Dryridge Estate wedding photos: Claire and Brayden hold hands between the vine rows, looking back with sandstone cliffs and valley beyond, Blue Mountains
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Real wedding · Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains

Dryridge Estate Wedding Photos: Claire & Brayden

Dryridge Estate · Megalong Valley NSW · Sydney

Mountain Wedding · Winery & Vineyard Wedding · Region: NSW - Blue Mountains · City: Sydney · Venue: Dryridge Estate

Beers along a timber rail above the vines, sage satin in a glassed-in veranda, and a hug from her dad at the end of a gravel aisle under old gums. Claire and Brayden’s Dryridge Estate wedding in the Megalong Valley kept everyone on one Blue Mountains vineyard ridge, with sandstone escarpments behind every vow and a clear marquee set for the reception. We were there for the laughs, the family groups and a slow walk through the vines.

The gallery
Dryridge Estate in the Megalong Valley, with vine rows, a small dam and gums below the sandstone escarpment of the Blue Mountains
Brayden and his three groomsmen in grey jackets stand among the vines, mountain ridges rising behind them
Brayden in a dark green jacket and glasses gazes along the winery's vine rows towards the green hills
Brayden adjusts his cuff beside the grapevines, the sandstone mountain escarpment and green valley behind him
Brayden stands with a hand in his pocket beside a row of vines at Dryridge, the Blue Mountains rising behind
Brayden and a bearded groomsman in grey stand arm in arm between the vines under big white clouds
Brayden and his bearded groomsman grin at the camera among the grapevines of the mountain vineyard
Brayden and a young groomsman stand by an old timber rail fence in front of the vines at Dryridge Estate
Brayden and his groomsmen chat with beers in hand beside a timber rail above the Blue Mountains vineyard
The groomsmen clink beer bottles with Brayden beside the rail, a big gum and vine rows behind them
Brayden crouches with a beer and a thumbs up as his groomsmen lean on the timber rail at Dryridge Estate in the Blue Mountains
Brayden and a bearded groomsman share a laugh over beers under the timber pergola
Brayden laughs as a groomsman in grey raises a beer bottle beside him under the timber pergola
Brayden in dark sunglasses stands beside his reflection in a glass door at Dryridge Estate
In black and white, Brayden in sunglasses and a dark jacket poses beside his reflection in the glass
Claire in her lace gown smiles with a loved one in a blue and white print dress in the glassed veranda
A loved one in a blue and white print dress kisses Claire's cheek in the veranda at Dryridge Estate, Megalong Valley
Bridesmaids in sage satin help Claire with her veil and lace gown on the timber floor of the veranda
Three bridesmaids in sage satin gasp and smile as one films on her phone by the veranda windows
A bridesmaid in sage satin fans out Claire's train on the lawn beside a shrub covered in red flowers
Claire laughs down at her bridesmaids as they kneel to spread her tulle train across the garden lawn
Claire and her bridesmaids hug with their backs to the camera, gazing at the Blue Mountains escarpment
Claire's bridesmaids throw their arms in the air beside her among the roses and gums of Dryridge Estate
Claire and the loved one in blue smile together on the lawn with the sandstone cliffs of the Blue Mountains behind
Claire stands with her dad and the loved one in blue by the rose garden, the mountain escarpment lining the horizon
Her dad in a light blue jacket beams beside the loved one in blue as Claire turns towards them
Claire and her dad pose by the rose garden at Dryridge Estate in the Blue Mountains, sandstone cliffs behind
Her dad smiles down at Claire as they hug in front of the winery's vine rows and the distant ranges
Claire leans into a hug from the loved one in blue beside pink roses at Dryridge Estate, mountain cliffs across the valley
Claire lifts her tulle skirt under a timber arbour with peach and cream flowers at the homestead door
Claire smiles with her peach, orange and cream bouquet on the grassy slope below the winery's vines at Dryridge
Claire looks down at her bouquet above a fenced vineyard, the Blue Mountains cliffs spread across the skyline
Claire glances back over her shoulder, her lace train spilling across the grass beside the vine rows
Claire looks back with a smile as she walks the slope at Dryridge Estate, Megalong Valley, towards the ranges
Claire turns to the side with her bouquet, her long train fanned out on a green Blue Mountains slope above the vines
Claire laughs in profile with a jewelled comb in her hair behind her orange and peach blooms
Claire and a red haired bridesmaid in sage satin hold their bouquets together in front of the vineyard
Claire and a bridesmaid share a smile with their bouquets above the vineyard at Dryridge Estate, the escarpment rising beyond
Claire and a blonde bridesmaid beam at each other with their bouquets above the winding estate road
Claire and a blonde bridesmaid grin over their peach and white bouquets in front of mountain cliffs and a dam
A blonde bridesmaid rests her chin on Claire's shoulder as they laugh beside a tall white gum
A dark haired bridesmaid strokes Claire's hair as they smile above the green hills of Dryridge Estate in the Blue Mountains
Claire and a dark haired bridesmaid stand together with their bouquets on the grass in front of the winery's vine rows
Claire and her bridesmaids raise their bouquets in a cheer above the vines at Dryridge Estate
Claire and her bridesmaids dance across the lawn under tall gums, the clear marquee waiting behind them
Claire holds a glass of bubbles by the veranda windows at Dryridge Estate in the Megalong Valley, her lace train on the floorboards
Claire smiles beside a veranda window looking out over the vineyard to the Blue Mountains escarpment
In black and white, Claire stands by the tall veranda windows with her long lace train fanned across the floor
Seen from behind, Claire gazes out the veranda windows at Dryridge Estate, Megalong Valley, towards the mountain cliffs
In black and white, Claire faces the veranda windows from behind, her open lace back and train on the floorboards
Claire smiles softly into the camera in the veranda, holding her orange and peach bouquet
In black and white, a close portrait of Claire in lace with her bouquet in the soft veranda light
Claire looks down and smiles at her bouquet of peach and orange blooms by the veranda window
In black and white, Claire smiles down at her flowers in the glassed veranda of the winery homestead
Claire and her bridesmaids raise glasses and giggle on the veranda cushions at Dryridge, the lawn and hills outside
Brayden hugs a guest in pale blue above the vineyard slopes and winding road of the Blue Mountains valley
A guest in pale blue kisses Brayden as they stand before the winery slopes and rolling hills
Brayden stands with a grey haired guest in a dark suit on the lawn, the Blue Mountains escarpment far behind
A grey haired guest in glasses grins as he greets Brayden in front of the grapevines
Brayden poses with a guest in a bright blue dress above the winery, its dam and vine rows below
The empty clear marquee at Dryridge Estate, long tables in white linen under festoon lights and gum branches
Guests laugh together under the big white gums of the mountain winery beside a silver caravan bar
Three bridesmaids in sage satin peek out of the homestead door in a smiling line
Brayden and his groomsmen wait at the timber arbour as guests take their seats at Dryridge Estate in the Blue Mountains
A red haired bridesmaid in sage satin walks across the lawn past the veranda and a red flowering shrub
A dark haired bridesmaid in sage satin walks past grasses and pink roses on the hillside lawn, mountain views beyond
A blonde bridesmaid in sage satin carries her bouquet across the lawn from the homestead veranda
A bridesmaid in sage satin walks the gravel aisle between white crossback chairs and standing guests
Claire and her dad set off from the homestead veranda arm in arm, both smiling, to walk her down the aisle
Claire walks towards the gravel aisle on her dad's arm under tall white gums at Dryridge Estate's mountain vineyard
Guests line the gravel aisle as Claire and her dad walk down the lawn from the homestead
Brayden and his groomsmen watch Claire arrive, the Blue Mountains hazy beyond the gum leaves
Her dad pulls Claire into a long hug at the end of the aisle as Brayden and the groomsmen look on
Brayden wipes his eye as Claire reaches him at the flower covered arbour
Three bridesmaids in sage satin hold their bouquets beside the gravel ceremony ground at Dryridge Estate, Megalong Valley
Three groomsmen in grey jackets with flower buttonholes watch the vows, the Blue Mountains escarpment in the distance
Her dad, the loved one in blue and a woman in a champagne blouse watch from the front row of white chairs
Guests in the front rows watch the ceremony beside a white gum trunk and the winery's vineyard slope
Brayden smiles at Claire as a man in a blue bow tie speaks into a microphone beside the arbour
Claire laughs and leans back holding Brayden's hands under the timber arbour at Dryridge Estate in the Blue Mountains
Guests in the second rows smile through the ceremony on white chairs, the vine rows rising behind them
Brayden reads his vows into a microphone to Claire under the branches of a gum tree
Claire's bridesmaids smile as they listen beside the gravel ceremony ground at Dryridge Estate in the Megalong Valley, gums and hills behind
Claire reads her vows into a microphone, her bridesmaids listening behind her on the lawn
Claire and Brayden kiss under the arbour at Dryridge Estate as the bridesmaids throw their bouquets up and the groomsmen clap
Claire throws her arms around Brayden's shoulders beneath the flower spray on the timber arbour
Claire and Brayden sit at a little white table with two friends after signing, a Blue Mountains peak behind
Claire punches the air beside Brayden on the gravel ceremony ground at Dryridge as the bridal party cheers
Claire holds her bouquet high as she and Brayden walk back up the aisle past cheering guests
The guests wave and cheer around Claire and Brayden above the vineyard at Dryridge Estate, sandstone cliffs on the skyline
Claire and Brayden stand with her dad and the loved one in blue at the timber arbour after the ceremony
Claire and Brayden laugh with the man in the blue bow tie in front of the flower spray on the arbour
A family group of nine gathers around Claire and Brayden on the gravel at the arbour, Blue Mountains ridges behind
Claire and Brayden pose with four friends in floral, pink and blue at the arbour above the green hills
Claire and Brayden stand with a woman in a champagne blouse and sunglasses beside the timber arbour
Claire and Brayden share a family portrait with two men in blue jackets, the Blue Mountains ridges fading behind
Claire and Brayden stand with two silver haired women at the arbour as the breeze lifts her tulle train
Claire and Brayden pose with a grey haired man in a dark suit and a woman in pale blue at Dryridge Estate, Megalong Valley
Claire and Brayden smile with a family of five at the arbour, the valley falling away to the Blue Mountains escarpment
Claire and Brayden pose with a man in a wide brimmed hat and an older couple at the arbour beside the winery
A family group of six lines up with Claire and Brayden at the Dryridge Estate arbour, paddocks and mountain ranges beyond
Claire and Brayden stand with an older couple in floral and navy at the timber arbour of the mountain vineyard
Claire and Brayden smile with a man in a striped tie and a woman in a black top with white trim at the arbour
Claire and Brayden kiss in the middle of the bridal party at the arbour on the edge of the vineyard
Claire and her bridesmaids hug and look back over their shoulders between the vines, the mountain escarpment rising behind
The bridal party lines up between two vine row posts at Dryridge Estate in the Blue Mountains, sandstone cliffs across the valley
The bridal party laughs as they stroll up the slope from the vineyard, mountain cliffs under a grey sky behind
Claire and Brayden walk away hand in hand down a grassy vine row towards the Blue Mountains escarpment
Claire and Brayden look back hand in hand between the vines at Dryridge Estate in the Megalong Valley, cliffs on the horizon
Brayden kisses Claire between the winery's vines, her bouquet resting over his shoulder
Shot through soft green vine leaves, Claire laughs as Brayden holds her close in the mountain vineyard
Brayden hugs Claire from behind on the winery slope at Dryridge Estate in the Blue Mountains, paddocks and ridges beyond
Brayden kisses Claire's hand as they walk between rows of grapevines on the hillside
Brayden kisses Claire's forehead as she smiles up close with her bouquet among the vines
Claire leads Brayden by the hand past a huge white gum as a Blue Mountains breeze catches her lace train
Brayden and Claire walk hand in hand across the grass under tall gums, a silver caravan bar behind
Claire and Brayden walk towards the camera hand in hand on a grassy rise under the gums of the Blue Mountains winery
Claire and Brayden stand together on a sunlit slope of the mountain winery below the white gums, her peach bouquet in hand
Claire and Brayden walk arm in arm across the lawn at Dryridge towards their guests and the silver caravan bar
The wedding story

Our Dryridge Estate wedding photos: beers on the vineyard rail, a hug from her dad at the arbour and a walk under the gums

Groomsmen in the vines · Getting ready in the glassed veranda · Gravel aisle under the gums · Family groups at the arbour · Vineyard and gum-tree portraits · Clear marquee reception

Read the full story

Escarpment from the vines

We started the afternoon by looking up. From the top of the vineyard at Dryridge Estate the Megalong Valley rolls away in paddocks, gums and a little dam, with the sandstone cliffs standing along the horizon under big summer clouds. Claire and Brayden had stayed on the estate the night before, so nobody was rushing anywhere. We always take a few wide frames of a place like this before the people arrive, because that view explains the whole day in one picture, and it sets the colours for everything that follows.

Beers on the timber rail

Brayden met us among the vines in a dark green jacket, then his three groomsmen turned up in sage and grey with stubbies in hand. They leant along an old timber rail fence above the rows, and one of them gave us a thumbs up before we had even asked for anything. Under the pergola there was a proper toast, and a pair of sunglasses came out for a cheeky frame we kept in black and white. Vines make a great groom backdrop: the leaves fill the frame with fresh green and hide every fence post.

Sage satin in the veranda

Claire got ready in a veranda glassed in on three sides, which meant soft light from everywhere and the valley in every window. Her bridesmaids wore sage satin, and when she came out in her lace gown they squealed, covered their mouths and held up a phone. A loved one in a blue floral dress wrapped her in a hug. Outside, in the garden, a bridesmaid knelt in the grass to fan out the train while the others threw their arms in the air beside a tree covered in red flowers.

Roses and a peach bouquet

We walked Claire through the rose garden first, where she stood with her dad and the loved one in blue, the escarpment lined up behind them. Then we took her out onto the vineyard slope alone with her bouquet of peach, orange and cream blooms. On a bright, cloudy day like this the sky works as a huge softbox, so we could shoot her facing the view without any squinting. Back in the veranda her train spread across the timber floorboards, and her bridesmaids flopped onto the cushions for a giggling group portrait.

Her dad and the gravel aisle

Guests found their white crossback chairs on a gravel ceremony ground under tall gums, with a timber arbour and a spray of flowers framing the valley. Brayden greeted a stream of loved ones and got a kiss on the cheek from a guest in pale blue. The bridesmaids peeked out of the homestead door, then walked across the lawn one by one. Claire followed on her dad’s arm, and at the end of the aisle he pulled her into a long hug while the groomsmen watched. We stood well back with a longer lens, so nothing came between that hug and the camera.

A cheer under the gums

The ceremony was full of laughter. Claire listened with a jewelled comb in her hair and Brayden could not stop smiling, while guests in the front rows laughed along with them. When they kissed, the bridesmaids threw their bouquets up and cheered, and we caught the whole arbour, the bridal party and the gums in one wide frame. They signed the register at a little white table with two friends beside them, then walked back up the aisle, Claire’s bouquet held high and guests reaching out on both sides.

Three families at the arbour

Claire and Brayden had three families to bring together, so we planned the groups as a run before the day and worked straight through them at the arbour. Small groups, big groups, grandparents, cousins and friends all stepped in and out on the gravel with the valley behind them. A list like that keeps everything moving, and it means nobody gets forgotten once the drinks start. Then the bridal party headed into the vines, and the bridesmaids wrapped themselves around Claire between the rows while the groomsmen laughed their way down the slope.

Walking the rows

For their own portraits we kept it loose, just as Claire and Brayden had asked. We sent them walking between the vines and let them talk, and Dryridge Estate wedding photos rarely need more than that. Brayden twirled Claire mid-row, they leant in close with the bouquet between them, and the escarpment sat softly in the distance behind them. We shot through the vine leaves for a few frames, which puts a green blur in the foreground and makes the picture feel like you just stumbled on them.

Under the big gums

We finished under the big white gums near the ceremony ground. Claire and Brayden held hands and walked across the grass as a breeze caught her train, and then they turned towards the party: guests gathered beside a polished silver caravan bar, and the clear marquee waited with long tables set under strings of lights. Claire and Brayden wanted to enjoy their reception without a camera in their faces, so we said goodbye as they arrived. A last frame from behind, the two of them walking towards their people, felt like the right ending.

Photographer's venue notes

Dryridge Estate, Megalong Valley: a gravel aisle under the gums and portraits down the vine rows

Read the venue notes

One ridge for the whole day

Claire and Brayden never needed a car once their day began. Brayden and his groomsmen started at the top of the vineyard, between the rows and along the old timber rail, while Claire dressed in the glassed veranda of the homestead a short stroll away. The bridesmaids stepped out of the homestead door and straight across the lawn to the gravel ceremony ground under the gums, so the aisle began almost where getting ready ended. The final portraits under the white gums ended beside the caravan bar and the clear marquee.

Bright cloud over the escarpment

The cloud cover did a lot of work for us on this afternoon. In the veranda it kept the light even, so Claire’s lace and the view through the glass held together without the windows burning out. Out on the slope she could face the cliffs straight on with her eyes wide open. By the time the bridal party walked back up from the rows, the sky over the escarpment had turned grey and the sandstone looked deeper and moodier for it.

Where we stood for Claire and Brayden

A few spots earned their place on this day. The timber rail above the vines gave the groomsmen something to lean on, and shooting along it from one end let the rail and the rows run off towards the hills. The glass door by the pergola doubled Brayden in his own reflection, a quick frame that needed nothing more than a step to the side. The rose garden put flowers in front of Claire, her dad and the loved one in blue with the cliffs on the horizon. And the arbour looked out over the valley, so every family group had ridges and paddocks behind them.

Ideas to borrow from this wedding

Pick a getting ready room with plenty of glass, like this veranda, and keep it clear of bags and clutter, because it ends up in your portraits almost as much as your gown does. Pack flat shoes for the walk from the gravel aisle down onto the grassy slopes between the vines. If you would rather enjoy your reception without a camera nearby, finish the portraits close to where your guests are gathering. Claire and Brayden ended a few steps from the caravan bar, so walking back to their people became our closing frame.

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