Gabbinbar Wedding

Gabbinbar weddings are always special, and Tamara and James’ wedding was extraordinarily special – a colourful, cultural, and beautiful celebration of these two people. But what really made the day memorable is that it almost never happened. I got a call a week before the wedding that Tamara had gotten a bad case of vertigo, and that she was constantly feeling dizzy, essentially bedridden. Not a good sign for a wedding. And the forecast wasn’t looking good either, with storms predicted all day in Gabbinbar.

But evidently, the wedding still went ahead. Tamara recovered (though she needed a few sit-down breaks throughout the day) and the storms never came (but we did have to move the ceremony undercover, just in case). Sharing some emotional and beautiful vows, James couldn’t stop his tears from flowing during their first ceremony. And because Tamara’s background is Sri-Lankan, they incorporated a second Poruwa ceremony, with all the traditions involved.

And to be perfectly honest, one of the reasons this wedding is a favourite of mine were the night portraits we took in the gardens of Gabbinbar . I’d walked out of the reception for a bit of a break when I saw the entire grounds were covered in a thick fog. Combined with all the lanterns and lights, it was a mysterious, cinematic, and moody atmosphere – and a perfect setting for some sneaky photos. If you’re having a Gabbinbar wedding, definitely make some time during your reception to pop outside. Just make sure to bring a jacket, since it gets pretty cold up in Toowoomba!