The Spirit House, Yandina is one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular restaurants for its delicious food, beautiful grounds and, as the name suggests, spiritual feel. The essence of the place was captured in this styled shoot by artistic, creative Sunshine Coast wedding photographer,  Luke Going Photography. 

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Photographer: Luke Going Photography

Hair: Evalyn Parsons Hair

Venue: The Spirit House / Gown: eVisual Bridal Boutique / Head pieces: Aleksandrovna Head PIeces / Flowers: Wendy’s Flowers / Makeup: Photofinish Makeup / Cake: Judith Brosnan Cakes / Jewellery: Cherrywood Designs / Models: Daniela and Ash

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Enjoy our photo of the week, and your weekend, lovely Sunshine Coast brides!

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Luke Going Photography is one of our absolute favourites, as he has this amazing eye, capturing his subjects in the most unpredictable fashion. Just take a look through Anita and Simon’s wedding at Spicers Clovelly Estate in Montville and you will see what we mean. 

Anita and Simon wanted to make the most of their special day, so they got started early with an 11am ceremony at the super cute Good Shepherd Witta Lutheran Church. Then, the newlyweds and their 120 guests enjoyed a leisurely lunch at Spicers Clovelly Estate, an exclusive luxury estate, which boasts some of the best food around.

Perfect sunshine for their marquee wedding ensured they had the perfect, relaxed day they had been dreaming of and planning to the last detail. They followed up their wedding day with a month-long honeymoon dream holiday travelling to New York, Buenos Aires and Tahiti. Lucky ducks!

“We wanted a relaxed and elegant wedding with a classic colour palette”  

“We had an 11am wedding so we could enjoy a long lunch with lovely food and wine, followed by dancing into the evening.”

“Our love of champagne and the ocean binds us together as a couple.” 

Anita and Simon’s Hand-picked Team That Made It All Happen

Photographer: Luke Going Photography
Florist: Twig and Grace
Caterer: Spicers Clovelly Estate restaurant
Cake: Le Bon Delice French Patisserie, Peregian Beach
Favours: Grey and timber umbrellas by Concept Partners
Guest Transport – Mystic Mountain Tours
Makeup and Hair Artistry: Latonas
Rentals: Marquee, tables and chairs from Perrys Sunshine Coast Event Hire, tea cups from FancyTea
Decorators: Twig and Grace and Spicers Clovelly Estate
Entertainment: Strings – Musica Bonetti; DJ –  DJ Mr Sparkle

Wedding Secrets Revealed 

Biggest splurge: The marquee hire

Best money saver: The wedding cars! We used our own cars

Bridal gown: Darb Bridal Couture
Accessories: Diamond and pearl earrings from Stones Diamonds
Bridesmaid dresses: Lisa Ho
Bridesmaids’ accessories: Pearl earrings, Signature on Hastings
Groom’s suit and tie: Hugo Boss and Canali
Groomsmens’ suits and tie: Mitchell Ogilvie and Canali

Number of guests: 120

“The best thing about our wedding day was the two of us seeing the plan come to a reality and our family and guests having such a great time.”

”We had oysters, canapes and champagne to start, followed by two courses with dessert cake and cheese to follow.”

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Their Maleny wedding was all about family and culture, and the couple made sure they had equal part in the planning process to ensure the wedding was a true representation of them as a couple. One of the things most important to them was to make sure both their cultures were acknowledged on their big day. Senior Elders and family members were consulted in relation to cultural protocols. 

The only bridal party was the couple themselves, and the beautiful, intimate photographs on pristine traditional owners' land are something truly special. Luke Going Photography was the memory maker of Tony and Vero's choice, having placed the highest priority on ensuring their day was captured to perfection to be enjoyed by their family for many years to come. Luke Going is a true artist, as you will see from these amazing images below.

"We really wanted it to be a real wedding that reflected us, family, friends and cultures."

"We are best mates and have strong cultural beliefs."

"Our wedding day priorities were getting the cultural things right, providing a real setting where all our guests can share our special day with us and capturing the day so we can forever have those memories."

"The whole day was one special package for us both."

Wedding Secrets Revealed

Biggest splurge: The venue.

Best bargain: The groom’s suit and all the DIY.

Bride’s Dress: Own design, $2000

Groom’s suit and shoes: Indochino custom suit, Florsheim Shoes

DIY: Brides dress, invites, table cards and menus, slide shows, entertainment, cars.

Number of guests: 74

Total cost of wedding: $18,500 paid for by the couple, their parents and some close friends.

Tony and Vero’s Hand-picked Team That Made It All Happen

Photographer: Luke Going Photography
Florist: Suncoast Flowers
Venue: Weddings at Tiffany’s
Bombonieres: Rocket Printing
Makeup and Hair: Blushing Beauty
Stationery Supplier: Rocket Printing
Officiant: Southern Cross Church

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He puts a similar ring on her finger, and gains all those same things in return. 

Today's photo of the week is by Sunshine Coast wedding photographer, Luke Going Photography.

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So we figured, you might need some talking points to bring up with Luke when you pop in to visit him and see more of his amazing work. To that end, we grilled the guy and as usual, Luke's responses to our tough questions were intelligent, considered, honest and quite captivating. Much like the man himself!

What's your favourite book?

LG: I always find it impossible to decide on a favourite book, movie, band etc. I do have my all-time favourites for sure, but to decide on one as the ultimate favourite is a gruelling task. So, I decided my favourite book that I have read in the last 12 months would have to be "The Grapes Of Wrath" by John Steinbeck. This book absolutely floored me. Steinbeck's ideas we're way beyond his time, reflecting the humanitarian attitudes of social justice and equality that we are so privileged to live with today, and this was written in 1939! The heartbreaking story of Tom Joad and his stoic family, is one I will never forget.  

Where do you do your best thinking?

LG: Going walking with my partner, is when all the magic happens for me. Leaving the house, the office, the domestic distractions behind, I find my mind can be totally free to dream, to envision the vision and think big. I love this ritual, although I wish I could do it more often. But when we do go walking together we usually arrive back home inspired with plans for the next few months. It's a great space for a board meeting.

Tell us about something special in your life.

LG: Well, this has to be my daughter Pearl Magnolia. She is 11 days old and seems to have taken the top spot for "most important thing/person in the world" for me right now. She has captured my entire heart and soul!

Black & White or Colour?

LG: This is a BIG question for a photographer. Most people have a soft-spot for Black & White, but I was fanatically obsessed with it for MANY years. So much so, that I set my digital camera setting to shoot only B&W, which is a big no-no as I can never turn those images to colour. Not that I'd want to. I love the dramatic intensity of B&W. The contrast of light and shadow, the intriguing textures and patterns it can magically manifest. When ever an image is made B&W it is instantly transformed. I love how it draws focus on the subject, while subduing the distracting nuances of a colourful background. A big contributor to my love of B&W was the inspiration of early 20th century photographers. The early pioneers like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Minor White, Cartier-Bresson, Werner Bischoff and Andre Kertesz all played a hugh part in opening my eyes to the emotional impact of photography. Their vision was an artistic vision. They saw that photography was much more then mere documentation, but was a medium (as worthy as any) for the heart and imagination to express itself in the exploration of light and composition. They were the innovators that have made photography what it is today.

What's your favourite thing about photographing weddings?

LG: Weddings are the modern day fairytale. They can be as extravagant or as personal as the bride and groom desires. They are the one event in a person's life that allows them to feel magnificent and exceptional, like they are the princess that they dreamed of when they were a little girl. This atmosphere is electric and phenomenal to photograph. But the element that always inspires me the most is the love story that is at the centre of it all. The energy that sparks between the couple is magnetic to my lens. It is the formula that creates spellbinding images, and fulfils the musings of the bride's childhood dreams of love and the feeling of being adored.

Where on the Sunshine Coast would you like to most photograph a wedding?

LG: The two places that I would love to photograph that I haven't yet are Yandina Station and Annabella, The Wedding Chapel. Both of these places have a unique difference that really captivates me. I look forward to the day when I have the privilege of being invited to shoot at one of these places.

What is your best advice for brides?

LG: I can't stress the importance of being 'in love' with your photographers work. To see the artistic value in their work helps give a photographer the confidence to follow their own artistic vision to create a unique portrayal of your day. The photographer provides more then just the service of documenting your day. They also provide the invaluable commodity of your images. Images that will become priceless as the generations roll by. With this perspective, it is likely that brides will start to appreciate the value of their investment. It may seem a lot of money now, but what is that money worth in a few years time? More than the immeasurable relief that you will feel knowing that you invested in a creative professional to be the visual narrator of the most significant chapter of your love story? I hope not : )

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