Sydney Wedding Videographer – Cockatoo Island
Peter and Fiona’s wedding on Cockatoo Island in Sydney was pretty special. As wedding photographers and filmmakers we couldn’t ask for a better reception venue because there are endless locations and creative possibilities. There’s the panoramic sunset view over the Sydney Harbour bridge and the city skyline, industrial facades, hidden rooms and nooks – it’s a cinematographer/photographer’s dream come true. Add in Peter and Fiona’s creativity and passion to the mix and the result was a unique, one of a kind event that we feel privileged to have been a part of. Enjoy watching their wedding video, and find out more about how they pulled it all together below!
Fiona + Peter Feature Film // A Cockatoo Island Wedding from Anthea and Lyndon on Vimeo.
You might recognise the opening song to their wedding video. That’s because Peter’s brother recorded a special cover version of the Dixie Cups’ ‘Going to the Chapel’ to start their film. We always use licensed music in our films because we respect the talented musicians who work hard to produce it. It works well because each video then has a soundtrack that is unique to that couple and their wedding day, and you won’t hear your song on the radio.
We chose a fun, upbeat track to end their video because that was the general feeling and atmosphere of the whole day. Family and friends travelled from nearby in Sydney and as far away as the UK to celebrate and dance together. They incorporated Peter’s Lebanese heritage through traditional dancing and music on their entrance to the reception. Peter taught the MC and his Groomsmen to play the song for their first dance, and then Peter surprised us all by singing a song dedicated to Fiona!
The lead up to their wedding wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies, Peter and Fiona with the help of their family and friends worked tirelessly to ship everything they needed on a barge from the mainland to the island. The reception was held in the Naval Store Building on the waterfront, where they set up chairs, tables, decorations, and hundreds of fairy lights the day before the wedding. Peter is the National Operations Manager at the Cheesecake shop, and he made their own wedding cake – pretty impressive huh! Peter’s Dad spent countless hours making mini money plants from his own money tree as gifts for all the guests.
When you’re having a wedding in the city of Sydney you need to consider transport for your guests, and Peter and Fiona did it in style. They hired a yellow kombi van to take the bridal party to the ceremony, a red double decker bus to transport their guests from the ceremony to the harbour, booked a harbour cruise for guests to travel to the reception at Cockatoo Island, and hired a water taxi for the bridal party.
Lyndon and I usually film and photograph weddings, but Peter and Fiona had already booked their photographers and we had the pleasure of working with them. We want to say a special thank you to Jeremy and Katie from Heartstory, fellow Canberra photographers and friends. Thank you for being such wonderful people to work with, scouting locations with us and taking the lead in directing on the day.
Venue: Cockatoo Island
Photographers: Heartstory
Band: Radio City Cats
Florist: Wilder
Catering: Forte Catering & Events
Hair: Kristen Wells
Makeup: Simone Pentzoldt
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