Ask anyone in the local wedding industry where they most love to shoot, and Gabbinbar is always near the top of the list. Shaun included. Shaun especially.
We’ve been filming weddings up on the ridge in Toowoomba since Gabbinbar first opened its doors (well, since it first opened its wedding doors in 2012, not its literal doors in 1876), and we honestly can’t think of a single wedding there we haven’t loved. Not one.
Dylan and Jasmyn: “Shaun was like a shadow. I really didn’t see him much on the day but… he got the BEST footage.”
That’s a pretty big call to make about any venue, so to prove it, here are some of our experiences from actual weddings we’ve filmed at Gabbinbar Homestead:
THE FIRST ONE AND THE GLASSES
At the end of our very first wedding at Gabbinbar, the night was winding down and the team had their hands full. Shaun had a two-hour drive home ahead of him, but instead of heading straight to the car he grabbed an armful of glasses and helped clear up. That’s just how we are on a wedding day: if something needs doing, we pitch in. It was the start of a great relationship with Gabbinbar, and we’ve loved every wedding there since.
THE STORM DAY (AND WHY WE SAID “YES” TO SOMETHING WE’D NEVER SAY YES TO AGAIN
Alana and Eugene loved our films so much they decided to book us and no photographer at all. This has happened a few times over the years, and although it’s a huge compliment, we’re always upfront and say, gently, that we don’t think it’s a good idea. When there’s no photographer, a well-meaning guest usually jumps in to be the hero, and without meaning to, they end up standing in shots and stepping on moments. Nobody wins.They were sure, though. So Shaun offered something he’d only ever offer at Gabbinbar, because he knows every corner of the place: he’d take photos AND film single-handedly, with video getting first dibs on the big moments like the aisle and the first dance.Then it stormed. Really stormed.And this is where Gabbinbar earns its reputation. There are so many wet-weather options and so many spots for photos that it honestly doesn’t matter what the sky is doing. It looks pretty no matter what. The rain came, Shaun stayed quick on his feet, and Alana and Eugene ended up dancing in the rain.
Alana and Eugene’s words: “We have been meaning to send this email ever since we received our photos. Thank you so so much! We are still speechless. We were completely blown away by how perfectly you captured our day – every emotion and every special moment. There were so many laughs and smiles! We have gone through them hundreds and hundreds of times trying to pic a few favourites to frame, but it is impossible to choose! They are all favourites. We love every single one! Thank you so much again. Especially for giving us the extras. Looking at them now, 100 would never have been enough. So thank you, thank you, thank you! And we are still speechless over our film.”
So would we do photo and video as one person again? Probably not. Guests walk up and ask for a photo while you’re mid-video, then shuffle off a bit confused, and at family photos everyone looks to you for direction. It’s not ideal. Shaun’s proud of how he handled it and the work he produced as a team of one, but one great day at one great venue doesn’t change our minds.
THE DREAM TEAM
Which brings us to the other half of the job. As much as Shaun loved pulling off that storm day solo, his favourite days are the ones where he’s working alongside a great photographer. When two creatives click, it stops feeling like two separate jobs. They bounce off each other, share a laugh and give each other a heads-up when something real is about to happen, and the couple feels that relaxed energy all day.At Gabbinbar, there’s one photographer we team up with pretty often ‘Stories by Ash‘, and those days are some of the most fun, easygoing weddings we film. Nobody’s rushing the couple, everyone’s on the same page, and the whole day just flows. Add a venue that looks beautiful in any weather and a team that’s always one step ahead, and it’s about as good as a wedding day gets.
Gerald and Rebecca: “WOW! We are obsessed! … watching this truly made us feel like we were reliving the day again… You had us both crying more than we did on our wedding day!”
THE CONSERVATORY, THE SOUND AND THE FOOD
Dinner is in the Conservatory beneath a big glass ceiling… It’s gorgeous… But the bit we love most is a bit nerdy: the sound. Between the room itself and Gabbinbar’s great PA setup, the speeches come through crystal clear, which gives your film an extra bit of polish when your best mate delivers a joke and your Dad breaks into tears.
Also… We’re foodies who have had A LOT of wedding dinners, and Gabbinbar’s right up there with the best.
FIREWORKS
Not every venue will let you near fireworks, but Gabbinbar does, and who doesn’t love fireworks?! They go off over the glass ceiling and outside the windows while you’re walking in or cutting the cake. It looks amazing and kicks off a huge celebration.
BRING THE DOG
We’re dog people through and through, so to us having your dog at your wedding isn’t a cute extra, they’re your family after all. Lucky for us (and you) Gabbinbar loves dogs too, and some of our favourite footage is of your couples’ furry children tearing around the gardens like it’s their party. So if your dog’s part of the family, they should be part of your day too. Gabbinbar will invite them and we’ll make sure they’re a highlight of your film.
So, to cut a very long story short… getting married at Gabbinbar? We’d love to hear about it.
Tell us your date and a bit about the two of you, and we’ll take it from there.
Shaun and TJ x
