ATHOL HALL, SYDNEY · 26 SEPTEMBER 2026
Claudia and Sam
at Athol Hall
White florals and black tie by Sydney Harbour
Claudia and Sam married at Athol Hall on 26 September 2026, with a ceremony on the lawn overlooking Sydney Harbour. They chose black tie, white flowers and a simple palette that worked with the gardens and the hall. The formality of the clothes never made the day feel stiff; the afternoon was full of conversation, drinks and people pleased to be together.
01
White flowers and black tie
Bloom Boss’s white flowers followed the ceremony aisle in low arrangements, with trailing greenery against the lawn. Keeping the flowers low left the trees and harbour visible and gave guests an open view of the ceremony.
Claudia wore an Ingrid Olić gown with a draped, off-the-shoulder neckline, fitted sleeves and a long veil. Sam’s black tuxedo and the bridesmaids’ black dresses gave the group a consistent look without drawing attention away from the couple. With colour kept simple, the fabric, flowers and surrounding greenery were particularly noticeable.
02
The ceremony at Athol Hall
Eliza McAllister led the ceremony on the lawn, with guests seated on either side of the flower-lined aisle. The established trees gave the setting shade and a sense of enclosure, with the harbour beyond.
There was enough space around Claudia and Sam for the ceremony to remain visible from several angles. That mattered to us because the guests’ responses were as much a part of the occasion as the vows. We could photograph the couple closely and also show the people gathered around them.
03
Drinks on the lawn
After the ceremony, everyone stayed outside for drinks. A saxophonist played as guests caught up in groups across the lawn, and Claudia and Sam moved among them.
This part of the day showed how comfortably the formal styling fitted the celebration. People were dressed for black tie, but they were also laughing, putting on sunglasses and greeting friends. We wanted the photographs to keep that ease, rather than make the afternoon seem more formal than it was.
04
Portraits beside Sydney Harbour
For the couple’s portraits, the water and city skyline gave us a different setting from the garden. The warm light and open space suited the simplicity of Claudia’s gown and Sam’s tuxedo.
We used the shoreline and harbour as part of the composition, with direction where it helped the portrait. The resulting photographs have a more deliberate structure than the guest photographs on the lawn, while keeping the same closeness between Claudia and Sam.
05
Dinner and dancing in the hall
The reception moved inside Athol Hall, where the tall windows, white walls and overhead lights provided the setting for dinner. From this point, much of our attention was on the conversations and reactions around the tables.
As the evening moved onto the dance floor, guests of different generations joined in. Those photographs are a lively counterpoint to the quieter harbour portraits and show another side of the same wedding.
06
Our approach to photographing the day
For Claudia and Sam, we wanted to give the setting and styling proper attention while staying alert to the people. The clothing, flowers and harbour helped shape the portraits; the ceremony and reception needed us to watch and respond as things happened.
The finished gallery includes both. Carefully composed portraits sit alongside photographs of friends greeting one another, guests listening and people dancing. Together, they give a fuller account of the day than either approach would on its own.
