Beach wedding Pullman Bunker Bay Resort
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort is an award winning world class hotel in the Margaret River wine region. If you are considering a beach wedding in the south west, this wedding venue is a must see for a large or small beach wedding.
Bunker Bay Beach Weddings
I have photographed hundreds of beautiful beach weddings in Western Australia, however, the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean and clean white sand makes Bunker Bay one of the most spectacular beaches I have photographed.
Relaxed and stress free experience
Your wedding experience at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort will flow easily from one moment to the next without a stress or concern. You can book a number of villas for your wedding party to stay over for a couple of nights, allowing you to settle in, prepare for your wedding day and relax.
Everything is so close, the resort is just a ten minute drive to Dunsborough town if you need any supplies. The beach, bar, restaurant, pool, gym, spa and tennis courts are located within a five minute walk from your chalet. Pullman Resort even have staff with golf buggies to help you with your luggage etc.
The morning of your wedding
It must be so relaxing on the morning of your wedding, waking up at your chalet which is a short five minute walk to your ceremony. Also, your hair and makeup team will come to you, flowers will be dropped to you and photographer will arrive to capture the memories for you.
All the little one percent details like this combine to make your day more enjoyable, not having to get in a car and drive to locations for photos is favourable if you don’t want to be away from your guests for long.
Wedding guests accommodation at the resort.
The chalets are spacious and they have lovely large windows letting in beautiful natural light. This natural quality of light is incredibly flattering for skin tones, details on wedding dresses and your flowers.
They are really well secluded too, so you do not have to worry about being seen in your wedding dress by any of your guests walking by. You can book chalets together so your family and support are close.
Wedding ceremonies at Bunker Bay
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort offers different wedding ceremony options. I am going to start with the beach, because if you have always dreamt of saying “I do” with the sand between your toes, this is the part you will want to hear.
Beach Wedding Ceremonies
Bunker Bay Beach is incredible and Pullman Resort have made the experience of approaching the beach really unique to them. Boardwalks take you through a tiny section of native trees and bush which opens up to panoramic views overlooking Bunker Bay. Take it all in as you enjoy the sparkling blue ocean, vast white sands and your wedding ceremony awaiting your arrival. Pretty cool heh.
The beach is sheltered by a headland and Shelley Cove to the south which frames the coastline beautifully. At certain times of the year whales make their journey past Bunker Bay and dolphins often drop in to see whats happening.
The boardwalk gets you down to the white sands and guests often kick off their shoes and go barefoot which is really nice. Your ceremony styling can be as stripped back or as lavish as you wish and there is plenty of white sand to accommodate any numbers of guests.
Photographing weddings at Pullman Resort Bunker Bay
It’s really nice capturing the bridesmaids and bride walking down the “beach aisle” with her fiancé watching on and trying to keep hold of the emotions. Beach weddings are fantastic because you have so much space to work in where at some churches you might not have the space.
At a Bunkers Bay beach ceremony, I am able to capture the wedding guests expressions as they watch the bride approach. Emotions can run high at this moment, your loved ones have been excited about seeing you in your dress for many years and it’s nice photographing the joy on their faces for you to remember.
What an incredible backdrop to have for your wedding photographs, the beautiful colours of the Indian Ocean, the water at Bunker Bay always seems to be an incredible vibrant blue that pops in photographs. Anything that is in front of it looks incredible, so you can imagine a beautiful white wedding dress or the boys in their suits are going to look fantastic.
Techniques I use to photograph a beach wedding
I have photographed weddings at all different times of day at Pullman Resort. Late morning and afternoon weddings are common. Sometimes the time isn’t what I would consider optimum for photography but it’s a case of adapting my skills to suit the environment that I have to work in. I can position myself and choose angles that work in the light I have. I also use exposure to be creative, utilising the power of the sun on the beach to my advantage. Using subtle fill light is a really nice technique to add detail in shadow areas and create a vibrancy to the colours in the environment.
One really nice photo I love to take during your ceremony is a view from back at the boardwalk, it’s a panoramic view of the entire beach and surrounds. An environmental photograph that gives you a beautiful memory of your wedding on the beach.
Variety of photographs at a wedding ceremony keeps people interested, I can get in close to the bride and groom so there is blue ocean in the background or go super wide and get the feeling and atmosphere of how your guests viewed your ceremony.
If there is space between your bridal party and guests, I can take a wide photo of all the bridesmaids, bride, groom and groomsmen all lined up in front of your arbor and with the blue ocean and blue sky behind you. This looks amazing.
After your wedding ceremony, I often photograph your congratulations right there on Bunkers Bay Beach. This is one of my favourite moments at a wedding when people are so emotional, happy and excited. I work like a demon to photograph as many genuine natural moments between your guests as I can.
I literally have eyes in the back of my head, so I can see all the little natural moments that can be so easily missed if you are not passionate about photographing them. I believe I am at a wedding to photograph a completely unique story, so my clients can remember their wedding. Without the natural in between photos it becomes more familiar and generic.
How I photograph family groups at Bunker Bay
I also photograph all of the family groups on Bunkers Bay Beach and they look amazing with the stunning coastal backdrop. Positioning people so they are in beautiful natural light is essential, if you do not you can have ugly mixed lighting with big shadows cast over your faces. Fill light is also a nice subtle boost to colours and details in the shadows which removes wrinkles, smooths the skin and lightens darkness under the eyes.
The other wedding ceremony areas at Pullman Resort Bunker Bay are in the Garden Amphitheatre, Restaurant Terrace and Grand Foyer.
Pullman Resort Bunker Bay Amphitheatre Wedding Ceremonies.
I have photographed quite a number of ceremonies and events in the garden amphitheatre and it’s a really pretty space. The late afternoon light filters through the peppermint trees that border the western side of the garden. There is ample space on the lush green grass to accomodate large numbers and arrange seating in whatever layout and direction you prefer. Access is easy and convenient with sealed level pathways leading from chalets and the foyer at Pullman Resort.
If you have elderly guests the staff at Pullman Resort will happily assist them in their nippy golf buggies to and from your ceremony. It really could’t be easier and easy is a precious part of making your wedding day experience everything you imagined.
Styling and decor is limited only by your imagination and budget. I have seen everything from simple wedding ceremony set ups through to large luxury styled ones. I have photographed corporate events here with a large marquee and a large group of people. So, anything is possible and access for suppliers will not restrict your ideas.
Lighting is beautiful in the amphitheatre garden, predominantly shaded throughout your ceremony which is the preferred lighting choice that most photographers like to work in. Natural shaded light is flattering for skin tones, helps to hide wrinkles if your photographer uses the right techniques and colours are sensational. Details in wedding dresses, suits, hair pieces and flowers are naturally highlighted so they look the best they can.
Congratulations photographs and family group photographs are all easily done right here at the amphitheatre ceremony site.
Pullman Resort Bunker Bay Restaurant Terrace Wedding Ceremonies
I love the restaurant terrace at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, it has an underlying feeling of luxury. An alfresco space that has a capacity of seventy guests boasts amazing ocean views overlooking Bunkers Bay Beach and Shelley Cove headland. The use of aesthetically pleasing limestone stonework and mature olive trees gives the space a Mediterranean feel that you could find in any of the popular resorts across Europe. Lucky for us we have this all to ourselves to enjoy in Western Australia.
Large glass bi-fold doors open up to the bar and restaurant. Beneath the terrace is an impressive infinity pool.
There is ample room for your photographer to capture your wedding ceremony beautifully. You have the bonus of jaw dropping backdrops of the Indian Ocean.
Lighting here is really nice to work with and I am a huge fan of using the soft green colours of the olive tree leaves in my wedding photography. If positioned correctly you can use the sun filtering through the foliage to create romantic soft warm wedding photos of the bride and groom. The green olive colour is a flattering background colour for portraits, in my experience when I have put the bride in the correct light direction the resulting skin tones are gorgeous, like a retouched photograph but all done in camera.
Congratulations photographs really capture the atmopsphere and excitement of your wedding guests on the restaurant terrace. The big blue skies, olive trees and modern architecture of the restaurant gives a nice compliment of backdrops.
Family groups are also photographed easily on the terrace, what better backdrop to use that the one overlooking the ocean.
Grand Foyer Wedding Ceremonies
Another fantastic wedding ceremony location at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort. Spectacular cathedral ceilings and sweeping views over Bunker Bay this is perfect for a wedding planned in the cooler months.
Beautiful stone feature fireplaces and wood finishing featuring throughout, gives the space a warm cosy feel. Grand Foyer wedding ceremonies can host up to ninety people.
Your wedding ceremony photos will look cosy and intimate with a strong combination of architectural design, dramatic lighting and the beautiful ocean views.
Congratulations and family group photographs can all take place either inside the grand foyer or just outside on the terrace if you wish to change it up.
Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremonies
This lower garden terraced area was a perfect choice for a small Chinese wedding tea ceremony at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort. Melissa and Daryl had two wedding ceremonies at Pullman Resort on their wedding day, combing a beach wedding and a Chinese tea ceremony.
I have photographed a lot of Chinese tea ceremonies in the past and I really enjoy the format of them because they have so many natural interactions between family members and guests. There is lots of spontaneity, humour and emotion which I love to photograph for my clients.
The colours of the traditional tea ceremony dress are vibrant and pretty and it’s kind of cool how Melissa transformed from her white wedding dress into her Chinese one.
The location at Pullman Resort for the Chinese ceremony was great, grassed and with plenty of nice trees and shrubs for backdrops. Lighting here was really great to work in and I had plenty of space to capture all the lovely expressions throughout the ceremony.
After we went up to the Restaurant terrace for their wedding reception.
Pullman Resort Bunker Bay Small Weddings and Elopement Ceremonies
Pullman Resort Bunker Bay can accommodate your small wedding or elopement wedding at a number of different ceremony locations. Whether you prefer your small wedding on the beach or an elopement ceremony in the amphitheatre there is something for you at this venue.
Having accommodation, restaurant, spa and pristine beaches to explore together you can treat yourselves to an amazing getaway experience in the South West of Western Australia.
Whether you are from Perth, or visiting from eastern states or overseas Pullman Resort Bunker Bay would make your elopement or small wedding an unforgettable experience.
Bridal Party Photos at Bunker Bay
I have worked with hundreds of brides and grooms helping them to plan their wedding. Some people want a shorter amount of time for bridal party photos, they prefer to stay at the resort for photos and get back to their wedding guests to enjoy their day with them.
This might be because they haven’t seen some of their loved ones for quite some time, they are travelling to their wedding and leaving soon after. Or the bride and groom would prefer more natural in the moment photographs to remind them of their wedding day.
If this sounds like you, to give you some ideas, I could photograph a bride and groom only around the resort in thirty minutes and I could photograph a bride and groom with their bridal party in forty five minutes.
This time includes walking to the various locations on offer at the resort like the beach, amphitheatre gardens, restaurant terrace and grand foyer. This would give you lots of variety in your photos.
I have often photographed a wedding ceremony at Bunker Bay Beach and the bride and groom are happy with photos at the beach only. If you are beach lovers it makes sense to prioritise beach wedding photos.
I really value your wedding day experience, so never feel obligated to have lots of bridal photos if you’d rather spend time getting natural photos with your guests.
Getting married at Pullman Resort Bunker Bay has the convenience of using the beach area at the resort without loosing valuable time getting in and out of cars and driving. You also have the beautiful board walks which take you through some nice shaded green bush gardens. This can add some variety and change of colour to your beach photos.
The native landscaped gardens throughout the resort offer a variety of pretty backdrops for wedding photos all super close to one another. The grand foyer, restaurant terrace and resort pool offer some lovely architectural lifestyle photo options. So there is plenty to photograph your entire bridal party and bride and groom photos all on the property, whether it’s a short thirty minute shoot to a ninety minute one, Pullman Resort Bunker Bay has everything there for you.
Bridal party photos locations near Pullman Resort Bunker Bay
If you would like to get some wedding photographs away from Pullman Resort Bunker Bay, here are some of the best wedding photography locations close to the resort to consider.
Shelley Cove wedding photography
Shelley Cove is a beautiful sheltered rocky beach with character trees. It’s a really pretty spot, one that is popular for small weddings and elopement weddings. It’s such a fantastic location that people choose to have all of their wedding our elopement photos at Shelley Cove.
Shelley Cove is just one point two kilometres distance from Pullman Resort Bunker Bay and it takes two minutes to drive there. See trip directions here.
Sugar Loaf Rock wedding photography
Sugar Loaf Rock is a spectacular wedding photography option especially if your wedding day is going to have a photo worthy sunset. It’s a rugged area of dramatic coastline on the western side of Cape Naturaliste, only four point five kilometres and a six minute drive from Pullman Resort Bunker Bay, see route directions here.
Meelup Beach Wedding Photography
Meelup Beach is another beautiful wedding photo location close to Pullman Resort Bunker Bay. It has a beautiful south west forrest close by which can add that “down south” bush variety you are chasing for your wedding photos. The beach itself is stunning and you could make the journey back to the resort along Eagle Bay. See route directions to Meelup Beach here.
Romantic Wedding Reception Options
Pullman Resort Bunker Bay offers four different wedding reception options to suit your wedding day plans and budget.
Windmills Wedding Reception
Windmills is a contemporary wedding reception space that allows you to create whatever you have dreamed for your wedding night. Capacity is between fifty and one hundred guests making this an awesome option if you are planning a large wedding. Pullman Resort includes two hours of sunset drinks on the terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Restaurant Terrace Wedding Reception
Restaurant terrace wedding receptions on a beautiful warm summers night overlooking spectacular ocean views. This space oozes Mediterranean character with endless easy styling additions to create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. Long dining tables look awesome here and the ambience created by vintage string lights criss crossing the alfresco terrace adds atmosphere and looks fantastic in photos.
Marquee Wedding Reception
Marquee receptions for large weddings of between one hundred and three hundred guests, styled with silk drawing, stylish seating, crisp linen and rice paper lanterns. Add your taste in furnishings
Wrapping up
I hope this page has helped you. There are many amazing wedding venues in the South West of Western Australia. If you have always dreamed about having a beach wedding, however large or small, Pullman Resort Bunker Bay is a must see wedding venue when you visit down south.