The Southern Highlands has some of the mosts gorgeous wedding venues in Australia and Alicja & Mathew’s Terrara House Estate wedding would have to be one of them.
They both got ready onsite at Terrara House Estate, Alicja in the Salon and Mathew in the Stables. So preparation was really easy as I could simply walk back and forth between them.
We had some nice weather for their wedding, but it was just after record rainfall, with the last twenty six of the last thirty days raining. Therefore they had the wedding ceremony on the Terrace instead of in the gardens, but it was still gorgeous. The property around Terrara House is huge, so there were so many locations for beautiful photos.
We are really excited to share this amazing wedding with this lovely down to earth couple. This Terrara House Estate wedding has now added to the list of my favourite venues in the Southern Highlands. Enjoy!
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.
The beautiful King Edward Park wedding in Newcastle of Zara & Matt was an amazing day to be a part of and to photograph.
King Edward Park is located on York Drive just off Reserve Road in Newcastle. It has been a dedicated recreation reserve since 1863. The park has amazing views over the ocean showing off Newcastle’s beautiful beaches and skyline. There is a beautiful area filled with Norfolk Island pine trees. As well as rolling green hills, a sunken garden. At the top of the park, towards the south, there are the remains of Shepherds Hill Battery and Gunner’s Cottate, which also make great backdrops for wedding photos. The park is also home to the Bogey Hole, which are ocean baths, carved into the rock by convicts in 1819. The park is a simply beautiful place to have a wedding ceremony and photos, and it is probably the most scenic and beautiful park in Newcastle.
I met Zara years ago on a bridal fashion shoot in the Hunter Valley and she was such a delight to work with back then. So I was very excited when she asked me to photograph her Merewether Surfhouse wedding. And it was such a wonderful day to be a part of. There was lots of laughter, lots of pink & bling, a few chin ups and even a horse & carriage ;)
The wedding ceremony was held at King Edward Park in Newcastle. Zara arrived in a horse and carriage the the ceremony took place under the huge, elegant Victorian rotunda. The wedding reception was at Merewether Surf House, with it’s spectacular ocean views.
So enjoy their beautiful King Edward Park wedding and if you are looking for a wedding photographer in Newcastle, check out more of our work and shoot us a message :)
The Spicers Vineyards Estate wedding of Michelle & Chris was an amazing and intimate wedding to photograph in the Hunter Valley.
They both got ready on site at Spicers Vineyards, just at different ends of the property, so they didn’t see each other. The ceremony was held at the front of the property, under a tree overlooking the vineyard. And is was just a stunning setting. After the ceremony we had lots of laughs as we wandered the property before heading to the reception which was held at Restaurant Botanica which was perfect for an intimate wedding.
So enjoy this beautiful Spicers Vineyards Estate wedding in the gorgeous Hunter Valley.
The stunning Chateau Elan Hunter Valley wedding of Rebecca & Kahn was an absolute honour and privilege to photograph.
Everything happen onsite at one place… the beautiful beautiful Chateau Elan. The wedding ceremony was held at The Carriage House and I got to witness Rebecca’s Mum & Dad walk her down the aisle.
Enjoy this beautiful Chateau Elan Hunter Valley wedding… and feel free to leave a comment for the Bride & Groom or us ;)
Melanie & Nathan’s Grounds of Alexandria wedding was a spectacular wedding at one of my favourite wedding venues in Sydney.
The wedding ceremony was held at the Church By the Bridge in Kirribilli, which is literally right next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. After the ceremony we did a few photos by the water before heading off to the Grounds of Alexandria.
The reason I love Grounds of Alexandria for a wedding venue is because it is outside in a garden style venue with lots of fairy lights and has a rustic, natural feel to it. And photographically, it is quite beautiful.
We’re very excited to share this beautiful Grounds of Alexandria wedding and we hope you enjoy a few of our favourite photos from the day.
The beautiful Peppers Creek Hunter Valley wedding of Janine & David was an awesome day to be a part of and photograph.
I met Janine & David about a year ago when I shot their engagement shoot with them and their dog Roo. So it was really great to catch up with them again for their beautiful Peppers Creek Hunter Valley Wedding.
Enjoy the story of their day and feel free to leave a message for the Bride & Groom or us :)
