Dean & Tracey like to do things a little bit differently. They decided to have their Stanthorpe Wedding as a little get away to enjoy with family and friends. Based in Toowoomba, it was close for their local friends, and an adventure for their interstate family. I had never been to Stanthorpe before, but enjoyed the road trip from Sydney up the New England Highway. It was fantastic to be able to take in the beautiful landscapes along the way.  I was enjoyed a few days in the Stanthorpe area to explore and scout for the wedding day.

Dean & Tracey stumbled upon the Happy Valley Retreat when looking for Stanthorpe wedding venues. They loved how it brought everything together in one place. Stanthorpe and the surrounds are in the granite belt of southern Queensland. The landscape is littered with outcrops, rocks, valleys and is very picturesque. After the long drive from Sydney, I settled in and explored Girraween National Park before meeting up with everyone at the Happy Valley Retreat.

Late in the afternoon the light was lovely, so I grabbed Dean & Tracey and headed into the state forest near Happy Valley for some portraits. It was a great way to get some candid moments between them, have a big catch up and give them some time alone before the big day.

Lke many of my clients, I had crossed paths with Dean a few years ago through our shared interest in photography. With a mutual friend in photographer Tim Swinson; we got chatting when Dean & Tracey started looking at photographers. As I have found, there are no boundaries as to where I can travel to document a wedding day. It was a pleasure travelling to Stanthorpe for this beautiful wedding at the Happy Valley Retreat and I cannot wait to return.

Stanthorpe Wedding

I love travelling within Australia for weddings. Heading up to Queensland for this beautiful Stanthorpe wedding was definitely a highlight of travel for me in 2015. It was a blast being able to road trip and visit a new part of the country I had yet to visit.

As I find with all my destination weddings, I was welcomed with open arms and treated like a friend of the family. It was lovely meeting Dean & Tracey’s family and close friends. One of the best parts of my job is learning more about them and their history. This is always such an important part of weddings, it is the story behind the photos.

Check out some of my other wonderful country weddings within Australia here.

The Wedding Vendors

Wedding Location: Stanthorpe, Queensland
Bride Prep: Apple Blossom Cottage (Stanthorpe)
Ceremony Location: Happy Valley Retreat
Reception Location: Happy Valley Retreat
Celebrant: Kym Wilson
Florist: Blooming Gorgeous (Toowoomba)
Hair & Makeup: Kimberly Amarnasco
Brides Dress:  Valentine Bridal Studio (Toowoomba)
Bridesmaids Dresses: JJ House of Style
Grooms Suit: Casar Menswear (Toowoomba)
Groomsmen Suits: Tony Barlow Menswear
Music: Nash