Ainsleigh & Jem Glenaven Country Escape, Crows Nest

Country Weddings
Written By Angela Brushe

Some weddings you photograph, and some weddings you get to be part of. Ainsleigh and Jem's day at Glenaven Country Escape out in Crows Nest was very much the latter. Two people completely, unapologetically in love with each other, a bridal party who committed to the bit at every possible opportunity, and a reception that had me laughing so hard I nearly missed my own shots. This is one of those weddings I'll be telling other couples about for years.

The boys (and why I always start there)

I always kick things off with the groom and his boys, and there's a very practical reason for it — the boys can hop out of their suit jackets if they get a bit warm, but once the girls are zipped into their dresses, that's it, they're locked in for the day. Jem's getting-ready cabin was a little snug and a little dark for photos, so instead we wandered out and made the most of the property itself, because when you've booked a venue with views like Glenaven's, you use them. Jem and his groomsmen were, without exaggeration, some of the most fun I've photographed. They were up for absolutely anything and it was obvious how much they just wanted to see their best mate get married.

The girls, the colour, and the star of the show

Meanwhile Ainsleigh was in the hands of her hair and makeup team from Wistari Hair Designs and Makeup By Caitlyn, a duo she clearly trusts completely. One of my favourite little details of the whole day was how Ainsleigh dressed her girls — each bridesmaid in a different colour, and each one carrying a bouquet from The Faux Studio to match her own dress. It sounds simple but it made every single photo of that bridal party sing. And then there was their flower girl, who was completely, gloriously here for it. She stole every scene she was in, as flower girls are legally required to do.

A ceremony with family at the heart of it

The ceremony itself had one of the most special touches I've seen — Ainsleigh's brother Dusty officiated, which meant the two of them got to have their love story told by someone who actually lived alongside it. There's something different about that. Kate handled the legal side of things to make it all official, but the heart of the ceremony belonged to family.

A small but gorgeous detail I have to mention: some of Ainsleigh and Jem's engagement photos had been printed onto canvases and displayed near the ceremony spot. As someone who is a little obsessed with seeing printed photos in real life rather than just on a screen, this absolutely made my day.

Bridal party photos with serious country charm

Once the "I do's" were done, we set off around the grounds for bridal party and couple portraits, and this bridal party was an absolute dream team. The rolling, rustic backdrop of Glenaven gave everything a proper country feel, and those pops of bridesmaid colour against the landscape made for some of my favourite frames of the whole day.

The reception (buckle up)

Now, the reception. Styled beautifully by the team behind the scenes, it would have been a gorgeous night on looks alone — but Ainsleigh and Jem did not stop there. The bridesmaids and groomsmen came in with full entrance dances, and the groomsmen decided the best way to do that was in full women's clothing. I have genuinely never laughed so hard mid-wedding. It will be living rent-free in my head for a very long time. As if that wasn't enough, the girls then broke into a full flash mob around Jem, completely unannounced. The look on his face alone was worth the whole day.

Speeches and the first dance followed, with dry ice curling around the newlyweds for the first dance in a moment that felt genuinely magical. From there it was pure party mode — I don't think I've seen a dance floor that packed for four straight hours before. True to tradition, we closed the night out with a champagne pop, which ended with me thoroughly doused in it. Wouldn't have it any other way.

To Ainsleigh and Jem — thank you for trusting me with your day. It was an absolute privilege to be there for it.

If you're planning your own Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, or country-style wedding and love photos that feel this alive, I'd love to hear from you. Have a browse of my photography, videography and content creation packages and let's chat about your day.

VENDOR CREDITS:

Angela Brushe
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