Weddings At Bendooley Estate: Everything You'll Need To Know

Wedding venues in the Southern Highlands of NSW have a special place in my heart.

Many couples choose a Southern Highlands wedding due to the region’s scenic countryside. If you’re considering Bendooley Estate as your wedding venue, you’re at the right place. I am sure this guide will assist you when researching Bendooley Estate as your potential wedding venue with information about both the Book Barn and The Stables which are the two wedding venue options at Bendooley.

About Bendooley Estate

Can we have our wedding ceremony here?	Bendooley Estate has numerous ceremony locations available onsite including: In front of the old homestead. On the lawns of the homestead. By the lake. Under cover within the Lake Pavilion.
Can we have our wedding reception here?	The Berkelouw book barn is the most popular reception venue option on-site; however there is also a marquee option available for wedding receptions if that is more your style.
What kind of wedding theme or style best suits Bendooley Estate?	The book barn itself has a very sophisticated yet has a rustic look and feel to the venue. With its exposed timber beams, fireplace, book lined walls and open layout. It is the perfect space for you to add as much or as little styling as you like.
What is the address?	3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima, New South Wales, Australia (get directions) Bendooley Estate is located between Bowral and Berrima in the Southern Highlands of NSW. From Sydney, it is approximately a 90-minute drive. If you’re coming from Canberra, 2-hours.
How many guests can we have?	Up to 180 pax (seated).
How much does a wedding cost here?	Bendooley Estate has a range of options available for weddings. During peak season, minimum spend may apply. Like most premium wedding venues in Australia, you can expect to pay $200 per pax. For full package details and inclusions, it is best to contact the venue for full and up to date details.
What accommodation options are available?	Bendooley Estate is located close by to the towns of Bowral, Mittagong, Berrima and Moss Vale. There are a number of hotel, motel, B&B and Air BNB lodgings in these areas for your wedding guests. You may also choose from a number of luxury cottages on-site. Minimum stays apply.
Is there parking on-site?	Yes, there is plenty of parking available on site.

Recommended for you: Ultimate Guide To Southern Highland Wedding Venues

What/When Is The Best Season For A Bendooley Estate Wedding?

In my opinion, any season is beautiful here! Here’s why:

In the autumn you get the beautiful colours of the changing season, especially when the vines on the homestead turn bright red.
In the spring you have the new growth on the homestead as well as the spring gardens coming to life around the property.
In summer the long days are perfectly suited for the cooler climate to enjoy outdoors.
The winter time is cool and moody, but provides a cosy atmosphere for you and your guests as you party away in the warmth of the Berkelouw book barn.

Bendooley Estate Wedding Photos

Recommended for you: View Keira & Michael’s spring wedding (they held their wedding ceremony at the Lakeside Pavilion and had their reception at the Book Barn).

Why I Recommend This Venue As A Wedding Photographer

Bendooley Estate invites you in as soon as you catch a glimpse of the property from the highway. Located within the rolling hills of the highlands; it isn’t until you venture down the long drive way entrance (for the Book Barn) or wind your way through the gardens at The Stables; that you start to realise what makes this such a wonderful wedding venue.

The grounds of Bendooley Estate are incredibly well looked after. You have two Bendooley Estate wedding venues to pick from; The Book Barn and The Stables.

The Book Barn

The Book Barn is the original wedding venue at Bendooley. In my opinion has the most options for photographs on site… from gorgeous Bendooley homestead, picturesque lake, fields of long grass, vineyard long tree lined driveways and manicured gardens; there are many special spots within the property. These are all features I look to capture in wedding photos, as including the wedding location is a big part of my photography style (as you can see below).

The homestead for me is definitely one of the highlights of Bendooley Estate.

Different in each and every season, the homestead is a wonderful location to photograph throughout the wedding day.

It can be a great spot to do a first look, the bridal party photos and for some intimate bridal portraits.

I love that the front room of the homestead at Bendooley Estate is the final bridal prep room, allowing you the option to finish getting ready close to your ceremony location. It means through the lovely old doors you can also see your guests arrive.

The book barn is an amazing building and wedding reception venue (click to see a real wedding I photographed here).

It provides the perfect reception space for you and your guests. The space itself is big, allowing your guests to move freely from the outside courtyard, the bar and the reception room area.

With room to move, it’s very easy to make your way around whilst mingling with your guests. Once the formalities start, everyone has a great view of the room. I especially love a reception space where I can easily move around the room and capture all the wonderful candid moments as they unfold.

The dance floor is big, with lots of space for your favourite wedding band and/or DJ. Perfect for a first dance, but even better to get everyone onto the dance floor to dance the night away.

Lined by books and surrounded by candlelight, the Berkelouw book barn is an enchanted setting for your celebration.

The Stables

The Stables is the newest wedding venue at Bendooley and is gorgeous. Purposefully designed and built for hosting weddings, it is a much bigger space compared to the Book Barn and caters to bigger weddings and suits any wedding style. The Stables with it’s big windows looking out to the rolling hills of the highlands, it’s beautifully designed and curated gardens, two epic ceremony backdrops (The Stables itself or the garden steps) and beautiful reception space has seen it quickly become a favourite wedding venue in in Berrima.

Below are a few photos of a beautiful wedding ceremony at The Stables.

The Stables is such a beautiful space for your friends and family to enjoy also. Immediately after the ceremony is finished they can mingle and enjoy the grounds and garden until they are invited inside for the reception. It means you can effortlessly see them after your ceremony, sharing hugs and congrats on the lawns before diving into some family photos whilst the canapes and drinks service begin.

The photo locations at The Stables are also within walking distance. With a variety of options in the stunning gardens, as well as a field of long grass and a country style road. It means you can get some beautiful portraits and not be away from your guests for too long.

The reception space is big and beautiful. You can set out the tables in a variety of formats and still retain a full dance floor for everyone to enjoy. I love that you can still retain both the dance floor and the seated spaces as the party kicks into the next gear. Allowing your guests to sit and chat between getting up for a dance on the dance floor.

As you can see the interior of The Stables is very atmospheric, adding a lot of style whilst functioning as an amazing reception space.

How To Get The Most Out Of your Bendooley Estate wedding

Every season is beautiful down in the southern highlands. To me, personally, autumn is extra special. The amazing colours you can get definitely make up for any cold snaps you might have on your wedding day!
It can often be cool in the highlands, even in the summer time. When planning your outfits make sure you have something warmer to wear over the top (especially for the wedding party).
There are lots of church options for religious wedding ceremonies in the highlands (I’ve made a list of the best ones here). You can still have your wedding reception at the Book Barn or The Stables and opt for a religious ceremony off-site.
The best time of the day for wedding photography is as the sun starts to set. Therefore, talk with your wedding planner and wedding photographer to discuss timings before you lock them in.
There are a number of amazing accommodation options available on site at Bendooley Estate that is an added bonus when planning a wedding here. They do however book out early so it is best to get your reservation in as soon as you can.
There may be lots of parking available at Bendooley Estate. But who wants all their guests driving to the wedding? There are many bus services in the area that can pickup/drop off your guests. This is a great way to make sure everyone enjoys the party (and enjoys responsibly).

Similar Wedding Venues You May Want to Consider

The Southern Highlands has many of wonderful wedding venues and during peak wedding season, popular wedding venues such as Bendooley Estate book out well in advance. For this reason, I have put together reviews (similar to this) of Southern Highlands wedding venues that are similar to Bendooley Estate:

Hi, I’m Jack Of Jack Chauvel Photography

As you can tell, I’m a big fan of weddings in the Southern Highlands area. If you are thinking of hosting your wedding at Bendooley Estate, I think we’ll be a pretty good fit for each other.

BONUS BENDOOLEY ESTATE PHOTOS

I love shooting at Bendooley Estate and sneaking out for a night photo can create some spectacular results at both the Book Barn and The Stables. Below are two photos from a wedding at both venues; captured during the reception and creating something special for my clients.

Bendooley Estate Wedding