asterisk photography | the wedding blog

It can seem a little confusing at first to discover Pymble Golf Club is actually in St Ives.  But finding the club is not difficult as it’s located just across the road from Christ Church St Ives on Sydney’s upper north shore.  And this is one golf club that makes quite the statement as a wedding ceremony and reception venue!

Sporting a fascinating history since its formation in 1924 and official opening in 1926, the course is wonderfully picturesque with dams, sculptured sand bunkers and rolling fairways.

The gardens make a beautiful backdrop for wedding photographs and the requisite family photos.  But then it’s always fun for the bridal party to drive the golf buggies around the course as there are ample opportunities amongst the trees and bushland for the location photographs.  One of the most popular stops is the quaint, cobbled-stone bridge across one of the dams.

Pymble Golf Club is well-known for the variety of bird life found on the course including cockatoos, crimson & eastern rosellas, rainbow lorikeets, king parrots, magpies and kookaburras just to name a few.  Yet it’s the geese, ducks and black swans often found down at the dams near the 16th hole that will add a twist to your location photographs.

Photographing in the late afternoon adds a delicate touch to the photographs as the sun is gently filtered through the trees on the western side of the course creating long shadows across the greens.  It can be nice to grab some shots of the bride and groom beneath the veil as they spend a few quiet moments together before the bridal party heads back to the clubhouse.

If the family shots were not captured earlier, there is a practice green amongst the trees on the car park side that comes in handy.  Inside the clubhouse the dining room has been refurbished to take full advantage of the stunning views with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Catering for functions from 10 to 200, the feel of the room is both smart and sophisticated.  Outside on the wide balcony guests can delight in the rays of the setting sun through the eucalypts as they sip pre-dinner drinks and indulge in canapés.

So if you’re thinking about a wedding venue then take a good, long look at Pymble Golf Club - you won’t be disappointed.

Kim*

Pymble Golf Club, St Ives

Also known as the Swiss-Grand Resort & Spa in Bondi Beach, this luxury hotel has the most magnificent outlook over what is arguably Sydney’s most famous beach.  You and your guests will enjoy the privilege of panoramic views of the of the surf, sand and sea as you say your vows to one another and then celebrate with drinks and canapés on this rooftop wedding ceremony venue.

From the outside, the architecture of the building is particularly European in its stately and grand manner.  As you enter the foyer, the feeling is pleasantly open and airy.  Take a ride up the glass elevator to the roof and the setting couldn’t be more picturesque.  White chairs are neatly arranged with a large shade umbrella conveniently placed for your guests.  Cute, miniature, ornamental bird cages and parasols hang from the shade umbrella setting the scene for a very romantic backdrop.

Apparently, the terrace is large enough to fit 300 wedding guests.  And once the formalities are over there is space enough to organise family and group photos.  There’s also a couple of handy walls able to provide some shade for photographs if the sunny day proves too much.

Although Bondi Beach has the potential for some awesome location photographs with the bridal party, it can get too crowded as it is quite the tourist destination.  Also, the Bondi Lifeguards and Waverley Council are not too keen on photographers working their trade on the beach so it’s probably best to move to the rock shelf near Bondi Icebergs at the southern end or Marks Park on Mackenzies Point, Tamarama.  In fact, there are plenty of photo opportunities on the “Bondi to Bronte Walk”, it’s just a matter of choosing the one that suits you the best.

Back at the hotel there is a number of rooms to choose from for your wedding reception as they have the impressive facilites to intimately cater for 10 guests or up to a grand 450.  And the outdoor area facing Bondi Beach affords you a rather nice breath of clean, fresh, salt air, assuming the smokers haven’t taken it over.

And when all the partying is done for the night, you have the convenience of an Executive Ocean View Spa suite with late-check out as part of your package.  Now that’s doing it in style!

Kim*

Swiss-Grand Resort & Spa, Bondi Beach

The suburb of Mosman on Sydney’s lower north shore is blessed with countless wedding reception venues.  One such place is Boronia House Restaurant, convenienty located on Military Rd, the main street running through Spit Junction.

Built in 1855 and fully refurbished in 1997, the grand old two-storey building was once home to the local municipal library and remains very much an historical icon.  Surrounded by established parterre gardens, the landscaping and architecture brings character and charm to any event.  Therefore, this makes it a venue that works well for your ceremony, location and reception photographs.  Reservoir Park in nearby Brady St also has ornamental gardens, a grassed area and a gazebo and so it too can be used for larger outdoor wedding ceremonies.

The building itself has a wonderfully ornate balcony overlooking the gardens.  Use this spot to grab a breath of fresh air during the reception, or perhaps utilise it for location photographs of the bride & groom.  Even the staircase leading up to the second floor is a photo opportunity in the making.  Although the house can fit over 200 wedding guests it’s more than suitable for a smaller, more intimate function.

The house boasts a number of rooms that can each serve a different purpose.  As you enter, to the left is a large bar area well-suited to pre-dinner drinks and canapés.  There’s even a quaint sunroom on the other side of this room.  To the right of the entrance, the open room with timber floorboards makes the perfect dance floor.  And the dining room has a clean, crisp feel to it with beautiful, tall windows behind the bridal table. 

Interestingly, despite the history of the building, the place feels anything but dated and stuffy.  We think it’s because they did such a good job renovating.  But then again, it could also be the incredibly friendly staff.  The food too is superb with the menu a scrumptious blend of traditional and contemporary options.

Their sister venue, Barrenjoey House opposite Palm Beach Wharf, is equally impressive so we will be sure to write a review about our recent experience there in the next few weeks…

Kim*

Boronia House Restaurant, Mosman

A wedding reception venue by the water is more often than not a popular choice simply because of the location.  But this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a place worth holding your reception.  Fortunately, our experience of Banjo Paterson Cottage Restaurant in Gladesville has been all smiles!

Built in the 1830s, the sandstone cottage “Rockend” was where A.B. “Banjo” Paterson lived as a young man with his grandmother while he studied at Sydney Grammar School.  Now, it’s a fine dining restaurant that has set high standards and manages to achieve them every time we visit.  Being once a home, and now a famously historic one at that, it still has that homely feeling exuding lashings of charm & character.

Set on about five acres of land near Bedlam Point in Gladesville, according to their website the landscaped gardens are perfect for an outdoor wedding ceremony and we couldn’t agree more.  The flower beds add a romantic touch to the occasion and the pathway that gently winds from the front of the house through to the back lawn area opens up to a wonderful vista of the Parramatta River allowing for a grand entrance by the bride as she is escorted down the “aisle”.  Afterwards, the open grassed area is large enough for both the family photographs and a group shot of the guests as they’re gathered, captured from the top of the steps.

Taking a stroll down to the jetty for photos with the bridal party is effective with the wooden boards in the foreground and the wide expanse of the river in the background.  The walkway along the shoreline with the occasional copse of fir trees provides another option for location photographs.  Even the gate of the property can be utilised to good effect, especially when all the guests have gone inside to be seated for dinner.  And don’t forget the front of the cottage with the rose bushes and bridal cars.

Return through the vine-covered archway and through the homestead’s doorway to be warmly welcomed by friendly staff and open fireplaces.  Then be greeted by your guests to a round of applause as you join them in one of the dining rooms.  With any luck, the glorious colours of the setting sun will be streaming through the windows during your dinner reception.

One of our recent weddings was blessed with a fantastic cake, flowers and table decorations that Form Over Function had organised for the bride & groom whose nominated theme was, coincidentally, “sunset”.

The venue may have a heritage listing but the food is modern and delicious with staff that bend-over-backwards to ensure you and your guests have a great time!

Kim*

Banjo Paterson Cottage Restaurant, Gladesville

There is a place that will take you high above the clouds.  Well, not quite.  But the views are so spectacular that you will be blown away.  Jonah’s Restaurant at Whale Beach is the spot and you just have to check this classy joint out if you’re getting married on the Northern Beaches.

The historic home is perched on the escarpment overlooking Whale Beach and as you’re watching the surf roll in crashing on the shore below, all the cares of the world will just fall away.  This is the idyllic outlook you command should you choose to have your wedding ceremony on the grassed area below the restaurant or pre-dinner drinks on the stylish balcony.

Rose petals litter the aisle as the bride makes her appearance on the arm of her father atop the steps.  And it’s from here a great group shot incorporating all your guests can be achieved after the ceremony and the flurry of discreet, candid shots of the guests as they mingle, champagne glasses in hand and canapés at the ready.

The bridal party can then head down to Whale Beach or Palm Beach or even Palm Beach Wharf for wedding location photographs.  All are terrific locations that will provide the perfect backdrop to your shots.  Or you could simply take advantage of the space at Jonah’s.

For your wedding reception there is the choice of the larger restaurant for up to 100 guests or the more intimate terrace for half that number.  Either way you will be treated to the most fantastic food & wine.  They really know how to cook and their SMH Good Food Guide chef’s hat proves the point.

Add to that the world-class luxury accommodation and what more could you want?

We should warn you though that it’s not cheap but then again they do offer million-dollar views so it really is worth it!

Kim*

Jonah's Restaurant, Whale Beach

On a hot & dry Saturday morning, with the mercury nudging 40 degrees, I found myself driving through the lush countryside of the Hunter Valley passing vineyards left, right and centre on my way to Margan Family Winegrowers & Restaurant.  You’ll find it out along the Broke Rd, past all the big name wineries in Pokolbin, which leads to the quieter, more tranquil area of Broke Fordwich.  A pleasant 1 1/2 hour drive from Sydney’s north up the F3, I believe it’s worth every minute of the trip!

Whenever I’m visiting the Hunter Valley I prefer to avoid the larger wineries choosing instead to drop in to the smaller, family-owned cellar doors of Marsh Estate, Margan, Petersons and Scarborough.  They are incredibly passionate about their wines and the whole wine-making process, seeing it as more of an art form and less of a commercial enterprise, despite their well-deserved success.

Not surprisingly, the Hunter Valley is a very popular destination for weddings with couples choosing to get away from the big smoke, opting instead for a relaxed country wedding.  There are countless wineries that cater for wedding ceremonies & receptions and Margan Family Winegrowers & Restaurant is one of the best I’ve had the pleasure of photographing.

Secreted away at the foot of the Brokenback Range, Margan is a stylish venue that will impress the minute you crunch up the gravel driveway.  The open area out the back provides a large venue for your wedding ceremony, with a view across the burgeoning grape vines to the Brokenback Range.

Once the ceremony is over and the candid shots of the guests and pre-requisite family group photographs have been captured, the bridal party can then stroll through the vineyard for their wedding location photographs.  The late afternoon sun warms the landscape casting shadows on the painted wall of the large chook-house with it’s rustic, iron filigree windows conjuring romantic images of Tuscany.

However, a lone eucalypt, typical of this countryside, brings you back home.  Mind you, it does provide another feature to the scenic expanses, ideally juxtaposed with a bridal party enjoying light conversation and genteel laughter between celebratory sips of the local Margan wine.

Of course, no visit to a vineyard is complete without a stroll through the furrows between the vines and if they are covered in fruit and vibrant, green foliage then all the better.  Just watch your step if you’re walking in high-heels!

The courtyard of the restaurant provides additional locations for the bride & groom with the sandstone Margan sign and the bench in front of the lavender.  Even the tasting room with it’s beautiful artwork makes a great alternative for photographs. 

Inside the restaurant is the huge, high-ceiling Barrel Room where wedding receptions are generally held.  As the name would suggest there are barrels and barrels lining the walls providing an atmosphere entirely appropriate to the down-to-earth festive occasion.  Yet despite the vastness of the interior it still feels intimate and friendly, like you’re sharing an enormous banquet with family & friends.

Attentive, delightful staff serving well-prepared, exceptionally delicious food just makes the whole setting perfect – cheers! 

Kim*

Margan Family Winegrowers & Restaurant

There is certainly no shortage of wonderful beaches in Sydney’s north.  Select from any one of a dozen or more and you’re bound to have a picturesque location for wedding photographs.  But what would be great is to find a restaurant at one of those beaches that has more than just pretty views and easy access to the sand & sea.

Fortunately there are a number of excellent restaurants suited to wedding receptions, one of them being Pilu at Freshwater.

It should come as no surpise that Pilu at Freshwater is located just north of Manly at Freshwater Beach, situated at the southern end of the beach with panoramic views through large windows as the surf lazily crashes on the shore below.

The venue has a distinctly welcoming, home-like feel to it, as if you’re staying at a friend’s place whilst holidaying on the coast.  A courtyard surrounded by hedges is available for your wedding ceremony should you choose to have a relaxed, relatively informal event.  And if the weather doesn’t go to plan you can always use the restaurant as an undercover option.

Down on the beach there are several places to utilise for your wedding location photographs.  The southern end is well sheltered from a southerly should the breeze prove to be a little too strong.  However, it can be nice to have the bride’s veil gently caught by the wind in photographs.

Stroll along the good sized but not too long beach over to the northern end near the Harbord Diggers and you’ll find some sparkling rockpools and an outdoor saltwater swimming pool.  A little further on is a large rock shelf that gives yet another protected spot for location photographs.

Before returning to the restaurant there are some sand dunes that work well for bridal party photographs, just near the Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club.

Back at the restaurant and you’ll be treated to some deliciously fine cuisine.  The Italian food is defintely biased towards seafood but then what would you expect from a seaside restaurant.  Yet the Sardinian flavours are so mouth-watering you’ll want to come back on another occasion so you can try all the dishes you missed.  I guess two SMH Good Food Guide chef’s hats puts them up there with the best.

Interestingly, it’s the fun all the guests were having on the dance floor that I remember the most from the last wedding we photographed at Pilu at Freshwater.  For such an intimate venue there is still plenty of room for a small band or a DJ and a good-sized, enthusiastic crowd to bop the night away.

Kim*

Pilu at Freshwater

There’s a place in the city that is a garden of tranquility in a sea of chaos.  Quietly tucked away amidst the hustle & bustle of the busy City of Sydney is the Chinese Garden of Friendship conveniently located on the Cockle Bay Wharf side of Darling Harbour opposite the Sydney Convention Centre.

The area of Darling Harbour is littered with countless shops and restaurants making it as much a local haunt as it is a tourist destination.  Therefore it’s nice to find somewhere to take time out from the frantic pace of your work day or sightseeing.

For much the same reason, the Chinese Gardens makes a wonderful venue for both wedding ceremony and location photographs.

There are numerous venues within the Chinese Gardens where your wedding ceremony can take place.  The most popular include the courtyard in front of the Dragon Wall, the Water Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance and the Peace Boat Pavilion.  All have their different benefits such as the number of guests who will be able to watch proceedings or the back-drop during your ceremony.

Go for a wander through the gardens and discover little nooks & crannies for your wedding location photographs.  Many of the tracks make for great candid shots with bamboo and rocks bordering the pathways. 

Then there are spots to stop and have the Lake of Brightness in the background.  And choose the right time of year and there will be everything from Azaleas, Port Wine Magnolias, Gardenias and Camelias flowering brilliantly in the shots. 

Close to the Teahouse Pavilion you’ll find a small waterfall that cascades down translucent black rocks with brilliant green foliage that is perfect for an intimate bride & groom photograph.

Many of the pavilions provide good cover for the bridal party photographs should it be a wet day with some of the pillars adorned with Chinese characters - a nice touch that gives context to the images.

But our favourite spot is the bridge that zig zags across the lake.  There is a Frangipani that smells heavenly with a back-drop of these enormous Weeping Willow trees.  All this and more with another splash of colour when the lillies are in flower.

Sublime, exquisite, serene!

Kim*

Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour

As much as we love to photograph weddings in Sydney, it’s nice to have a change of scenery and travel somewhere outside of the metropolitan area that’s not too far away.  One such place is Killcare on the NSW Central Coast.  And it may just be the perfect alternative for your wedding guests to enjoy.

Only a short drive from Sydney’s north, about an hour or so up the F3, you’ll find Bells at Killcare.  They describe themselves as a boutique hotel, restaurant and bar as well as a world-class destination and quite frankly we believe they more than live up to that reputation.

Drive up the gravel driveway and you could be mistaken for thinking you’re holidaying in the European countryside.  Set amongst extensive grounds is the big & beautiful main house where guests can dine and relax.  Yet the decor and furniture has a decidely coastal feel to it with clean whites and striking blues dominating.

The accommodation is made up villas and suites that are well-appointed and tastefully decorated to ensure you relax the minute you walk through the door.  Combine that with the warm & friendly welcome you’ll receive from the staff and you will not want to leave!

The dining room is well-suited to smaller wedding groups seating up to 70 people but the wide open space of the lush, green, manicured lawns permits about 200 guests to enjoy a cocktail wedding ceremony and reception.

There are also a number of spots for the bridal party to slip away for some location photographs including a garden near the cabins with a small pond.  You’ll just have to mind the mosquitos if your photographs are at dusk.  Of course, choose the right time of year and there are magnificent flowering trees to add a vibrant splash of colour.  And the well maintained hedges near the fountain add yet another back-drop.

The house itself boasts yet more places to take photographs inside and out.  One in particular is the balcony with round pillars bordered by a hedge.

And you’re only a stones throw away from Putty Beach, Pretty Beach, Killcare Beach and the jetty at Hardys Bay.  But who wants any of those locations when all you need is at Bells at Killcare.

After all, they are blessed with the incredible talents of Stefano Manfredi in the kitchen, the well-renowned chef who used to be at the amazing bel mondo in Sydney once upon a time.  And with two SMH Good Food Guide chef’s hats they must be doing something right.

Quite simply, this place is your home-away-from-home!

Kim*

Bells at Killcare

Enter Killara Golf Club and immediately you feel like you’ve gone back in time to that 19th Century era of charm and sophistication.  Established in 1899, a couple of years before Federation, it’s architecture oozes the sort of character that many venues lack due to modern blandness.  However, this is a wedding venue with history and a heritage that makes any function a grand event.

Step out onto their balcony and enjoy the views of the wide open expanses of the groomed fairways that are incredibly well looked after.  Enjoy cocktails & canapés as you watch the sun set in a blaze of glory beyond the tall trees as the attentive wait-staff look after the needs of you and your guests.

Nestled amongst the old stately homes of Killara in Sydney’s leafy upper north shore yet sprawling as far as the eye can see, this is a golf course that warrants a closer look when planning your wedding.  Not only is it a terrific wedding reception venue but it is also an ideal spot for your wedding ceremony and location photographs.

Interestingly, despite being an older and very well established golf club, they are incredibly up-to-date in their thinking.  For example, one particular wedding we photographed at Killara Golf Club was a little unusual as the bride’s arrival was upstaged by the big entrance of the groom and his groomsmen.

Having gained permission from the club, they arrived by helicopter touching down in sight of all the guests.  The brilliant, bold red colour of this ultra-modern piece of machinery was quite a contrast to the lush, green fairway where it landed.  Mind you, the poor pilot had to negotiate a hail storm that threated to put a dampener on proceedings.  Fortunately, Killara Golf Club has the option of an indoor space should the weather take a turn for the worst.

As it turned out, the rain held off and the bridal party were able to enjoy their time on the golf buggies as we shuttled from one great location to the next.  The course boasts tall eucalypts that catch the late afternoon sun, devilish sand bunkers on the edge of putting greens, and vibrant flowering trees all of which enable the bridal party to relax and enjoy their time away from the formal proceedings amongst stunning back-drops.

Back at the club house the family groups can be photographed on the first tee with some tall trees in the background.  And a large group shot with all the guests’ faces seen clearly is achieved by having them all stand around the practice green and shooting down from the balcony.  This area is also nicely maintained with a bed of brilliant, colourful flowers.

But it’s not all about the photographs.   The service is excellent and the food delicious – always an important consideration at any wedding.

Kim*

Killara Golf Club