Cowbell Creek Wedding

Anika and Ethan’s spring wedding at Cowbell Creek on the Gold Coast was one of those perfect days where everything just seemed to flow beautifully.

Cowbell Creek, with its rustic charm, made sure the entire day was smooth, fun, and full of love.

The day started in the cozy bride’s retreat cabin, where Anika and her bride tribe were getting ready. Spirits were high, laughter filled the room, and there was a general buzz of excitement. After capturing some shots of their dresses, bouquets & the last of makeup I stepped outside to meet Ethan and his groomsmen. The boys were in great form, relaxed and sharing a few laughs as we got some pre-ceremony shots.

When I headed back to the girls, it was time for the dresses to go on, and Anika looked absolutely stunning. Once her veil & shoes were on, we captured some beautiful portraits—her excitement mixed with nerves made for such sweet, natural shots.

As the 2 p.m. ceremony approached, it was time to head over to the big barn. Inside, Anika met her father, and they shared a touching moment—his face when he first saw her in her dress was priceless. With the big barn doors thrown open, the bridal party made their way down the aisle. And when it was Anika’s turn, all eyes were on her, but none more so than Ethan. He was all smiles, completely captivated by his bride.

The ceremony was a lovely mix of humor and heartfelt words, with plenty of smiles and a few happy tears as we heard about their love story. When the rings were exchanged, and they sealed it all with a kiss, the guests erupted in applause. As they made their way back down the aisle, a shower of flower petals greeted them, adding to the magic of the moment.

After a round of congratulations and hugs, we gathered everyone for some group shots before sneaking Anika and Ethan away for a little time alone as the sun began to set. Cowbell Creek is a photographer’s dream, and the owners have truly thought of everything—Clydesdale horses, long-haired cattle, huge trees with swings, and even an intimate corrugated iron shed. With a 4WD buggy to take us up into the hills, we got some absolutely breathtaking photos of the couple, with the golden light filtering through the landscape.

As we made our way back to the barn for the reception, the party atmosphere was in full swing. The bridal party made a fun entrance, dancing their way in with upbeat tunes, and the guests waved their napkins in the air, cheering them on. After that, it was time for cake cutting and speeches, which were full of laughter and heartfelt moments.

The first dance had a special twist—Anika’s sister had been married during COVID and never got to have a father-daughter dance. So, in a surprise moment, she finally had that dance before Anika shared hers with their dad. It was such an emotional moment, with not a dry eye in the barn. Finally, Anika and Ethan had their first dance, which started as a slow, romantic shuffle before turning into a dance party, with everyone joining in.

The rest of the evening was spent dancing under the twinkling lights, with smiles, laughter, and pure joy all around. It was one of those weddings that people will talk about for a long time—a day filled with love, fun, and a whole lot of dancing! Definitely a wedding to remember.

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