Timeless Wedding Elegance in the Blue Mountains

From time to time over the years I've been fortunate enough to do a handful of weddings in the RAAF base at Glenbrook – usually the general public can’t get a look-in there – the views down to the city are stunning and the officers’ mess is steeped in timeless elegance and tradition. But you have to work in Defense to use the facilities: yes, I am talking men (and women) in uniform. Actually I've conducted a lot of weddings of men in uniform – one a Canadian Mountie – his wife-to-be asked me if I'd mind him wearing the full regalia! Really? Did I mind ???

Anyway then I moved up the Blue Mountains to venues in Leura – places like Leuralla with its stone amphitheatre on the edge of the valley and the Everglades Gardens so beautifully crafted around the historic Sorensen home… such an elegant venue with a choice of manicured lawn and garden areas. These places are really a world away, and so private for a wedding.

I've been conducting weddings steadily at Lilianfels in Katoomba for 20 years: it is an amazing luxury property with the feel of a guest house, so personal is the attention of the staff – especially if you are celebrating your wedding there! The usual venue is the Oak Garden – a triangular shaped hedged English garden – again so private and stylish.

And then if you cross the road there is Echoes – a boutique hotel with a stunning valley view… I've conducted many weddings there too, where couples can book out the whole property with their accommodation and settle back to be wined and dined in its fabulous restaurant! So many options… but if you really want your own space, next time I can talk about private guest houses…