Every room at The Island has its own balcony, which is exactly what you want on a wedding morning. Jordan got ready first with his groomsmen and the littlest member of the crew, who took his phone duties very seriously. His mum pinned on his white rose buttonhole, he fixed his cuffs against a wall of Surfers Paradise towers, and the boys lined up on the balcony in black suits and skinny ties. Spring sun on the Gold Coast is high and bright by early afternoon, so we used the white screen walls of the balcony as giant reflectors and kept faces just inside the shade line.
Over in Sorayaa’s suite it was strawberries, robes, sunglasses and a sparkling ball gown waiting by the window. Her bridesmaids in chocolate satin laced her into an off-the-shoulder gown with a beaded corset bodice and a skirt that caught every scrap of light, and the pearl-scattered veil went on last. There was a cheek-to-cheek moment with a loved one, then the bouquets went up in the air on the balcony, high above the boulevard. Our getting-ready tip: put the gown on beside the biggest window and leave the balcony door open. You get soft light, a breeze for the veil and a skyline that tells everyone exactly where you are.
Then it was up to The Penthouse on the top floor. Sorayaa waited in a dark panelled hallway under glowing chandelier sconces, the calm before the best kind of storm. The ceremony room is pure old-world glamour: crystal chandeliers, a pressed-metal ceiling, timber panelling, bookshelves and a herringbone parquet floor, with sheer curtains around the windows. Jordan waited at the front with his groomsmen while Sorayaa walked in on her dad’s arm and stopped for a big hug at the end of the aisle. Sheer curtains are a gift to photographers. They turn hard Gold Coast daylight into one giant softbox, so skin glows and a white gown keeps every bit of its detail.
The vows were full of smiles, a happy tear from Jordan’s mum in the front row and one spontaneous clap from the bride that set the whole room laughing. Rings on, a first kiss under the chandelier, and then Jordan swept Sorayaa into a full-blown dip in the middle of the aisle. Her hair went flying, the guests went wild and we were very glad we had stepped back for the wide angle. When a couple has a bit of theatre in them, we always leave room in the frame for the moment they go big.
Portraits turned into a treasure hunt around the hotel. The pool still carries the old Islander Resort Hotel logo on its floor, a little piece of history from before the hotel became The Island, so we walked Sorayaa and Jordan along the edge and let the still water double them. The bridal party raised their bouquets for the same trick. Next came the stairs to The Rooftop, with its name painted in giant script on the wall, and a courtyard wall draped in ivy that turned warm and golden as the sun dropped. Queensland skips daylight saving, so in spring the sun sets a little before six. We kept the ivy wall for last and it paid off: soft, glowing light and the two of them completely relaxed.
By the time they burst into their reception in The Penthouse, Sorayaa had swapped into a satin second dress with a lace neckline, made for dancing, and Jordan had lost the jacket. There was a first dance, a surprise father-daughter dance for Sorayaa and her dad, speeches from the bridal party and both dads, and a dance floor that filled fast. The night ended exactly the way it should: Jordan hoisting Sorayaa up as she squealed with laughter, and one last kiss as the lift doors closed.
We filmed the day too, so if these photos made you smile, watch Jordan and Sorayaa’s wedding film. The Island Gold Coast wedding photos above show a whole Gold Coast hotel wedding in one building, and we love that kind of day. Explore more of our Brisbane and Gold Coast weddings.
