Jacqui & Rob’s Adventure-packed Watagans Wedding

Jacqui and Rob are not your average couple – from skateboarding on their first date to a proposal at the end of an 8-hour rock climb, they love adventure, and wanted to create a wedding day to reflect this aspect of their relationship. Of course they needed someone special to capture such a unique day, and their photographer friend Don Derosier of Don and Julia Photography flew in from Alaska to oblige.

The next job was to find the perfect setting for their action-packed day. “The Watagans is a place we had spent much time exploring, 4wding, hiking, climbing and camping,” they share, adding that the deal was sealed once they saw some photographs Don had taken in the old pine plantation. “We had a very loose plan B wet weather option, but we were determined it wouldn’t rain and the weather was on point!”

Once the location was sorted they went about putting together a day that involved some of their favourite things in life, including good wine and cheese by an open fire, music performed by friends and fire-twirling. High on their list was snowboarding, however there was a small issue – it doesn’t snow in the Watagans. No problem – enter Rob’s brother who drove trailer after trailer of Zamboni shavings from an ice rink over an hour away to create a jib line in the middle of the forest.

When it came to fashion, the couple opted for items with meaning rather than designer labels. Jacqui’s wedding dress was created by her mother based on a sketch by the bride herself, while Rob honoured his Scottish ancestry by incorporating his family tartan into his and his groomsmen’s outfits. True to the couple’s adventurous nature and appropriate for the setting, they both donned colourful socks and boots.

The following day, the newlyweds donned their wedding getup once again and headed to Stockton Dunes with Don for a carefree portrait sesh, resulting in some stunning sunset snaps.

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Jacqui was smitten with the beautiful native bouquets created by Oh Fleur, and later dried them to display at home as a reminder of a very special day.
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The couple were keen to have plenty of quality cheese, wine and coffee on hand, and a 5 kilo cheese wheel from the Hunter Valley Cheese Company ensured no one went hungry. It was paired with wines from Piggs Peak and First Creek and beer from Fern Bay Brewery. Local café The Commons supplied a coffee cart to keep guests perked up through the night.
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Jacqui and Rob were over the moon with photographer Don Derosier, telling us, “He captured every moment we hoped he would without us even knowing he was there.” Don was just as grateful to be a part of this unique day, saying it was “one of the most authentic and personable weddings I’ve had the pleasure of documenting.” All three headed to Stockton Dunes the following day for some carefree sunset portraits.
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Credits

Images Don and Julia Photography | Bride's Dress Made by bride's mum | Flowers Oh Fleur | Location Watagans National Park | Hire The Grainery Function Centre | Coffee cart The Commons | Cheese Hunter Valley Cheese Company | Hair Refined Makeup Artistry | Makeup Loren Murnane Makeup |


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Luke Smeaton 5 years ago

Looks like an awesome time, can anyone tell me what sort of Permissions they went through to set up this wedding in this forest? Or is none required and they just went for it.

Cheers!

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