Gledswood Homestead & Winery wedding photos: Adele and James walk hand in hand across a wide gravel courtyard toward an old sandstone cottage, Sydney
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Real heritage wedding · Gledswood Hills, Sydney

Gledswood Homestead & Winery Wedding Photos: Adele & James

Gledswood Homestead & Winery · 900 Camden Valley Way, Gledswood Hills NSW · Sydney

Heritage & Historic Venue Wedding · Winery & Vineyard Wedding · City: Sydney · Venue: Gledswood Homestead & Winery

Groomsmen in matching basketball jerseys, clear umbrellas bobbing across a wet lawn, and a bride stepping out of a black vintage cab with proteas in her arms. Adele and James’ Gledswood Homestead & Winery wedding in Gledswood Hills, in Sydney’s Macarthur country, laughed its way through a drizzly summer afternoon. We were with them from vows under a tin roof to a veil flying over the paddocks and a reception full of dancing beneath the festoon lights, and we loved every minute.

The gallery
Adele in a lace robe checks her lace wedding gown, reflected in a round white mirror on a painted timber wall
Hair spray mists over Adele in her robe as a woman in a mauve slip dress and a man in a tuxedo laugh nearby
A man in a navy suit fastens Adele's necklace as she stands in her tiered tulle gown in a white bedroom
Adele beams in her lace and tulle gown, holding a protea bouquet beside a pink front door
Adele waves from a dark green weatherboard verandah, her ribboned bouquet in hand and tulle skirt spilling across the boards
Two bridesmaids in burgundy lift the veil over Adele as she raises her hands, laughing in her lace gown
Adele sits between her two bridesmaids in burgundy, her protea bouquet resting on layers of white tulle
Adele and a bridesmaid in burgundy raise their bouquets high with a cheer in a bright white hallway
Adele and a short-haired bridesmaid in burgundy pose with their protea bouquets beneath a woven pendant light
Adele laughs with a hand on her short-haired bridesmaid's shoulder in the white timber hallway
Adele walks arm in arm with a long-haired bridesmaid in burgundy, ribbons trailing from her bouquet
Adele stands beside a man in a navy patterned dinner jacket in the hallway, a round mirror on the wall beside them
Adele smiles up at a man in a navy patterned jacket as he looks down at her, bouquet ribbons hanging low
Novelty socks printed with a cartoon face peek out above polished black shoes on a woven rug
Three of the groom's party stand arm in arm in matching JAMES 23 basketball jerseys inside the rustic timber room
James buttons his crisp white shirt against the weathered timber walls of the Bridal Room at Gledswood Homestead
James checks his cuff in a cream jacket and burgundy paisley tie beneath the timber beams
James sits on a velvet armchair in his cream jacket and burgundy tie, smiling beside the mantel in the Gledswood Bridal Room
James laughs as two groomsmen in navy suits raise his hands in front of old bookshelves
James stands with a groomsman's arm across his shoulders beside a velvet armchair and timber bookshelves
A grinning groomsman in navy stands beside James, who smiles in his cream jacket
James and a wavy-haired groomsman in navy pose with hands in pockets on a woven rug in Gledswood's Bridal Room
James and a groomsman share a fist bump in front of shelves lined with old books
James and his groomsmen cross the wet lawn at Gledswood under clear umbrellas, historic red timber buildings and gums behind them
Two women in floral dresses smile from their seats as guests settle in for the ceremony
Guests fill timber chairs inside the open shed at historic Gledswood Homestead, one man feeding a baby beside a petal-strewn aisle
An older woman in an orange floral dress and a bearded man in a blue shirt smile from their seats before the ceremony
A smiling man holds a baby with a dummy beside a woman in a burgundy dress as guests wait for the bride
Adele steps out of a black vintage cab at the heritage vineyard estate, smiling as an umbrella is held over her
Her dad walks Adele across the lawn towards the ceremony, a historic red timber barn and tall gum trees behind
Her dad brings Adele to James beneath a draped floral arch in the corrugated iron shed of the historic homestead
A guitarist plays as Adele and James stand at the draped arch in the open timber shed at heritage-listed Gledswood Homestead & Winery
A guest in white lace wipes away a tear as the ceremony unfolds in the shed on the heritage-listed estate
Guests laugh along from their seats during the ceremony in the winery's timber shed
James smiles down as Adele reads her vows into a microphone under the tin roof at the historic estate
A row of guests applauds among scattered white petals inside Gledswood's weathered timber ceremony shed
An older loved one in a white cardigan signs the register as Adele and James lean in at the table
An older loved one in a wheelchair holds James' hand at the signing table, the historic farm buildings of Gledswood Homestead behind
Adele and James smile at each other at the heritage estate signing table, their hands resting together beside the paperwork
Bridesmaids and groomsmen gather behind Adele and James at the signing table under the shed roof, heritage brick buildings beyond
Groomsmen hold clear umbrellas over Adele and James as they walk out laughing past the historic brick walls
The whole crowd gathers under the gums on the historic homestead lawn, an older loved one in her wheelchair front and centre
Guests throw their arms in the air and cheer on the lawn at Gledswood Homestead & Winery, a heritage red timber barn behind
Adele and James stand by the black vintage cab, her long veil trailing across wet asphalt at the vineyard estate
Adele flings her bouquet high and James throws his arms wide against the black cab under the gums at the winery
Adele and James walk hand in hand along the wet winery driveway, the black cab parked behind
James kisses Adele's forehead as she sits in the open doorway of the black vintage cab
The bridesmaids and groomsmen stroll the rain-slicked vineyard estate drive with Adele and James past the black cab
Adele and James line up with their bridesmaids in burgundy and groomsmen in navy beneath the gum trees of the heritage estate
James lifts Adele for a kiss as two bridesmaids in burgundy strike a pose beside the black cab on the vineyard estate
James holds Adele across his arms as the wedding party laughs by the cab, the vineyard estate's paddocks beyond
Adele glances back over her shoulder as she and James walk the Gledswood paddock towards the dam near Camden
Adele and James stand beneath a tall gum on the historic vineyard estate grounds, her long veil spread across the grass
A breeze sends Adele's veil streaming sideways as James kisses her beside hay bales and the dam at Gledswood Homestead & Winery
Adele and James stand with the two bridesmaids in burgundy and their protea bouquets in the heritage estate's open paddock
The bridesmaids kick up their heels beside a laughing Adele and James in the paddocks of Gledswood Homestead in south-west Sydney
Adele points to herself with a pout as the groomsmen hold the bouquets in the paddock
Adele strikes a playful pose while a groomsman kicks up a leg and the boys clutch bouquets on the vineyard estate grass
A family group gathers around Adele, James and an older loved one in her wheelchair at the old green barn doors of the heritage estate
Adele throws both arms up as she and James enter the brick reception room at Gledswood Homestead & Winery, guests clapping
James spins Adele onto the dance floor of the winery reception room as guests clap along
Adele and James pose with three loved ones under festoon lights and white drapes in the historic brick reception room at Gledswood Homestead
Adele and James stand with three loved ones beneath ceiling fans, festoon lights and heritage sash windows
Adele and James smile with three guests on the dark timber floor of the Gledswood winery reception, round tables behind
Adele and James pose with a woman in an orange floral dress and a bearded man under string lights in the winery reception
Five loved ones line up with Adele and James beneath festoon lights and historic brick walls at Gledswood Homestead & Winery
Adele and James stand with a man in navy and two women in floral and burgundy under the festoon lights of the heritage reception room
Adele and James share a smile with a man in a navy patterned dinner jacket in the winery reception room
Adele and James pose with a bridesmaid in burgundy and a man in a navy patterned jacket at the historic winery reception
James gives a speech at the bridal table as two groomsmen laugh and Adele looks on against the old heritage brick walls
Adele and James embrace inside the giant steel ring at the winery cellar door of Gledswood Homestead, a warm bulb above
Adele and James kiss after dark in the steel ring beside an old wine press at the historic winery
Adele and James hold each other and smile from the centre of the lit steel ring at the Gledswood cellar door
Adele and James rest their foreheads together in the steel ring beside the winery's wine racks and a chalkboard sign
Seen from above, Adele and James walk hand in hand past a historic sandstone cottage at Gledswood Homestead & Winery
From above, Adele and James stroll beside a vine-covered heritage red timber building and a string of festoon lights
Adele and a man in a navy patterned jacket dance with a bridesmaid in burgundy below wine barrels at Gledswood Homestead
James holds Adele close as her tulle skirt swirls under hanging greenery in the winery reception
In black and white, James dips Adele for a kiss on the dance floor under draped fabric at the historic homestead
Adele hugs a bridesmaid in burgundy while James pulls a face behind them on the winery dance floor
The wedding story

Our Gledswood Homestead & Winery wedding photos: clear umbrellas, a black vintage cab and a veil flying over the paddocks

Getting ready · Vows in an open timber shed · Clear umbrellas and a big group cheer · Black cab and paddock portraits · Reception under festoon lights · Night portraits at the cellar door

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A dress in the round mirror

Our morning with Adele started in a bright white room with a round mirror on the wall, her lace gown hanging in it while she checked it over in a matching lace robe. Hair spray drifted through the light as the final touches went in, and her two bridesmaids in burgundy kept the laughs coming. White walls are a gift for getting ready: they bounce window light back onto faces like a giant reflector. Once the gown was on, a bridesmaid lifted the veil high over Adele’s head, and they both started grinning before it had even settled.

Jerseys, socks and old books

James and the groomsmen got ready in a rustic timber room lined with shelves of old books, and the mood was pure fun. First the socks came out, each pair printed with a cartoon face. Then three of them turned around, arms over each other’s shoulders, in matching basketball jerseys with JAMES and the number 23 across the back. James buttoned his white shirt by the window, pulled on a cream jacket with a burgundy tie and a dried-flower buttonhole, and finished with a fist bump with a groomsman in front of the bookshelves.

Clear umbrellas on the lawn

A light drizzle had set in, so James and his groomsmen crossed the lawn to the ceremony under clear umbrellas, the red timber buildings of the estate behind them. Clear umbrellas are our favourite wet-weather prop because they keep faces lit and keep the background visible. Then Adele pulled up in a black vintage cab, beaming through the open door with her protea bouquet and its long ribbons. Adele’s dad walked her across the grass towards the shed, the train of her ruffled gown sweeping over the wet lawn behind them.

Vows under a tin roof

The ceremony sat inside an open-sided shed of timber posts and corrugated iron, with a white draped arch and greenery at the front, a guitarist playing and white petals along the aisle. Adele read her vows into the microphone while James looked down and smiled. Open sides are a photographer’s friend on a grey day: the soft light comes in sideways and models every face, while the dark timber behind keeps the frame warm. In the chairs, a loved one wiped away a tear, and a whole row of guests clapped and laughed along.

A special guest at the table

The signing table stood at the open edge of the shed, looking out over the lawn and the old farm buildings. An older loved one in a floral dress joined Adele and James there from her wheelchair, holding James’ hand at the table, and it was one of the warmest moments of the afternoon. Then the groomsmen and bridesmaids gathered behind the couple for their turn. We moved low and to the side for the signing, so the faces, the bouquet and the country view outside all fitted into one frame.

Everyone cheering under the gums

They walked out arm in arm with the groomsmen holding clear umbrellas over the bouquet, and the drizzle did nothing to dampen anyone. Out on the lawn we lined up the whole crowd under the gum trees, arms in the air and cheering, with an older loved one in her wheelchair right in the middle. A big group shot works best in the first few minutes after the ceremony, while everyone is still together and buzzing. Then the families took their turns in front of the green barn doors.

The black cab and a flying veil

The cab made a perfect prop. Adele flung her arms wide against the black paintwork while her veil trailed across the wet asphalt, then James kissed her on the forehead at the open door. With the bridesmaids and groomsmen piled around, James scooped Adele up in his arms for a kiss while the wedding party pointed and cheered. Out in the paddock, a breeze caught her cathedral veil and sent it streaming sideways beside the hay bales, with the dam behind. Gledswood Homestead & Winery wedding photos love an open paddock and a long veil.

Arms up through the tables

The reception room had brick walls, timber beams, white drapes and strings of festoon lights over a dark timber floor. Adele threw both arms up as they came in through the clapping tables, and James spun her straight onto the dance floor. Then the families came up for groups under the lights. Mixed light like this, warm bulbs plus a little flash, keeps the brick glowing without losing faces. Later the dance floor filled, a bridesmaid in burgundy joined the twirling, and Adele pulled her into a big, happy hug.

Through the big steel ring

After dark we took Adele and James to the cellar door, where a giant steel ring frames a doorway beside an old wine press and a chalkboard sign. One warm bulb hung above them, so we placed them in the middle of the ring and let the circle do the composing. Then we climbed up high to shoot down as they walked hand in hand across the gravel courtyard past an old stone cottage, and along a lane of festoon lights beside a vine-covered red timber building. Back inside, the two of them danced close, her skirt swirling across the timber floor.

Photographer's venue notes

Gledswood Homestead & Winery, Gledswood Hills: a drizzly shed ceremony and a veil over the paddocks

Read the venue notes

How the day moved around the estate

Adele and James kept everything on the one property. James and his groomsmen dressed among the bookshelves of the Bridal Room, then crossed the lawn to the open timber shed for the vows. After the signing, the whole crowd spilled out under the gums, the black cab carried the couple a short way along the drive, and we walked out to the paddock by the dam. Dinner and dancing filled the brick reception room, and after dark we slipped out to the cellar door and the gravel courtyard for the last frames.

Working with a wet summer afternoon

The drizzle never really lifted, and honestly it suited the day. Cloud like that gives soft, even light with no squinting, and the wet lawn and driveway picked up gentle reflections around the cab. Under the tin roof we kept Adele and James facing out towards the lawn, so the grey sky lit their faces and the shed stayed dark and warm behind them. Out in the paddock the breeze lifted the cathedral veil sideways beside the hay bales. Inside, we balanced the festoon bulbs against the brick so every face stayed warm.

Our favourite spots for Adele and James

The black cab became our anchor: a prop to sit in, fling arms against and gather the bridal party around, right under the gums. The green barn doors gave the family groups a clean, colourful wall. Out in the paddock, the hay bales and the dam opened the frame right up, and the burgundy bridesmaid dresses popped against all that green. After dark, the giant steel ring at the cellar door circled the two of them under one bulb, and climbing up high above the courtyard turned the old sandstone cottage into a backdrop.

Tips if rain is in the forecast

Clear umbrellas were the winner here, so buy a handful early and hand them to the groomsmen. Ask for the big crowd photo before anyone heads off for a drink, and keep it under the trees near the shed. Plan a car or a covered prop for the first couple portraits, so you have shelter between showers and something fun to work with. And save some energy for a night walk: the cellar door and courtyard look completely different once the festoon lights come on.

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