Sarah & Clare’s Intimate Wedding at Gracelands, Forresters Beach

Jan 10

Sarah & Clare

On the 5th of November 2022, a gorgeous couple by the name of Sarah and Clare tied the knot at Gracelands in Forrester Beach. The two were married at Gracelands surrounded by their closest friends and family. There’s no greater feeling than working for a couple who adore each other. This was truly the case with Sarah & Clare.

Not only did their love radiate towards each other, but to the friends and family who joined them on the day. Gracelands at Forresters beach was the perfect venue for everyone to share this intimate celebration.

Morning Preparations at the Quarters, Forresters Beach

I began the day at The Quarters in Foresters Beach; a boutique resort steps away from Gracelands, Forresters Beach. This is where our lovely bride Sarah was getting ready for the day along with her squad Amy, Harriet and Sophie. Clare was getting ready farther away with her best mates Tom & Emily. I was lucky to have one of the talented shooters from Andre & Co document her morning.

The morning preparations with Sarah were chill and fun. Sarah’s makeup artist Abbie had slayed the makeup and left us with plenty of time to spare. During this time the girls were able to get ready whilst vibing R&B, eating charcuteries and telling some horrendous dad jokes.

One of the highlights of the morning was the exchanging of gifts. Clare had prepared the first gift; a collection of romantic notes enclosed in a wooden box for Sarah. After Sarah had a moment to relish in Clare’s lovely notes it was time for her to present her own gifts. Sarah had bought some jewellery for Amy & Harriet to be worn on the day. The exchange was met with hugs and watery eyes, which made for some beautiful photos.

Before heading off to the ceremony we took some quick portraits behind the restaurant at The Quarters. The light was beautiful and the decor screamed class and romance. Sarah’s daughter was more than excited to pose for her portrait and did so with laughter and cheekiness.

An Outdoor Wedding Ceremony at Gracelands, Forresters Beach

Upon arrival at Gracelands for Sarah & Clare’s wedding, I was captivated by the urban-chic decor. Of this decor was a nostalgic lightbox that transcribed “cheers to the Palmer-Teers - 05.11.22”. Second to this is a signature red velvet couch and a collection of lively pothos plants that greet you as you make your way to the back garden. The garden is where Gracelands hold its signature wedding ceremonies.

It was a lovely setup for Sarah & Clare’s outdoor ceremony at Gracelands, Forresters Beach. Gemma from Polka Dot Flowers had dressed the archway in classic blue & white florals. Underneath our lovely Clare bear waited patiently for her bride.

Simultaneously, guests took their seats as musician Ben prepared the aisle sequence. It was quite a sunny day so it was a relief to have the wedding party enter from the Gracelands reception space. Amy & Harriet were the first to make their entrance followed by Sarah and her daughter Sophie. The shaded lighting coupled with the couple's excitement was magical to witness.

Sarah & Clare's ceremony was truly reflective of their relationship. Thanks to their charismatic celebrant Lisa, the ceremony was meaningful, fun & quirky. At the very end, the couple was joined by Sophie to sign the official registry.

Side note: Earlier in the day my other shooter informed me of a special gift Clare had prepared for Sarah. This was set to go down shortly after the couple's announcement as they walked up the aisle together. So when the moment came I whipped out my two cameras like a ninja, ready to capture it all.

Clare had stopped halfway up the aisle to reveal the underside of her suit jacket to her new wife. The jacket was collaged with the couple's most memorable photos together to Sarah's surprise. Sarah’s reaction was nothing short of pure gold. She let out the loudest laugh and threw her body forward as she tried to contain it. I felt like this moment alone summed up the theme for the day; unrelenting love and humour.

Couples Portraits at Forresters Beach

One of the perks of shooting a wedding at Gracelands, Forresters Beach is the spectacular photo locations close to the venue. I was fortunate enough to grow up around the corner from Gracelands so I'm familiar with the beauty of the area.

We started our wedding session at Forresters beach, which is a short 5-minute drive away. The beach is distinguished by spectacular headlands and treacherous, unpatrolled surf. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches on the Central Coast but is unpopular due to the rough surf. This makes it ideal for wedding photography as you don’t have to worry about beachgoers impeding your photos.

The session began with the entire bridal party before moving on to the smaller groups. It's important that these shots are nailed first. This gives the couple a chance to enjoy their couples portraits privately.

Once Sarah & Clare’s squad left we travelled to Wyrrabalong lookout for photos. The lookout can be found at the very top of the northern headland. Once parked you only need to travel through 100m of bushland to reach the lookout. The lookout offers convenient access and spectacular views of the Coast below. On the afternoon of Sarah & Clare's wedding the lookout was hit was luminous beams of light. Sarah & Clare were immediately encapsulated by the phenomenal views. So I decided to stand back and take some snaps as they enjoyed the view together. On occasion, I would prompt and pose them, but it wasn't necessary. These two were so in love the photos essentially took themselves.

A Warm & Relaxed Reception at Gracelands, Forresters Beach

After a fun & energetic photo shoot, we headed back to Gracelands for the party of the year. Whilst on our photoshoot, Sarah & Clare’s guests mingled in the back garden for cocktail hour. A combination of bubbles, corona & grazing boards had everyone in party mode. Just in time for the couple's grand entrance! Ben, the MC and musician did a stellar job at riling up the crowd for the entrance of the bridal party. Sophie, Amy, Tom, Emily & Harriet danced their way into Gracelands. Following this our newlyweds were announced. The two entered in a ball of excitement, before joining their friends and family for entrees.

In between entrees and mains, we were blessed with speeches from Harriet, Amy, Tom and Sarah. As a photographer, I adore speeches more than any other formality. I love hearing how the couple met and the fun anecdotes that go with it. I recall a story about Sarah meeting Clare for the first time. She described it as an instant connection, one sparked by a sense of safety and humour.

The formalities were wrapped up with an impressive dance number by Sarah and Clare. They felt the need to tease us with an 'almost' dirty dancing life, and honestly, I want justice. Nonetheless, this sparked one heck of a dancefloor; children & adults alike. This energy culminated in a very enthusiastic recital of 'Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen. Any good photographer knows it's about to go DOWN upon hearing that iconic D note.

Sadly our lord and saviour Queen was the marker for the evening's closure. I bid the gorgeous couple goodbye and high-fived their nearest and dearest on my way out. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of Sarah & Clare's wedding. I'm looking forward to my return to Gracelands in 2023 for some more banging weddings.

Thinking about having your wedding at Gracelands, Forrester Beach? Check out the photos below to see how this could look on your wedding day!