As a Sydney wedding photographer who frequently works at The Mint in Sydney, I always look forward to returning to this stunning venue. For Andrew & Anne, there was a great sense of personality throughout the day, from the family tea ceremony in the morning through to a rather unexpected first look, beautiful portraits around The Mint and a sparkler exit to finish the night.

A Morning at The Old Clare

Their day began at The Old Clare Hotel in Chippendale. This is a great option for brides and grooms who may be looking for a decent prep space as there is plenty of room for everyone to fit, nice natural light that filters in through the windows, decor that adds interest to the back of your photos and both the internal and external areas of the building provide some great opportunities for photos as you will see below.

Before the couple got dressed in their wedding attire, Andrew and Anne held a tea ceremony with their immediate family as this is a tradition typically associated with their culture. Following the tea ceremony, the couple headed off to their separate rooms to get ready for the day their first look and the rest of the day.

Once they were ready, Anne and Andrew decided to do a first look so they could spend more time with their guests later in the day. There was just one surprise first, one of Andrew’s groomsmen had dressed up as a bride and was waiting for him instead. After a few laughs, we did the real first look with Anne. It was a much quieter moment between the two of them and a great opportunity to capture their reactions to seeing each other before the ceremony.

Because they did a first look we decided it would be a good opportunity to do some portraits with them and their bridal party around The Old Clare Hotel so their gallery had some variety between the two locations. But equally so they could enjoy more time with their guests during their canapé/cocktail hour at The Mint post-ceremony.

The Mint Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony was held in the centre courtyard on the raised lawn at The Mint, and its a setting that immediately makes an impression. Surrounded by historic sandstone walls, arches and green grass, the courtyard has an incredible sense of character while still feeling intimate. Their wedding took place in winter, so the deciduous tree that’s situated in the courtyard didn’t have any leaves but during the warmer months this bursts into life and softens the surrounding textures with its natural greenery.

Believe it or not but The Mint is Sydney’s oldest surviving public building. Originally part of Governor Macquarie’s General ‘Rum’ Hospital, the site later became the first overseas branch of the Royal Mint. Much of that history remains visible in the sandstone buildings and original architecture.

Portraits Around The Mint

After the ceremony, we made the most of the venue for some more portraits, and really, how could you not? From a photographer’s perspective, the best thing about The Mint in Sydney is that you don’t need to travel anywhere to find some beautiful backdrops, it’s all right there. The sandstone, arches, greenery and changing light throughout it’s spaces create plenty of depth and texture for the photos while the architecture doesn’t simply sit in the background, it becomes part of the photographs as you will see.

The Mint Wedding Reception

The Mint also gives couples plenty of flexibility when planning their wedding. Receptions can be held in the historic Sandstone Courtyard or on the Raised Lawn, while the Gold Melting Room provides an indoor reception space that opens directly onto the courtyard. The outdoor spaces can accommodate both long-table dining and larger cocktail-style celebrations.

For Anne and Andrew’s wedding though, the reception continued in the main room. It was here where the day gave way to the night and time began to slow down slightly. Food was served, speeches were said, drinks were drunk and laughter filled the room as the bride and groom celebrated with their family and friends.

Following some dancing and a fun-filled evening, the night finished with a sparkler exit, giving us one last opportunity to photograph Anne and Andrew surrounded by their friends and family.

Wedding Photography at The Mint in Sydney

What I liked most about photographing this Mint wedding was the combination of personality and place. The family traditions, the beautiful architecture and the celebrations gave the day plenty of memorable moments, while The Mint provided an incredible setting around them.

With its historic sandstone architecture, beautiful courtyard and flexible reception spaces, The Mint is a venue that gives you plenty to work with as a photographer. It’s elegant without feeling overly formal, historic without feeling dated, and distinctive enough that the photographs immediately feel like they belong to a particular place.

Scroll through their gallery below to see how their day played out. If you’re planning a similar Sydney wedding and like what you see, I would love to hear about it when you fill in my contact form.