Central Coast Weddings
COAST WEDDING
Ultimate Guide for Central Coast Weddings
COAST WEDDING is your ultimate wedding guide for central coast weddings. It is for engaged couples looking to get married and have a wedding on the beautiful Central Coast of New South Wales.
It came about when we realised that there really wasn't anything truly dedicated to weddings in the beautiful Central Coast region of NSW. We live on the Central Coast, NSW. And we have worked in the wedding industry for over 10 years. And we really wanted to showcase this beautiful region of NSW. Make it easy for couples to discover the hidden gems of the region and plan their most perfect wedding.
Our aim to showcase all the incredible options the Central Coast has to offer for weddings. By sharing real weddings, introducing you to some awesome vendors, as well as having useful tips for planning your coast wedding.
Central Coast Wedding Region
The Central Coast region of NSW is one of the most beautiful places in Australia and it is without a doubt, one of the most underrated wedding regions.
It is located just one hour from the Sydney CBD driving north up the M1. And it is less than an hour south from Newcastle... the second oldest and second biggest city in NSW. This makes it one of the best locations for couples looking for a central destination wedding. It is close enough to the major cities to make it really convenient for your family and friends to attend your wedding. But still far enough away to make a weekend wedding destination. Most of your wedding guests will choose to stay overnight, but the central coast still gives them the option of driving back home if they want.
The geography of the Central Coast region starts from the Hawkesbury River from the south, the Watagans Mountains in the west and the Southern end of Lake Macquarie. It is a huge area and is actually the third-largest urban area in NSW. The two major town centres are Gosford and Wyong, but it is the whole region that is used for weddings.
The beauty of this region is that there is such a variety to the landscape and scenery to choose from. Central Coast weddings are not just beach weddings. There are National Parks, State Forests, rustic farm properties, wineries, the hinterland and elegant modern weddings. There is a much larger variety than most people realise.
Central Coast wedding locations
There are 150 suburbs located up and down the Central Coast of NSW. And in just about every suburb you could have a wedding at a beach, park, property or in your own backyard. But there are some locations that are slightly better than others.
Avoca Beach
Bateau Bay
Brooklyn
Budgewoi
Cams Wharf
Canton Beach
Catherine Hill Bay
Copacabana
Erina
Ettalong Beach
Forresters Beach
Gosford
Hardys Bay
Killcare
Kincumber
Lake Munmorah
Long Jetty
Mangrove Mountain
Norah Head
Patonga
Pearl Beach
Shelly Beach
Sommersby
Terrigal
The Entrance
Toukley
Tuggerah
Umina
Wagstaffe
Woy Woy
Wyong
Yarramalong
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Central Coast Beach Weddings
One of the most amazing features of the Central Coast for weddings is the huge coastline. There are 87 kilometres of beautiful sandy beaches, stretching in-between Sydney and Newcastle. There are 41 beaches and these beaches are better than any Sydney beach.
Many of these beaches are secluded and most of the time, you can have the beach to yourselves. The beaches and the outdoor lifestyle is why most Sydneysiders head up to the Coast every long weekend and holidays period. The only time I would avoid an outdoor beach wedding is during these periods. Although you could still probably have a lovely beach ceremony if you did it at sunrise or sunset when most people have left the beach
It is possible to have a wedding at any one of these beaches. Just contact the local surf club or council and make an application. It is very affordable and can be absolutely stunning.
Pro tip - often the rocky areas at either end of the beaches are more secluded and can offer a more dramatic backdrop than the sandy beach itself.
Avoca Beach Weddings
Avoca Beach is a hugely popular holiday location on the Central Coast and an equally perfect location for a wedding. The beach itself is beautiful with golden sand and there are also a number of local parks in the area including Heazlett Park, The Pines or North Avoca Parade Park.
Bateau Bay Beach Weddings
Bateau Bay is a gorgeous little Central Coast suburb and the beach itself is one of the most scenic locations for a wedding. It is located in Wyrrabalong National Park and is a fairly sheltered beach with great rock platforms, rock pools and plenty of photo locations. There are also a number of spaces in Bateau Bay for your party to continue.
Budgewoi Beach Weddings
Budgewoi Beach is located on the northern end of the coast and has one of the longest stretches of beach around. You can have a ceremony on the beach without a soul in sight and with a beach that goes for as far as your eyes can see. A real hidden gem.
Copacabana Beach Weddings
Copacabana Beach is a stunning location for a wedding that is extremely popular during Summer holiday periods. 'Copa' as it's known to the locals has beautiful rocky areas and also has a Surf Club which can be hired for weddings.
Ettalong Beach Weddings
Ettalong Beach is located in a unique location, where Brisbane Water and Broken Bay meet and it is an awesome location for a wedding. It is sheltered from the weather and has a beautiful backdrop. There are also a number of places in Ettalong Beach where you can have a reception, so there is no need to travel anywhere else.
Forresters Beach Wedding
Forresters beach is a gorgeous location for a wedding. A really long uncrowded beach with beautiful headlands and some lovely rocky areas. There are also some good properties and restaurants which would be perfect for an awesome party afterwards.
Frazer Beach
Frazer Beach is part of the Munmorah State Conservation Area in Lake Munmorah. It is a bush beach setting and a lovely location for a wedding. The whole Munmorah State Conservation Area is a real hidden gem of scenic Australian coastal beauty.
Killcare Beach Weddings
Killcare Beach is absolutely stunning for weddings and would have to be very high on your list of locations to check out. Killcare Beach is a big beautiful beach with some great rocky headlands to the south. There are also a number of amazing properties in the area for accommodation and function dinner spaces.
Little Beach Wedding
Little Beach is a stunning secluded and majestic location for a wedding.
It is located in Bouddi National Park is a real hidden gem. It is quite a small area and there is a campground, so I would avoid having a ceremony during peak holiday periods. The whole area of Bouddi National Park is a beautiful area for weddings and for wedding photos.
Lobster Beach Weddings
Lobster Beach is another wonderful, secluded beach wedding location in Bouddi National Park. It is a the small stretch of beach with lots of bushlands and would be lovely for a more intimate wedding on the Central Coast.
Macmasters Beach Weddings
Macmasters Beach is a picturesque beach and popular area particularly on weekends and holiday periods in Summer. It has a lovely ocean pool and the whole area is beautiful for a wedding.
Maitland Bay Wedding
Maitland Bay is located down a steep but short walk through the bushland of Bouddi National Park. It is secluded and a real hidden gem and perfect for a beautiful intimate wedding. The location is stunning and totally worth the walk down to the beach.
Patonga Beach Weddings
Patonga Beach is located between the Hawkesbury River and Brisbane Water National Park and it is a lovely location for a wedding. It is a quiet and quite secluded seaside village with this beautiful beach and parklands.
Pearl Beach Weddings
Pearl Beach is an idyllic seaside village on the Central Coast. It is located at Broken Bay near the edge of Brisbane Water National Park and is a beatiful location for a wedding. The northern end has a beautiful rocky headland and there is a lookout at the top of that headland which looks down over the beach, which might make another beautiful location for a wedding ceremony.
Pelican Beach Wedding
For a long stretch of beach, as far as the eye can see, with no one in sight, you can't go past Pelican Beach. It is located in the bushland Wyrrabalong National Park and is an awesome location for a wedding.
Putty Beach Weddings
Putty Beach is part of Bouddi National Park and is a really large beach that links to Killcare Beach in the south. The water is calm and beautiful and it is a popular location for families and locals. The headland and rocky area to the north is a beautiful location for a sunset wedding ceremony. It is easy to access and you get some lovely views high up on the rocks.
Shelly Beach Weddings
Shelly Beach is another stunning location for a beach wedding. It is a popular surfing beach and is away from the more touristy areas of the entrance. It has some picturesque sand dunes and there are also many reception spaces nearby.
Soldiers Beach Wedding
Soldiers Beach is one of the best beaches on the Central Coast. It is big, beautiful and absolutely stunning. It's also a great swimming beach and will get packed with people during the Summer and school holidays. Soldiers Beach Surf Club is also located right on the beach and their function space can be hired which has stunning views out over the ocean and beach.
Spoon Bay Weddings
Spoon Bay is a real hidden gem of the Central Coast for weddings. It is a large beach and bay with lovely rocky areas and away from the crowds of some of the other suburbs. With no real car park, you just park at the end of Spoon Bay Rd and walk down through the bush onto the beach.
Tallow Beach Weddings
Another stunning beach where you can have the entire beach to yourselves in a stunning location. It is located at Box Head and it is part of Bouddi National Park. It is tricky to access but well worth the trip. You walk down a 1.5 km bush trail that leads to Tallow Beach and you will reach this stunning location. There is also a campground just above the beach.
Terrigal Weddings
Terrigal is one of the most popular, beautiful and busiest seaside villages on the Central Coast. It is a really popular location for weddings with many weddings taking place all over Terrigal every weekend. There is plenty of accommodation, restaurants, cafe and bars. And this place gets absolutely packed during peak holiday seasons. The Haven at Terrigal is another awesome and popular location for weddings. The beach, the rocks and parks and the towers cliffs make it a scenic and epic place for weddings.
Toowoon Bay Weddings
Toowoon Bay is a beautiful and scenic beach that is located south from The Entrance and is a lovely location for a beach wedding. The water is calm and the beach is very popular with families. It is a great long stretch of sandy beach with some great rocky areas that is great for wedding photography.
Umina Beach Weddings
Umina Beach is a long sandy beach and is one of the most scenic and popular beaches on the Central Coast. To the south, there are some awesome rock formations and a headland where there are some spectacular views over the beach.
Umina Surf Lifesaving Club is also available for hire and is a great location with some beautiful coastal views.
Wamberal Beach Wedding
Wamberal Beach is located right beside the popular Terrigal Beach and is a great option to avoid the crowds of Terrigal. Terrigal is more compact and busy, while Wamberal Beach is huge and spread out. It is a really long stretch of beach and coastline and is beautiful for a beach wedding. There is also a lagoon, rocks and sand dunes.
Central Coast Farm weddings
If you are looking for more of a country farm wedding then the Central Coast is an amazing location. Head inland from the coast and the scenery totally changes. From beaches and coastline to rolling hills, pastoral farmland and the Central Coast hinterland. You can have a beautiful farm wedding on the Central Coast.
The Central Coast has a long history in the farming industries. When Australia was first settled, timber was the main industry on the coast. Then orchards, poultry farms and dairy farms took over the forestry industry. There were hundreds of these commercial farms all over the coast. Particularly around the Wyong, Yarramalong Valley and Mangrove Mountain areas.
Today, most of these industries have largely disappeared but these farms and properties do exist. There are many farm properties all over the central coast that can give you your farm wedding, so close to major cities.
Yarramalong Valley Farmstay - This is a private farm property located in the Hinterland of the beautiful Central Coast. On-site accommodation and plenty of photo locations around the property.
The Hillview - Boasting beautiful views over Yarramalong, this is a perfect location for your farm style wedding. With bushland and a historic homestead, this is an ideal setting for those couples looking for a perfect day.
Garden Weddings Central Coast
There are some of the most beautiful garden wedding locations all over the coast. Public gardens and private gardens on exclusive properties and estates. Some of our favourite garden wedding locations include
- Linton Gardens - A premier garden property with five acres of heritage gardens on site. A lot of opportunities for beautiful photos.
- Somersby Garden Estate - This property is secluded, private and is set on a huge property. So you will be spoilt for choice for your ceremony and for your photos.
- Fernbank Farm - One of the best places to hold your wedding on the Central Coast. There are two houses on site for accommodation. A beautiful location for your ceremony. And a stylist country marquee for your wedding reception.
- Bells at Killcare - This hidden paradise is located in Killcare in and is a hotel, spa and a perfect location for your wedding. It is best known for its amazing food and cuisine but is also a wonderful option for couples looking for an elegant and sophisticated garden wedding.
- Noonaween - Located on one hundred acres of land, this is an exclusive private property with beautiful spaces and perfect scenery. With accommodation onside for twelve people, this is the ideal property for your wedding day from start to finish.
- Kantara House - This is a location and property that has a wedding chapel and function room set in one of the most beautiful locations on the Central Coast. There is accommodation for you and your wedding party, plus many locations around the property for your wedding photos.
Climate & Temperates on the Coast
So when is the best time of year for a Central Coast wedding? The climate on the Central Coast is perfect for weddings all year around. Like most of Sydney, the Central Coast is classified as a humid subtropical climate. It is best to avoid weddings at public beaches and park during holiday periods, particularly in Summer, as there can be crowds of people.
Summer
Summers are warm and humid. There are some days each year where the temperatures do reach above 35°C.
Autumn
Autumn has slightly more rain that the rest of the year. But temperatures are perfect and the trees really light up with colour in some areas.
Summer
Summers are warm and humid. There are some days each year where the temperatures do reach above 35°C.
Spring
Spring is peak season for weddings on the Central Coast due to its mild temperatures and gorgeous overall weather.
Temperatures on the Central Coast are cooler towards the coast and warmer as you go inland. And there is generally a 2 to 4°C difference in temperatures.
There is more rain during Summer and Autumn months along the coast, and less inland. But rainfall does vary greatly year per year. And according to Climate Change Australia, the region is experiencing below average rainfall.
