A Kooralbyn Valley wedding
Golf-course greens, mountain light, and a burnout on the airstrip — Kiara and Tyrone's day at The Kooralbyn Valley had all of it.
The Kooralbyn Valley sits on 800 acres in the heart of the Scenic Rim, tucked under the ranges near Beaudesert and just over an hour from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Its golf course is ranked Queensland's number-one resort course — the former home course of Jason Day and Adam Scott — but for Kiara's wedding, those famous fairways were simply the most beautiful backdrop I could ask for.
The morning
We started quiet: Kiara getting into her gown with a flower girl underfoot, Tyrone fumbling with his buttonhole, the good nervous energy of a day that's finally here. These small, unposed moments are the ones I photograph first — they set the tone for everything after.
On the greens
The grounds do a lot of the work here — manicured fairways rolling back into bushland, with the McPherson Range going blue behind. We wandered out for portraits in the late-afternoon light, and Kiara and Tyrone barely needed a word of direction.
The cars, and the airstrip
Here's what makes a Kooralbyn wedding different: the resort has its own airstrip and helipad. We put it to good use. With the ranges behind us and the light dropping, we lined up the cars and let one loose — a proper Scenic Rim send-off, and easily one of my favourite frames of the year.
Golden hour, just the two of them
Before the reception took over, we stole a few quiet minutes back on the greens. No crowd, no schedule — just the couple and the last of the light over the valley.
Why couples choose Kooralbyn
The Kooralbyn Valley is a true destination wedding venue — accommodation on site, a day spa, golf, and ceremony and reception spaces indoors and out — yet it's only about an hour from the city. For me it's home turf: I'm based right nearby in Beaudesert, so I know its light, its corners, and the best time of day for portraits on those greens.
If you're planning a wedding at The Kooralbyn Valley — or anywhere across the Scenic Rim, Brisbane or the Gold Coast — I'd love to hear about your day.
The details
- Venue: The Kooralbyn Valley, Kooralbyn (Scenic Rim)
- Region: Scenic Rim, Queensland — ~1 hour from Brisbane & the Gold Coast
- Photography: VCEVfoto