_edited.jpg)
MARRIAGE CELEBRANT & MC
Southern Highlands & South Coast Wedding Venues
Since becoming a celebrant, I find myself travelling to the Southern Highlands and South Coast for weddings way more than I expected I ever would. And I'm certainly not mad about it.
The drive south from Sydney is always spectacular whether its through the autumn leaves in the highlands, or spotting whales from the shore on the South Coast. I can see why so many people are turning to the Southern Highlands & South Coast for their weddings. Everywhere you go down here is absolutely beautiful!
And then on top of that, the venues on offer there are truly on a whole other level. Some of the highest rated wedding venues in Australia (and my personal favs) are down this way. It really seems to have the highest concentration of 5 star venues in one place.
Bendooley Estate
Berrima, NSW
If you've looked into weddings in the Southern Highlands theres a good chance you've already seen or heard of Bendooley Estate.
It's one of those venues that almost feels woven into the fabric of the Southern Highlands. Between the book barn, the stables, or even lakeside with the rolling hills, every ceremony space here offers something unique, beautiful and well defined. It almost doesn't really matter which space you choose for your wedding because they all look like they belong on the cover of a magazine.
It feels grand, elegant and timeless with a perfect mix of rustic charm and modern granduer. The book barn feels warm and full of character, and the stables feel grand and effortless. The staff there are always my favourite to see and talk to and always wiling to go above and beyond for everyone and the food is exquisite.
Plus, any venue that combines weddings with books and wine is making some very solid life choices.
Pro tip: Winter weddings here are actually a vibe! The spaces are well lit with sunlight warmth during the day and heated by cozy fire at night! If you're getting married in the colder months its definitely worth checking out.
Terrara House
Terara, NSW
One of my all time favourites.
Firstly, its hard to look past Terrara House's heritage and beauty. Laid in 1860, The main house is an absolutely stunning backdrop and provides a refined elegance to your day.
The grounds themselves can accommodate up to 28 guests onsite and offer an array of spaces to host both your ceremony and reception. It truly is an unforgettable destination. First you'll be blown away by the jaw dropping driveway, then comforted by the sight of highland cows in the fields, then amazed by the mansion itself. Plus it sits beside an elegant maze garden for a more modern, elegant feel too.
The whole place has that wonderful "weekend away with all your favourite people" energy.
Pro tip: You'll really want to allow yourself a good amount of time for photos here. With so many spaces to frame as a backdrop, you'll definitely want a taste of them all.
Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat
Kangaroo Valley, NSW
Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat feels like a destination wedding without needing passports or long-haul flights. Set across private bushland with sandstone cliffs, native landscapes and incredible ceremony spaces like the Rock Cathedral, it creates a genuinely immersive wedding experience.
The rock cathedral, framed between two towering sandstone formations and soaring gums create a natural amphitheatre that feels both dramatic and intimate.
Then there's the sunset deck. I'm a sucker for a place with a view and honestly, the view from the sunset deck is unmatched. It's only a stones throw away from the rock cathedral and makes for the most incredible sunsets you've ever seen over the river-flowing valley below.
Weddings here unfold naturally across an entire weekend rather than being squeezed into a few hours. Think sunset drinks, fire pits, stars overhead and everyone staying together to create a celebration that feels personal, relaxed and deeply connected to the landscape around it.
Pro Tip: Seriously, don't pass up sunset drinks on the sunset deck. I mean it.
Wildwood Kangaroo Valley
Kangaroo Valley, NSW
Wildwood feels like you've accidentally wandered into some beautiful hidden bush paradise.
Set across 100 acres of subtropical rainforest with sandstone escarpments and some truly incredible valley views, it has that destination wedding feel while still feeling intimate and deeply connected to the landscape.
The ceremony area by the ledge provides one of the most spectacular backdrops and its raised platform and natural stone bench seating on the cliffs, makes it feel like you're actually getting married in the wilderness in your won little carved out spot, rather than a massive excavated man-made area.
What I love most about weddings here is the sense of complete immersion. Alex, Charlie and Lee-Michelle, the team that run the place do an impeccable job of making it feel intimate and warm. With exclusive use of the property, multiple ceremony locations and the kind of scenery that photographers dream about, the whole experience feels relaxed, personal and genuinely memorable.
Pro Tip: The layout for the ceremony area here is very unique. The signing table for example is closer to the reception space then it is to the ceremony space. As a result, most couples I marry here will opt to sign the official certificates AFTER the ceremony once guests are enjoying their cocktail hour as it works best for flow and logistics.
Jaspers Berry
Jaspers Brush, NSW
One of the more iconic wedding venues on the South Coast, Jaspers Berry definitely lives up to the hype! With its seemingly endless secret gardens and elegantly restored historic buildings, its a venue that literally surprises you with every turn. 'Enchanted' is the world that comes to mind when describing this place, with its classical elegance and charming high teas on the inside, and its magical courtyards and breathtaking garden scenes on the outside.
The most difficult thing about Jaspers is trying to decide which locations to use, you'll be spoilt for choice. Even if you hired a bad photographer, you would still walk away with some incredible photos from Jaspers as it impossible to not capture the magic it provides.
Then, on top of that, theres the food spread... Holy crap!
Talk about a stunning feast. The spread these guys can pout on for your canapés and dinner is worthy of its own instagram page itself.
Rosi & Sue go above and beyond to create something truly special for your day here and the effort certainly does not go unnoticed.
Pro Tip: Make sure to get good use of the swing by the giant oak tree. Photos here are next level.
Growwild Wildflower Farm
Alpine, NSW
Growwild has a really distinctive feel compared with many Southern Highlands wedding venues because it embraces the landscape around it so beautifully. Surrounded by native gardens, bushland and seasonal wildflowers, it has this wonderfully natural Australian character that feels relaxed, earthy and full of personality.
Couples who choose Growwild often want something that feels authentic and personal rather than heavily traditional, and the setting lends itself perfectly to that.
The team at Growwild are phenomenal to work with and really go above and beyond to ensure they're doing everything they can for the couples and their guests.
Plus, the wet weather option in the barn is just as stunning as the outdoor location in the garden area, so you can't really go wrong here.
Pro Tip: Winter weddings are a hit here too, as the burners get turned on, the little bonfires get lit,
Mali Brae Farm
Moss Vale, NSW
One of the more iconic wedding venues on the South Coast, Jaspers Berry definitely lives up to the hype! With its seemingly endless secret gardens and elegantly restored historic buildings, its a venue that literally surprises you with every turn. 'Enchanted' is the world that comes to mind when describing this place, with its classical elegance and charming high teas on the inside, and its magical courtyards and breathtaking garden scenes on the outside.
The most difficult thing about Jaspers is trying to decide which locations to use, you'll be spoilt for choice. Even if you hired a bad photographer, you would still walk away with some incredible photos from Jaspers as it impossible to not capture the magic it provides.
Then, on top of that, theres the food spread... Holy crap!
Talk about a stunning feast. The spread these guys can pout on for your canapés and dinner is worthy of its own instagram page itself.
Rosi & Sue go above and beyond to create something truly special for your day here and the effort certainly does not go unnoticed.
Pro Tip: Make sure to get good use of the swing by the giant oak tree. Photos here are next level.
Sylvan Glen Estate
Penrose, NSW
Growwild has a really distinctive feel compared with many Southern Highlands wedding venues because it embraces the landscape around it so beautifully. Surrounded by native gardens, bushland and seasonal wildflowers, it has this wonderfully natural Australian character that feels relaxed, earthy and full of personality.
Couples who choose Growwild often want something that feels authentic and personal rather than heavily traditional, and the setting lends itself perfectly to that.
The team at Growwild are phenomenal to work with and really go above and beyond to ensure they're doing everything they can for the couples and their guests.
Plus, the wet weather option in the barn is just as stunning as the outdoor location in the garden area, so you can't really go wrong here.
Pro Tip: Winter weddings are a hit here too, as the burners get turned on, the little bonfires get lit,
Looking in different areas?
I frequently do weddings in places like:
Sydney Metro
Southern Highlands
South Coast
Blue Mountains
Central Coast
Hunter Valley
Forster/Tuncurry
QLD, VIC and beyond.
Click below to see the other areas I service regularly and my thoughts and insider tips on some of my favourite venues in these areas.