Newlyweds at Suzarosa wedding venue in the blue mountains

Rocher & Jonathan

Rocher was a down-to-earth bride with an admirable independence. She had just finished her 'year of me', in which she accomplished major life goals 'including purchasing her first home' before falling for her now husband, Jonathan. Like Rocher, Jonathan was also an educator at a local school. Rocher taught Physical education whilst Jonathan taught English. Fast forward two years, the two were married at a stunning acreage - Suzarosa in the Blue mountains.

Wedding Preparations at the Suzarosa Homestead

It was tranquil and moody the morning of Jonathan's wedding. A thick fog has fallen over the mountains and most of the property, which made everything look straight out of a movie. Upon my arrival, Jonathan and the boys were assisting with the Marquee. Meanwhile, Rocher was setting up signs and decorations. You could tell these two were an epic team just by their interactions in the morning. The epic wedding that followed was a testament to their teamwork.

We commenced preparations and photography in the far-left section of the Suzarosa property. Jonathan had prepared custom brooches for his groomsmen which were handed out before the finishing touches. When the boys were dressed and dapper we headed out to the property garden where the trees had turned a beautiful red colour. We took some epic photos and had a joke around before it was time for me to head to Rocher's preparations.

On the opposite side of the Suzarosa property, Rocher was doing her own makeup at a window that overlooked the valley. She explained how she wanted to do her own makeup to achieve a more natural look. And my god she did an amazing job.

After photographing makeup and hair preparations I took Rocher's dress outside for some shots. This dress was different to anything I had ever photographed. It was a vintage dress and older than Rocher and I combined. It was simples, flowy and elegant. To highlight Rocher's dress I hung it off the leafy alter where the two would be wed. The dress was beautifully framed by the Blue Mountains as it flowed in the morning breeze.

Back in the Suzarosa homestead, the girls were close to ready. During this time the Bride’s cousin Gabby prepared her a beautiful gift. A custom charm for her bouquet representing her departed grandmother. It was a beautiful moment and imperative to the details of the day.

Wedding Ceremony Overlooking the Blue Mountains

As guests began to arrive for the ceremony which at that point was scheduled to take place in the marquee, the rain began to clear up. So in a last-minute attempt for the perfect ceremony the wedding was redirected to the alter at the edge of the Suzarosa acreage overlooking the Blue Mountains. The celebrant Justine gathered guests in two lines before the alter to form a standing walkway. Once everyone was set up the music commenced and our lovely Bride Rocher made her way down the aisle from the Suzarosa homestead.

The ceremony was an absolute hoot to watch. Justine had perfectly curated the ceremony for the couple. If Rocher wasn't bursting out with laughter she was tearing up. It's ceremonies like these where I forget that I'm the photographer. I feel like a friend peeping into their love story. After the I do's Rocher and Jonathan shared a passionate kiss before making their way down the aisle to Beyonce's 'Love on Top'. When everyone was distracted Rocher and Jonathan sneaked in another kiss.

Wedding Portraits on the Suzarosa Acreage

I advised the wedding party that photos would be “fast and fun” so they could enjoy the heaters and canapés as soon as possible. Throughout the session, I sent the party on short breaks to the fire pit on the Suzarosa acreage to keep warm. Like any pictorial, I started with the whole wedding party and broke it down to bridesmaids and groomsmen.

The stunning acreage at Suzarosa is so picturesque there's no need to go anywhere else. We used the backdrop of Wollemi National Park for the majority of photos, where the ceremony had taken place earlier. At this point, the fog had cleared up and we got some beautiful light peeking through the clouds.

After 20 minutes of photos, it was time for some beautiful portraits of Jonathan & Rocher. We started the session in front of another Suzarosa arch which was bursting with colourful autumn florals. The moody lighting on the day made everything look magical. These photographs in particular have become some of my favourite images from my career as Blue Mountains wedding photographer.

The rest of the session took place alongside the property lake and gardens. Finally, we topped it off in front of a homestead window that was framed by old vines. It doesn’t matter where we went on the Suzarosa property, the wedding photos were always stunning.

Marquee Reception at Suzarosa

By the end of the day, the guests had gathered at the marquee for drinks and Brazilian BBQ. Rocher & Jonathan made their grand entrance and hopped into the festivities without skipping a beat. This was the first time I had seen Brazilian BBQ. The boys at Barbicrew cooked some delicious lamb and chicken before bringing it around to guests for them to indulge. After the feast, we enjoyed hilarious and heart-warming speeches delivered by the couple’s siblings and friends. The speeches were then wrapped up by the bride and groom themselves.

Rocher and Jonathan had their first dance at the front of the marquee. It was wholesome and cozy to watch from inside the marquee. After a couple of minutes, the wedding party joined in and thus began the night’s dance floor. Sadly after this, it was time for me to go home. I bid the two farewell and sent them my best wishes for the remainder of the evening.

Congratulation again Rocher and Jonathan! It was an absolute blessing to have been a part of your day!