ILLAWARRA RHODODENDRON GARDENS

“Whispers of romance beneath the blossoms.”

Tucked away at the base of the Illawarra escarpment, the Illawarra Rhododendron Gardens in Mount Pleasant offer one of the region’s most enchanting and romantic settings for wedding photography and videography. Just minutes from central Wollongong, this peaceful garden retreat feels worlds away — a hidden sanctuary of colour, calm, and natural wonder.

With seasonal blooms, winding paths, and forested glades, the gardens provide a breathtaking variety of backdrops. Whether you’re exchanging vows under flowering archways, walking hand-in-hand through lush greenery, or posing among radiant spring blossoms, the gardens bring a soft, dreamlike quality to every photo.

Perfect for couples who appreciate elegance, tranquillity, and nature-inspired storytelling, this serene location offers shaded groves, manicured lawns, and bursts of floral colour — ideal for timeless, heartfelt wedding portraits.

At Cole Studios, we’ve captured countless unforgettable moments at the Illawarra Rhododendron Gardens. Our deep knowledge of the site’s best angles, lighting, and seasonal highlights ensures your photos look as magical as your memories feel.

If you’re seeking natural light, floral beauty, and a touch of garden fairytale charm, the Rhododendron Gardens are the perfect choice for your wedding day imagery.

A brick gazebo with arched openings set in a wooded area surrounded by trees and greenery. The pathway leading to it is paved with bricks, and the structure is partially covered by tree shade.
Scenic garden with pond and gazebo, surrounded by lush greenery and trees under a clear blue sky.
Scenic park with a gazebo surrounded by lush greenery and trees, beside a pond with lily pads under a clear blue sky.
Serene park landscape with pond covered in lily pads, surrounded by lush green trees and grass under a clear blue sky.
Outdoor wedding ceremony setup with chairs arranged on grassy lawn, wooden arch decorated with flowers, and a pond with tree-lined backdrop.
Bride walking down the aisle with an older man at outdoor wedding ceremony
Wooden wedding arch with floral decorations in a garden setting, lily pond in background.
Bride and groom walking down an outdoor aisle post-ceremony with guests celebrating. The groom is wearing a blue suit, and the bride is in a white lace dress holding a bouquet. Guests are seated and standing in the background.
Aerial view of a wedding group celebrating outdoors on a lawn, with a couple in wedding attire surrounded by guests raising their arms and holding drinks. Trees and landscaped garden in the background.
Wedding couple kissing beside a white limousine with reflection, outdoors with greenery.
A bride and groom holding hands under a floral arch at an outdoor wedding ceremony.
Wedding ceremony with bride and groom kissing under floral arch, surrounded by bridesmaids, groomsman, and children, in a lush garden setting.
Bride and groom sitting at a table by a pond, with bouquet and greenery in background.
A bride and groom kissing on a small wooden bridge in a garden setting. The bride is wearing a white wedding dress and holding a bouquet of flowers. The groom is dressed in a black suit. They are surrounded by greenery and colorful flowers.
A couple kissing at an outdoor wedding ceremony under a white fabric arch, with bridesmaids holding bouquets and groomsmen clapping. There's a green lawn, trees, and a pond in the background.
Outdoor wedding ceremony with a large group of guests posing; bride and groom seated at a table with a bouquet; lush greenery and trees in the background.
A group of people at an outdoor wedding, including a bride in a white dress and a groom in a light gray suit. Three bridesmaids in pink dresses hold bouquets of flowers, and a groomsman in suspenders stands nearby. They are in front of a floral backd
A couple in wedding attire stand under a small pagoda next to a pond covered with lily pads, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
A bride and groom kissing in front of a vintage white bus on a grassy area, with a sign welcoming wedding guests. Purple flowers are in the background.
Bride and groom holding hands in garden with red flowers and stone wall
A large group of people posing for a photo at an outdoor wedding ceremony with lush greenery and a pond in the background. Some are dressed formally, including a bride and bridesmaids holding bouquets.
Bride and groom posing on garden steps, bride in white dress with bouquet, groom in dark suit, greenery surrounding.
A bride and groom kissing in an outdoor garden setting, surrounded by greenery and flowers. The bride is holding a bouquet and wearing a veil, while the groom is in a dark suit.
A bride and groom displaying their wedding rings outdoors, with greenery in the background. The woman is wearing a white dress and veil, while the man is in a suit.