Wallalong House Wedding

Ash & Andrew’s Hunter Valley Wedding Photography

On the morning of Ash & Andrew’s Wallalong house wedding, I was surprised to see the sun out. I always tend to get a little anxious in the lead up to a wedding, wondering if the weather is going to be kind to us or not. On this occasion, there was torrential rain during the day prior and more was predicted to follow the following day. Fortunately for Ash and Andrew, luck was just happened to be on their side. They managed to pick the only day that weekend when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

The Venue

For those that haven’t been to Wallalong House in the Hunter Valley, let me paint the picture for you. A long pear tree lined driveway leads to the immaculately maintained stables which stand in front of the homestead. The stables alone are enough to impress you. But as you move through the gate towards the main building it only gets better. Wearing its old heritage with pride, Wallalong house sits elevated atop a small hill.  This creates beautiful views across surrounding low lying paddocks. Two giant fig trees neighbour the architecturally designed home while creating the perfect setting for a ceremony. Across the lawn and through the pristine gardens you will find the pool area for relaxing and the marquee ready to play host to the reception.

Because there are so many features just begging to be incorporated within the wedding photography, its hard as a Hunter Valley wedding photographer not to get excited with a wedding at Wallalong House.

The morning

Driving out to the Hunter Valley wedding venue I had a feeling it was going to be a special day. I was looking forward to finally seeing what the couple had put together for their Wallalong house wedding. I like to arrive early, so I can get things organised and ease into the wedding photography. This also gives me the added benefit of getting to know the bridal party somewhat before pulling out any cameras.

The day started as most weddings do. When I began shooting the details, the girls were in the midst of getting there make up completed and the guys were entertaining themselves while enjoying a few beers. Spirits were high during the bride and groom prep. Both the nerves and excitement began to build in anticipation for the ceremony that would follow. It wasn’t too long before we were well into the swing of things and it was time for the bride to meet her groom. If the watery eyes and giant smiles on their faces weren’t enough to give it away, it was easy to see that these two were head over heels for each other.

The Ceremony

The ceremony went off without any dramas as the couple exchange rings and said their I do’s. By this stage, their Wallalong House wedding was running as smoothly as anyone could hope for. Shortly after all the formalities had been completed it was time to explore some of the features this lovely Hunter Valley wedding venue had to offer. Utilising every possible attribute of the property, we included the home, the cellar, the stables and a beautiful wall of greenery in the photos. Knowing that we were most likely going to get a sunset, we decided to leave a little photographic energy in the tank for some quality sunset photos.

The Reception

By this point, it was time for the couple to make their entrance into the reception as husband and wife. They also needed to enjoy some quality cocktail time with their guests. Before dinner was on the table, Ash and Andrew seized a small window to duck out for some sunset photos. Because of its elevation, having a Wallalong House wedding means you stand a great chance of getting a beautiful sunset. It was absolutely magical watching these two dance as the golden light spilt across the paddocks.

Once all the formalities of the evening were complete it was time for Ash and Andrew to let their hair down and enjoy the remainder of the evening. It’s always fun photographing everyone this time of night. I love when everyone hits the dance floor and loosens up a little. The day most definitely lived up to and exceeded all expectations. But before parting ways, we decided to finish the night off with one final image beneath the towering fig trees.