Are you looking for a Maleny wedding photographer who’s photographed weddings at all the best venues in the area? Well, hey there! You’re in the right place.
My most recent wedding was in May, for the lovely Hannah and Ben who, like many other couples, were meant to have their wedidng ceremony last October during COVID. But after much rescheduling, venue, and date changes, they finally had their dream wedding in Maleny at Spicers Tamarind Retreat.
About Maleny
Now, if you’re not familiar with Maleny, it’s just over an hour’s drive north of Brisbane. It’s one of south-east Queensland’s little treasures, nestled in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Maleny hosts a variety of craft stores, wineries, gourmet eateries, fine-dining restaurants, and romantic getaways.
Along with so much to do, you could simply spend the day exploring and admiring the scenery of Maleny. There’s Mary Cairncross Park which is fantastic for a romantic picnic and bushwalks. There’s also Gardner’s Falls, a scenic waterhole perfect for an afternoon outing.
Or if you just want to take in the view, check out McCarthy’s Lookout where you’ll get a spectacular view of the Glasshouse mountains.
All these fabulous things to do make Maleny the perfect location for a romantic weekend getaway and is why it’s a popular wedding destination for couples.
Which brings us to Hannah and Ben’s fabulous Maleny wedding
Hannah and Ben were another couple who rescheduled their 2020 wedding. So, in May I made the drive to beautiful Maleny to photograph their wedding. They’d chosen Spicers Tamarind Retreat for the big day, which is an incredible venue, particularly for a wedding.
Everything is conveniently located on the property, from luxury rooms, perfect for a girls weekend, romantic getaway and, getting ready for your wedding. The rooms are luxurious, spacious, and surrounded by beautiful, landscaped gardens.
The ceremony was held at the back of the property in a grassy, secluded nook. It was simply perfect for a garden wedding.
The Big Day – Maleny Wedding Photographer
I arrived at Hannah’s room to find the typical wedding day chaos. There were clothes and bags strewn everywhere, music playing, champagne popping and cheese platters adorned the coffee table.
The room was abuzz with activity and laughter, and as Hannah is a hairdresser at C’Ba Hair in Capalaba, it was all hands-on deck. Hannah had her very own team of fabulous hairstylists spend the morning with her and it was clear the girls were a tonne of fun.
The Boys
The boys however, well, they were a different story! I arrived at Ben’s room to find them all totally chilled. Music playing, having a few laughs and cheeky beverages while a groomsman napped on the balcony.
But I wasn’t surprised. This is typical of nearly every wedding I’ve photographed in the past 25 years. The girls get up at 5am for a marathon morning of hair, makeup, and preparations (and they’re usually still rushing at the last minute), while the boys are generally chilling until 10 minutes before they leave.
The First Look – Maleny Wedding Photographer
Soon enough it was time for the ceremony. But first, Hannah wanted to do a first look for her dad. First looks are becoming quite common at weddings. Once reserved just for the groom, they’re becoming more popular with dads of the brides who often get emotional at the sight of their little girl all dressed up in their wedding gown.
The best way to photograph a first look is to find a private area with soft lighting and a good vantage point for photography. We decided to do Hannah’s first look on the bridge on the way to the ceremony. And while there weren’t any tears, it was obvious Hannah’s dad was super proud.
The Wedding Ceremony
Ah, the ceremony. Well, you’ve heard of flower girls, right? Well, Hannah and Ben chose to have flower men. And these guys took their job seriously! They showed the crowd some pretty hectic dance manoeuvres and had us all in fits of laughter.
Finally, it was time for Hannah’s arrival and there were lots of tears, laughs, and gasps, particularly when everyone discovered Ben and Hannah were already married.
Yep, they’d decided COVID wouldn’t ruin their original wedding plans and on the 10th of October 2020, they married in a secret and intimate beach ceremony, conducted by marriage celebrant Rin Ilett.
As it turns out, their Maleny wedding was for the big wedding and reception party with all their friends and family.
And these guys knew how to party!
Maleny Wedding Photography
One of the best things about Maleny is the scenery. It doesn’t matter where you are in Maleny, the scenery is incredible. And when you’re a wedding photographer, it’s pretty much a dream location.
We did have plans of making the trek to famous One tree Hill for the wedding photos, but the weather was overcast, and the timing just didn’t work in our favour.
Luckily, the venue had its own gorgeous gardens, rainforest walks and just outside the venue was a rustic fence and open paddock.
Which meant we saved time on travelling, got awesome wedding photos and the bridal party could relax with a few bevvies while Hannah and Ben had their photos.
Some couples think you need to travel miles, find a deserted location or a huge property to capture your dream wedding photos and while wide open spaces are amazing for photos, you don’t always need it.
If you have a professional wedding photographer, beautiful wedding photos are possible in any location.
The Wedding Reception
By the end of our epic photo shoot, everyone was hungry, thirsty, cold (it’s cold up there in May) and ready to party. So, we all ventured back to the reception where guests were huddled around fires, sipping wine, and eating some of Spicer’s amazing canapes.
Spicer’s are quite famous for their food and were awarded Chef Hats in the Australian Good Food Guide for 2021.
After dinner, toasts, speeches, and the cutting of the wedding cake, it was time for the first dance. Ben and Hannah had taken dance lessons, so their first dance was pretty darn impressive. Then it was time to ramp up the music as everybody kicked off their heels and hit the dance floor.
And let me tell you, these guys knew how to party. I imagine there were some sore feet, and sore heads, the next day.
But it was such a fabulous wedding with so many fun people.
Congratulations Ben and Hannah.
Thanks for choosing me to photograph your wedding day.
*Keep scrolling to see more of Hannah and Ben’s amazing wedding photography in Maleny*
Wedding Vendors
Maleny wedding photographer – Alison Cooke Photography
Flowers – MeggaBloom
Makeup Artist – Lys Beauty
Celebrant – Rin Ilett
Wedding ceremony and reception venue – Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Maleny
Alison Cooke Photography
If you’re looking for an awesome, fun-loving Maleny wedding photographer for your wedding, drop me a line here. Like what you see? Check out the wedding gallery here.
