The Connections Rhodes Wedding Photos
A waterside function room on Shoreline Drive, on the Rhodes peninsula between Brays Bay and Homebush Bay
The Connections Rhodes is a reception venue on Shoreline Drive at Rhodes, 12 km west of the Sydney CBD. Rhodes is a peninsula on the southern bank of the Parramatta River between Brays Bay and Homebush Bay; it spent most of the twentieth century as chemical and manufacturing land and has been rebuilt since 2000 as a high-rise suburb with foreshore parks, including Brays Bay Reserve and the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway that runs from there to Concord Hospital.
Veri photographed Sumaira and James’s mehndi ceremony here, the night before their wedding at the InterContinental in Double Bay: 141 images of henna, colour, music and family in a packed room, with the water outside. A mehndi is a photographer’s night, all hands and faces and detail, and the venue’s role is to hold a big crowd close together.
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 The Connections Rhodes
Pre-wedding functions here run late and indoors, so we work with a single bounced flash and fast lenses and let the decor colours do the rest. The henna itself needs macro frames early, before the dance floor fills. Arrive before dusk if possible: Shoreline Drive faces the water and the last light on the bay gives a few outdoor frames of the couple and their families before the room fills. Parking is on the street and in the towers. The gallery below is Sumaira and James’s mehndi.