Cathy and Thomas holding each other in the stand of tall pines, sun coming through the trunks, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
GOLD COAST WEDDING

Cathy & ThomasTall Trees wedding, Tallebudgera Valley

An autumn afternoon on the lawn, portraits in the flooded gums, and a dance floor that did not sit down once.

Cathy & Thomas were married at Tall Trees in the Tallebudgera Valley, twenty minutes inland from Burleigh and a world away from it. The property has been there since 1947 and it shows in the trees — enormous flooded gums running up the hill behind the house, and a stand of them so straight and close together that walking in feels like stepping indoors.

They had a first look on the verandah of the white house before anyone else arrived, then a ceremony on the open lawn with the valley and the ranges behind them. It was autumn, so the imported trees along the drive had turned and the four o'clock light came through them sideways. Confetti on the way back down the aisle, a bouquet toss that drew a genuine crowd, then drinks around the fire while the sun went off the hill.

Dinner was under the draped ceiling of the pavilion, and the first dance turned into a properly choreographed one — a full dip, twice, to a room on its feet. The floor stayed full until the lights turned red.

Thomas tying his bow tie at the window in his shirtsleeves, two frames, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Thomas at the window finishing his bow tie, in black and white, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Thomas's velvet dinner jacket hanging on the white brick wall, and Cathy's lace gown beside the peacock chair and mirror, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy getting into her dress with her mother and bridesmaids around her, three frames, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The first look on the verandah — Cathy and Thomas back to back, then hand in hand, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Three black and white frames of the first look, from Thomas waiting in the hallway to the two of them face to face, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Guests seated on the lawn, the hand-lettered welcome sign, and the floral plinths at the top of the aisle, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The big gums over the ceremony lawn, and Cathy walking in between her parents, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Thomas waiting at the front, and the flower girl and page boy coming down the aisle, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The white house across the lawn, Cathy on the aisle, and Thomas watching her come, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy arriving with her parents, and Thomas turning to see her, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
A hug at the top of the aisle, and Cathy with her bridesmaids before the vows, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The ceremony on the open lawn with the ranges rising behind it, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Guests seated on the slope, and Cathy and Thomas holding hands through the vows, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy reading her vows into the microphone with her bridesmaids behind her, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Three frames from the ceremony — Cathy laughing, the two of them small in the landscape, and the rings going on, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy and Thomas at the front, and the ceremony seen from the back of the lawn, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The whole ceremony from behind the guests, framed by the gums with the valley beyond, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The kiss, with the autumn trees and the ridge line behind them, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The train of Cathy's dress on the grass, and the guests up on their feet, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy holding her bouquet up as they come back through the confetti, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Guests throwing confetti over the aisle, and Thomas taking a bow, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy and Thomas walking back down the aisle hand in hand, two frames, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The two of them small on the lawn above the dam with the sun coming through the trees, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy and Thomas standing in the stand of tall straight gums, two frames, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
A kiss among the trunks with the sun breaking through behind them, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy about to throw the bouquet, and the crowd waiting for it, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Guests laughing and grabbing each other after the bouquet toss, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy cheek to cheek with a friend, and the bouquet catcher celebrating in front of the house, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Walking back across the lawn, and heading down the path under the turning trees at sunset, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Three black and white frames by the white fence, ending in a dip, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy and Thomas among the autumn leaves with her coral bouquet, two frames, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Coral and peach table florals, the Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley sign, and the white drape at the entrance
Cathy and Thomas walking hand in hand, and the same walk in black and white, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Banks of candles on the stone hearth, the fire lit, and the cake under a lid of red berries, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Greeting guests by the barrels, and Cathy with an older guest and a glass, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
A kiss by the candlelit fireplace, two frames in black and white, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The reception under the draped ceiling of the pavilion, every table full, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The first dance beginning, guests ringed around the floor, in black and white, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Three black and white frames of the first dance turning into a spin, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The dip at the end of the first dance, the whole room watching, in black and white, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The dip again from two more angles, in black and white, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Three frames from the dance floor once the coloured lights came on, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Guests deep in it on the dance floor, three frames, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Arms up under the lights, three more frames from the dance floor, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
Cathy and Thomas dancing close in the dark, and a kiss in the middle of the floor, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
The last of the dance floor under blue and red light, Tall Trees Tallebudgera Valley
THE TEAM
VenueTall Trees, Tallebudgera Valley
PhotographyVan Middleton
To add: celebrant, florist, hair & makeup, dress, stationery, cake, band or DJ — and the wedding date to confirm the season named in the copy.
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