A Wyong Race Club Wedding

Sky-high vibes, dance floor legends, and love that lit up Wyong Race Club – what. a. day for Riley and Taylor.

From Flooded Venue to Fabulous Plan B

A week of relentless rain led to every couple’s worst nightmare—Riley and Spring’s original wedding venue was cut off due to flooded roads. As if that wasn’t enough, the venue also included their accommodation for getting ready, which now meant finding a new place for around 20 people, and doing it all the day before the wedding. Talk about drama! What was meant to be a country barn wedding, was now a Wyong Race Club Wedding. A little different but just as amazing.

Wyong Race Club to the Rescue

In what can only be described as an incredible save, the owner of their original venue called Wyong Race Club to see if they could step in at the last minute. And bless them—they said yes. So, the day before their wedding, Riley and Taylor (or “Spring” as Taylor is affectionately known) headed to the new venue, and began piecing everything together. Somehow, amid all that chaos, they also managed to secure a gorgeous acreage Airbnb in Kangy Angy to get ready in. What could have been a total disaster turned into one of the best wedding days I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. A shout out to Sam who was running the show at Wyong Race Club and the awesome staff who kept the guests hydrated 😉

Sunshine After the Storm

After a week of grey skies and soaked shoes, the weather finally turned in their favour. On their day it was hard to believe that many roads around the Central Coast were under water. They were gifted a stunning, warm autumn day, blue skies, and not a single drop of rain in sight. After rain at my last few weddings, it was so nice to have a beautiful day and especially for these guys after the stress of rearranging a wedding.

Why This Wedding Format Was So Good and I would recommend couples stealing a few of these ideas!

I honestly think more couples should steal a few ideas from Riley and Spring’s wedding day. It was refreshing, relaxed, and flowed in a way that no one felt rushed.

No official bridal party: They chose to get ready with their close friends and family instead of having bridesmaids or groomsmen. This made for such a calm and fun morning with zero pressure or timelines to wrangle. Spring looked absolutely radiant thanks to Lee Hanly, who worked her magic with both hair and makeup.
A first look before the ceremony: We set this up at the Airbnb, and it was hands-down one of the most heartfelt parts of the day. They got to share a quiet, emotional moment without the nerves of standing in front of a crowd. Well except from their parents, siblings and mates watching from a distance. The images from a first look are always some of my favourites. They are genuine, real, and so very special.
All portraits and family photos done pre-ceremony: Because everything was taken care of earlier in the day, they had so much more time to just be present. No disappearing for an hour after saying “I do”, they were there for the confetti, the canapés, the cheers, and all the in-between moments.
Intimate group vibes: The ceremony and the lead-up felt really personal. With family around and everyone in one space, there was this beautiful, laid-back energy that lasted the whole day.

This format genuinely allowed for more laughter, more connection, and more time doing what weddings are actually about, celebrating with your people.

A Ceremony Full of Personality

The ceremony itself began with Spring’s brother Kieran taking on the first half, and it was so personal and heartfelt. There’s something incredibly moving about hearing stories shared by someone who knows the couple so well. There was a lot of laughter, a few happy tears, and a whole lot of love in the air.

Minimalist Setup, Maximum Impact

Instead of a traditional arbour, they opted for simple white fabric draped over the umbrellas and vibrant florals. It allowed me to photograph from behind the couple and capture the faces of their family and friends during those special vows. Plus, the light from that angle was even better!

Officially Married by Jackie Quartermass

The wonderful Jackie Quartermass then stepped in to deliver the official ceremony, which continued with more smiles and laughs. Check out those looks from everyone watching.

Confetti, Shapes and Mum’s Big Moment

As Riley and Spring made their way back down the aisle, their guests were ready and waiting with handmade confetti, cut out by Spring’s mum, Jackie. There was heaps of it! Jackie even made sure everyone appreciated the different shapes before tossing them. Classic!

The aisle walk itself was such a joyful blur of cheers, laughter, and the biggest grins you’ve ever seen. Honestly, the vibe was so good, so loud, so fun, so full of love, that I made them walk back down the aisle a second time. When the energy is that high, you don’t just let it happen once! Why wouldn’t I love walking backwards twice clicking away praying there’s nothing for me to fall over!

Pure Joy All Around

The smiles on their guests’ faces were just as huge as Riley and Spring’s. These two clearly have a village of people who adore them.

Because we’d already captured all their portraits and group photos earlier in the day, there was no need to disappear for another hour after the ceremony. After the group shot, Riley simply yelled, “Let’s get a beer!” and off they went, hand in hand, to enjoy time with their guests. Honestly, I love this approach. It meant they got to be fully present for every hug, drink, and moment with their people.

MCs in High-Vis – taking the role seriously!

Riley’s uncles took their roles as MCs very seriously… while wearing high-vis vests and pointing out the emergency exits. Safe and hilarious. 10/10 performance.

Pizza, Views and Dance Floor Madness

Dinner was delicious woodfired pizza and what a great view from upstairs over the race course and a wintery night sky. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t thought of Wyong Race Club as a wedding venue before, but it’s a total gem. Loads of space, and a dance floor big enough for everyone. Once the Big Waves Band kicked off, the dance floor went off. These guys were awesome. From the first song, it was non-stop energy, singing, and impressive dance moves and hair flicks. At one point, I genuinely wasn’t sure I was going to make it out of the crowd alive, but hey, if you’re going to go out, it may as well be to a banger and a room full of smiling faces.

The People Make the Wedding

Leading up to the day, things were stressful. But when it came down to it, none of that mattered. What made this day so special was the people – funny, kind, full of love, and 100% there for Riley and Spring.

Thank You, Legends

To Riley and Spring—thank you for being absolute legends and rolling with every curveball. To your amazing families and hilarious friends thank you for welcoming me in like one of your own and for making this such a joy to photograph. A memorable Wyong Race Club Wedding! What a day. What a crew.

Wishing you both all the very best!