Dunsborough & Margaret River Wedding Photography
Vineyards, karri forest, Geographe Bay and the gums of the Ferguson Valley, a few hours south of Perth
Western Australia’s South West is the state’s favourite wedding escape. Dunsborough sits on the calm shores of Geographe Bay, 254 kilometres south of Perth, with Cape Naturaliste and Meelup Regional Park on its doorstep. Margaret River, 277 kilometres south, is the heart of a wine region that grows about three percent of Australia’s grapes yet holds more than a fifth of its premium wine market, and Vasse Felix planted the first vineyard here in 1967. Around them are surf beaches, karri forest and cellar doors, and inland behind Bunbury rise the green hills of the Ferguson Valley.
We have photographed two South West weddings here so far. Emma and Dave spent their whole day at Ferguson Valley Escape in Crooked Brook: vows under a white floral arch among the gums, a bubble exit, sunset portraits along a festoon-lit pergola and a party in the rustic shed that ended with a Just Married car under the stars. Further south, in the heart of Margaret River wine country, Natasha and Adam married among the vines at Hay Shed Hill in Wilyabrup, the winery whose first wines were made in a hay shed on the hill.
Photographing a South West WA wedding
Most South West weddings are weekend affairs, with guests driving down from Perth, so a day that stays on one property leaves more time for photos. Near Dunsborough and the capes, afternoon sun and sea breezes are strong, so we plan portraits for the last hour of light. Inland, among the vines and the gums of the Ferguson Valley, the trees give soft shade much earlier in the afternoon. Outside summer, evenings cool quickly and twilight comes early, so build a little slack into the timeline.