Canberra Nara Peace Park Wedding Photos
Cherry trees, a timber gate and an eight-metre pagoda on Lake Burley Griffin, a gift between sister cities.
Canberra Nara Peace Park is the Japanese section of Lennox Gardens, on Flynn Drive in Yarralumla on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin. It marks the sister-city relationship between Canberra and Nara, with a traditional wooden gate and gazebo, an eight-metre pagoda, cherry trees and Kasuga stones presented by Nara in 1997, laid out on the borrowed-landscape principle so the lake, Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie read as part of the garden. Each October it hosts the Canberra Nara Candle Festival.
Shara and Geveen came here for portraits after their ceremony at the Brassey Hotel in Barton, a few minutes away. The park gives you three settings in a short walk: the gate and pagoda for structure, the lawns under the cherries, and the lake edge with the city and the mountains behind. Lennox Gardens itself was named in 1963 when the lake was filled, and a Rotary Peace Bell was added in 2018.
How to prepare for your wedding photos (without overthinking it)
Seven small things that make a real difference on the day — learned across hundreds of weddings. None of them involve practising poses.
In motion, unposed · FR 15A1. Be yourselves — that's where the magic is
You don't need to perform or worry about what you look like. The best photos come from real moments: a glance, a laugh, a shared breath. Let go a little — we'll guide when needed, and the best unfolds naturally.
2. Build buffer time into your timeline
A little breathing room between getting ready, the ceremony and couple portraits makes all the difference. It gives us space for spontaneous shots — and gives you time to soak it all in.
3. Choose locations that feel like you
A quiet lane, an open field, a textured wall — we love meaningful or interesting spots. Trust us to find great light, but if you've got a place you love, let's work it in.
4. Consider an unplugged ceremony
Phones can distract from the emotion (and your photos). Asking guests to be fully present makes for cleaner frames and a more heartfelt atmosphere.
5. Get ready in calm, light-filled spaces
Clutter-free rooms with natural light are a photographer's dream, and calm energy in the morning sets the tone for the day. Keep the space tidy — or assign a friend to do a quick sweep before we arrive.
6. Keep a drink and snacks nearby
Especially during portraits — hydration and a little sugar go a long way in keeping energy and moods high.
7. Trust the process
We've worked at hundreds of weddings and we're here to make you look and feel amazing. Trust us with the light, the angles, the pace — we've got you.
Photographing a wedding at Canberra Nara Peace Park
Spring, when the cherry trees flower, is the obvious time, but it is busy; weekday mornings are quieter. The lake lies to the north, so an afternoon session puts the sun behind the couple with the water as a bright backdrop, and the last half hour before sunset is the best of it. The pagoda and gate hold their lines in any light. It is a public park, so keep group sizes modest and expect other visitors. Wet weather: the gazebo. The gallery below is Shara and Geveen’s wedding.