Berry Courthouse wedding photos: Justine and Chris raise a glass on the sunlit steps beneath tall columns and the Court House sign
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Real heritage wedding · Berry, Sydney

Berry Courthouse Wedding Photos: Justine & Chris

Berry Courthouse · Berry NSW · Sydney

Heritage & Historic Venue Wedding · City: Sydney · Venue: Berry Courthouse

A champagne table at the hedge gate, vows on the slate steps of an 1890s courthouse, and a vintage caravan pouring drinks in the garden until a movie flickered onto a screen after dark. Justine and Chris’s Berry Courthouse wedding kept the whole day on one heritage block in Berry, on the NSW South Coast, and it felt like the best kind of garden party. We were there from the first toast to the last portrait under the festoon lights.

The gallery
The heritage facade of Berry Courthouse behind clipped hedges, with white chairs on the front lawn and a welcome easel at the gate
A navy welcome sign painted with pink and burgundy flowers stands on a white easel beside the hedge at the historic courthouse
Printed snapshots pegged along a line across the top of the clipped front hedge, with leafy gardens beyond
A small white signing table with a single pink rose in a bud vase, set against the tall hedges of the heritage courthouse grounds
Trailing greenery with white, pink and red roses draped over the portico railing at Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven
The old hanging Court House sign, crediting the colonial architect of this 19th-century building, against a clear blue sky
Chris arrives smiling among guests on the footpath outside Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street, beside the clipped front hedge
A blonde guest in a red floral dress wraps Chris in a hug under the leafy trees of the historic courthouse lawn
An older guest in a black and white print top greets Chris with a hand on his arm under a spreading tree
Guests mingle on the front path as the white portico of Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast rises behind the hedges
Chris holds a flute of champagne and listens in among guests gathered on the heritage lawn before the ceremony
Chris laughs with a guest in a dark green wrap dress beside the rows of white chairs below the historic portico
Guests sip champagne under the big trees on the front lawn of Berry Courthouse while Chris chats among them
Guests settle into white chairs on the heritage lawn, an older man in a striped tie beside young women in floral dresses
An older couple in sunglasses smile from their chairs with champagne in hand as the rows fill up behind them
A row of smiling guests, from a boy in a navy jumper to a girl in a floral dress, waits on the historic courthouse lawn
Chris waits alone on the slate steps beneath the Court House lettering and royal coat of arms at Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street
Seen through leaves, Chris opens his arms to the seated guests as the celebrant stands beside him on the heritage portico
Justine waits on the footpath with her dad and her maid of honour in dusty pink, both women holding coral and pink bouquets
Justine laughs up at her dad as they walk arm in arm along the footpath towards the historic courthouse gate
Her maid of honour in blush pink steps through the hedge gate past the champagne table at Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven
Bouquet held low, the maid of honour walks the front path of the heritage courthouse in a flowing blush pink gown
Justine and her dad step through the hedge gate into the historic courthouse grounds, with hills rising beyond the street
Justine smiles down at her pink bouquet as her dad walks her up the sunlit path, her veil trailing behind
Justine walks beside her dad past a timber bench on the heritage block, sunlight catching the lace of her train
Her dad walks Justine up the front path towards Chris, waiting on the historic portico steps of Berry Courthouse
Chris smiles as Justine and her dad reach the steps, with the maid of honour waiting beside the rose draped railing
Justine and Chris take each other's hands on the slate steps beneath the Court House lettering of the heritage portico
Guests stand around the lawn as Justine and Chris face each other on the steps of Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
Chris wipes his eyes as he holds Justine's hand on the steps, the royal coat of arms crowning the historic pediment above
Chris claps and Justine beams between the fluted columns, framed by the tall green doors behind them
Justine and Chris smile at each other on the slate steps between the columns of Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street
Guests watch from the white chairs in the shade of a big tree on the heritage lawn, champagne flutes in hand
The maid of honour holds both bouquets and a sheet of paper in front of the rose draped portico railing
Laughter ripples along the rows of guests on the sunny front lawn, a timber bench and clipped hedge behind them
Justine covers a laugh as Chris grins, holding hands on the steps while the celebrant reads from his folder
The celebrant speaks into his microphone as Justine and Chris hold hands on the steps of Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven
Hands joined, Justine glances up at Chris with a soft smile while the celebrant reads from his notes behind them
Justine dabs away a happy tear as Chris faces her, seen past the maid of honour's coral and peach bouquet
Justine gazes at Chris with a calm smile, a soft blur of peach and coral blooms in the foreground
Her dad sits with his arms folded beside a woman in navy lace and pearls, watching the vows intently
The front rows listen closely, her dad at the end beside a woman in navy lace, the heritage lawn filled behind them
Justine breaks into a wide smile at Chris, seen past his shoulder and the soft blur of her maid of honour's hair
A guest in a flowing pale blue gown watches with champagne in hand beside an older man in tinted glasses
Chris smiles at Justine during the vows, a coral rose on his lapel and the maid of honour holding both bouquets
Chris slides the ring onto Justine's finger in a slice of afternoon light across the historic portico
Justine and Chris both burst out laughing as he works the ring onto her finger in the sunlit portico
Afternoon sun lights the full facade of Berry Courthouse as Justine and Chris exchange rings before rows of seated guests
Chris reads his vows into a microphone and Justine throws her head back laughing between the fluted columns
Justine listens with her hands clasped as Chris reads his vows from a folded page on the heritage slate steps
A guest in pale blue wipes away a tear, her champagne glass still held in her other hand
Justine slides the ring onto Chris's finger by the tall green doors of Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
Chris laughs as he admires his new ring, Justine smiling beside him in the bright light of the portico
Her dad watches from the front row with a peach rose on his lapel, a guest in navy lace and pearls beside him
A girl with a braided crown and a rose print dress watches from the rows beside a bearded guest in a navy blazer
A guest in red lace holds a little girl in a cream tulle dress on her lap, both watching the ceremony
Justine reads her vows into the microphone from her phone as Chris grins on the steps of Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street
Holding both bouquets, the maid of honour watches the vows with a tall hedge and a red brick roof behind her
Justine and Chris share their first kiss on the steps of Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven as guests clap from their chairs
Justine and Chris hug tightly on the slate steps under the Court House lettering of the historic facade
Smiling guests fill the front rows, the guest in pale blue holding her champagne flute in her lap
Her dad grins from the end of the front row as the guests beneath the big trees of the historic courthouse grounds smile along
Justine signs the register at a little white table beside the portico of Berry Courthouse, Chris watching closely
Chris signs the register in bright sun as Justine rests her hand on the table, a single pink rose in the foreground
The maid of honour leans in to sign as a witness while Chris and Justine wait beside the bouquets
A second witness in a pale blue shirt leans over the register as Chris grins and Justine laughs beside the pink and coral bouquets
Their hands and new rings rest above the signed certificate on the white signing table, pink blooms blurred in front
Justine and Chris kiss at the signing table between tall clipped hedges beside Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
Justine and Chris sit at the signing table with their two witnesses, the maid of honour and a bearded guest in a blue shirt
Guests along the front rows of the heritage lawn turn and smile, with hills rising beyond the hedge
Champagne in hand, Justine and Chris pause on the slate steps between the columns of the 19th-century portico
In black and white, Justine and Chris share a quiet word over champagne beneath the historic Court House lettering
In black and white, Justine laughs with a hand at her chin as Chris holds his glass on the steps of Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street
Chris bends to reach for Justine's lace train as she steadies her champagne at the foot of the steps
Guests rise from the rows with glasses raised as one woman shades her eyes against the bright afternoon sun
Guests drift onto the front path after the ceremony, the maid of honour chatting with an older guest as Justine's dad looks on
Guests grin from the back rows in sunglasses, snapshots pegged along the hedge behind them
Guests in sunglasses linger by the rows in the warm afternoon sun on the historic courthouse lawn
The rows turn towards the steps as guests at the back stand to watch and film under the trees
An older guest in sheer black sleeves raises her champagne towards the couple, a friend in a magenta floral blouse behind
A guest in a magenta floral blouse laughs out loud with her glass held high beside the tall hedge
Chris raises his glass high as he and Justine come down the steps of Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven as newlyweds
Hand in hand, Justine and Chris walk back along the heritage front path between guests raising their glasses
Justine and Chris beam as they walk away from the white facade of Berry Courthouse, guests cheering along the path
Justine and Chris stop for a champagne kiss at the end of the aisle, the historic portico framed by trees behind them
Chris vanishes into a bear hug on the front path of Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast as a little girl in tulle watches
Justine bends down laughing to greet a little girl in white while guests in red lace and navy florals look on
Chris weaves through well wishers as a bearded guest in a pale grey jacket grins with his champagne below the heritage facade
Justine laughs with a blonde guest in a red floral dress and a friend holding a fur stole near the white portico
Two older guests in black lace and a floral sequin top smile together on the path, a friend in a blush jumpsuit behind
Justine reaches for the hands of an older guest in black lace as guests chat along the historic front path behind them
Justine shares a toast with a guest in a magenta floral blouse on the front path at Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven
A young guest in a grey tweed blazer kisses Justine on the cheek, both still holding their champagne
Chris catches up with a bearded guest in a blue shirt, sunglasses pushed up on his head, as guests gather near the portico
Justine poses cheek to cheek with a friend in a red and white checked dress and glasses under the trees
Justine poses with a group of six guests under the big shade tree, a boy and a little girl in tulle standing in front
Justine and Chris stand under the big tree beside Berry Courthouse with an older guest in sunglasses and a blue striped tie
A white haired guest with a goatee raises his champagne as he poses with Justine and Chris on the shaded lawn
Justine and Chris stand with her dad and a guest in navy lace in front of the tall hedge beside the heritage courthouse
Her dad and a guest in navy lace join Justine and Chris for a family group on the lawn of Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street
Justine and Chris pose with a guest in a pleated pale blue gown and an older guest in a striped tie beside a timber bench
Chris puts an arm around a white haired guest in tinted glasses as Justine smiles beside them in front of the hedge
Her dad, the maid of honour and three more loved ones line up with Justine and Chris beneath the big tree on the lawn
Justine stands arm in arm with an older guest in black lace under the big tree at Berry Courthouse, a timber bench behind
Justine smiles down at the older guest in black lace, who beams at the camera under the leafy branches
The maid of honour in dusty pink and a young guest in grey tweed stand either side of the couple in the historic grounds
A guest in navy lace, the maid of honour, Justine's dad and a young guest in tweed gather around the newlyweds
A large family group lines up with Justine and Chris under the trees at Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
Justine and Chris stand with five loved ones, among them the guest in pale blue and the older guest in a striped tie
Chris wraps an arm around a guest in a black cardigan and red skirt while Justine touches her earring beside them
Justine and Chris pose with a guest in red and black and two older men under the big tree on the heritage lawn
Justine and Chris stand with their celebrant on the front path at Berry Courthouse, white chairs still lined up behind them
Hand in hand, Justine and Chris stroll a leafy footpath near the historic courthouse, her veil catching the light as she looks back at him
Justine and Chris walk hand in hand past tall pines and a fenced reserve on the streets of Berry, her bouquet held low
Justine and Chris laugh as they stride along beneath a twisting red barked tree, her bouquet swinging at her side
Justine and Chris stand close on a quiet footpath in the heritage village, the tree-lined road stretching away behind them
Chris grins at Justine as they walk arm in arm along the footpath beneath an arching canopy of trees
Justine and Chris look tiny beneath the huge old trees as they wander along one of Berry's tree-lined streets
Sun bursts through the branches of a spreading tree as Chris leads Justine along the footpath, both smiling
Chris kisses Justine's temple as she closes her eyes, her bouquet of pink blooms hanging low in the dappled light
Justine rests a hand on Chris's shoulder and gazes up at him, her pink and coral bouquet soft in the foreground
Eyes lowered, Justine looks down at her bouquet of pink ranunculus, coral roses and white blooms beside Chris's rose buttonhole
Justine and Chris kiss beneath a spreading tree in the heritage village as sunlight sparkles through the leaves around her veil
Justine and Chris walk hand in hand under an arching canopy on the streets of Berry, smiling at each other
Justine and Chris stroll towards us past a huge old tree trunk on a quiet roadside in the heritage village
Justine smiles towards Chris as he holds her hand in the soft foreground, a gnarled old trunk shading the footpath behind her
Justine and Chris face each other on the footpath before a wire fence and a stand of tall pines, white tree guards at their feet
Sunlight flares through gum branches as Justine and Chris kiss on the footpath beside a grassy reserve in the historic town
Eyes closed, Justine stands beneath her veil with a hand resting on Chris's shoulder in the late afternoon light
In black and white, Justine and Chris lean in nose to nose beneath her veil, both with eyes closed
Justine smiles softly at Chris from under the sheer veil, the afternoon light warming her face
Justine glances back over her shoulder as she and Chris walk hand in hand down one of Berry's tree-lined streets, her veil lifting
Seen from behind, Chris and Justine share a kiss on a shady lane beside a pale gum trunk, her veil drifting
Justine looks our way from Chris's embrace in a long tunnel of green trees on the streets of Berry
Holding hands, Justine and Chris walk a dappled bitumen lane of the heritage town, smiling at each other
Justine smiles at the camera while Chris looks across at her, the pair strolling hand in hand past leafy gums
Bouquet of pink roses at her hip, Justine looks back at the camera as Chris leads her up a shaded lane of the historic town
Chris stands in side profile in his navy suit and coral rose buttonhole, a tall gum trunk rising behind him
Chris strolls towards us with a hand in his pocket and a half smile, a red barked trunk beside the lane
Justine looks down at her bouquet of pink ranunculus and cream roses, her veil falling behind her in the sunlit trees
Close on Justine's bouquet of pink ranunculus, blush and cream roses, white blossom sprigs and fern held against her lace bodice
Head bowed, Justine gathers her veil over her arm as light sparkles through the shrubs beside a timber gate
Justine lifts the edge of her veil out like a wing on a quiet heritage town lane, bouquet hanging from her other hand
Justine walks towards us beneath pale gums, her veil draped over her shoulders and the bouquet held low at her side
Guests relax in wicker chairs and at high tables in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse, a vintage caravan bar under the big tree
Justine's engagement ring and the two wedding bands rest on timber among soft sprigs of olive leaves
A pink bloom in a glass bud vase, pillar candles and a glowing lantern line a long timber table in the heritage garden
A white birdcage card box stands beside a chalkboard reading Cards and Gifts on the gift table at Berry Courthouse
A vintage typewriter, heart printed gift wrap and a happily ever after lightbox crowd the gift table
Framed photos of the couple sit behind the happily ever after lightbox and an advice box on the historic courthouse gift table
A timber high table with white roses in a bud vase stands under festoon lights beside a flowering pink shrub and the welcome easel
A long grazing table of fruit stands, a pineapple and dried flowers set against the hedges at Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
Dried palm spears and pampas plumes in a glass vase tower over crackers and eggplants on the grazing table behind the heritage courthouse
A bearded guest in a cream jacket and sunglasses pushed up on his head fills his plate at the grazing table
A guest in a dusty pink dress spoons food onto her plate, wine in hand, as other guests line up along the grazing table
A guest in black throws her arms up by a giant block tower as seated guests laugh in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse
The block tower tumbles as a guest in a navy suit looks skyward laughing and the seated guests cheer along the hedge
Four guests squeeze in for a smiling photo by a timber table in the historic garden, one in pale blue off the shoulder
Chris laughs with a beer in hand as a friend in sunglasses leans on his shoulder among guests under the festoon lights
An older guest with a plate chats to friends on a garden bench at Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street, the caravan bar behind the lawn
Her dad chats with a guest in a pink floral blouse on a bench behind the 19th-century courthouse, a man in checks beside them
Children play croquet on the lawn of the historic courthouse garden, two vintage armchairs set against the clipped hedge
Justine chats with guests in red florals and dusty pink on the lawn of Berry Courthouse, the caravan bar under the old tree
Older guests talk and laugh in wicker armchairs around a white wicker table of pink blooms on the heritage lawn
A young guest in a grey jacket and an older guest in a white vest pause with drinks in front of the vintage caravan bar
Four young guests grin from their chairs against a wall of clipped hedge, two in matching checked skirts
Chris chats with a guest in sunglasses and a striped tie as friends gather on the lawn of the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse
Two smiling guests share a vintage floral sofa against a flowering pink shrub, one in a burgundy coat
A bearded guest in a pale blue check suit perches on a stool beside a friend under a flowering shrub on the historic lawn
A dark haired guest bends to hug an older man in a wicker chair as friends sit around the white wicker table
Justine laughs with a drink in hand beside Chris at a long timber table of guests at Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven
Four guests share a bench, one wrapped in a grey blanket, with a tiered fountain and a white screen in the historic courthouse grounds
Two guests in a navy leaf print dress and a blue floral dress pose arm in arm in front of a flowering shrub
A guest with blue sunglasses on his head leans in close to a friend in a cream jacket at a timber table
Chris clinks beer bottles with a bearded friend in a navy suit as a guest in olive green smiles in the 19th-century courthouse garden
Guests turn and hurry across the lawn as the speeches begin, the white rear wall of Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street rising behind
Her dad holds up a sneaker during his speech as Chris grins and Justine laughs with her glass in hand
Justine hides her face in her hand laughing as her dad speaks into the microphone and Chris eyes the gift beside the heritage hedge
Her dad presents Chris with a sneaker and its box during his speech, a white rose in a bud vase on the table
Justine and Chris stand by a wicker peacock chair as her dad reads his speech from a tablet across the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse
A bald, bearded guest in a pale grey jacket lifts his beer high in a toast as friends laugh around him by the marquee
Her dad reads his speech from a blue folder, microphone in hand, the sneaker gift boxed on the table beside a pink rose
Arm in arm on a round jute rug, Justine and Chris laugh beside a wicker peacock chair during the speeches at Berry Courthouse
Older guests listen from wicker chairs and a white wicker table beside a patio heater as others stand behind on the historic garden lawn
Guests listen from high tables beneath festoon lights and the spreading branches of the big tree in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse
A row of guests sips drinks at a high table before a flowering pink shrub, one in a pale blue suit raising his glass
Four smiling guests squeeze onto a white vintage sofa against a flowering shrub in the heritage garden, a patio heater at their side
A guest in lilac and a friend in red florals laugh along with the speeches, a girl wrapped in a patterned blanket beside them
Guests lean on high tables against the tall hedge at Berry Courthouse, a man in a checked shirt sitting with his arms folded
Seen between the newlyweds, her dad speaks into the microphone holding a blue folder beside the hedge of the 19th-century courthouse
Justine holds Chris's arm and smiles as her dad's speech goes on beneath the festoon lights of the heritage garden
Laughing, Justine reaches for Chris's hand by the peacock chair, the white rear wall of Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast beyond
Guests stand beneath the vast spreading tree strung with festoon lights, the caravan bar tucked under its branches
Guests gather by flowering shrubs to listen in the historic courthouse garden, four women seated on a patterned rug by a patio heater
Justine wipes away a tear mid laugh as Chris grins beside her and guests in lilac and navy look on
Justine wags a playful finger at Chris as he lifts his glass to her, guests watching from the lawn behind historic Berry Courthouse
A guest in a pink blazer films on his phone as friends crowd behind a garden bench to watch the speeches
Guests in lilac, navy lace and red florals watch the speeches in profile beneath a blossoming tree
A bald, bearded guest in a pale grey jacket smiles into the microphone as he starts his speech on the heritage garden path
Justine and Chris sit in wicker peacock chairs on a round rug as a guest speaks in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse
Justine covers her face laughing as Chris roars beside her in the peacock chairs, guests cracking up behind them
Justine and Chris laugh together from their wicker chairs, glasses in hand, during the speeches at Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street
Guests in a faux fur stole, a fluffy pink jacket and a pink blazer grin at the speeches in front of the marquee
Justine glances sideways at Chris with a knowing smile as he listens from his wicker peacock chair
Justine and Chris raise their glasses from the peacock chairs behind the period building, her hand pressed to her chest
The bald, bearded speaker lifts his beer mid joke in front of the tall hedge, the boxed sneaker gift on a white table
A white haired guest in a dark jacket speaks across the gravel path to Justine and Chris in their peacock chairs at Berry Courthouse
A white haired guest raises his glass and the microphone in a toast under a festoon bulb by the heritage hedge
A bearded guest in a pale blue shirt, sunglasses on his head, talks with his hands during his speech under a maple
Justine claps a hand over her mouth laughing as Chris grins and guests crack up behind them in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse
Four guests crack up laughing around a high table of drinks in the historic garden, a white rose and an orange bloom in front
Four friends on the vintage sofa throw their heads back laughing, one holding up her phone, drinks in hand
Chris shares a laugh at dusk with a bald, bearded guest and a friend in a pink blazer in the garden of Berry Courthouse
Justine chats with an older couple wrapped in a teddy print blanket and a black jacket by the white movie screen
A guest in a mauve dress turns from a timber high table towards a friend, the caravan bar glowing behind the 19th-century courthouse
Guests settle onto cushions and blankets in front of the movie screen against the hedge at Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
An older guest in a striped tie points across the path as guests in lilac and dark shirts chat beside him
Beer in hand, her dad stops by seated guests near the caravan bar as a guest in mauve listens, the heritage hedge behind
A young guest in a blue blazer and a friend in a grey halter dress cuddle up on a white wicker sofa
Chris and a friend in glasses point across the garden with matching grins, the festoon lit rear of Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven behind
The two tier white cake sits on a timber trestle table with greenery, fairy lights and a framed sign against the hedge
Close on the white cake with gold leaf patches, pink and white roses and a Mr and Mrs topper among fairy lights
A framed life is short, make it sweet print stands beside tin buckets of timber cutlery on the historic courthouse cake table
Marquee light letters spelling J and C glow beside a pink jug of roses and a bucket of timber forks
The vintage caravan bar wears a rose gold love balloon at dusk beneath the huge old tree in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse
Guests gather at high tables under festoon lights at dusk, the marquee glowing and the hills fading beyond the hedges
Guests in wicker lounges warm up by a patio heater as a black and white film plays on the screen at historic Berry Courthouse
A guest in a floral shirt raises a block in triumph over the toppled tower as a friend in a blue blazer laughs at dusk
After dark, Justine links arms with a friend in a white shirt below the lit rear wall of Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
Two children grin at a candlelit timber table behind the period building at night, the boy flashing a peace sign
Chris talks with a white haired guest in glasses by the caravan bar, its love balloon lit up in the night
Guests mingle under strings of festoon lights at blue hour among flowering shrubs and a vintage sofa behind Berry Courthouse
Justine stands laughing at the end of a long table in the marquee on the heritage lawn, a hand on her chest
Festoon lights glow through the blossom trees under a deep blue sky as guests linger on benches across the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse
Four friends in faux fur and soft knits share a high table at night in front of the glowing caravan bar
Guests talk in white wicker lounges by a patio heater after dark in the historic garden while Justine chats near the hedge
Late at night, guests gather at a table beside the movie screen as a black and white film plays at Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street
Justine chats with guests over drinks at a timber high table, festoon lit blossom trees and the marquee glowing behind her
A guest in a white shirt strikes a playful pose under the festoon lights beside the DJ speaker and a table of flowers
Two guests curl up on blankets and cushions to watch a black and white film projected onto the screen against the hedge
Justine perches on a stool beside friends at a high table in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse, the caravan bar under the big tree
A guest in glasses and a grey blazer grins as he shakes a seated friend's hand while Justine lifts her palm, laughing
Three friends in pale blue suits and a white shirt grin arm in arm beneath festoon lights in the heritage garden
Three guests laugh from white wicker lounges around a bowl of pink roses at Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast, the marquee lit behind
Two older guests in a denim jacket and a red dress with a grey wrap smile from white wicker chairs on the historic lawn
Her dad stands with four smiling guests under a lamplit tree, one in a copper leather jacket holding champagne
A guest in a fluffy pink faux fur jacket sits beside a bald friend in a blush blazer, floral shirt and white bow tie
An older guest wrapped in a checked blanket sits beside a guest in navy lace and pearls by the marquee on the heritage lawn
An older guest in a striped tie stands behind a seated guest in pale blue by the hedge at Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street
A guest wrapped in a patterned throw smiles over a takeaway cup beside a moustached man in a checked shirt at a long timber table
An older guest and a young guest wrapped in a checked blanket smile from white chairs at a candlelit table in the historic garden
Six friends pose arm in arm before the movie screen in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse, a black and white film playing behind
A guest in a khaki satin jumpsuit and a bearded guest in a navy suit pose close together on the heritage lawn at night
A blonde guest in a patterned throw and a friend in a brown zip jumper smile together at a timber table after dark
A guest in a pale blue gown stands between two older men in dark suits, the lit portico of Berry Courthouse behind them
Three older guests share a white wicker sofa by the marquee, one in a striped tee, under a bare tree in the heritage garden
A guest in a rose gold sequin dress joins three older men on the wicker sofa beneath the bare branches of a blossom tree
A guest in a tweed jacket and paisley tie strikes a playful pose by a patio heater at Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
A smiling guest in a pale grey suit holds a can beside a friend in navy lace with a striped straw, the caravan bar behind
Chris wraps an arm around a guest in a rose gold sequin dress as Justine smiles beside him against the historic rear wall
Justine and Chris pose with a guest in a dark patterned shirt and a young guest in a floral off shoulder dress
Justine and Chris stand with four young loved ones beside a stone fountain at Berry Courthouse in the Shoalhaven, the rear wall lit behind
A family group of eight stands before the marquee at night, a little girl in white tulle and a boy in sneakers in front
A guest in a cream trench coat hugs a friend in an orange patterned tie by the caravan bar in the historic garden
Chris speaks into the microphone beside Justine during their own speech in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse, the cake table glowing nearby
Justine listens with her hands clasped as Chris reads his notes under festoon lights and blossom branches in the heritage courthouse garden
The maid of honour in dusty pink and guests wrapped in throws listen outside the marquee on the historic lawn as the speech goes on
A guest in a tweed jacket grins skywards beside a patio heater as friends at high tables laugh against red leaves
Guests in wicker and peacock chairs turn to watch the speech from a rug in the garden at Berry Courthouse, the movie screen behind
Guests on a red patterned rug and white chairs listen under the festoon lit tree behind the period building, two men standing with drinks
A young guest wrapped in a patterned throw and a friend in a red floral dress raise a glass to the speech near the marquee
Guests stand on the lawn beneath the huge old tree and festoon lights to listen at Berry Courthouse, Victoria Street, the caravan bar behind
A little girl and a young guest in checked blankets watch from a timber bench beside a boy and a guest in red
Older guests settle by a patio heater as a black and white film plays on the screen behind the heritage courthouse
Guests lounge on vintage chairs around a red patterned rug beneath red leaves and festoon lights at Berry Courthouse on the NSW South Coast
Justine stands with her arms folded, smiling, as Chris gestures with his notes and the microphone on the historic garden path
Chris looks to Justine as he speaks into the microphone, the white flower topped cake glowing by the hedge
Justine bursts out laughing in the foreground as Chris grins mid speech, a rose topped cake on the table behind
Justine presses a hand to her face, overcome, as Chris reads from his card in the heritage garden
A family watches the speech from a timber bench, a little girl in a checked blanket in front, the movie screen glowing at Berry Courthouse
The maid of honour in a dusty pink gown holds a wine glass and smiles softly as she listens by a pale tree trunk
Justine and Chris share the microphone and laugh towards their guests in the historic grounds, his coral rose buttonhole close to the lens
A guest in glasses and a tweed jacket folds his arms with a proud grin beside a patio heater as friends laugh at high tables
Justine and Chris cut the two tier white cake together at the long timber table, a stone urn and the marquee behind them
Close on their joined hands guiding the knife into the cake, topped with pink and white roses and an orange bloom among fairy lights
Justine and Chris embrace after cutting the cake in the Hedged Garden at Berry Courthouse as the maid of honour watches by the marquee
Two guests in checked blankets hold glasses of wine beside friends in a polka dot shirt and a crisp white shirt under red leaves
A guest in a fur stole and teal skirt stands with a bearded friend in a pale blue blazer beneath the big tree trunk
Her dad stands with guests by the marquee as a little girl in tulle and friends on a bench watch in the historic courthouse grounds
Justine and Chris line up with four friends beneath a blossom tree, one guest barefoot in a silver dress with a tasselled bag
Justine and Chris stand with five friends in sequins, satin and florals under the blossom tree on the heritage garden path
Chris grins with a drink in hand beside a guest in a red floral dress flashing a peace sign on the lawn at night
Chris hugs three guests in a rose gold sequin dress, khaki satin and green florals, the caravan bar glowing behind
Justine perches on a stool holding hands with Chris beneath festoon lights and red leaves at Berry Courthouse
Justine and Chris smile together by a high table under a canopy of red leaves and festoon lights in the 19th-century courthouse garden
The wedding story

Our Berry Courthouse wedding photos: vows under the portico, a caravan bar in the garden and a movie under the stars

Champagne at the hedge gate · Vows on the courthouse steps · Family groups under the big tree · Portraits in Berry’s leafy streets · Garden party with a caravan bar · Movie, cake and festoon lights

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A sign from another century

Our afternoon at Berry Courthouse began out on Victoria Street under a clear spring sky. The building stands alone in the middle of its block behind clipped hedges, so we started wide, with the white portico framed by trees and a welcome easel at the gate, then looked up at the old hanging sign that still credits the architect James Barnet. Inside the hedges, white chairs faced the front steps. When a building is this symmetrical, we stand dead centre and let the path carry the eye straight to the door, then wait for people to walk into it.

Champagne at the hedge gate

Guests came through the gap in the hedge, picked up a flute from the champagne table and drifted across the lawn, and Chris was right in among them, glass in hand and a coral rose on his lapel. Nobody needed herding. The rows filled with families, kids in their best cardigans and a lot of laughing. Then the music changed and Justine’s maid of honour stepped through the gate in blush pink, bouquet held low. We like to shoot that entrance from the far end of the aisle, so the gate, the hedge and the waiting guests all sit in one frame.

Her dad and the slate steps

Justine came in on her dad’s arm, veil lifting behind her, and walked the straight path between the chairs to the courthouse steps where Chris was waiting. The ceremony happened right under the portico, which makes a natural stage: the columns frame the couple and the steps lift them just above the guests, so everyone can see. In full afternoon sun the columns threw bars of light and shade across the floor, and we used them, catching the ring going onto Justine’s finger in a slice of light. Justine laughed, then dabbed her eyes, and Chris clapped like he’d won something.

Faces in the front rows

From the side of the lawn we turned the lens on the guests. A woman in pale blue wiped away a tear with a champagne glass still in her other hand, two girls whispered and grinned along the row, and an older guest sat with his arms folded and the softest look on his face. Reactions are half the story of a ceremony, so one of us always watches the crowd while the other stays with the couple. The register sat on a little table by the steps, with the pink and coral bouquets resting beside the pen while a witness leant in to sign.

Hugs on the front path

Married, they came down the steps together and the front lawn turned into one long, happy receiving line. Glasses went up from the chairs, older guests reached out to squeeze hands, and Chris vanished into a bear hug while a little girl in a tulle dress watched from the path. Then we gathered the families on the grass under the big tree beside the courthouse. The hedges there make a clean, dark green wall behind a group, and the canopy keeps faces out of hard sun, which matters at three in the afternoon in spring when the light is still high.

Leafy streets of Berry

Berry Courthouse wedding photos don’t need a car: for portraits we simply walked out the gate. The streets around the courthouse are wide and lined with old trees, and on a weekend afternoon the footpaths are quiet enough to stand a couple in the middle of them. Justine and Chris strolled hand in hand with the light filtering through the leaves, and we drew her veil around the two of them for a close frame where the tulle softened everything at the edges. We also slowed right down for the details: her bouquet of pink ranunculus and roses, and their rings among a few olive leaves.

A caravan bar in the garden

The reception moved round to the garden behind the courthouse, set up like the best backyard party: a grazing table, a vintage caravan doing the drinks, and a ‘happily ever after’ lightbox beside framed photos and an advice box for the newlyweds. Guests settled into wicker chairs and timber benches on the lawn. For the speeches Justine and Chris sat side by side in two big peacock chairs on a round rug, which gave us the perfect angle: we could stand behind each speaker and catch the couple’s faces, Justine laughing one moment and wiping her eyes the next.

Movie night and cake

As the light went, festoon lights glowed through the big tree and the caravan lit up with a ‘love’ balloon on its side. Blankets came out, kids gathered around the candles, and a projector threw an old black and white film onto a screen against the hedge, with cushions and baskets laid out on the grass in front of it. Chris took the microphone for their own speech, and then they cut the white, flower-topped cake together. We finished with the two of them under a flowering tree strung with lights, the garden still full of their people.

Photographer's venue notes

Berry Courthouse, Berry: spring vows in portico sunshine and a caravan bar party in the Hedged Garden

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Front lawn, footpath, then the garden behind

Justine and Chris kept the whole day on and around the courthouse block, and it moved in a neat circle. Champagne waited at the hedge gate, guests sat on the front lawn and the vows happened up on the slate steps under the portico. Signing was at a little white table between the hedges, family groups gathered under the big tree beside the building, and then we slipped out the gate for portraits in Berry’s leafy streets. By the time we walked back, the Hedged Garden behind was set for a relaxed garden party.

Spring sun into a cool, clear evening

It was a clear spring afternoon with the sun high and full on the white facade, so the columns threw crisp stripes across the portico and the render glowed. We leant into that brightness for the steps and the rings, then moved family groups under the canopy where faces stayed even. Out in the streets the light filtered through old trunks and gums, softer as the afternoon stretched. Once the sun went, the air cooled fast: blankets, throws and patio heaters appeared, and the festoons in the big tree became our main light.

Where we stood for this couple

Turning back over the rows from the front, we could fit the guests, the hedge and the hills rising beyond the street into one frame, which gives the vows a real sense of place. On the walk, a twisting red barked tree and a tunnel of green gave Justine and Chris backdrops that feel nothing like the courthouse, so the gallery has variety. After dark we worked from the far side of the garden, where the lit caravan bar, the marquee and the festoon lights all line up together.

Tips for a garden party reception

Give guests something to play with. The croquet set and the giant block tower kept kids and adults busy through the afternoon, and they handed us some of the funniest candid frames of the day. Set up a cosy corner too, with rugs, cushions and vintage sofas, because people linger and laugh when they have somewhere soft to sit. And dress the cake table against the hedge with fairy lights and light up letters, as these two did, so it glows once the sky goes dark.

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