Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains - Joshua Witheford Photography
Hydro Majestic Hotel wedding photographer
I absolutely love the Hydro Majestic, it's one of my all-time favourite venues to photograph. My wife Kat and I actually had our own wedding here in 2020 — an intimate ceremony with our closest family and friends on the Belgravia lawn. So when a couple reaches out about their Hydro Majestic wedding, I get genuinely excited! There isn't a venue anywhere that I know better or have such a personal connection with.
What it's like to photograph a wedding here
You're spoiled for options because there is so much to work with at the Hydro Majestic, and I mean that architecturally as much as scenically. The art-deco detailing, the long corridors which are lined with interesting decor, the casino dome, the sandstone; there's texture and character everywhere you look. And on a clear day, the Megalong Valley as a backdrop, stretching out behind you, makes for portraits that feel almost effortless.
For portraits, the grounds offer a lot of variety — there are lookouts, formal gardens and the architectural details of the buildings themselves. Locations are close together, which means time spent moving between spots is kept to a minimum and we get to spend more time actually shooting. Golden hour here, when the sun drops behind the ridge line across the Megalong Valley, is something I look forward to every single time.
I've also photographed ceremonies inside various rooms within the hotel, including the Majestic Ballroom on days where the weather had other ideas, and they all hold up beautifully. There's enough grandeur and interest in the hotel that a wet weather ceremony never feels like a compromise.
I'm fortunate to be a recommended vendor for the Hydro Majestic, which means I know the property very well and the team there are always great to work alongside.
The Hydro Majestic at a glance
Great Western Highway, Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains NSW — approximately 90 minutes from Sydney
Location
Heritage art-deco, grand and architectural, with sweeping Megalong Valley escarpment views
Style
Formal gardens, sandstone terraces, and beautifully preserved historic interiors
Setting
Two main outdoor locations — Majestic Point Lookout, perched right on the escarpment edge with uninterrupted valley views, and the Belgravia Lawn, a more intimate garden setting framed by the hotel's heritage architecture. Indoor options are available for wet weather.
Ceremony
Three distinct spaces to choose from: the Majestic Ballroom, a grand domed room with open fireplaces and art-deco glamour; the Wintergarden Restaurant, a light-filled space with panoramic World Heritage views; and the Boiler House Restaurant, an intimate and characterful space with its own industrial history and outlook over the Megalong Valley.
Reception
Intimate gatherings through to celebrations of up to 250 guests, depending on the space
CAPACITY
On-site guest rooms, so your people can stay the night and make a weekend of it
ACCOMMODATION
A wedding at the Hydro Majestic
There's something about the Hydro Majestic that makes every wedding feel a little more considered. Maybe it's the scale of the property, or the weight of its history, or simply the way the valley sits there behind everything — quiet and enormous. Whatever it is, I notice it every time I'm there with a camera in my hand.
These are some of my favourite images from recent weddings at the hotel.
"I know that in 20, 30 and even 40 years when I look back on these photos I will remember you, your unparalleled enthusiasm and how you really played a key role in our wedding day."
Sophie & James Knight, Hydro Majestic Hotel
