Circa 1876 The Convent Wedding

The Collits Inn wedding, in the Blue Mountains, of Dave & Inca was such a beautiful and epic wedding day, at one of the most stunning wedding venues in NSW.

Collits Inn is gorgeous, county and rustic wedding venue located just a couple of hours from Sydney in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales. It is heritage-listed and is actually just over the mountains, towards Lithgow in a town called Hartley Vale. It is situated on fifty acres of country and bushland, at the base of the breathtaking Mount York. And this is my type of wedding venue!

Collits Inn History

What I love about this venue is that it is has a real history in Australia. And it is not just a place property where they have built a reception venue on. Collits’ Inn has a long history in Australia and the Blue Mountains and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This former inn was built in 1823 by the Collits family and was originally known as the Golden Fleece. This was the first inn built west of the Blue Mountains and serviced people and their stock who descended Mount York.

It was an important site during colonial times as it linked all the early travellers who ventured west of the Blue Mountains. It provided a rare service to the region and was an important social gathering place.

When you first enter this wedding property, you can immediately tell that this place is steeped in history. From the rustic and rusty Barn and the Woolshed. To Collits’ Inn itself, a single-story old colonial Georgian building with four bedrooms.

The current owners are such lovely, accommodating people who have owned numerous restaurants around NSW and have been in the food & beverage industry for over forty years. And they have done such an amazing job with this wedding venue. As far as venues go, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Collits Inn Blue Mountains

I met Inca & Dave a few months before the wedding for their engagement shoot. They were so relaxed and fun during that session that I just knew that their wedding day was going to be awesome.

The groom and groomsmen got ready about 15 minutes away in a private residential property, while the Bride and her bridesmaids got ready on-site at Collits Inn.

What I also love about Collits Inn is that the whole day from start to finish can happen here. There is accommodation available, there are numerous locations you can have your wedding ceremony. They have lots of land so there is a variety of locations for photos. And they have an awesome Barn for your wedding reception.

By having your entire day in the one location, it means you will spend much more time with you family and friends and less time travelling around from place to place.

Wedding Ceremony

You can have your ceremony anywhere at Collits Inn. The Bride & Groom chose to have their wedding ceremony under a canopy of trees at the front of the property.

I really like this location for this outdoor ceremony, because of the direction of the sun. The sunlight was shining behind them through some trees, which filters the harsh light and ensures the light is even on their face.

The ceremony had a really cool symbolic ritual of ‘hand-fasting’. Inca & Dave stood facing each other and had their hands tied together by their celebrant Arlene McInherny.

This is where the phrase “tying the knot” comes from.

You don’t see this ceremony very often in Australian ceremonies. It is more common with Irish and Scottish weddings. As it is an ancient Celtic tradition dating back over two thousand years.

It symbolises the binding together of their two individual lives. And it shows the commitment they are making to each other as they start this new journey into married life.

Collits Inn Wedding Photos

After the ceremony, we did a few family photos and then did some photos around the property with the couple and their crew. We hung out with the local farm animals in their paddock and ventured into the bushland at the back of the property.

You can see by the photos in the bushland that the scenery is quite different than it normally is. This is because of the devastating Blue Mountains bush fires. You can also get an indication of how close these massive fires came to destroying the historic Collits Inn.

Pierce’s Barn Reception

The wedding reception was held in the Pierce Barn. Which was named after its original owner. It is the original barn that has been fully restored to what you see today. The guest tables are made from actual pine trees that were cut down from the front of the property.

If you are looking for a barn wedding reception, then this is the perfect example of that. You don’t need to do much to the room either. Some flowers and candles and the reception room is perfect for a rustic country wedding.

These guys had some touching and really funny speeches. Speeches should be spoken from the heart and that is exactly what happened here.

Sunset Photos

When you have a wedding in Summer, the sun doesn’t set till around 8 pm or later. So it is a really good idea to schedule some time for a few photos at sunset during your wedding reception.

So we ducked outside together for a few minutes at sunset. Inca & Dave also found it was nice just to be alone together for a few minutes while I got some photos of them together in this spectacular landscape.

This was an absolute dream wedding. This beautiful couple were two amazing, down-to-earth souls that just enjoyed their day and each other. And it reflects in the wedding photos.

I love outdoor country weddings. And I love wedding venues that are unique and different. And that is exactly what this Collits Inn wedding in the Blue Mountains was.

I can’t wait to go back there and photograph another Collits Inn wedding there. It is such an amazing place and I highly recommend it.

I have lost count as to how many weddings I have photographed at Peterson House and you really can’t go wrong with Peterson House weddings in the Hunter Valley.

It is located right in the heart of Pokolbin on the corner of Broke Road and Wine Country Drive. So pretty much everyone visiting the Hunter Valley will drive past Peterson House. It is best known for its amazing sparkling wines. Who knew there were so many types of sparkling wine? They are so good and we actually bought cases of their sparking and used it for our own wedding.

It is also known for its award-winning food, that comes out of Restaurant Cuvee. So it is pretty obvious why Peterson House is so popular for weddings!

Peterson House Wedding Chapel

Peterson House also recently build one of the best sandstone wedding chapels in the Hunter Valley. And I really mean that. It is a beautiful sandstone building with handcrafted timber trusses and it has been cleverly designed and it great for photography. There are large double wooden doors, high ceilings, a rustic chandelier and it can accommodate up to 150 wedding guests.

It is spacious, yet still feels quite intimate when you are inside. There is also an upstairs balcony section where more people can sit. They have also built a church bell. So the bells can ring out across wine country when you are officially married!

It also is fully air-conditioned!! Woo hoo!

In Summer, I hate churches or chapels in the Hunter Valley that are not air-conditioned. Why? Because they tend to be about ten degrees hotter inside than outside. And it can get very hot in the Hunter Valley. It routines goes above 40°C and I have had three weddings where people have collapsed from the heat of a church or chapel in the Hunter Valley. So by having your wedding ceremony here, you can rest assured that your guests, and particularly your older and very young guests, are comfortable and well taken care of.

Here are a few photos from weddings I have photographed at Peterson House Chapel. This will give you a good look at the set up of the chapel and what it looks like before guests arrive.

Here are some photos from real weddings photographed at this beautiful chapel. As you can see there is a large area for guests to mingle as well a pretty grand driveway and fountain.

Garden Wedding Ceremonies

If you prefer the outdoors, you can also choose to have your wedding ceremony in the gardens. There is the option to have your ceremony down by the vineyard with the jetty and dam in the background.

Or you can have the ceremony in front of Petersons House restaurant itself. It is a lovely aluminium and sandstone building with a high pitched roof and it makes a nice rustic backdrop for your ceremony. Before the chapel was built in 2019, this was the main location used to have most of their wedding ceremonies. I think it gives a nice relaxed garden atmosphere to weddings.

I love outdoor wedding ceremonies but the only issue I have with outdoor ceremonies at Peterson House is the lack of shade. So on hot summers days, you will be in full sun. So I would not recommend an outdoor ceremony here is Summer. Winter would be perfect! Autumn and Spring would also be lovely but later in the day, towards sunset. For a summer wedding you should really consider their beautiful wedding chapel for the ceremony.

Peterson House Wedding Photos

Peterson House is a beautiful location to have your wedding photos. There are a few locations onsite for photos. There are a large number of vines surrounding the property. As well as some lovely gardens areas between and around the buildings on the property. They also have a beautiful dam with a small jetty which is perfect for photos at sunset.

As with all the wedding photos, the best time for photos is at sunset. And I would definitely recommend doing your couple portraits at sunset. If you do choose to do them earlier when the sun is still high in the sky, the light can be pretty harsh and unflattering, particularly if there are no clouds. There are a couple of shady spots where you can head to. A small cluster of trees is located near the entrance to the property. As well as another cluster of trees on the other side of the lake. And at the very back of the property, there are a few big trees and some more lovely vineyards.

It is also worth noting that you are not able to do any drone photography at Petersons House as there is a small airport located right across the road.

Peterson House Wedding Venue

There are three locations where you can hold your wedding reception. In The Marquee, Restaurant Cuvee or in Peterson House Chapel.

Peterson House Marquee

The Marquee at Peterson House is a permanent structure located on the grass near the vines. Peterson House recently did a big upgrade on the Marquee and made it the best option for a reception in my opinion. They have put in concrete floors, it is now fully air-conditioned and there is now a toilet block. It is such a huge improvement over the restaurant. Highly recommend the Marquee if you are having a Peterson House wedding. It can hold more than the restaurant, with a capacity of 200 guests. It can fairy lights, chandeliers and the side of the marquee open up fully, so it will almost feel like you are dining in the vines.

Restaurant Cuvee

Restaurant Cuvee is where couples used to have their Peterson House weddings before they upgraded the marquee. It is located in the main sandstone building but at the opposite end to the wine tasting room. The room has huge beams of recycled timber and iron and it has beautiful views over the vineyards. It has a lovely rustic elegance to it. The restaurant has won numerous industry awards over the years so you know that the food is amazing. So you know you will never run out of bubbles.

I have photographed smaller more intimate wedding there as well as larger weddings as well. It is nice… but it is a restaurant trying to accommodate weddings. The layout is awkward, it has pillars and the lighting in the room isn’t great for photography. Their other spaces are much better in my opinion. They can accommodate up to 140 wedding guests.

Peterson House Chapel

Peterson House Chapel is also an awesome option for your wedding reception. The sandstone walls, tall ceilings with large timber beams will give your wedding an amazing ambiance and look that is hard to find in the Hunter Valley.

It is fully airconditioned and has a stage that is perfect for a dancefloor or band. I would say that it is perfect for smaller, more intimate weddings with one or two long tables

As one of my past couples, Sarah & Luke, said in an interview with Hunter Valley Wedding Planner Magazine:

“Peterson House was the perfect balance of elegance and homeliness without pretension. We were able to have a small, intimate wedding at a beautiful location, at a reasonable price.”

Sarah & Luke. (The Peterson’s who actually got married at Peterson House)

2019 was another awesome year for us with wedding photography taking us all over Australia and around the state of NSW.

Wedding photography has allowed me to go to some dream locations around Australia and shoot some wonderful couples. Some highlights and things that just happened this year at weddings are…

• I only had two rainy day weddings in 2019 which is totally unheard of. Normally I would have had a lot more.
• Most of my couples this year wrote and said their own personal vows and had unplugged weddings… which is amazing! It makes it really special and more personal. I highly recommend that all couples do this.
• I had an amazing wedding in Alice Springs where the couples gifted me my first Acoubra Hat!
• At weddings, I saw Kangaroos, wombats, alpacas, horses, cows, dogs and even one red belly black snake.
• I was lucky enough to do an elopement at Uluru, which has been in my bucket list for years.
• Who knew there was a mountain top in the Hunter Valley where you could have a wedding? I shot one!
• I shot my first wedding where half the bridal party were acrobats and I shot many weddings with no bridal party at all.
• Had a wedding on Halloween night with a Tim Burtonesque feel.
• Brides had many different styles of dresses. I had brides with black, red, pink, gold and silver dresses, and there might have been one or two in white ;) There was one bride with a $20 wedding dress that looked awesome and one with a dress that probably cost more than my car, that also looked amazing.
• There also were lots of Brides and couples in general wearing boots. Which makes sense since to do a lot of country weddings.
• Sadly towards the end of the year, most of my weddings were affected by the bushfires to some extent. Either by the smoke or actually trying to get to the wedding. The worst was a Port Macquarie wedding in November where roads were closed everywhere because of fire. But I managed to take a big detour around the fire and make it to the wedding. You will see some really crazy skies in some of the photos below.

Thank you to all the amazing wedding venues, wedding vendors and other wedding photographers who refer us. And of course a huge thank you to all our amazing couples who have trusted us to capture your most special day.

Wedding photography for 2020

My wedding photography has been changing and evolving over the 12+ years of shooting. In past years I have focused on different areas to work on, improve or just take more of. Do more night photography, do more drone shots, use more flash, use less flash etc. But my unofficial goal over the last couple of years, and going forward, is to take more meaningful images. And I think my work is attracting more like-minded couples who want this. Without couples who fully trust you, that open themselves up and actually be themselves then I can’t take the sort of images I would like to take artistically. This is how I would like to shoot more in 2020…

• Zero posing. I actually really don’t pose couples at all. I don’t like it in wedding photography because it is too contrived and gives the photos less meaning. I talk to couples, joke with couples, tell them to run through some grass or have a quiet moment together on the hill as the sun sets. And I do give a little direction if you get stuck and just stare at the camera, like a deer in headlights. I understand why some photographers pose couples more, and it’s because they can create the perfect image… which is awesome… but for me, no posing means for meaningful photos for the couple.
• Get more couples to be themselves and show their real personalities. Forget everything you think wedding photography will be like. With me, there are no rules. Do whatever you like, be whoever you really are… as long as you stay true to yourselves. Because this is when you get real natural photos without any forced smiles. These sort of photos will mean more to you in years to come.
• More fun and craziness. Weddings and wedding photography doesn’t have to be serious and boring. I want my couples to go crazy and have the most awesome time ever at their wedding! As long as it is legal and no one is going to get hurt… you can do whatever you want!

So with all that being said, here are a few of our favourite images from 2019.

The Ben Ean wedding in the Hunter valley of Cathy & Zisheng was simply stunning with a couple of the nicest people you could ever meet.

I met these guys at least a year before their wedding at one of their friend’s weddings. They had already booked me, so I was totally shocked and happy to see them. They both booked me without telling the other, so it’s nice to know that they both had the same taste in wedding photography.

Their wedding day started at two separate private houses around the Hunter Valley region

Ben Ean was the location for the ceremony and reception and is an absolutely stunning Hunter Valley wedding venue. It is 200 acres of rolling hills and vineyards and it is definitely one of the most picturesque wedding venues in Pokolbin.

Ben Ean used to be known as Lindeman’s Estate and I have photographed many weddings under the former name.

The Petersons and McGuigan families have joined forces and taken over Lindemans and have done quite a lot of renovations, particularly around the wedding and events side. Everything looks much more modern yet it still keeps its rustic country feel.

Ben Ean wedding ceremony

There are three potential locations you can have for your wedding ceremony at Ben Ean. The Fig Tree, the Garden Terrace Lawn and the Heritage Courtyard.

The Bride & Groom here chose the beautiful and rustic setting of the Heritage Courtyard. It is located right outside the actual reception venue and is undercover and totally protected from the elements. The Courtyard has a real barn-like feel to it and the transparent roof lets plenty of natural daylight into the area.

The wedding ceremony was personal and heartfelt. They both opened themselves up and let their emotions show. And it was beautiful. There were tears on both sides.

They also incorporated a tradition that I have never seen before. Salting a jar full of kumquats.

At the end of the ceremony, they walked back down the aisle to a sea of bubbles. Which was really awesome! Let me tell you now, that 99% of the time bubbles just don’t work and photograph very well at wedding ceremonies. The two reasons why it worked so well this time was:

• The darker background of the wood walls and roof made the bubble really show up nicely. At most outdoor ceremonies, the bubbles tend to blend into the sky and other lighter backgrounds.
• There was no wind. It just takes a tiny breeze and the bubbles blow away or just pop. There was absolutely no wind in the courtyard, so the bubbles really hung around beautifully.

Ben Ean Wedding Photos

After the wedding ceremony, we went up to Ben Ean’s most picturesque location. Up to The Fig Tree. This location is seriously one of the most beautiful locations in all of the Hunter Valley. The only way to have photos here is to have a wedding at Ben Ean. And I think it is worth having your wedding at Ben Ean just to get photos here. It is simply stunning!

The Fig Tree is located at the top of a hill and it overlooks rows and rows of vineyards. Ben Ean is basically, pretty epic for wedding photo and photography.

Wedding Reception at Ben Ean

The wedding reception can be held in three different locations at Ben Ean. The Laraghy Room, which is the main reception room. The Garden Terrace, an outdoor area, perfect for summer weddings. And the Heritage Listed Courtyard, which can fit around four hundred people!

These guys had their reception in the Laraghy Room, with is timber roof and wooden pillars.

Once again, there was some high emotion with some really beautiful speeches from family and friends that had the room in tears. They did a highly choreographed ‘first dance’ which was beyond impressive. And then they partied the night away in the dancefloor.

The Hunter Valley is full of awesome wedding venues, but a Ben Ean wedding definitely rates as one of the best around. From a wedding photographers point of view it has such beautiful locations and scenery.

And from my point of view, if you have your wedding at Ben Ean, and you take your photographers advice on when and where to get photos, you will get awesome wedding photos.

It was such a pleasure to photograph Cathy & Zisheng’s Ben Ean wedding in the Hunter Valley. What an amazing experience. They are amazing people and they had such a beautiful wedding.