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Enzo Ironbark Hill Wedding

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Wedding Photographer

Richard Johnston

At Lonely Hunter, we only photograph a limited number of weddings each year and do book out quite far in advance.
Don't leave it until we are already booked before you decide to make an enquiry..

Ashley & Hamish – Enzo Ironbark Hill Wedding

Can you share a little about yourselves with us?: We were in our last year of high school (2014) when we got together. Ash went to an all-girls school and lived in Asquith whereas Hamish was at an all-boys school and lived on the Northern Beaches. In Year 11 (2013), our separate schools organised a combined program where we would run a four-day camp for children with disabilities. We first met when we were paired up and given the details of the child we would be looking after for four days.
We moved up to the Gold Coast in 2019 so Ash could complete her Masters degree to become a Physiotherapist. She graduated and has been working in Women’s Health physiotherapy since June 2021, mainly with pregnant and post-natal patients. Hamish works in Performance Marketing with Surf Life Saving Australia. He’s volunteered with SLSA since he was in high school so it’s a dream come true for him. We’re planning on announcing, in our wedding speech, that we’ll be moving back to NSW (most likely Newcastle rather than Sydney) in September of this year. Our parents are the only ones that know so far! As much as we love our Gold Coast lifestyle and our current jobs, we really miss our family and friends in NSW and we don’t really have anything else holding us up here.

How did the proposal take place that lead to your Enzo Ironbark Hill Wedding?: HAMISH – We had previously done a walk in Springbrook, just near the NSW border. It has fantastic views over the Gold Coast and over the ocean. I saw that the weekend had perfect weather too. I just needed an excuse to get Ash there without creating any suspicion. I think I made the excuse that we needed to get out and go for a bush walk, in case we ended up in lockdown like Sydney, and she bought it. The walk is a 14km long bushwalk that has more uphill than you would do climbing the tallest building in Australia. For reference, it’s a big loop, 7kms downhill then 7kms back uphill. We were about 2/3 of the way back up the hill and Ash was starting to not enjoy the walk as much as I was. We hadn’t eaten since 6:30am and I could tell Ash was starting to get hangry (regardless of the snacks we’d packed). She ended up bumping her head on a low hanging tree branch and, honestly, sitting on that hillside thinking I was going to have to carry Ash up the hill was probably the most nerve-racking part of the whole process. I thought my plan had completely fallen apart. Ash ended up pushing through, and we kept on walking. I had been taking a one second video every day of 2021, to put together at the end of the year, as a memory of what was going to be another strange year. I told Ash that, when we get to the top, I’d like to set up the camera so that we can take a quick video to add to the collection. I was able to place the camera down and capture the moment I proposed. All in all, I think even Ash would agree the walk was a success!
ASHLEY – Hamish tells this story the best! All I remember thinking was “Oh my gosh, I must have a concussion from banging my head on the tree. I’ve got to be hallucinating right now.” But I wasn’t! It was all real! And it was perfect. We even went to my favourite little fudge shop afterwards and he let me buy as much fudge as I wanted. He knows me way too well.

What have you learnt about each other since being together?: ASHLEY – His selflessness. I’ve never known anyone to put others before himself so often. Whether it’s his family, his friends, an acquaintance, a stranger… He’ll do anything to help someone and that is a quality in him I admire every day. I’ve also learnt that he absolutely loves to be out on the balcony in a thunderstorm (despite how nervous it makes me), he likes to be in bed asleep at 8pm, he can’t live without his Metamucil, there’s no such thing as “too many surfboards” or “too many hand planes” and he’ll never say no to doing something outdoors.

Can you share a little about the vision for your Enzo Ironbark Hill wedding?: Our inspiration is native Australian with the florals and styling. Our florist will be using fresh and dried florals with a palette of champagne, blush and sage. The bridesmaid’s dresses are also a sage colour.
Hamish will also be adding a bit of his Dad’s Scottish heritage! Hamish, his Dad and his brother (who is also his best man) will all be wearing kilts in their family tartan. The other groomsmen will be wearing black suits with pocket squares in the Christie family tartan.

What was the reason for selecting Enzo Ironbark Hill for your wedding?: We absolutely love the Hunter Valley. Ash’s grandparents owned “CamWay Estate” which used to be called “CamWay Cottages” which is off Broke Road in Pokolbin. Growing up, Ash spent many family holidays (Christmas, Easter, birthdays…etc.) in the Hunter with her whole family and ended up inviting Hamish up whenever there was a spare chance! Hamish’s family also have a farm in Laguna that they purchased in 2019 that is not far from the Hunter Valley.
Enzo weddings is such a beautiful venue and we loved that the ceremony and reception could be on the one property, making it easier for guests. The staff have been so lovely and we absolutely can’t wait for our wedding day to spend it in such a beautiful location with everyone we love!