A Paddington wedding
A recent wedding was Izzy and Jon’s. And it was amazing! Izzy and Jon were married in a gorgeous little church in Paddinton, just a few kilometres north of Brisbane. Following their church ceremony, we headed off to Gambaros restaurant in Paddington for a night of eating drinking and wedding shenanigans. Thank you for choosing me to be your Paddington wedding photographer! I LOVED being a part of your fabulous wedding celebrations. And thank you for all your lovely words. Because it’s couples just like you guys that are why I love photographing weddings.
Izzy and Jon shared a little of their real life love story with me.
The first meeting
Jon and I met at a Suncorp Bank Christmas party in 2013.
Any funny stories about that meeting?
Jon was already pretty drunk by the time he approached me that night. He asked me to dance with him, spun me around a few times then shimmied off back into the crowed!
The proposal
We got engaged at Marcus Beach at Noosa. We had a picnic lunch and relaxed in the sun. It was a lovely day.
How long have you been together?
About three years now.
Why Alison Cooke Photography for your wedding?
We chose Alison because of her easy going, fun nature. I spoke to quite a few photographers and found them to be extremely expensive and unwilling to tailor their services for my needs. Nothing was ever an issue with Alison and because of her experience and professionalism, we felt really comfortable to let her take the reins and do her thing.
Any ‘must haves’ for your wedding?
I couldn’t pick just one thing – plenty of food and a great vibe. My favourite item would have been the giant letters we hired from Event Letters. It really set the tone for the room.
What made your Paddington wedding amazing?
The people! Being able to share our day with the people that mean the most to us and seeing them having a great time.
Wedding planning
We had a tight time frame to work with so getting stuck into it right away and being decisive was the best policy. I booked most things myself but I had a lot of advice from my sisters-in-law to help me along.
Tips for future couples
Just relax. Because planning a wedding doesn’t need to be stressful and it should be fun! You hire professionals who have done this a thousand times and know what they are doing. And communicate with your suppliers. Because communication is key.
What was something unique about your wedding?
Probably that we were already married! Jon’s father Rick battled Motor Neuron Disease and unfortunately passed away in July 2016. Just before he died he was in a palliative care facility, where we were able to whip together a small ceremony including Jon’s Mother and his siblings. Our Pastor Matt read the service that Rick had written for our actual wedding in his honor. He passed away only hours after.
Advice for future wedding guests – Paddington wedding photographer
Be respectful to the Bride and Groom at all times. You can complain about anything you didn’t like on the way home.
Did you honeymoon, where and for how long?
Hawaii for two weeks!
Wedding vendors list:
Photographer: Alison Cooke Photography
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Nazareth Lutheran Church Woolloongabba and Gambaro Hotel
Hair and Makeup: Hannah – Hair4Brides
Cake: Hansel & Gretel Cakes
Flowers: Brisbane Market Flowers
Décor: One Stop Wedding Shop
Wedding Planner: Gemma – Functions Coordinator at Gambaro
Dress and boys suits: Rodger David & Morrie Lee Dress from White Lily Couture
Jeweller: Michael Hill
Celebrant / Minister: Pastor Matt – Immanuel Lutheran Church
About Alison Cooke Photography
Alison is an award-winning photographer with over 20 years experience in the wedding industry. If you’re planning your wedding and are looking for an awesome, fun loving Paddington photographer to capture your wedding day, get in touch here.