Wallalong House is a very familiar venue. I’ve photographed numerous weddings at Wallalong House, including one of my fave’s – Danielle and Ben’s Wedding, linked here. I’ve also photographed weddings at the sister venue – see Edie and Lochie’s Mindaribba House wedding, linked here (which has similar design elements; including the outdoor stone bath). Wallalong House is beautiful – From the long tree-lined entrance, to the front and rear manicured gardens, to the dramatic front lounge room, and the lovely poolside marquee. Guests can roam the venue and discover so many interesting please too chill. These features also produce lots of unique backdrops for wedding photography!

My day started at Wallalong House with Emma and her bridesmaids. Inside the homestead I captured a range of details (including Emma’s beautiful dress in the front living room) and then ventured out to the marque to see Emma’s florist finishing the floral arrangements. Emma’s wedding was always going to be on point – she’s a professional events planner, so the day was never going to disappoint.

Leo’s day started at a charming cottage in Morpeth. Leo and his goomsmen got ready before we capture some portraits in the courtyard. The inside of the cottage was a little on the dark side, so we took advantage of the outdoor areas to maximise the available light and different textures.

Back at Wallalong; the wind was picking up. After a late change to the ceremony location to shelter from the weather, Emma’s team set up the chairs around the back of the estate. The awesome variety around all sides of the homestead meant that she could almost any side for the ceremony and the backdrop would be lovely. The green ivy wall was a great choice.

After the ceremony we capture some portraits on-site. One of the great aspects of a Wallalong House wedding is the you don’t really need to leave the location for wedding photographs – you can capture lovely, natural wedding photographs at Wallalong House!

The reception in the Marquee was fantastic. Emma’s team put together a lavish arrangement of details. The floral arrangements together with the long tables and height of the marquee had a great guest experience.

If you’d like some tips on capturing natural wedding photographs at your own Wallalong House wedding please reach out via this page. I’d be happy to help!

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Centennial Homestead is an excellent choice if you are looking for that wedding venue with a little bit of solitary in amongst the hustle of Sydney. It’s one of a couple of options within Centennial Park for a wedding venue, but it’s the contemporary choice if you prefer a clean style with minimal set-up required. There are other options; such as The Superintendent’s Residence – located at Paddington Gate within the park, however, you’ll need to set up a marquee (note that this is also a great option, as it was for Rebecca and James’ Wedding [this blog post is not yet published, but stay tuned!]).

One benefit of having a Centennial Homestead wedding reception is that you can have your ceremony within Pine Grove or Paperbark Grove; a 100-metre walk from Centennial Homestead. You can take some awesome Paperbark Grove and Southwest Paddock wedding photos (see this blog post here as an example), and then easily head over to your Centennial Homestead wedding reception to join your guests for canapés and lawn games as the evening gets underway.

For us, Nikki and Anthony’s wedding started with Anthony’s preparation. The boys got ready for the ceremony to be held at Monte Chapel in North Sydney. Nikki and her bridesmaids had preparation in the family home in Dural before heading into town.

Nikki and Anthony wanted to capitalise on Centennial Park’s Paperbark grove for family portraits, so they popped some champagne whilst we photographed combinations of family members. We then took some bridal party photos in Paperbark Grove before heading to Southwest Paddock.

The late afternoon light is fantastic in Southwest Paddock. The long grass, gentle westerly slopes and forested areas are a lovely combination. These characteristics work together to create a fantastic backdrop for Centennial Park wedding photos. As the sun set at the end of our portrait session, I knew that we had a great collection of images for Nikki and Anthony. It was only a two-minute drive around the corner to Nikki and Anthony’s Centennial Homestead wedding reception.

These guys and their friends partied hard. The dance floor was full the entire night. Nikki and Anthony’s wedding was memorable because the couple put in a lot of personality into their wedding day. I’ve always said that weddings are what you make of them, and from my point of view, Nikki and Anthony had a fantastic day.

If you’d like to check out some other weddings I have photographed at Centennial, Park, have a look at this blog post about Natalie and Matthew’s wedding day, and also a seperate blog post with some of their wedding photographs from Centennial Park. If you have any questions about Centennial Park wedding photography, or if you are planning your own Centennial Homestead wedding, feel free to contact me via this page.

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As you drive down Mulgoa Road, you’re greeted into Fernhill Estate by a grand sandstone entrance. It’s not actually until you drive into the estate; past the horse facilities and racetrack on the right, around the pool to the rear car park; that you first see the manor house. And oh my gosh it is amazing! Fernhill Estate’s Manor Homestead is immaculate. Fernhill is one of Australia’s first land grants that was issued to Colonial Magistrate William Cox in 1810, who were important in the settlement of western Sydney.

Fernhill Estate is located on Molgoa Road near the Western Sydney suburb of Penrith. It is a massive parcel of land (around 384 hectares). Around 2 years ago, Rookwood Cemetery had plans to buy the estate and turn it into Sydney’s future resting place for the deceased. When the local community found out about this, the community petitioned the NSW Government, who eventually bought Fernhill Estate for the use of public enjoyment at a cost of around $27 million. Money well spent, if you ask me.

We covered the day with photography and films (you can view these in this blog post – scroll down!). Jess and Ben’s Fernhill Estate wedding started in the Manor house. Jess and her bridesmaids were getting ready in the main lounge room, where the massive floor-to-ceiling windows provided fantastic light. The great part about having a whole homestead to yourselves is that we were able to use lots of rooms to build on the variety in photographs. The homestead’s master bedroom was a nice backdrop to photograph Jess’ gown – see that photo in the collection below.

Whilst Jess was getting ready, Ben and his groomsmen were off the property to visit a family member who was unfortunately unable to make it to the ceremony. On their return, they got dressed in the groom’s quarters located in another building, about 1 kilometre away from the Manor (this helps you paint a picture of how large Fernhill Estate is!).

With Ben waiting at the end of the aisle, Jess walked out of the Manor’s double doors from the front lounge and made her way down the grand entranceway. With all their guests gathered in the Fernhill Estate upper garden, they witnessed some lovely nuptials.

After the ceremony, we didn’t need to venture too far for some Fernhill Estate wedding photos – we roamed around the Manor gardens to capture some portraits. Fernhill Estate is full of photographic variety – including the old sandstone outhouses and cottages, large trees, and a super old rose bush out the back (which was massive!). Honestly, it was difficult to not get carried away in the surrounding locations and instead, focus on a few key areas for these Fernhill Estate wedding photos.

Interestingly, the reception for Jes and Ben’s Fernhill Estate wedding was held about 1.5 kilometres away – still on the property, in a converted hay shed. To keep warm there was a large fire pit out the front, and the candle-lit reception kept a romantic atmosphere.

I’m glad that the NSW government purchased Fernhill Estate for the preservation of this piece of Australian history. This is a beautiful landmark in the Mulgoa Valley in western Sydney – and a venue that I recommend to everyone for its history, honesty and uniqueness. If you would like some further tips and information about your own Fernhill Estate wedding photography please feel free to contact me via this page.

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Usually, if I’m photographing a wedding at a new venue for the first time, I like to arrive early to scope out the location and identify some nearby wedding photography locations. I feel that this is important because I like to have a few ideas in mind for wedding portraits. This was no different for this wedding; I arrived at Hollydene Estate at about 9 am to meet Kurt (the groom). Kurt was kind enough to give me a personal tour of the estate – what a nice guy! We took a drive in his ute around the vineyard, checking our some sheds and plant storage facilities along the way. Kurt and I drove up to the northern end of the estate, through several gates to a paddock on a northern escarpment. The plateau at the top was amazing! The field at the northern end of the estate had a lovely western aspect that I knew would be perfect for a sunset shoot during their wedding photographs at Hollydene Estate.

I left Hollydene at around 11 am, to go photograph Steph’s bride preparation. I drove over to Steph and Kurt’s property, around 15 minutes down the road in Jerrys Plains. Steph was getting ready in their lovely weatherboard cottage with their daughters and bridesmaids. We captured a few portraits with the girls before heading back for their wedding ceremony at Hollydene Estate.

After the ceremony, Steph, Kurt and I jumped back in Kurt’s ute and once again ventured through the vineyard and equipment storage sheds, up to the northern end of the estate. We captured some awesome orange sunset wedding photos whilst enjoying a beer. The session was super enjoyable because Steph and Kurt were so easy going. We told some jokes and took in the view. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a wedding photography session.

After sunset, we returned to the main estate building for Steph and Kurt’s Hollydene Estate wedding reception. I had an unreal day. If you are looking for a lovely venue to host your Hunter Valley wedding, I’d suggest you reach out to these guys. You’ll have a great day. If you’d like further information please contact me via this page.

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There are some iconic sites to photograph when having a wedding at the Watsons Bay Hotel, or Dunbar House; including the Macquarie Lighthouse, The cute properties that line the waterfront along Marine Parade, and also the small old boatshed on the jetty at the northern end of Camp Cove Beach.

Casee and Harley got ready for their wedding day at the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel and held their ceremony at The Gunyah (the old Watsons Bay Scout Hall). I went with Casee and her bridesmaids to Macquarie Lighthouse for a few portraits before heading over to their ceremony.

After the ceremony, we walked along Marine Parade for a few portraits with Casee and Harley, and also ventured west of the Ferry Wharf to the Watsons Bay Baths and Gibsons Beach (there is a blue corrugated shed that creates a cool backdrop and also shelters from the wind right near the baths). The blue corrugated backdrop gives an alternative look to wedding photographs, which I think is nice. Variety is key! Check out this Dunbar House wedding featuring some additional shots of the same blue corrugated shed.

Casee and Harley held the reception for their wedding at the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. The Hotel gives nice relaxed vibes on the water’s edge. Casee and Harly had an awesome balloon installation on the ceiling – an addition that I’d never personally seen before – check out the shots towards the end of this blog post.

If you’d like to chat about your wedding day and photography, please feel free to drop me a line here. I’m more than happy to talk through any ideas that come to mind!

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Sarah and Alex’s wedding started with the guys getting ready in Lillyfield, and the ladies having bridal preparation at the Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel. Their ceremony was under the Fig tree at Dunbar House in some lovely afternoon light. Their wedding at Dunbar House continued into the night and was suuuuuuper fun.

A Photographers Tips on Planning a Wedding at Dunbar House in Watsons Bay

Here are my tips on planning your wedding at Dunbar House, or for that matter, a wedding at Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel.

1. Plan for the wind. On almost every occasion that I have photographed weddings at Dunbar House or at Watsons’s Bay Boutique Hotel (which is next door), it has been windy. Don’t get me wrong – the wind can be an excellent assistant in wedding photos near Dunbar House, but sometimes the wind can be a real pain point for you as the bride. Sarah and her bridesmaids wore their hair up. This is a good option if you don’t want to worry about your hair in the wind. Having your hair in either a low or high bun keeps it neat and tidy all day.

2. Use the surroundings and go for a walk. There are some really lovely places to take wedding photos near Dunbar House. There are some obvious choices, including the Macquarie Lighthouse on Old South Head Road (but please refer to point #1 above), and also some cute little houses of all different pastel colours right in front of Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel (which is where we photographed Alex and Sarah’s first look). Some of the below frames were captured along the waterfront, and also to the south of Dunbar House’s Fig tree (around a 5-minute walk along the water’s edge). There are some other places around, which are awesome, but I’ll save those for later discussions!

3. Make time to take some wedding photos at sunset. When I talk with my clients, I ALWAYS obtain the estimated sunset time for their wedding day. This is useful because it helps my clients to plan for some sunset wedding photos. Light is way more flattering either early in the morning or later in the afternoon, and we aim to capture some of this light in your wedding photographs. Combine this lovely light with point #2 above, and you can get some great wedding photos at Dunbar House. Here’s another hint: The Watson’s Bay Peninsula has a view back to the city, which is a westerly aspect, with the sun setting behind the city.

I hope this helps. Drop me a line if you would like some further tips.

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I was very much looking forward to photographing Aimee and JF’s Hunter Valley wedding because I knew that I was in for a really fun day. JF and his groomsmen get ready at the Wattle Lodge, a quaint cottage just outside of Singleton, whereas Aimee and her bridesmaids got ready in a nearby hotel.

Aimee and JF’s ceremony, held in the Branxton Uniting Chapel in Branxton (around 20 minutes east of Singleton) was lovely. The light inside the chapel was soft and flattering. The memorable thing about their ceremony was that after the celebrant pronounced Aimee and Jacobus to be husband and wife, he didn’t invite JF to kiss his bride. JF, unsure of what to do, simply asked the question, to which their celebrant conceded with a chuckle; “Of course… You may now kiss your bride”. The chapel erupted in laughter as they kissed.

JF’s parents had a property in the neighbouring town of Glendonbrook, that hosted the evening’s reception. Before entering the reception we spent some time around the property taking some portraits amongst an olive orchard, and also on JF’s new ute. We timed the session perfectly with golden hour, to capture some lovely light.

Aimee and JF’s Hunter Valley wedding ended with the couple’s first dance under festoon lights before the dancefloor opened for everyone else. Aimee and JF performed their rehearsed jive featuring a great lift (see some images below).

It’s really awesome to travel out of Sydney for weddings. The air is clearer, the backdrops are beautiful, and your guests really enjoy themselves because they all enjoy a weekend away together. I’d be happy to chat Hunter Valley wedding photography with you, just drop me a line via this link.

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Tom and Bridget’s wedding day started off in Manly, just down the road from Milestone Events. Tom got ready a short stroll from Manly Beach, where we captured some portraits with him and his groomsmen whilst they smashed a few cans of Southern Gold Lager. Bridget and her bridesmaids got ready for the day up at Milestone Events, where they also put in the hard work styling the venue during the morning, before popping champagne (and also a can of Southern Gold).

Secretly, I was looking forward to Bridget and Tom’s wedding because their ceremony was at Bradley’s Head – probably my favourite location in Sydney to shoot (note, if you’d like to see some other sessions at Bradley’s Head, check out this page). The view is simply the best! Bridget and her father walked down the staircase into the Bradley’s Head Amphitheatre. Tom and the boys were lined up with their backs to the CDB – an awesome backdrop for their guests to watch as their ceremony proceeded. We captured some family group portraits after their ceremony, and then some portraits of Bridget, Tom and their bridal party, before heading back to Milestone Events for the reception.

So, Milestone Events is actually a family run business. The gentleman at the helm goes by the name of Miles (and I adopted his full name as Miles Stone [not his real name]). Miles is a legend, and the guys at Milestone Events run a great venue and put on a great show for their clients – it’s probably one of the most relaxed wedding reception venues in Sydney! The venue has classic Australian interiors – deep brown timber floors and white walls that give you the canvas to decorate to your taste.

At sunset, Bridget and Tom ducked out for a sunset shoot. We raced to the cliff edges along Manly’s North Head and made it just in time for a glowing orange sunset. If you can, make some time in the evening on your wedding day for a sunset session. It gives you some added variety to your wedding photographs, and more importantly, it allows you and your new life partner time to stop and enjoy some together on an otherwise busy schedule.

If you’d like to talk about wedding photography, or coverage for your own Milestone Events wedding, reach out here – happy to chat!

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I was in the town of Lithgow to the west of the Blue Mountains, when Skye gave me a call. Skye and Matt had planned their wedding in Canberra at the Australian National University. University House, ANU, is significant to Skye because her parents had a long history with academia, and ANU was a large part of their lives for several years. Skye and Matt’s wedding would be held in buildings with prominent architectural brilliance, and so challenged me to include the architecture of the buildings in their wedding photos.

I spent the weekend down in Canberra. I spent a few hours scoping locations for their bridal portraits at an earlier visit that year, and after discussing some ideas with Matt and Skye, we decided on taking wedding photos at some striking buildings, including the John Cutin School of Medical Research – a contemporary glass structure featuring large upwards-fanning fins; and also The Shine Dome – a large but flat grey structure with repeating archways that is the Australian Academy of Science.

Skye and Matt got ready at University House before having a first look along the corridors outside of the Library and Common Room. Their ceremony was in the courtyard on the grass under large trees, where we also took some family portraits after their ceremony. Their lunchtime reception was held in the Great Hall of University House. The interiors of University House are really lovely. The Great Hall is opulent and vast, and the ceilings are dramatically decorated. The large windows gave great light and cast some interesting shadows over feature walls.

After the reception, we drove around to a few of the above-mentioned buildings to capture some portraits with architecture in mind, before heading to The National Gallery of Australia. The NGA front courtyard is home to a James Turrel sculpture exhibition called ‘Within Without 2010’, where a “skyspace” shapes the daylight inside a really interesting water-featured square pyramid. The internal geometry, reflections and lighting conditions inside the skyspace are really striking. James Turrel, in his exhibition, uses the available light as his creative medium and shapes the way his viewers perceive the sky above the sculpture. The conditions inside create a really exciting backdrop for powerful imagery and for me was the highlight of this Canberra wedding. I highly recommend that you visit this location if you can for your own wedding!

Skye and Matt had a number of guests travelling into Canberra for their wedding, so they decided to invite friends to kick-on at Ovolo Nishi. Skye and Matt’s Canberra wedding at University House was a great day. I had a blast incorporating interesting architectural elements into their imagery and would be totally keen to do it all again tomorrow! For further information about wedding photography in Canberra, feel free to drop me a link via this page.

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Mindaribba House has a great combination of contemporary style within a rustic homestead setting. The hand-carved outdoor sandstone bar contrasts the glass-lined pool in the courtyard, and the large fireplace compliments the white interiors.

Edith and her bridesmaids prepared for the day in the main building whilst Lochlan and his groomsmen dressed in a lodge that was on the property, just down the driveway behind the main building.

If you browse the below images and also check out Danielle and Ben’s wedding post I wrote over here, you’ll see that there are similarities between Mindaribba and Wallalong House. The outdoor stone bath with shower is a classic!

Lochlan is a professional musician. He plays the guitar and performed a really nice number for Edith during their reception. Honestly, I cannot recall if Edith is a designer by profession, but she has really beautiful handwriting. All invitations, place cards and text you see on reception tables were hand-produced.

We roamed the grounds and the driveway into the venue for some portraits and had a glass of champagne to celebrate the occasion, before returning to reception for the evening.

What made their wedding at Mindaribba House memorable was the quality of the live music, and the personal touches that Edith and Lochlan installed within Mindaribba House. I’ve always said that it’s great to see couples bringing their personalities to their wedding day in the form of colours, signage and stationery; and it was great to see this here!

Have a browse at the below shots from Edith and Lochlan’s Mindaribba House wedding. I’d be delighted to chat with you further about your own wedding if you’d like to reach out via this page.

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