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Illawarra, NSW

If you are looking for an idyllic location just outside of Sydney for your destination wedding, the Illawarra might tempt you with its stunning ceremony locations and exquisite reception venues catering for as little as 20 to as many as 500 guests.

Nestled between the Royal National Park in Sydney and Gerroa, the Illawarra region boasts amazing coastline dotted with luxury hotels, restaurants and bars which are just perfect for your beach wedding. It also features beautiful lakes, green valleys, lush rainforests, waterfalls, picturesque gardens and romantic vineyards. With such a diverse landscape, it offers many unique outdoor ceremony locations, so you can choose a spot that truly reflects you both as a couple, be it a cliff top with incredible views, a picturesque garden full of colourful blooms, trees and foliage or an immaculate stretch of sand you can call your own for the day.

The key areas of the Illawarra region are Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Gerringong, each boasting a range of exquisite venues. Whether you prefer an intimate wedding celebration for your closest friends and family, or a large event for a few hundred, there will be plenty of options to consider. Popular choices include function centres, boutique hotels, beach resorts, restaurants and golf clubs, but you can also find amazing historic properties that feature scenic ceremony locations and lavish reception rooms.

We suggest that you start planning your destination in the Illawarra region as early as possible in order to find an offer you will be fully satisfied with. Your first task is to thoroughly research the wedding venues available, check their prices, availability, special offers and services included in their packages. You can find plenty of great ideas online, but you should also try to attend as many bridal expos as possible. You and your groom-to-be should organise visits to the shortlisted venues during weekends and see the function rooms and ceremony spots, try the menus, enjoy the wine degustation and have fun picturing your big day! The process of selection might take some time, but you will have a lot of fun and find the location which suits your style and budget.

Once you find and book your dream venue, it is time to start thinking about decorations, cakes, entertainment, photography, video, transport and all the little details that will make your event unique and special. There are many venues that have all the important services included in their packages, but the region also offers a superb selection of wedding vendors that can help you realise your wildest wedding dreams!

Browse the Illawarra's leading wedding professionals