covered in colourful woven cloths. Chalk boards signs from William & Jane were set up to direct the guests where to go.
On the day of the wedding Kat from SweetHart Beauty made all of the bridesmaids and or course the bride look stunning, before getting dressed up herself to enjoy the celebrations. As Lucy approached her waiting groom (who may have shed a tear or two), she wore Melanie Jayne and her cowboy boots were all the way from Kansas USA. The ceremony was performed under a wooden handmade arbor by the wonderfully vibrant celebrant Sam
Guests entertained themselves with a trivia game about the couple and games out on the lawn while the bridal party headed off for photos. Having lots of friends in the local music scene, there were several live acts throughout the day including Ben Francis & Kane Cahill. It was like a festival of love and celebration!
And of course everyone danced off through the night under the fairy lights. Spectacular!!
Sunshine Coast Engagement Photography
Yesterday we headed to the Sunshine Coast for an engagement photography session.
This gorgeous couple are just weeks away from their wedding day and to celebrate 1 year of being engaged we headed out to Point Cartwright via the Pine Forest for some fun!
There’s nothing better than spending a glorious afternoon with a loved up couple! Travelling together on a mini road trip leaves everyone feeling relaxed and ready for an adventure!
Our time in the pine forest in the Sunshine Coast Hinterlands was short lived as there were just too many mosquitoes, so to avoid hideous welts on their wedding day we kept going to the beach for some rock climbing fun. We really timed the day well working between the rain showers for each location.
And finally we had some experimental fun with fire on the beach, until finally it started pouring rain and we had to make a run for it and call it day.
Can’t wait to actually be a guest at your wedding in a few weeks!! Yeow!!
**JANUARY WEDDING DEAL**
Book your 2016 Wedding Photography
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Leoni Bolt Photography
this January
and receive an
Engagement Photography Session
as well as a
Second Photographer on your Wedding Day
FREE!!
*valid for weddings of 6 hours or more.
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Destination wedding in Stanthorpe.
I’m always up for a destination wedding, so when Dan got down on one knee and gave me a ring out of a candy machine, and asked me to be his wedding photographer I almost cried!!
Honestly it was the best way anyone has ever asked me to be their photographer, and I was also handed a lanyard with VIP written on it which was very thoughtful and totally hilarious! I knew this wedding would be good!
Ellen grew up in Stanthorpe, and so when they decided to get married they chose this beautiful picturesque location. Wine Country need I say more!!
As my family were all invited to the wedding I made them get up and leave at 4am the day before the wedding just so I could get some shots of the sun coming up through the countryside. Unfortunately it was really dark and foggy, but just as we started climbing the mountain range through the glasshouse mountains the fog began to lift and I risked my life running across the highway to get a few shots in.
Friends from far and wide came for the wedding, and being there a day early meant I was able to attend the rehearsal and mingle with the guests before the big day, as well as check out the unfamiliar territory for some good locations. Meeting some of the guests or the bridal party before the wedding always helps to break the ice when your brandishing a camera in peoples faces all day long!
The girls went and got their hair done at Masquerade before going back to their little cottage retreat to have their makeup done by Beauty on High. The brides dress was from Bella Donna Bridal (Wendy Makin) in Brisbane, and shoes were Betts for Her. Flowers were supplied by Flowers of Elegance
The wedding was a traditional wedding at The Uniting Church, where a few of the locals had heard there was a wedding and decided to take a look. I love little country towns and their sticky beaking! Such a great community spirit!
Ellen’s brother played the bagpipes to honour their Scottish heritage.
In my little escapades around Stanthorpe I discovered their local train station which handles one train a week. I figured it was pretty safe to get in there and get some photos in this cute little station. Im sure the bridal party thought I was a weirdo! In fact they already know I am! haha!
They chose Varias Restaurant at the Queensland College of Wine and Tourism for their reception and the styling was handled by Stanthorpe Events and Hire.  The cake was made by Ellen’s very talented girlfriend Amber. Dan and Ellen’s first dance was spectacularly choreographed after taking professional lessons (and having to miss the occasional game of football). Ellen and her aunt also treated the guests (or maybe just couldn’t help themselves) doing the highland fling and a fun night was had by all!
Thank you Ellen & Dan for a wonderful weekend! xxx
Wedding at St John’s Cathedral
Recently I had the privilege of photographing a wedding at the prestigious St John’s Cathedral for Brendan and Angela.
We started the day with Brendan and his boys, and Brendan’s must have VB, then off to Dockside to Angela and her bridesmaids. Angela’s dress was a gorgeous lace off the shoulder piece from White Lily Couture, and the bridesmaids wore grecian style dresses in mint. The girls each chose different shoes to match their individual style and personality. Everyone was very relaxed and enjoying the morning, to the point where the bride asked me if she could take her bra off yet – haha!
The girls hair was done by Claire Mock and make-up by Luisa Andrews. The champagne was flowing and the girls were all reminiscing about how long they’d been friends, and how they’d met their husbands and boyfriends.
Angela’s mum looked on as her daughter was turned into a beautiful bride.Â
As the beautiful Jaguars from Kenz Classic Cars rolled up I disappeared to St John’s Cathedral in the heart of Brisbane to meet the arriving guests and find the nervous groom. St John’s Cathedral is an amazingly beautiful church that puts anyone in awe regardless of their religious beliefs. With stunning gothic architecture and stained glass windows, it’s humbling just walking through the massive wooden front doors.
It was a gorgeous traditional ceremony with lots of laughs and happy tears.
After the ceremony we headed on a long drive out to Brendan’s grandmother’s house as she wasn’t able to attend. She lives on a beautiful property with majestic mountain views and was thrilled to see Brendan and Angela arrive to see her.
Brendan insisted we visit his late grandfather’s willow tree and we got some gorgeous shots of them kissing under the willows with the sun setting behind them. It was just magic!
At the reception the room at Dockside was decorated beautifully by the team at Beautiful Weddings who always do a great job, and the cake and cupcakes (which were devine!), and the gorgeous favours were made by Miss Sophisticake. The favours were little milk bottles filled with powdered chocolate and marshmallows so you can just add warm milk when you get home and put on your PJ’s yummo!  It went long into the night with lots of fun and dancing, while Tom Foolery played.
Congratulations Brendan and Ange!! xx
Have you got a wedding coming up? Are you looking for a photographer?
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Engagement Photo Shoot Mt Tamborine
Booking an Engagement photo shoot with your wedding photographer is a great way to get to know your photographer, feel comfortable with them and in front of the camera, and lets the photographer get to know you as well.
There are lots of things I learn from my couples when doing a photo shoot and learning them before the big day can really help us to work together on your wedding day. Certain things like how tall you both are compared to one another, how you hold yourself, whether you’re a kissy couple or not. All of these things help to avoid an uncomfortable situation while directing you on your big day, (generally while wearing the most cumbersome outfit you’ll ever wear!)
It also gives us the opportunity to try out something different that we not be able to achieve on your wedding day due to location, weather, time restrictions or a multitude of other factors.
This is a recent photo shoot I did on Mt Tamborine with Rebecca and Arden, who have booked for their wedding on Mt Tamborine next year. Rebecca and Arden are very keen on using the waterfalls at Cedar Creek for wedding photos, so we took a trek down there to get some practice shots. When I say trek it really is! From memory I thought ‘oh yeah it’s right next to the carpark’, when in actual fact it’s a long steep trek down to the falls. I made sure I re-iterated to the couple that on their wedding day they would have to factor in the wedding dress and heels as well as the rest of their bridal party. As long as they are aware of the challenge this will pose on their wedding day, I’m up for any challenge!
Cedar Creek is a very popular spot and being a weekend it was very busy, even though it was coming into winter. You wouldn’t know it from the photos, but it also gave the couple the experience of being watched by others, while they were doing their photo shoot and their public displays of affection. Something that is going to be inevitable on your wedding day!
After going to check out their wedding venue, so they could show me where they were getting married, and working out some of the logistics for their wedding day, we headed out to the lookout for a spectacular (and very cold!) sunset.
You can see from the photos, just how quickly the sun can set on you, and how quickly you run out of natural light. Using flash you can get some really spectacular sunset shots!
If you would like to book me for your Engagement shoot I would love to chat with you!
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Vintage Wedding in Teneriffe
This is the story of a couple that got married in the prestigious Brisbane riverside suburb of Teneriffe amongst the old and eclectic woolstores. They had a vintage art deco theme, which was intensified by the fact that got ready at the exquisite Emporium hotel. The Emporium has a classy art deco theme, predominately black with plush damask lounges and the most insane bar! While the girls were getting ready, I joined the groomsmen for a short while in the bar, and the best man proved he is a man of many talents, unveiling the piano and playing some classical tunes.
Shakira and her bridesmaids had their makeup done by Claire from A Princess Palace, and her 1920’s hairstyle and birdcage veil completed the look of the gorgeous lace gown. The bridesmaids wore red Kitten D’Amour trenchcoat style dresses. Shakira’s red lips, belt, roses and shoes tied the whole look together.
The waiting guests were serenaded by a string quartet and had access to a refreshing drink stand.
The bride and bridesmaids arrived in true style to the ceremony in a classic 1950’s Jaguar. The ceremony and reception were both held at a gorgeous Brisbane riverside restaurant Eve’s on the River. Renee Wilkins conducted a beautiful ceremony tailored for the couple, which included a rose ceremony for special people in their lives and a custom made (by Josh the groom) memory wine box, in which they included letters to read to each other. The idea behind it is to open it on your 5 year wedding anniversary, share the wine and read the letters you wrote to each other when you got married. I wish I’d thought about that when I got married!
For our photography session I took the bridal party on a little walk through the Woolstores across the road, whose old brick walls and archways gave us plenty to work with in the fading light.
Eve’s on the River put on an amazing dining experience which included scallops, pork belly, quail and lamb racks, The black, white and red colour scheme including damask table runners and a damask cake created a classy and elegant experience for all of their guests….. that is until they hit the dancefloor – but hey it’s a wedding!! 🙂
Oh yeah! and thanks to Janah from GM DJ’s for getting the party started!
Check out www.leoniboltphotographyweddings.com for more weddings.
Wedding Day Tips and Tricks
Wedding Day tips and tricks to get you through your special day.
– From a photographer who sees them all!
As a wedding photographer I have learnt so much about weddings that I wish I had known when I got married! Some of it is pretty self explanatory, some of it is stuff most people only realise on the day that they have to ask someone else how it works.
I hope that some of this will help you to be organised and relaxed on your wedding day!
• If it’s in your budget hire a planner or stylist. You may have had fun making all your DIY stuff but on the day you and your bridal party will all be busy getting ready and it’s very hard to delegate from your makeup chair. You have spent so much time planning and making things that you want it to be perfect and you don’t want to be stressing that everything hasn’t been done right. Hiring a professional even for a few hours of setup will help your day run as smoothly as possible.
If you can’t afford a professional, then delegate to friends and family well ahead of time and make sure everyone knows their jobs.
• As a photographer I recommend doing an Engagement shoot with your photographer. Of all of the vendors that you hire for your wedding day, the photographer is the one you will spend the most time with. You need to make sure you enjoy their company and feel comfortable with them, especially if you want happy, natural photographs.
• Consider your timing. Be sure to include travel time in your calculations. This is especially important when choosing your photography locations as it can really eat into your valuable time and timing is everything! If you can’t have your ceremony until later in the day consider having a ‘first look’. This is where you and your husband/wife to be see each other before the ceremony and get some photos of the two of you. It’s a personal decision of course but can be really lovely and special getting those jitters out beforehand.
• Delegate one of your bridal party to gather up all of the things you want photos of such as your shoes, jewellery, dress, perfume, suit jackets, cufflinks etc. This will mean the photographer doesn’t have to go riffling through your bags and closets.
• Give your photographer a list of family photos and delegate someone from your bridal party to help round everyone up. It’s so sad when you miss those family photos you really wanted but either the photographer doesn’t know, or can’t find who you need.
• Hydrate and get plenty of sleep. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, and the excitement leading up to your wedding, but there’s only so much your makeup artist and photographer can do about tired skin and bloodshot eyes!
• Cake it on! I know a lot of brides don’t like heavy make up and feel that it looks so noticeable, but it’s better to have a nice matte finish than be shiny before you even get to the ceremony. Especially if you are having an outside ceremony and in the heat. Speak to your makeup artist and find out if they use products for and/or have experience in tv makeup as that is a good indication that they know what works. Your photographer can retouch those shiny, sweaty spots but you will probably have others taking photos of you as well and using flash makes it even worse!
• Use waterproof mascara. You do not want it to run!
• If your going to get a fake tan, make sure you get it 2-3 days before the big day to give it time to settle in and look more natural. Be sure to exfoliate and get a trial done to find a good shade for you. No one like to look like an oompa loompa!
• Prepare for any weather. Have a backup plan and have gumboots or thongs for your bridesmaids if you’re going to be in a paddock or climbing rocks.
• Some good posing tips. Lean forward, chin out and down and put your weight on one leg. A slight S shape in your body is always flattering.
• Buttonholes and corsages go on the left side. This is because it’s closest to your heart and most people are right side dominant and come in from the right for a hug.
• Girls – move your engagement ring to your other hand, so your hand is free of rings when he puts it on you. You can then move it over once your married.
• Pack an esky of drinks and snacks for your photo shoot. If you have hired a car they may provide some drinks, but there’s a good chance the butterflies have prevented you eating much in the morning and you’ll need to have a bite to eat.
• If you have any questions or need to find a supplier ask your vendors. Chances  are we have a few people we can recommend. It’s also nice to provide your  vendors with a list of your other suppliers as it helps on the day and we also like to  thank each other for making your day special.
• Lastly relax and enjoy your day! Remember it’s your day, not anyone else’s and  it’s going to perfect even if things go wrong!
I hope you have found this information helpful.
Please feel free to share!
Nudgee Golf Course Wedding
It was a beautiful warm day back in November. Mel and Dan who had been together for 10 years, and have a beautiful little girl together were finally tying the knot.
Mel and Dan are a couple that enjoy the simple things in life, and their wedding really reflected this. From the very simple bouquets of baby’s breath and rosemary to the bombonieres of beautiful fresh locally sourced jars of honey, with the words ‘spread the love’.
The ceremony was a traditional catholic ceremony at Corpus Christie Catholic Church in Nundah, followed by the reception at Nudgee Golf Course. The bridal party were a barrel of fun, and we had an awesome day!
Thanks Dan & Mel for sharing your day with me! xx
