Cedar Creek Lodges Wedding Photos
Rainforest lodges beside Cedar Creek, a tiered amphitheatre under the canopy, and a lawn for the drinks.
Cedar Creek Lodges is the accommodation side of Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain, a rainforest plateau in the Gold Coast hinterland about 70 km south of Brisbane. The property, which now trades as Tamborine Mountain Glades, was established in 1999 and covers around 114 hectares of subtropical rainforest with Cedar Creek running through it. Accommodation runs from self-contained creekside lodges and hillside rooms to glamping tents and the Vista Suites, with a restaurant and a bathhouse on site.
Weddings here use the Rainforest Amphitheatre, a covered, tiered ceremony space under the canopy seating around 80, or The Circles, an open-air setting for smaller groups, with receptions in the Island Glade, The Sanctuary or the Miner’s Lantern. Bec got ready in one of the lodges here before her wedding with Liam at Albert River Wines, elsewhere on the mountain, and that is the Veri gallery below.
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 Cedar Creek Lodges
Lodge rooms under rainforest are dim and green, so I bring the bride to a verandah or a doorway for the dress and rely on the creek for the wider frames. The lawn bar along Cedar Creek is the natural spot for a group photo after a ceremony here, and the covered amphitheatre takes rain in its stride. The gallery below is Bec and Liam’s wedding, which began in a lodge here.