Merewether Surfhouse Wedding Photos
Three storeys on the sand at Merewether, ocean on three sides, and the baths below
Merewether Surfhouse stands on Henderson Parade at Merewether Beach in Newcastle, on the site of a 1937 art deco bathing pavilion wrecked in the 1989 earthquake. The new building opened in 2011: three storeys with 270-degree ocean views, a restaurant and bar on the top floor, a function floor on level two, and a kiosk and beach bar at ground level. The function space has movable walls, a private bar, a balcony over the beach and a dance floor, and takes 40 to 350 guests.
Veri photographed Rachael and Dylan’s reception here after a ceremony at the Hickson Street Lookout above the beach, where the paragliders launch. It is a Newcastle day in miniature: vows on the headland with the coast running south, portraits on the sand, then up to level two while the sun goes down behind the town.
Photographing a wedding at Merewether Surfhouse
The beach faces east, so the surf is front-lit in the morning and goes soft and pale by late afternoon, when the couple can walk the sand without squinting. The balcony on the function level is the frame for the pair against the ocean; the headland at the southern end works for a wider set. Inside, the glass lights the room until dusk, then we light the dance floor ourselves. Wind is constant, so hold the veil. The gallery above is Rachael and Dylan’s wedding.