Kiama Anglican Church wedding photos: Rachel and Jacob stand at the open door of a vintage car beneath Norfolk pines at sunset in Kiama
Home/Weddings/Kiama Anglican Church, Kiama
Real wedding · Kiama, Sydney

Kiama Anglican Church Wedding Photos: Rachel & Jacob

Kiama Anglican Church · 1 Terralong St, Kiama NSW · Sydney

Church & Cathedral Wedding · City: Sydney · Venues: Kiama Anglican Church · Ravensthorpe

Stained glass behind the altar, a forehead kiss that set the front pews clapping, then a vintage car parked under the Norfolk pines at Blowhole Point with the Pacific behind it. Rachel and Jacob’s wedding at Kiama Anglican Church, the little white church on the hill in Kiama, rolled on to Ravensthorpe in Albion Park for sunset portraits beside a fairy lit tree, happy tears through the speeches and a first dance under festoon lights. We loved every minute.

The gallery
Four friends in blush, white lace and black robes laugh on the couch at home, making finger hearts beneath a paned mirror.
A loved one in a navy velvet jacket fastens Jacob's shirt cuff on the landing as he looks down at his wrist.
Two wedding rings rest on a blue glass fragrance bottle between white rose boutonnieres in Jacob's gift box.
A groomsman straightens Jacob's black bow tie by white plantation shutters while two more groomsmen grin beside the dresser.
Through a half open door, Rachel stands in her lace sleeved gown by the shutters as a bridesmaid in rust helps at her side.
A loved one in blue and a bridesmaid in rust satin fasten Rachel's long lace sleeves as she smiles by the window.
Seen through the doorway, Rachel holds hands with a loved one in blue beside a dresser topped with her white bouquet.
Jacob fixes his cufflinks by the window, soft light falling through the white plantation shutters.
Rachel puts in a drop earring, her face framed in a round white mirror, seen from behind her shoulder.
A loved one in blue fastens the clasp of Rachel's necklace, smiling, against bright window shutters.
Jacob laughs arm in arm with three groomsmen in crisp white shirts and black bow ties.
A groomsman eases the black tuxedo jacket onto Jacob's shoulders as Jacob clasps his hands.
A curly haired groomsman grins over Jacob's shoulder, both hands resting on his tuxedo jacket.
Jacob stands in his black tuxedo and bow tie by the white shutters, hands in his pockets, looking into the camera.
Rachel sits in a wicker armchair gazing down at her bouquet of blush roses, white blooms and baby's breath.
A little one rests her head in Rachel's lap, holding pale roses, as Rachel smiles down from the wicker chair.
Rachel throws her head back laughing in the wicker armchair, a bouquet in each hand.
Rachel glances towards the window holding blush and white blooms with trailing greenery beside a black floor lamp.
Side light from the shuttered window falls across Rachel in profile as she holds her blush bouquet.
Rachel looks over her shoulder by the shutters, showing the open keyhole back and lace sleeves of her gown.
A close view of Rachel's pearl drop earring and the curve of her neck above the lace of her gown.
Rachel lowers her eyes to her bouquet of blush roses and trailing greenery, a lace sleeve in the foreground.
Rachel smiles back over her shoulder against bright white shutters, her keyhole back gown and bouquet in soft window light.
A loved one in a floral tie kisses the top of Rachel's head as she leans into him by the shutters.
Rachel lifts her long veil as bridesmaids in rust satin wait by a paned mirror behind her.
Bridesmaids in rust and dusty rose satin lift Rachel's long veil high, laughing, as she holds her bouquet.
Rachel laughs as her bridesmaids let the veil settle over her shoulders.
Rachel beams by the shutters, holding the edge of her veil in one hand and her bouquet in the other.
Rachel looks down in profile beneath the soft tulle of her veil.
Jacob waits at the front of Kiama Anglican Church beneath arched stained glass windows, a groomsman seated beside him.
Guests in the timber church pews look towards the front, a man in a grey suit and striped tie in the front row.
Her dad walks Rachel down the blue carpeted aisle of Christ Church, Kiama towards Jacob and the stained glass behind the altar.
Her dad hugs Rachel at the front of the church as the groomsmen look on smiling.
A guest in an olive jacket smiles from the church pews beside a young man in a denim shirt.
Guests watch from a timber pew beneath small stained glass windows at Christ Church at Church Point.
Rachel gazes up at Jacob during the church vows, her lace sleeves in soft window light.
A man with a red beard laughs as he opens a timber ring box at Kiama Anglican Church on the South Coast.
Jacob holds Rachel's hands and smiles as they say their vows in the church, a white rose on his lapel.
Rachel and Jacob kiss at the altar of Kiama Anglican Church as a smiling man holding an open book looks on.
Rachel and Jacob hold each other and laugh under the church's stained glass as the front pew applauds.
A guest in a blue checked suit claps and grins from the church pews.
Guests clap and cheer from the pews of Christ Church, Kiama, a woman in a floral dress laughing.
Jacob kisses Rachel's forehead at the front of the church, her eyes closed.
Rachel and Jacob laugh in their seats before the stained glass windows of Christ Church at Church Point.
Rachel signs the church register with a rose gold pen, her lace sleeve and greenery in the foreground.
The bridesmaids in rust satin and groomsmen in tuxedos line up behind the couple at the lace draped signing table in Kiama Anglican Church.
Groomsmen and loved ones rest their hands on Rachel and Jacob's shoulders at the front of the church.
Rachel and Jacob walk back down the aisle of Christ Church, Kiama under the arched timber ceiling as guests clap.
Beaming, the newlyweds come hand in hand down the church aisle past cheering guests in the pews.
Rachel and Jacob laugh together in the arched church doorway as guests file out behind them.
Guests throw white petals as Rachel and Jacob step down the front steps of Kiama Anglican Church on the South Coast.
Jacob grins and Rachel laughs among guests outside the church, tall Norfolk pines behind them.
Everyone gathers on the lawn for one big group photo with the white bell tower of Kiama Anglican Church rising behind.
Arms in the air, the whole wedding crowd cheers on the lawn in front of the little white church on the hill.
An older loved one sits in pride of place as family gather on the steps of Christ Church at Church Point.
Rachel stands on the church steps between a man in a blue tweed jacket and a woman in a red dress.
A large family group stands with Rachel and Jacob on the front steps of Christ Church, Kiama.
Seven loved ones line up with the couple on the white church steps beneath the pointed arched doorway.
Rachel and Jacob pose with a bridesmaid in rust, a man in a navy pinstripe and the loved one in velvet at Kiama Anglican Church.
The couple stand with a man in a navy pinstripe suit and a loved one in black velvet by the church door.
A family group in blue, red and tailored suits gathers around the couple outside Kiama Anglican Church on the South Coast.
The loved one in a floral tie and the loved one in blue join the couple on the church steps.
Rachel laughs with Jacob, the loved one in a floral tie and the loved one in blue outside Christ Church at Church Point.
Rachel and Jacob stand on the church steps with the loved one in a floral tie and a man in a dark suit.
Rachel and Jacob smile beside the loved one in blue outside the white church.
Rachel and Jacob pose with a bridesmaid in rust satin before the arched timber door of Christ Church, Kiama.
Rachel and Jacob smile from the tan leather back seat of a vintage car with polished timber trim.
The bridal party lines up on the grass in front of the white Kiama Lighthouse with the ocean behind.
Laughing, the bridesmaids and groomsmen stride across the headland lawn with the couple past the lighthouse.
Rachel and a bridesmaid giggle arm in arm with Jacob and two groomsmen on the breezy headland.
The bridal party stands at the railings above the dark rocks of the Kiama Blowhole, the sea beyond.
Rachel's white heels and Jacob's black shoes step across sunlit bitumen, their long shadows stretching beside them.
In black and white, the couple walk hand in hand across the bitumen as her train lifts behind her.
Rachel and Jacob walk hand in hand across the road at Blowhole Point with the water and parked cars behind.
In black and white, Jacob leads Rachel across the road by the hand, the sea flat and bright behind them.
Rachel smiles down as Jacob leads her by the hand past a white kerb, Norfolk pines soft behind.
In black and white, Rachel looks down smiling as she follows Jacob along the curved kerb.
Rachel lifts her lace train and steps onto the grass behind Jacob, the low sun glowing through the pines.
In black and white, low sun flares behind the pines as Rachel steps onto the lawn holding Jacob's hand.
Rachel looks back laughing as Jacob leads her across the road at Blowhole Point in Kiama, the water behind.
Rachel and Jacob smile at each other beside a silver and black vintage car, Norfolk pines and water behind.
In black and white, Rachel looks up at Jacob beside the vintage car with a tall pine behind them.
Rachel looks up at Jacob with a cheeky smile beside the vintage car, the ocean on the horizon.
In black and white, Jacob gazes down at Rachel by the car as she grins up at him.
Rachel rests her head on Jacob's shoulder against the vintage car, the water soft in the distance.
In black and white, Jacob closes his eyes as Rachel leans her head on his shoulder against the car.
Jacob kisses Rachel's hair beside the vintage car with the Norfolk pines and water of Blowhole Point behind.
In black and white, Jacob presses a kiss to Rachel's hair as she closes her eyes by the car.
Jacob kisses Rachel's forehead beside the vintage car as she holds her gathered train.
In black and white, a forehead kiss beside the vintage car, Rachel's eyes closed and her train gathered in her hand.
Rachel laughs and leans into Jacob's chest against the black and silver vintage car, pines behind.
Jacob holds the door as Rachel steps out of the vintage car under the Norfolk pines at Blowhole Point in Kiama.
In black and white, Rachel steps from the vintage car with her long train trailing as the sun sinks behind the pines.
Rachel smiles up at Jacob in the garden as the last light fades, fairy lights glowing softly behind.
Rachel and Jacob walk hand in hand across the lawn at Ravensthorpe Estate past a stone statue and fountain.
Jacob smiles at Rachel as they stroll across the lawn, a fairy lit tree glowing behind them.
Rachel throws her head back laughing beside a big bare tree wrapped in fairy lights at Ravensthorpe, Albion Park.
The couple walk hand in hand along a flagstone path beside a vine covered wall turning autumn red.
In black and white, Rachel glances at Jacob as they walk the flagstone path beside the vine covered wall.
Rachel looks back over her shoulder by the vine covered wall as Jacob walks ahead along the path.
Rachel laughs at Jacob under an archway at Ravensthorpe, big LOVE letters and festoon lights glowing beyond.
Jacob kisses Rachel's cheek by a whitewashed archway, her hand in his and her lace sleeves catching the light.
In black and white, Jacob kisses Rachel's cheek as she smiles, their hands joined behind her.
Jacob hugs Rachel from behind at the white iron gates of Ravensthorpe Estate, the name spelled out across them.
Rachel leans back into Jacob's arms at the white lettered gates, autumn trees and hedges behind.
Rachel and Jacob kiss under a white garden arch in front of the glowing verandah of the old house at Ravensthorpe, Albion Park.
Rachel cups Jacob's cheek as he holds her close by the white arch at dusk.
A three tier cake dressed in pale blooms and white roses waits by candlelight for the reception.
A bridesmaid in rust satin grins as she enters the Ravensthorpe reception, a groomsman cheering behind her.
A groomsman twirls a napkin over his head as he dances into the reception under the draped white ceiling.
A bridesmaid in glasses dances into the room laughing, her bouquet of blush roses swinging.
A groomsman in sunglasses and a bridesmaid in rust satin strike dance poses as they enter, the cake behind.
Rachel and Jacob walk hand in hand through cheering guests at the Ravensthorpe Estate reception.
A man in a navy check suit gives a speech beside a loved one in black velvet at the bridal table.
The couple laugh at the flower covered bridal table during a speech at Ravensthorpe on the South Coast, framed by old white iron gates.
The loved one in blue reads her speech into the microphone in front of the bridal table.
Rachel dabs away a tear at the bridal table as Jacob listens beside a tall white candlestick.
An older man in a red tie reads his speech as Rachel and Jacob smile at the bridal table.
Guests listen as the older man in a red tie speaks beside the blush flower garlands at Ravensthorpe, Albion Park.
A bridesmaid in rust satin smiles mid speech by the white iron gates and pillar candles.
Rachel, now in a sleek white dress, laughs at the bridal table during a bridesmaid's speech at Ravensthorpe.
A curly haired groomsman grins through his speech, microphone in hand and a white boutonniere on his lapel.
Jacob and Rachel crack up laughing at the bridal table as the groomsman's speech lands.
Rachel rests her chin on her hand and smiles at Jacob across the champagne bucket.
Jacob tips his head back laughing with his eyes closed while Rachel giggles beside him.
A blonde woman in black velvet with feather trim speaks into the microphone by candlelight.
Jacob gives their own speech as Rachel smiles beside him in her sleek white dress.
Rachel laughs and throws her hands out as Jacob speaks at the Ravensthorpe Estate reception.
Rachel and Jacob share a kiss after their speech as a groomsman grins from the bridal table.
Rachel and Jacob smile behind their three tier cake, pale blooms on every tier and candles glowing.
Rachel and Jacob share their first dance under festoon lights in the courtyard at Ravensthorpe on the South Coast as guests film.
Rachel laughs as Jacob twirls her close on the dance floor, fairy lights and the band's gear behind.
Rachel and Jacob finish the night in the red wallpapered hallway of the Ravensthorpe Manor House.
The wedding story

Our Kiama Anglican Church wedding photos: a forehead kiss under stained glass, a vintage car at Blowhole Point and a fairy lit tree at Ravensthorpe

Getting ready at home · Vows at Kiama Anglican Church · Groups on the church steps · Kiama Lighthouse and Blowhole Point · Sunset portraits at Ravensthorpe · Speeches and first dance at Ravensthorpe

Read the full story

Bow ties and a box of roses

Our day started at home with Jacob and his groomsmen in crisp white shirts and black bow ties, the white plantation shutters throwing soft stripes of light across the room. His gift box held the rings, resting on a glass bottle of fragrance between white rose boutonnieres, and we photographed it before anyone reached in. A loved one helped with his cuffs, a groomsman eased the jacket onto his shoulders with a grin, and Jacob fixed his cufflinks by the window. Shutters are a gift for portraits: tilt the slats and you can turn the light up or down in seconds.

Blush robes and a round mirror

In Rachel’s room the bridesmaids squeezed onto the couch in blush, white lace and black robes, making little finger hearts at us before the serious business began. A loved one in blue helped with the long lace sleeves and the clasp of Rachel’s necklace, and Rachel caught her own reflection in a round white mirror as she put in a drop earring. We shot that one from behind her shoulder, so the mirror did the framing for us. Then she sat back in a wicker chair with her bouquet and laughed, while a little one rested her head in Rachel’s lap.

Lace and a lifted veil

Before the veil went on, we turned Rachel towards the shutters. Side light from a single window is the most flattering light in any house, and it picked out every flower of lace on her sleeves and the open keyhole back of her gown. She glanced over her shoulder holding blush and white blooms with trailing greenery, and we moved in close on her earring and the curve of her neck. Then the bridesmaids, in rust and dusty rose satin, lifted the long veil high and let it settle over her, and a loved one in a floral tie came in for a hug.

Down the aisle in Kiama

At Kiama Anglican Church, Jacob waited at the front with his groomsmen, beneath tall arched windows of stained glass. We stood partway down the side so we could see both the aisle and his face. Rachel’s dad walked her in past the timber pews, her veil trailing along the blue carpet, and Jacob’s grin said everything. Guests leaned out from the pews to watch, and the rings came out to a big laugh at the front. White plastered walls bounce window light around a small church like this one, so natural light does most of the work and the stained glass keeps its colour.

A forehead kiss at the altar

The vows were close and quiet. Jacob held Rachel’s hands, slid on the ring and kissed her forehead, a tiny moment we caught from the side with the altar flowers behind them. When they kissed for real, the front pews burst into applause, and a row of guests could not stop smiling. They signed the register at a table draped in white lace, with the bridesmaids and groomsmen lined up behind them, then came back down the aisle hand in hand, beaming at the cheering pews. A church recessional moves fast, so we walk backwards ahead of the couple to meet their faces.

Groups on the white steps

Outside, the sun was bright on the white church, and Rachel and Jacob laughed together at the door as guests poured out for hugs. We gathered everyone on the lawn for one big group photo with the bell tower rising behind them, shot low and wide so the whole church fitted in the frame. Then came the family groups on the front steps, framed by the pointed arched doorway, with an older relative seated in pride of place. For Kiama Anglican Church wedding photos, those steps are our favourite tool: every row stands a little higher, so every face is seen.

Lighthouse, rocks and a vintage car

Rachel and Jacob rode on to Blowhole Point in a vintage car. The bridal party lined up in front of the white Kiama Lighthouse, then at the railings above the dark rocks of the blowhole, the bridesmaids’ satin bright against the stone. Then it was just the two of them, walking hand in hand with the water and the Norfolk pines behind, their long shadows stretching across the bitumen in one of our favourite black and white frames. Back at the car, Rachel rested her head on Jacob’s shoulder and he kissed her forehead. A classic car gives a couple somewhere to lean, which is half the battle.

Sunset at Ravensthorpe

Inland at Ravensthorpe in Albion Park, we caught the last of the sun. Rachel and Jacob walked across the lawn past a big bare tree wrapped in fairy lights, and Rachel threw her head back laughing. We followed them along a flagstone path beside an ivy covered wall, stopped at the white Ravensthorpe gates for a frame with the name in it, and finished in the garden under a white arch in front of the glowing verandah of the old house. In late autumn the light goes quickly, so we planned this set to start as soon as they arrived.

Speeches, a new dress and a first dance

The reception opened with a party: the bridesmaids and groomsmen danced their way in, one in sunglasses and one twirling a napkin over his head, and Rachel and Jacob walked through the cheering tables. A three tier cake dressed in pale flowers waited by candlelight. The speeches came one after another beside the bridal table, framed by old white iron gates and blush flowers, and Rachel dabbed away a tear. Later she changed into a sleek white dress, they gave their own speech, and their first dance under festoon lights pulled everyone to the edge of the floor. We finished in the old house’s red hallway.

Photographer's venue notes

Kiama Anglican Church, Kiama: an autumn church wedding, a lighthouse stop and sunset at Ravensthorpe

Read the venue notes

Three stops, one afternoon

Rachel and Jacob’s day moved in three stages, and each one had its own job. The church held the vows, then the family groups on the front steps and the big crowd on the lawn. The vintage car took them out to Blowhole Point for the bridal party by the white lighthouse and the railings above the rocks. Finally we followed them inland to Ravensthorpe in Albion Park, where the garden, the last light and the reception were waiting. Building the portraits around the drive kept the afternoon relaxed rather than rushed.

Late autumn light on the coast

When the guests came out of the church the sky was clear and bright, and the white walls kept every face in the family groups clean and even. By the time we reached the headland the sun had dropped towards the pines, which gave Rachel and Jacob long shadows on the bitumen and a soft flare through the branches. Autumn days end early, so at Ravensthorpe we went straight into portraits on arrival, and the fairy lit tree and the warm verandah were already glowing as dusk came on.

Spots that worked for Rachel and Jacob

The pointed arched doorway framed every family group, with an older loved one seated in front. At Blowhole Point, the black and silver car parked under the Norfolk pines with the water behind gave us quiet, close frames with plenty of room around them. At Ravensthorpe, the flagstone path beside the vine wall had turned autumn red, the white gates with the estate name across them made a lovely keepsake frame, and the garden arch before the old verandah closed the set. The red wallpapered hallway inside was a fun last stop.

Planning a coast and country day

If your church and reception are a drive apart, make the drive work for you. A stop on the headland breaks up the trip and gives you sea, sky and pines in one place. Have the bridal party travel close behind you so the lighthouse group happens quickly and nobody waits in the breeze. And in the cooler months, arrive at the reception garden ready for portraits rather than drinks, so you catch the dusk while the fairy lights come up behind you.

Keep exploring

Kiama Anglican Church weddings

Every Veri wedding at this venue

Sydney weddings

More real weddings across the city