Carolina Morgan Photography
Ottimo House Wedding Photography | Wedding with Traditional Aboriginal Ceremonial Custom
Updated: Jul 27, 2022
Beautiful Ottimo House Wedding Photography, from Lauren & Martin’s amazing Wedding with Dunghutti Traditions.
When Lauren & Martin got engaged, Lauren knew that it would be important to combine both of their cultures into their wedding day. Lauren is from the Dunghutti people, traditionally from the Macleay Valley in northern New South Wales. It was beautiful to witness and document the way that Lauren shared her roots throughout her & Martin’s wedding day at Ottimo House in Sydney, on Dharawal land, as well as how they both included family & friends and so much of their personalities into their Ottimo House Wedding Photography.
OTTIMO HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Ottimo House Wedding Photography
There’s nothing quite like Ottimo House Wedding Photography! Even after a week filled with rain, this Sydney wedding venue made a beautiful backdrop for Lauren & Martin’s celebration. They were married in front of a really lovely little pergola and had a clear marquee set up for guests to sit under in case of rain (which luckily, held off just for them!).
Ottimo House is a perfect Sydney wedding venue if you:
Love country weddings but don’t want to travel too far from Sydney
Want to host your ceremony and reception all in the same place. It’s even got plenty of beautiful portrait locations onsite!
Are searching for a wedding venue that includes most elements of the wedding, but that will also help you incorporate your own traditions and culture into your wedding day, just like Lauren & Martin did!

Wedding with Traditional Aboriginal Ceremonial Custom
As a proud Dunghutti woman, it was important to Lauren that she celebrate her roots as part of her wedding. Two of the main ways she did this was by ensuring all the florals featured native Australian flowers, and by including a Smoking Ceremony as part of their wedding ceremony. Aboriginal Smoking Ceremonies are performed differently by different mobs – the leaves & bark used, and the way the fire is lit, often vary. A smoking ceremony is important as it cleanses the people and area of bad spirits, and protects everybody present. It was truly such a privilege to be allowed to document this part of Lauren & Martin’s Ottimo House Wedding, and so special to witness.
Incorporating Your Personality & Culture into your Wedding
Of course, in Australia so many of us have different cultural backgrounds and heritages, and it can be really grounding and beautiful to include that heritage in your wedding day. At the same time, you might want to pick and choose the elements that you connect with most and that’s okay! Some of the most beautiful weddings I’ve photographed included a mix of different wedding traditions and ideas that just make sense with the couple and their personalities.
A great example that I love from Lauren & Martin’s wedding (apart from the smoking ceremony, of course!) is that they really wanted to honour and include their family and friends. Sadly, Lauren’s father passed away a few years ago, so they couldn’t share their father-daughter dance. Instead, Lauren & her Mum learned a choreographed dance and had a mother-daughter dance! It was such a lovely moment.
Lauren & Martin also love Blink 182, so they played that and their amazing celebrant & MC, Chris North, had all the guys with mullets stand up and do a fashion show which was really funny.
These are just some fun examples to show how you can personalise your wedding to make it a day that really celebrates the two of you and all that you are!
Ottimo House Wedding Vendors
Venue: Ottimo House
Celebrant & MC: Chris North
Florals: Pot and Posy
Dress & Veil: Brides of Beecroft
Makeup Artist: Emma Johnson MUA
Photography: Carolina Morgan
Are you looking for someone to document your Ottimo House Wedding Photography? I’d love to document your special day for you! Just get in touch now to check availability and start planning!
Did you love Lauren & Martin’s wedding photography? Or do you have questions about their wedding