Imperial Hotel Clifton Wedding Photography
315 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Clifton NSW 2515
What you need to know about getting married at this stunning Coal Coast venue.
Where to stay near the Clifton Imperial Hotel?
The Coal Coast is home to a stretch of coastline where the beautiful escarpment hugs the ocean in a tight embrace, leaving a sliver of habitable earth that enterprising folk have built a range of stunning houses into. This also means it is home, thanks to yet another enterprising gentleman by the name of Brian Chesky, to a range of beautiful AirBNBs that are perfect for getting ready for a wedding at The Imperial Hotel.
The Terrace – Scarborough (5 mins to The Imperial)
Scarborough Beach Cottage – Scarborough (5 mins to The Imperial)
Sea Cliff Escape – Coalcliff (5 mins to The Imperial)
Scarborough Art Flat – Scarborough (5 mins to The Imperial)
The Glass House – Stanwell Park (7 mins to The Imperial)
When looking at places to get ready, try to ensure there’s plenty of window light available, that it isn’t too far from The Imperial Hotel and that there’s room for everyone you need.
CEREMONIES
Although I believe there are plans in the works to change this, The Imperial Hotel doesn’t currently offer ceremonies on site. But while they don’t offer a ceremony space within the venue itself, there are a tonne of amazing options nearby. Stanwell Park has options for beach ceremonies, as does Coalcliff Beach (my favourite beach to photograph on!).
For small, intimate ceremonies, Wodi Wodi features a hidden gem at the start of the trail (but be warned, there’s still a bit of a walk so keep your setup simple), and for a wet weather option (or just something cute and indoors), the Clifton School of Arts is perfect and is essentially directly across the road.
Reception Space
The Coal Coast, Illawarra, Northern Suburbs of Wollongong – whatever you want to call it, it has been absolutely crying out for a venue of this calibre. The Imperial Hotel had been sat abandoned since the early 2000’s after being a popular public bar for local miners for nearly 100 years but is now amazingly restored.
The best thing about a Clifton Imperial Hotel wedding is how perfectly the venue embraces this enormous ocean views. Almost floor to ceiling windows not only look amazing, but they bring in absolutely perfect window light.
The food and service are of the highest possible standard and with the dark wood, moody lighting and beautiful interior design, it feels very lux throughout. It’s the perfect space for anywhere between 40 and 110 guests.
Photography at The Clifton Imperial Hotel
I love this part of the coast. The escarpment hugging into the ocean gives us all these beautiful small, secluded beaches that are perfect for photographs and are all a 5 minute drive or less from The Imperial.
Away from the beach is the Wodi Wodi track and other little paths through the woodlands on the escarpment, but be warned – these aren’t easy when kitted out in a suit or dress! There’s also a beautiful headland clearing a little further south at Austinmer that has gorgeous views both south and north along the water.
Back at The Imperial, there is a bottom level with steps leading to a small grassed area for something close and quick, and also throughout the gorgeous interior there’s plenty of cute spots to sip some of the delish champagne and look fancy.
The reception space has, during daylight hours, stunning light filtering through and I high recommend using the ocean side for your table arrangements where possible. Not only are you then makign the most of those views, but you’re getting soaked in window light. I’d be placing myself on the far side looking out to the ocean to ensure I got good views and was lit nicely.
Although I love just some roaming speeches, with the L shaped room it can make it difficult so I recommend, photographically speaking, placing the speaker in the south ocean corner. That way you’ll always be in view of them. And as is always my advice, make sure you stay sat together and enjoy the memories people bring up together – it makes for the cutest photographs.
