Wedding Mania 2024
3 very real ceremonies on the same day at Beach Road Wines with 45 photographers involved and all within 4 hours. This sounds like some sort of mad movie plot, but Josh Huggett pulled it all together and not only did it work it was a huge success!
Oh, did I mention that all 3 weddings (with 20 guests each) were absolutely free for the couples (and guests), the photographers had completed 2 days of photography courses with 2 of the best educators in Australia: Mike Jeffrey and Antonio plus Josh.
The aim of this 3-day course was to help educate up and coming photographers on the ways of a real wedding, bring a professional community together and give back to people who may not have been able to afford a wedding otherwise. In this blog I’ll quickly break down how and when the idea begun, the process from the beginning to the end, the learnings along the way, a recap on the weddings, the mistakes we made and what we’re looking forward to the future.
A massive thank you and congratulations begins with Emma and Kaz, Rikki and Brayden along with Taliesha and Jack, who were married and absolute legends!
THE CONCEPT:
August 6th - Time 7.41PM
I received a voicemail from Josh “hey mate, I’m looking at hosting a large workshop in Adelaide in December this year. The location is set for Beach Road wines. The plan is for 3 days, but on the last day of the workshop we’re going to host a free wedding”
I replied, count me in if I could help. The rest was about the 1 month minimum notice required for the NOIM and ensuring full consent was received both parties (boring Matthew at his best)
August 6th - Time: 9.51PM
Josh’s brain has been ticking over and I received a video message from him in an oodie (that detail wasn’t required but we’re here anyway). “Here me out, instead of 1 wedding on 1 day, we giveaway 3 weddings at 3 different locations with 60 photographers”
And with that, the concept of Wedding Mania was born, we just didn’t fully know or appreciate it.
I replied “That’s fucking wild. you’re mad. But I love it. I’m onboard.
August 26th - Time 12.05PM
Call length 23 minutes and 38 seconds from Josh and Adrienne from Beach Road Wines.
The opening question with a small giggle “Can we marry 3 couples on the same day at the same venue?”
My reply was yes. We spoke about initial legal requirements, what the flow of each ceremony would require, people movement and would any couples actually be interested and would photographers want to be involved in something like this.
August 30th - Time 12.11PM
Josh posts the first video detailing the plan. 3 free very real weddings here in South Australia, the catch is there will be 60 photographers present. 2 days of classes with some Australia’s best photography teachers, 2 sunset photoshoots.
The question remained. Would couples be interested in this. The answer was categorically YES. Over 100 couples replied for the opportunity to be involved in wedding mania.
Wedding mania was a GO! Now to plan, find 3 couples and sell some tickets to cover the cost of feeding all those guests for free.
PLANNING:
This is the phase that if we’re realistic, anxiety, nerves and the can we actually pull this off creep in. The burden of financial costs involved weighed heavily on Josh. I’m proud of what he achieved, so it’s important to acknowledge that everyone feels stress, doubt and whilst the end result was beyond fantastic, it’s the journey and growth that I personally enjoyed.
September 23rd
The three couples are chosen at random and notified that they have “won” via instagram.
September 24th - 12.06PM
An email is sent to all couples with the opening line “Well heck, it’s actually happening!”. Outlining who is involved, what is organised and what you need to organise.
I set up the 3 couples in my CRM Studio Ninja and begun the process to gather full legal names to upload to SA Births, Deaths and Marriages. I attempted to provide a unique timeline for when information was required, upload questionnaires and just assist with any questions where needed. The next step was to complete the NOIM’s.
2nd October - Emma and Kaz initial meeting and NOIM signing via ZOOM
6th October - Taliesha and Jack initial meeting and ZOOM signing at The Marion Hotel.
7th October - Rikki and Brayden initial meeting and NOIM signing via ZOOM
Thursday 24th October - Josh Adrienne and I met at Beach Road Wines to chat about a full day timeline, allocated wedding timeslots based on preferences, spoke about photo locations, what would be staff roles and our roles on the day and what would be the preferrable times that guests arrived along with each couple, all separately by choice. We put together the first run sheet for each couple.
Monday 28th October - All 3 couples, Josh, Adrienne and I all met at Beach Road Wines. Partly to show the couples the venue, for them to be introduced to each other, to chat through a rough plan of how the day will run and I sat down with each couple individually to chat through their ceremony planning questionnaires and begin to put together their wedding run sheet. Parts were highlighted that would be homework for the couple, we spoke about areas they were unsure about or interested in and I checked ID’s of those had completed their paperwork via ZOOM. Areas of discussion included how we were beginning the ceremony, ceremony music, personal vows, ring exchange, legal requirements including witnesses and answering any questions they may have about the day or the chaos.
The month of November -
This was the refinement month. Following up on loose ends, filling that run sheet with answers, vow drafts/ feedback and just checking in. I wrote the three ceremony scripts from scratch from the individual couples’ questionnaires and went over final touches after catching up for the rehearsal the day before.
Getting ready locations were finalised, which allowed for getting ready photo timelines to be organised. Team leaders were allocated and the groups of photographers were allocated also. One group required a bus for getting ready location whereas most others had transport or car pooled.
Each couple nominated their speech makers, reception entrance song and first dance song which was passed on to Ryley from Tennyson Events or DJ for the night.
THE WEDDING(S):
December rolled around and it was time to kick this baby off.
Photographers and educators migrated to South Australia to officially kick off wedding mania at 11am on Monday 2nd December. 2 days and two engagement shoots later, the learning was completed and it was time to actually marry these couples!
First was each couple caught up with Josh, Adrienne and their team leader (either Mike, Antonio or Josh’s BFF Lewis) on Tuesday to go through a run through of the day would look, how I will be guiding them, discuss the getting ready photos, discuss which side and time each party would arrive and confirm that their wedding would be treated like a real wedding and their enjoyment was our number one priority.
I arrived at 11.15AM on Wednesday and set up two Bose Speakers, each operating independently, a Sennheiser microphone, 2 music tablets and layed out three marriage folders.
Here’s the biggest point of why I think wedding mania was successful. We spoke with the3 couples on Tuesday that at any point during getting ready photos, when they arrive at the venue, post ceremony couples’ photos or throughout the evening they were feeling overwhelmed by having heaps of photographers around them, they just needed to speak to their team leader, myself or Josh and the photographers would be moved immediately. I’ll massively praise the 3 lads as they went above and beyond, listened closely, got ahead of situations and just did the best job, so as to when we were in the wedding space they all felt comfortable and safe. We had couples who spoke with team leaders and we pulled up stumps which were all mature and easy conversations. Excitement and enthusiasm are wonderful expressions of one trying to learn and that was always going to the beast of what we were doing, I sincerely thank the photographers for their understanding.
We had the team leader who was the couples designated photographer and could move around the ceremony space wherever they decided fit to capture the ceremony, just like a standard wedding ceremony. We had no go zones past the front row of seats and an aisle for the entrance , pack for ring exchange/ first kiss and exit also. Josh was directing traffic and I personally didn’t notice the photographers too much.
Each couple opted for the paparazzi 30 seconds to allow guests to take photos on their phone once they have arrived at the ceremony space. This helped keep phones away for the ceremony and created a light moment for all.
Here’s a rough timeline of how each wedding would look, I’ll use Emma and Kaz who were up first:
12PM - Guests arrive and enter via carpark into ceremony space
12PM - Kaz arrives at rear car park and greets guests
12.10PM - Emma arrive via front car park and is welcomed into the cellar door to relax
12.20PM - Introduction and house keeping with Kaz
12.30PM - Wedding party enter
12.31PM - Guests upstanding as Emma arrives
Paparazzi 30 seconds
Story telling
legal vows (Emma and Kaz opted not for personal vows)
ring exchange
first kiss
Witness raffle (Emma and Kaz opted for a witness raffle)
Exit with rose petals
1PM - Couple exit ceremony space, family follows to front section of BRW to sign legal marriage certificate, speeches, family photos with Josh/ team leader only
1.30PM - Couple depart for photos. Emma and Kaz guests depart to return at 5PM. Wedding number 2 guests enter ceremony space and repeat.
EMMA + KAZ:
Entrance song: Truly madly deeply by Sidney
Exit song: Adore you by Fred again
Legal vows only
Ring bearer: Kaz’s son
Witnesses: witness raffle
Reception entrance song: Saving up by Dom Dolla
Newlyweds first dance song: Before you by Benson Boone
Emma and Kaz’s ceremony was a cracker to get us underway. Their guests were very interactive and lightened the mood and kept it fun and upbeat. Emma entered with two spectacular aisle pauses and as expected the big fella bawled his eyes out and I loved it, emotion is spectacular on your wedding day and I’m here to embrace it and embrace you.
They met through Tinder and we shared how Kaz was going to sweep Emma off her feet. I included some advice from their 2 dogs and 2 birds in the form of a pet letter. We learnt that Kaz proposed on Christmas day and gone in 60 seconds is a great movie to stream on a first date.
A wicked dip then Emma and Kaz disappeared through BRW to under the shade of the beautiful tree over looking the vineyards to sign some legal paperwork.
RIKKI AND BRAYDEN
Entrance song: Speechless by James TW
Signing songs: A thousand years by Christina Perri and Marry Me by Jason Derulo
Exit song: Forever by Chris Brown
Personal vows
Ring bearers: Brayden’s sons
Witnesses: witness raffle
Reception entrance song: September 99’ – Phats & Small Remix
Newlyweds first dance song: All of me by John Legend
Rikki and Brayden’s ceremony was much more emotional. I paused everything before we begun to just chat with Brayden and just help him through some emotions. These are more than understandable, and he was just so chuffed after he turned around for Rikki’s entrance. Rikki and Brayden also met on Tinder and started with a splash when Brayden gave Rikki some car cleaning tips. They shared a sweet engagement story and then read beautiful vows topped off by some inclusions and candid moments with Brayden’s sons.
Up next was a witness raffle, where Rikki’s Dad Andrew was randomly selected then shared on the mic that walking Rikki down the aisle was of his proudest moments as a Dad. They signed their certificates in the ceremony space then a sweet dip before heading through BRW to the reception space.
TALIESHA AND JACK
Entrance song: ViOLiNiA Zhanna Stelmakh Can’t help falling in love- Piano & Violin Version
Exit song: Love on top by Beyonce
Personal vows
Ring bearer: Jacks brother
Witnesses: Jack and Taliesha’s Mums
Reception entrance song: You make my dreams (come true) by Daryl Hall and John Oates
Newlyweds first dance song: When I need you by Leo Sayer
Taliesha and Jack’s son swiftly cruised into the ceremony space to start our ceremony with a bang before we heard of how teenage Jack went made the first move to ask Taliesha is she danced, all whilst she was dancing. We found out that they didn;t even dhare a dance on the night in question anyway.
Jack and Taliesha shared some of their favourite life moments in the quiet of just them. They officially became a couple in Taliesha’s room, Jack proposed in Taliesha’s room and then they got married with a small guest list and 15 photographers.
Jack shared some lyrics from their favourite Eminem song and Taliesha fist pumped her way back down the aisle before heading towards the vines to sign their certificates.
THE RECEPTION:
How do three wedding receptions run at the same time? Alot easier than one may think.
We did three separate reception entrances with their guests moved out onto the patio with that groups photographers and then swapped onto the next. The same method worked for first dance and then we opened it up to a joint VIP dance and then the dancefloor was officially open for an hour of power with Ryley and Dylan on the decks. And it was a pumper!
Golden hour was led by the three team leaders with couples who moved around and the 45 photographers could walk to whomever they wanted and get in on the action. There was champagne sprays, vine lifts, veil beauty and a bunch of madness.
Back to the dancefloor, at many points there were three brides at one point which was cool to see, a kid on the decks, a shoey and stacks of loose unit photographers letting their hair down after a massive three days.
We were able to breathe and just soak in what had happened. I drove out of BRW at 10.40PM happy but fucking exhausted.
THE AFTERMATH:
We achieved what we had set out to do. Provide three meaningful and free weddings for three couples and educate a stack of photographers.
At 9.10PM I sat down next to Josh, I with a shiraz in hand and Josh with a beer and chinked glasses and just simply said we did it!
The lessons learnt:
Equipment overheats with three ceremonies in the sun. Cameras and batteries were being rotated out of the cool room. My music tablet overheated, albeit in the break in-between ceremonies so it didn’t affect a wedding but the heat was real.
Sunburn is real, as a few photographers and guests found out
More snacks are always needed
It’s not that easy to wind down adrenaline from performing three ceremonies. I had a bit of a routine where I would grab a diet coke, eat some food and sit in the pumping air conditioning in-between gaps but the needs of the next couple always came first. This can and will improve, but that buzz is addictive.
Timelines are so important but having contingencies in place is where it’s at.
Weddings are overwhelming so it is so important to have the best team of vendors you can have around you to look after you. The team we had were so professional, quality banter, empathetic and elite at what they did.
If it’s too hot for couples portraits then it’s ok to stay cool.
I’m not suggesting you should have 15 photographers at your wedding but it was manageable
Wedding mania 2024 after all the dust settles, covered it’s costs, but only just. Thank you to all the wonderful suppliers who chipped in!
We had plans in place should things go astray and they seemed to work. Not everything was perfect nor was it designed to be perfect but we put our heart and soul into it and hopefully it shone through.
Josh said in a phone call on the 10th December, I’m already planning next year and could you imagine at some point that we can say we gave away 50 weddings (not on the one day).
I’m here with you brother and congratulations again to Emma and Kaz, Rikki and Brayden along with Taliesha and Jack, you are the real stars here!
Peace.
Photohrapher and WM genius Joshua Huggett Media
@imjoshhuggett @JoshuaHuggettMedia
Venue: Beach Road Wines
@beachroadwines
Celebrant and MC: Matthew Vercoe
@matthewvercoe_celebrantandmc
DJ: Tennyson Events
@tennyson.events
Florals: Floral Eden
@floral.eden
Lighting
@BulbLighting
Live Artist: Charlotte Beddoe
@charlottebeddoesillustration
Cake: Tasty Bakes and Wedding Cakes favours
@tastybakessa
Signage: Delight in me designs
@delightinmedesigns
Emma and Kaz
Hair: Updo’s by Jess
@updosbyjess
MUA: Natalie Jade Beauty
@nataliejadebeauty
Mike Jeffrey
@mikejeffreyphotography
Rikki and Brayden
Hair: Emily Lauren Hair
@emilylauren.hair
MUA: Dash of Beauty
@dashofbeauty24
Antonio
@Antonio_Pics_
Taliesha and Jack
Hair: Chelsea Louise Hair
@chelsealouise.hair
MUA: Sarah Hearts
@SarahHeartsMUA
Lewis @lhgmedia.weddings @Lewy_xcvii
Jakey Vass
@JakeyVass @JakeyVassMedia