ROJIN AND JACK | AUSTINVILLA ESTATE WEDDING | GOLD COAST HINTERLAND

WEDDINGS

6 May

There's something about rain and these two. It was there when Jack dropped to one knee at Hastings Point — his "whale watching picnic" cover story blown the moment he pulled out the ring in the drizzle while his mum secretly photographed from a distance. And it was there again on their wedding day at Austinvilla Estate, rolling in across the hinterland during their couples shoot and turning everything moody, romantic and utterly cinematic. Honestly? It couldn't have been more them.

Rojin and Jack met at a local gym — Jack had just made the move from Darwin to Brisbane to live with his older brother, and what started as a friendship slowly turned into something a whole lot more. Nine years later, they were standing in front of their favourite people at one of the Gold Coast's most stunning properties, finally husband and wife.

And what a place to do it.

Nestled in the Gold Coast Hinterland near Mudgeeraba, Austinvilla Estate sits across 111 acres of rolling green hills, lush palms and rainforest edges — and it genuinely feels like arriving somewhere special the moment you pull through the gate. It's an award-winning venue for good reason. The undercover Pavilion is the perfect blank canvas for ceremonies, the Rainforest Deck is where guests mingled pre-reception under festoon lights and a fairy-light covered tree, and the Homestead reception space — with its chandeliers, timber beams and giant bifold doors opening out to the hinterland — is the kind of room that just photographs beautifully at every angle. There are also endless nooks and landscapes across the property that make a photographer's heart sing, which I can personally vouch for.

When the clouds rolled in during portraits, we leaned right into it. Rojin and Jack had told me early on that they could get a little awkward in front of a camera — that they'd need some time, some prompting, a bit of atmosphere to warm up. Well, the rain gave us all the atmosphere we could have asked for. What came out of that session is some of the most intimate, romantic work I've had the privilege of capturing — moody skies, wet hinterland greenery and two people completely lost in each other. The kind of photos you make into a print and hang above the fireplace.

The whole day was styled with Rojin's vision in mind — vintage, moody, romantic, candid — and it translated perfectly. Soft nudes, whites and mossy greens throughout, florals and styling by the talented team at Forever Us Events & Flowers, and hair and makeup by Makeupbymaatin that held up beautifully through the weather. Dylan Bond kept the ceremony and formalities running with exactly the warmth and energy a day like this deserves, Signature Strings set the tone beautifully for the ceremony, and the Baker Boys Band absolutely brought the house down at the reception. If you haven't seen them live, get them on your shortlist immediately.

What I love most about Rojin and Jack is that despite admitting they were nervous in front of the camera, they were completely present for every single moment of the day. They just needed the right environment and a little encouragement — and once they were there, they were there. The laughs were real, the tears were real, and the moment they finally walked down the aisle hand in hand as husband and wife? That was everything.

Nine years of friendship, adventures, late-night foodie finds, beach mornings and gym sessions together — all of it leading to this one day. Rain and all.

Austinvilla Estate, I'll be back. This venue is absolutely at the top of my list for couples looking for that exclusive hinterland experience on the Gold Coast — the privacy, the landscapes, the spaces, the team. It's the full package, and then some.

Dreaming of a Gold Coast Hinterland wedding and looking for a photographer who'll show up for every moment — rain or shine? I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch here.