asterisk photography | the wedding blog

If there is one thing we photographers love at a wedding it is attention to detail.

It wasn’t so long ago that I had the pleasure of photographing a reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) at Circular Quay where the whole design was put together by a creative event management business called Form Over Function.

From what I could see, they had arranged everything from the stunning flower arrangements & table displays through to the exquisite invitations & even the gorgeous cake.  However, I should point out that the cake, although inspired by the theme styled by Form Over Function, was actually created by Chris from Cake Occasions, another excellent supplier.

It was all very well co-ordinated and had an incredibly stylish appearance.  It certainly suited the sophisticated theme of the wedding.

What’s more it was enjoyable working with Alicia and her team at Form Over Function because they were efficient and professional.  They had clearly gone to a lot of trouble to tailor the theme and details of the wedding to suit the bride & groom rather than simply do something “out-of-the-box”.

Their attention to detail is second to none!  Clearly the effect was worth it from the reactions of the guests.

I only wish I could have my wedding day all over again…

Kim*

Form Over Function

There are not too many places I have had the pleasure of photographing that can fit the bill for the full-range of shots: ceremony, location and reception.

Yet Curzon Hall in Marsfield is the perfect venue for an enchanting wedding experience.

Walking into the grounds takes you back to an era once-upon-a-time.  “The Castle” rises up before you with its grand, sandstone edifice adding a stately sense of occasion.  The undercover balcony with its tiled floor enhances any location shots allowing the light to gently fall on the subjects.  And the magnificent stairway reaffirms that incredible feeling of sophistication.

The grounds are green and lush making an ideal backdrop to your ceremony should you choose to take full-advantage of the venue’s facilities.   They even have a quaint, vine-covered archway that makes for beautifully romantic shots of the bride & groom.

Between the ceremony and reception the bridal party often have the use of a private room where they may be served canapés.  This too has a rich, opulent feel to it.

A reception at Curzon Hall gives you a number of large function rooms to choose from.  And of course, the food and wine (always an important factor when considering a reception venue) has never disappointed me or my clients the many times I’ve been there.

So if you’re looking for a wedding venue that will provide you with it all (ceremony, location and reception) then you would do well to consider Curzon Hall.

Now the last time I was there they were finishing up some renovations.  I can’t wait to see the results…

Kim*

Curzon Hall at Marsfield

Having photographed weddings now for over 8 years I can safely say that not all reception venues are alike.

When we were married 15 years ago my wife and I chose a restaurant that would not only provide our guests with wonderful food & wine but also a location that was both spectacular and yet relaxing.  We wanted a place that would be memorable, for all the right reasons.  Fortunately for our guests and us it was.  The venue I am referring to is Balmoral Bathers’ Pavilion in Mosman.

So it’s with this ancient experience in the back of my mind that I rocked-up to another seaside venue, Catalina in Rose Bay.

They too have a reputation for fine food and amazing views.  But would the end-result match all the hype?

I have found many restaurants as reception venues to be great with the food but sadly lacking when it comes to the service.  Getting the food onto plates and out to the guests regardless of how the reception is proceeding is often their overwhelming priority.  And perhaps they are justified to some extent as they will be judged by many on the quality of their meals.

What a pleasant surprise to find that Catalina far exceeds their reputation.

Not only did they serve a superb meal on the night but their attentive maître d’ and wait-staff saw to it that the proceedings flowed very smoothly.  I was thoroughly impressed.

Despite the less than ideal weather conditions their covered balcony provided more than adequate protection from the elements.  And of course the panoramic view across the bay is beautiful and relaxing.

I highly recommend this restaurant as a wedding reception venue and look forward to returning in the not too distant future.

Kim*

Catalina at Rose Bay

Welcome to our new BLOG!

We would love to share with you our good experiences of the many wedding reception venues, ceremony venues, photography locations and service providers we come into contact with during the course of our day-to-day work.

This BLOG is not meant to be a forum for us to sell our own services & products or to big note ourselves.  Neither is it a re-hash of our last wedding shoot.  But rather we hope to be of some assistance predominantly to a bride & groom combing through the vast array of options that exist out there.

So we thought it might be useful if we gave you our honest opinion of those experiences we have found to be better than most.

Naturally, being a photography studio, we will try to include an image with each post.

So please feel free to give us your feedback.  It will help us to provide you with a better service. 

Oh yes, one more thing… you’re more than welcome to tell your friends about our BLOG.  Perhaps they too will enjoy it.

Kim*

Pymble Golf Club