A Midweek Lodge Jamberoo Wedding 

A Lodge Jamberoo wedding is rarely just a single day, and Lynsey & Jamie’s was no exception. Their wedding took place on a Wednesday in winter, with guests arriving the day before and staying until the following day. It meant a relaxed dinner and a few drinks together the night before, followed by a wedding day where nobody had to worry about getting home afterwards. Instead of one big day, the whole celebration became a proper three-day experience.

As a Southern Highlands Wedding Photographer, I arrived early to explore the grounds, watch how the light moved through the property and work out a rough plan for the afternoon. The Lodge sits low in the valley, surrounded by a dense canopy of trees, so catching a traditional sunset behind the couple was always going to be tad difficult. But what the venue lacks in open sky, though, it more than makes up for with the beautiful dappled light filtering through the trees.

The Ceremony and a Very Good Joke About Rings

The ceremony location is beautifully positioned, with the surrounding trees providing a natural backdrop and the tiered seating ensuring everyone has a clear view. Their dog, Dagger, had the important job of delivering the rings. Once the rings were delivered by Dagger, they were passed around for the guests to hold and bless. Once they’d made their way around the room, their friend and stand-in celebrant asked whether everyone had “finished fingering the rings” and could please pass them back to the front. It landed exactly as intended. Everyone was laughing, including Lynsey and Jamie, who had absolutely no idea it was coming.

Chasing the Light for Portraits

We headed straight into portraits after the ceremony, starting with Lynsey and Jamie so we could make the most of the afternoon light. We began around the pool, where the timber decking and blue-and-white umbrellas gave the photographs an almost European feel. From there, we wandered through the gardens to a clearing beneath the trees that I’d noticed earlier in the day. It looked like our best chance of catching the last of the afternoon light before the sun set behind the surrounding hills. We missed the sun by a matter of minutes, but it didn’t really matter. Some of my favourite photographs from the day came from that spot.

We finished with the bridal party outside Finn’s Bar, using the token mini truck and Aperol Spritz-inspired umbrellas as a colourful backdrop and a fun change from the natural surroundings we’d been photographing in earlier.

A Reception Room fit for a Lodge Jamberoo wedding

The reception room looked amazing considering no professionals were used to help with styling. Tables filled the room without crowding it, leaving plenty of space for dancing even with a live band set up. Lynsey & Jamie had 68 guests in the room on the day and The Lodge’s wedding hall can comfortably hold up to 200 for a seated reception, so there was plenty of room to spare but not too much that it felt empty. Their tables were arranged in straight rows, which happens to be my preferred layout. Shooting straight down a row of tables with a shallow depth of field almost always produces great results. The white ceilings were the real win from a photography standpoint as bounced flash from a white ceiling always provides a soft and diffused light which keeps skin tones natural and makes everyone look their best. It’s a small detail most couples wouldn’t think about when selecting a venue, but it makes a real difference to the quality of the photos.

A Quiet Moment to Finish the Night

We finished with a few portraits of just Lynsey and Jamie in Finn’s Bar and lounge. It gave us something completely different visually and, more importantly, gave them a few quiet minutes together away from their guests before returning to the party. Finn’s is one of my favourite parts of The Lodge. The styling is colourful, slightly eccentric and full of personality, which gives you plenty to work with photographically. And that’s really what makes The Lodge Jamberoo such a great wedding venue. Between the pool, gardens, creek, towering trees, Finn’s Bar and even the tennis court, there are so many different environments to work with that the photographs never have to feel repetitive.

If you’re planning a wedding at The Lodge Jamberoo, or another South Coast wedding venue, I’d love to hear from you.

Scroll through the images below to see how Lynsey & Jamie’s day unfolded.