The couple mirrored in the still water of the terrace pond, palms behind, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveThe glass-fronted chapel during the ceremony, water and gardens beyond the windows, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveThe reception room dressed with greenery and long tables, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove

InterContinental Sanctuary Cove weddingsSanctuary Cove, northern Gold Coast

InterContinental Sanctuary Cove is the more formal, resort-style option on the northern Gold Coast. The Great House is designed like a grand Queensland estate, with a stained-glass entrance, sweeping staircase and Fountain Terrace leading down to tropical gardens and a large beach lagoon. Weddings can move between the glass-fronted chapel, outdoor terraces, the lagoon and several reception rooms ranging from the intimate Fireplace to the larger Grange and MacArthur’s Ballroom.

Its great practical strength is convenience. Accommodation, preparation rooms, ceremony spaces, restaurants and receptions are all within the resort, with the Sanctuary Cove Marine Village only a short walk away. Guests can arrive, settle in and stay for the whole weekend without needing to move around the Gold Coast.

It is also one of the few venues in the region where the middle of the day is not a problem: there is shade, architecture and interior light whenever the sun is too hard outside.

THE DETAILS

CEREMONY

The glass-fronted chapel, with a mezzanine to shoot the vows from above

RECEPTION

The Fireplace, the Grange or MacArthur’s Ballroom

DRINKS

Fountain Terrace, the tropical gardens and the beach lagoon

GETTING READY

Suites inside the resort, minutes from the chapel

STAY

Rooms and suites on site — guests stay for the weekend

GROUNDS

Palms, lagoon, colonnades and the Great House staircase

AROUND IT

Sanctuary Cove Marine Village restaurants and bars, a short walk

GETTING THERE

Hope Island — forty-five minutes from Brisbane, thirty from Surfers
Sanctuary Cove, Hope Island QLD 4212
Forty-five minutes from Brisbane · Marine Village a short walk away

AROUND the RESORT

The glass chapel, the Great House, the lagoon and the ballroom. Tap any frame to open it larger.

The glass-fronted chapel during the ceremony, water and gardens beyond the windows, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveBlack and white — the wedding party under the chapel’s glass gable, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA dip and a kiss in the chapel after the ceremony, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveThe couple mirrored in the still water of the terrace pond, palms behind, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveThe couple small between the clipped hedges and their reflection, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveBlack and white — walking out through the guests past the Great House, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveThe reception room dressed with greenery and long tables, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveFairy lights above the tables as the reception begins, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveThe room set with chiavari chairs and greenery down the tables, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA bud vase and baby’s breath on the table runner, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA quiet moment on the terrace before dinner, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveThe bride in the light of the suite window before the ceremony, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA kangaroo on the resort lawn in the morning, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveSparklers as the couple come through the guests, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveBlack and white — a dip on the dance floor as the sparklers burn down, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA bride having her gown fastened at the open doors of a suite, her reflection in the mirror behind, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA bride in a tiered tulle gown standing in the light of the suite doorway, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA bride in a tiered tulle gown turning to the window light in the suite, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA couple forehead to forehead against a wall of dark green foliage, InterContinental Sanctuary CoveA couple laughing together on the beach in the dunes near Sanctuary Cove

PHOTOGRAPHING a wedding at SANCTUARY COVE

Clean, polished and architectural, with tropical greenery softening the formality. The chapel is filled with natural light and has a mezzanine that lets the ceremony be photographed from above. Elsewhere, the Great House staircase, stained glass, fountain, pale colonnades, palms and lagoon create a broad mix of backgrounds within a short walk.

Unlike a wide-open hinterland property, Sanctuary Cove also gives us architecture and shaded interiors to work with when the afternoon sun is hard. The photographs can move from bright and resort-like around the lagoon to darker, more formal frames inside the Great House, the Grange or the ballroom.

The still ponds on the terrace are the quiet trick here — they double the palms and the sky, and they are thirty seconds from the chapel door.

REAL WEDDINGS at Sanctuary Cove

Full galleries from Sanctuary Cove are being written up now.

The glass-fronted chapel during the ceremony, water and gardens beyond the windows, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove
GOLD COAST WEDDING

The glass chapel at midday

STORY COMING SOON
The couple mirrored in the still water of the terrace pond, palms behind, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove
GOLD COAST WEDDING

The terrace ponds after the vows

STORY COMING SOON
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All the images on this page were shot by yours truly. I know and love shooting at this venue. Check your date and tell me about your day.

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