SYDNEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS
For Sydney wedding photography services, consider Diamond Photography & Video. We bring a level of experience, talent and service which has ensured the delight of many customers since 1995. We will travel to locations all across Sydney to look after your wedding photography needs. Explore our wedding photography services and locations below. We are sure that you’ll find just the right site and setting to capture your wedding memories perfectly.
Hurstville: Hurstville Council has three popular parks for wedding photography. etc . . .
area
Hurstville wedding photography
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Hurstville Council has three popular wedding parks. Woodville Park Hudson Street, Hurstville has a rotunda and there are toilets. Oatley Park in Dame Mary Gilmore Drive, Oatley is a large park with shelter and toilets. Near The Castle area there are water views, making this a very pretty location for photographs. To hire The Castle requires a booking fee plus an additional refundable cleaning fee. Here there are also nature trails and bushwalking tracks.
Mortdale Park on the corner of Boundary Road and Oxford Street, Mortdale also has a rotunda. Other parks in the Hurstville area, which are worth exploring as potential ceremony or Husrtville wedding photography sites include: Oatley Pleasure Grounds in Annette Street, Oatley. This park has shelter, toilets, walking tracks and foreshore areas. Moore Reserve, Frederick Street, Oatley has a boat ramp, shelter and foreshore areas. Hurstville Council charges a booking fee and a refundable cleaning fee. For bookings or more information call the Council on 9330 6222.
Kogarah wedding photography
The Kogarah area has many spectacular locations for both wedding photography and wedding ceremonies, the most popular parks being Carrs Bush Park, Oatley Pleasure Gardens and Sans Souci Park. These parks all make an especially memorable and romantic backdrop for photographs. You must make a reservation to use the parks in the Kogarah Council area for your wedding ceremony. A small fee is charged for bookings. For further information or to book a park phone 9330 9400.
In Carss Bush Park off Carwar Avenue, Carrs Park, there are pretty foreshore areas and a boat ramp for water access. The park has plenty of parking, shelter and there are toilets. The park overlooks Kogarah Bay and also has a view of Sans Souci. This is a green lush park and at night there are lights on the river. Oatley Pleasure Gardens, cnr Annette and Russell Streets, Oatley are set on Oatley Bay and look towards leafy Connells Points. The park has shelter and toilets.
In Sans Souci Park, Rocky Point Road, facilites include shelter, toilets and there is a large foreshore area on the Georges River. Other parks worth looking at are: Claydon Reserve, Connells Point Reserve, Donnelly Park, Dover Park, Hogben Park, Merriman Reserve, Moore Reserve, Poulton Park, Stuart Street Reserve, Todd Park.
Rockdale wedding photography
The Rockdale Council area has one especially popular park for weddings – Rockdale Park on the corner of West Botany and Bryant Streets at Rockdale The park has a stream with two bridges which are good for photographs. There is also a lovely gazebo. Other parks in the area which are worth looking at include Arncliffe Park, off Mitchell Street, Arncliffe, which started life as a market garden in the 1880s. It features an avenue of trees planted just after the turn of the century and a small bandstand.
Seaforth Park in Beaconsfield Street, Bexley is an important historical site. There are also several historic buildings, which could make good backdrops for wedding photography. A heritage walk of the area will uncover such places of interest as Primrose House in Russell Avenue Sans Souci, a grand Victorian beachside home. Then there are the three Victorian mansions in the area – Dappeto, Fairview and Belmont, built in the 1880s and Lydham Hall built in 1860, now a museum. The gardens of Lydham Hall, 18 Lydham Avenue, Rockdale are available for weddings and photographs. There are wedding only fees and wedding plus photography fees. Bookings can be made 9567 4259. A fee is payable for using Rockdale Council’s parks and bookings can be made on 9562 1666.
Sutherland Shire Wedding Photography
In the Sutherland area there are a number of parks suitable for weddings. The council does not allow marquees or confetti. Flower petals are allowable. Only one hour is allowed for weddings and there are no fees for the following parks: Bass and Flinders Point in Gowrie Street, Cronulla Salmon Haul Reserve, also in Gowrie Street, Cronulla Como Pleasure Grounds, Cremona Street, Como Darook Park, Darook Park Road, Cronulla Darook Park in Stacey Street, Cronulla Forby Sutherland Memorial Garden, corner of Princes Highway and Eaton Street, Sutherland Gunnamatta Park, Nicholson Parade, Cronulla Kareena Park, Kareena Road, Miranda Lilli Pilli Point Park, Lilli Pilli Point Road, Lilli Pilli Sutherland Park in Linden Street, Sutherland.To book these parks, phone 9710-0251. Caringbah’s Camellia Gardens are also available for wedding photography and has four unique areas which are suitable. These are the main gazebo; the Rose Garden; the Duck Ponds and a paved area near the main entry gates. Parking is limited at the Camellia Gardens so a maximum of two weddings and one photograph session are allowed – book early so you don’t miss out if you choose this park. Fees vary depending on the size of your wedding or whether you are having a photographic session only. The Camellia Gardens are on the corner of President Avenue and Kareena Road, Caringbah. For bookings phone 9710-0251.
The Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve in Manooka Place, Kareela is also a lovely place for wedding photography. There is an area in the reserve set aside especially for weddings – a paved, tiered area near a large pond, easily accessible from the car park. There is a charge for weddings and for photographs. To book phone 9710-0251.
Contacts
Hurstville Council – 9330-6222
Kogarah Council – 9330-9400
Rockdale Council – 9562-1666
Sutherland Council – 9710-0251
CITY & EASTERN SUBURBS
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City
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In the Sydney city area there are 55 hectares of parkland much of which is available for wedding photography and ceremonies. There is also the Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens as well as beautiful Observatory Hill. The Royal Botanic Gardens are extremely popular because of its wonderful location on the foreshores of Sydney Harbour. The gardens are available for wedding photography and ceremonies and there is a large variety of special sites. Choose from intimate garden settings such as the rose garden, expansive lawns with city or harbour views and covered pavilions. As the gardens are popular you may need to book early. For further information or bookings call the Gardens on 9231 8111. Applications take two weeks to process and the fees are according to the areas you choose.
In Darling Harbour, Tumbalong Park is available for weddings and wedding photography. This is a large area capable of staging huge festivals and fairs. A more intimate setting is the Palm Grove where you will find a lovely tree-filled space, surprisingly nestled under the freeway. Both parks are close to the water and at night, have lovely views towards the sparkling lights of the city. Phone the Darling Harbour Authority on 9286 0100 to book these parks. A fee is payable.
The Chinese Garden of Friendship is perennially popular with its symbolism of union and friendship. The garden was established to represent the friendship between Australia and China and throughout the gardens there are many plants which symbolise this theme of partnership. Explore the gardens for its spectacular backdrops for photographs. Popular spots for ceremonies include the Tea House Pavilion, the Water Pavilion and the Boat Pavilion. The Chinese Garden of Friendship can be booked on 9281 6863 and there is a fee payable. If you would like to get married right in the heart of Sydney, Hyde Park is a popular choice.
North Hyde Park is an especially beautiful area for Sydney wedding photography with its arches and fountains, avenues of trees and fairy lights at night.
Wynyard Park behind Wynyard Station is good for weekend weddings when there is little commuter and lunchtime crowds. Fig Lane Park at Pyrmont is popular, with seating and water views. This park has been recently restored with fountains, a pergola and seating areas. For smaller weddings, Clyne Reserve at the end of Merriman Street, Millers’ Point is very popular. It is a two tiered park, landscaped with native gardens. This is a very quiet park with disabled access and water views looking to Balmain and Pyrmont.
Observatory Hill has spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge and north to Lavender Bay, McMahon’s Point and Luna Park. To the west, the views extend to Pyrmont and Balmain. There is a large rotunda which is ideal for a wedding ceremony if you are looking for shelter. To enquire about these or other council owned parks phone Sydney City Council on 9265 9550. Free-standing marquees are permitted in the council’s parks and there is a fee payable. To reserve a park, Council requires a letter giving details of the event, name, address, contact phone number, date and time.
Cook and Phillip Park near St Marys Cathedral is another popular choice for Sydney wedding photography. It has been recently revamped with new landscaping and undulating lawns. The bottom end of this park is used for weddings. It is very quiet and has fountains and shelter. Bookings can be made on 9360 1266. The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority offers five parks for wedding ceremonies. The most popular are Hickson Road Reserve and Dawes Point Park under the Harbour Bridge at The Rocks. Hickson Road Reserve has an unrestricted view of the harbour and the Opera House, and is studded with palm trees and fig trees. Dawes Point Park is a picturesque park which is slightly more hilly and has views of the Opera House. Pyrmont Point Park, Pyrmont has views of Balmain, the Anzac Bridge and the Harbour Bridge. Pyrmont Bay Park is near Star City Casino and Darling Harbour. This makes it a very busy park but it is near the water. First Fleet Park, next to the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay is also a busy, noisy park, but it is right on the harbour for those fantastic photographs. Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority charges a small fee for weddings with up to 20 guests, and for over 20 the price is slightly higher. If you are having champagne you need to specify this in your application. There is no exclusive use of the parks. Phone 9240 8500 for bookings.
Wedding photography and weddings are also allowed on some of the properties in the Sydney Harbour National Park, phone the National Parks and Wildlife Service on 9247 5033 for more details.
Woollahra
In the Woollahra area one of the most popular parks for weddings is McKell Park on the tip of Darling Point off Lindsay Avenue. It features spectacular harbour views and the remains of the historic house Canonbury are a good backdrop for photographs. Also in Darling Point is Yarranabbe Park which is in Yarranabbe Road. It has spectacular city and water views. Bellevue Park in Birriga Road, Bellevue Hill, is an elevated park with superb views over Rose Bay and Bondi. There are plantings of Moreton Bay Figs and Norfolk Island Pines. Blackburn Gardens in New South Head Road, Double Bay features formal gardens and harbour views. Chiswick Gardens in Ocean Street, Woollahra are formal gardens with seating and pathways. Harbour View Park in Harkness Street, Woollahra has mature trees which form a shady canopy. Robertson Park in Military Road, Watsons Bay is a popular choice for wedding ceremonies. Samuel Park, New South Head Road, Rose Bay North, has views of the eastern end of Sydney Harbour. These parks are managed by Woollahra Council. The cost for hiring these parks for your wedding depends on the number of the wedding party and guests. For further information phone 9391 7038. Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, corner of Parkes & Grand Drives, Moore Park has four kilometres of spectacular parklands with lakes, ponds, formal gardens and forest areas. Centennial Park is Sydney’s most historic park, dedicated in 1888. It has beautiful historic features such as the imposing Victorian gates at its entrance. There are century old trees, rose gardens, wetlands and duck ponds and The Lily Pond is an especially popular area for wedding photographs. The Lily Pond is just off Parkes Drive and it is full of water birds and lilies. For more information phone 9339 6699 and for permission for photographic sessions, phone 9339 6621.
Neilsen Park on Vaucluse Road and Greycliffe Avenue, Vaucluse has unsurpassed harbour views providing magnificent photographic opportunities. There is some shelter available and it has disabled access. Neilsen Park is part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. For weddings of under ten people, Neilsen Park is free. For over ten people, there is a fee. For enquiries about Neilsen Park phone 9337 5511. Other Sydney Harbour National Park areas include Shark Island and Clark Island. Both islands can be hired for the whole day and a fee and security deposit is payable. Call the National Parks and Wildlife Service on 9247 5033 for more details.
South Sydney wedding photography
Back towards the city there are many lovely parks in the South Sydney Council area which are available for wedding ceremonies and photographs. The most popular is McElhone Reserve in Billiard Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, opposite Elizabeth Bay House. This is a very pretty park with some lovely features and spectacular views. Photographs are allowed by the lakeside in Victoria Park, on Parramatta Road, Chippendale. However you cannot hold the ceremony itself in this park. There are flower beds, seating, a fountain, a bridge and an old sandstone cottage. Other parks to explore in the area are:
• Rushcutters Bay Park, Waratah Avenue, Rushcutters Bay
• South Sydney Rotary Park, Henderson Road, Alexandria
• The Green, Merton Street, Zetland
• Daniel Dawson Reserve, Wyndham, Street, Alexandria
• Fowler Reserve, Norfolk Street, Erskinville
• Redfern Park, Elizabeth Street, Redfern
• Ward Park, Devonshire Street, Surry Hills.
Receptions are not allowed in South Sydney Council’s parks, neither is alcohol. One hour weddings start from $90 and bookings can be made by calling 9288 5420.
Randwick wedding photography
The Randwick Council area is also full of lovely parks and beach areas to explore. Many of the parks around the beach areas have been recently improved and feature spectacular ocean views. Bookings are necessary and the price varies from no charge to $1,000, depending on the size of your wedding and whether you have a marquee. Randwick Council can be reached on 9399 0999. Try Grant Reserve at Coogee. This is an English-style village green overlooking the ocean with an old fashioned bandstand. Grant Reserve is accessed from the southern end of Coogee Beach in Neptune Street. At La Perouse, Yarra Bay’s Bicentennial Park is another popular choice, overlooking the water. The Clovelly Beach headland is also a favoured position, as is Byrne Reserve at Maroubra.
Botany wedding photography
The Botany Council area has several interesting parks to explore for wedding or photographic opportunities. Mascot Memorial Park is the most popular park for weddings. It has newly planted gardens and refurbished stone work and walkways. There are pretty formal flower displays, palm trees, hedges and a rotunda. The park is on the corner of Coward and Botany Roads, Mascot. Sir Joseph Banks Pleasure Gardens and Foreshore Reserve, in Fremlin Street Botany is made up of six hectares of parkland. The gardens were designed from photographs and engravings of the original botanical and zoological gardens on the site in the early 1800s. There are water views and a pergola. The gardens include walking tracks and a lake filled with birdlife. Gaiarine Gardens, Pagewood, is a newly created park which celebrates Botany’s sister city relationship with Gaiarine in Italy. The park features lovely gardens with open areas for photographs. The gardens can be found on the corner of Banksia and Ocean Streets, Pagewood. Booralee Park on Daniel Street, Botany has new gardens and refurbished stone work and walkways. John Curtin Reserve, High Street, Mascot is a site rehabilitated from the old rope works. There is a fee to hold a wedding in Botany Council’s parks as well an an insurance fee and a refundable bond. Bookings can be made on 9336-3521.
Contacts
Sydney City Council – 9265 9550
Royal Botanic Gardens – 9231 8111
Darling Harbour Authority – 9286 0100
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority – 9240 8500
Sydney Harbour National Park – 9247 5033
University of Sydney – 9351 2949
Woollahra Council – 9391 7038
Centennial Park – 9339 6699 / 9339 6621
Waverly Council – 9369 8030
South Sydney Council – 9288 5420
Randwick Council – 9399 0999
Botany Council – 9336 3521
WOLLONGONG & SOUTH COAST
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Wollongong
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Cosmopolitan Wollongong. An eclectic mix of industry, sweeping beaches, unforgettable natural areas, local history, fabulous shopping and exciting cultural diversity. The area is well serviced by wedding professionals who will ensure your wedding day is perfect in every way. And there are plenty of picturesque places for an outdoor wedding or spectacular wedding photos. Outdoor sites for weddings in the Wollongong area include Market Square, Belmore Basin, Stuart Park, Flagstaff Hill, Battery Park and the Botanic Gardens, all in Wollongong itself. Then there is Glastonbury Gardens at Austinmer, Bells Point Park also at Austinmer and Sandon Point Reserve in Blackall Street, Bulli.
Don’t forget the beautiful beaches and dramatic headlands which offer further photo opportunities.
Check with Wollongong City Council on 4227 1111 regarding availability of the city’s parks and gardens for weddings and photographs. There’s the famous walk through Minnamurra Rainforest with its beautiful waterfalls, providing some fantastic photographic opportunities. The area is available for wedding ceremonies and has catering, picnic and barbecue facilities. The rainforest walk is fully wheelchair accessible for elderly relatives or those with disabilities. Then there is Kiama’s famous blowhole, which regularly sends a soaring spray of surf through an opening in the rocky cliffs and can be seen from an accessible lookout – again a great place for photographs. Picturesque areas include Hartwell House, the Cathedral Rocks and the lovely walks around the headland. Fry’s Cave might be an area to consider for photographs – a huge sea cavern carved by natural forces into the cliff face.
Killalea State Park, north of Kiama runs down to fantastic surfing and fishing beaches and the Little Blowhole off Tingira Crescent is a great sight when the prevailing seas are from the north east.
In Killalea State Park you will find plenty of pretty areas for wedding photographs. The Wollongong and Kiama districts boast a large range of accommodation, including resorts, traditional Aussie pubs, hotels and guest houses. Heading back towards Wollongong is Shellharbour, with one its most picturesque area at Blackbutt Forest Reserve. The forest offers ample photographic opportunities amongst the remnant coastal plain vegetation. Then there is Lake Foreshore – plenty of spots for photographs here – and Macquarie Pass National Park which has interesting historical features such as the Nurrewin homestead, as well as cascading waterfalls and rainforest gullies. The highlight of a honeymoon at Jervis Bay is the chance to do some whale watching at close quarters. Cruises take you as far as legally possible to the pods of whales and dolphins, local seals, turtles and albatross in the area. In the whale watching season the annual migration of the humpback whales is an unforgettable thrill. Consider a beachside wedding at beautiful Mollymook. The bushland reserve at the beach has picnic facilities for an al fresco event. And for a post-wedding weekend lunch, you can’t go past fish and chips on the sand at Ulladulla. It’s also a good place to go bushwalking amongst the forests of spotted gums. Once you’ve worked up an appetite hiking Pigeon House Mountain, head back to the beach to take home fresh fish for dinner from Fisherman’s Wharf.
Also at Ulladulla you can go scuba diving amongst the blue groper and sea dragons or go deep sea fishing for big game fish. Further south is Batemans Bay on the Clyde River. Batemans Bay is a good base to explore surfing beaches, historic villages and the river banks. There are art galleries, fishing, good shopping and dining and historic areas.
Contacts
Wollongong Council – 4227 7111
Kiama Council – 4232 0222
Shellharbour Council – 4221 6111
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