New Farm Park, full of blooming roses, is a stunning location for a Brisbane City elopement. Lovely Karolina & Darcy chose New Farm Park for an intimate elopement with family. The following images were taken from one hour of coverage on an overcast day (it had been drizzling just before they arrived but then cleared up). It was a pleasure to work alongside Jamie, one half of Jamie & Cara from Brisbane City Celebrants. Enjoy!
Extensive Wedding Budget List
Here is a list of items typically associated with weddings. Obviously, it is up to you whether you want to scale up or scale down from here. There is no right or wrong way to do a wedding. <3
Dress(es); including for wedding party
Suit(s); including for wedding party
Rings
Hens Party
Bucks Party
Alterations
Accessories; including for wedding party
Hair & Makeup; including for wedding party
Planner
Stylist
Dance Lessons
Photography
Videography
Albums
Prints
Photobooth
Floristry
Stationery
Guest Book
Venue
Chairs
Catering
Cake
Cake Topper
Drinks
Bar Tab
Transport
Accommodation
Celebrant
Live Music
DJ
MC
Gifts
Favours
Honeymoon
Dry Cleaning
Emergency Fund
Engagement :: A&J <3
While we enjoy collaborative shoots with other businesses from time to time, the truth is that all of our shoots are a collaboration of sorts. We want to give you beautiful images in a comfortable environment and that is best achieved when we work together. Lovely Jane & Aidan wanted jacarandas to feature in their engagement shoot and they wanted it to take place in a location sentimental to them; we waited till closer to the date to lock it in so that we could make the most of jacaranda season and UQ was looking absolutely stunning this particular day. In hindsight, I don't think we could have picked a better day for J&A's shoot. Looking forward to their wedding next year! 💜 P.S. No visit to UQ is complete without an Emydura macquarii signata (Brisbane short-necked turtle) sighting.
Engagement Session :: Why We Recommend It
How about we see how many reasons we can come up with for having an engagement session:
You can establish a comfortable relationship with your photographer
You can relax/gain confidence in front of the camera in a fun & casual environment (we nearly always meet up with our local couples prior to the wedding day but there is a big difference between sitting down over a cuppa and being on the other side of a lens); quieten those “I am really awkward in front of the camera” voices in the back of your head
Relaxing goes both ways: the more we know about both of you (what makes you laugh, and so on), the more we can help you on your day
Engagement is such an exciting time in life and will not last forever; embrace & preserve the season with some images
The session provides a clearer point of reference for determining wedding coverage/expectations as you personally are in the frame - this makes it easier to see what you like and dislike
You can practice the kind of shots important to you and that you want from your wedding
Try out your hair and makeup style - or mix up the content so you have different looks
Include some of your favourites in your wedding stationery suite (save the date, thank you cards or guest book… or just create a Facebook album and share your love with your loved ones)
The wedding day is about so many things - love, family/friends, emotions - whereas the engagement session is really about just the two of you as the focal point
In amongst the crazy that is wedding planning, an engagement session can ensure a bonding session/opportunity to reconnect for both of you and remind you of what is most important at the end of the day - a really nice pause button, in a way. Make it a date!
Engagement, just like the wedding, is a milestone in itself and worth celebrating one way or another
As time goes by, you might find that you treasure both: images of you in your wedding attire and images of you that are more relatable day to day
Express your personal style (very often, there are multiple people involved in a wedding day with different opinions - puffed sleeves, no train, peonies like grandma’s bouquet, save the dates or no save the dates, Polaroid cameras on each table or no Polaroids… we could go on and on) - this is your day really! No traditional expectations!
While we are creating images different to your wedding day, why not mix up the location, too! Sometimes we hear from couples that they would love images at a location sentimental to them, but it is too far from the wedding venue to reasonably expect people to travel/wait. This is your chance.
Speaking of traditional expectations, if you are wanting something unique from your session, there is a greater chance of that happening at your engagement session than on your wedding day - don’t be shy and work together with your photographer to create some unique magic!
Tell your story as there is more to both of you than a wedding day
You might even learn a little more about each other during the process - embrace it! <3
As always, if you don’t want to do something (including an engagement session), don’t. No one should make you do something you do not feel comfortable with. If this is you, focus on the things that are important to you and, if you go with the flow, your wedding day will come together perfectly!