Is the Park Hyatt Sydney Your I Do Destination?

There’s so much to see and do in Sydney, Australia, with countless parks to explore, restaurants to try, and museums to visit. But the most iconic tourist attraction is the Sydney Opera House. The building is what comes to mind when many people picture the city, and it really is beautiful to see up close—not to mention the venue hosts an eclectic mix of performances (definitely not just opera), and locals and tourists flock to the bar/restaurant located outside the Opera House.

So, naturally, if you’re coming to Sydney for your destination wedding or honeymoon (or any trip) it makes perfect sense to want to stay near the Sydney Opera House to enjoy the view and experience one of the city’s liveliest neighborhoods. Lucky for you, I have just the place: the Park Hyatt Sydney.

The Park Hyatt Sydney is just across the water from the Opera House—which means there isn’t another hotel in the city with as good of a view (although these other Sydney hotels are also definitely worth checking out, too). Plenty of the Park Hyatt Sydney rooms have views of the Opera House and the harbor, and those that don’t still have lovely views of the water.

There’s a rooftop pool and a harbor-view restaurant (of course), but what makes the hotel extra-special are the event spaces with, you guessed it, stunning views of the Sydney Opera House. The Gallery can accommodate up to 130 people and has a wedding package for AUS$190 per person, which also includes a room on your wedding night with a harbor view. The Guest House is a smaller space that can accommodate 70 people and has an outdoor space facing the Opera House. Packages in that room start at AUS$270 per person and include two nights in a room with a view.

For the wedding ceremony, the Park Hyatt offers an outdoor space at the Guest House for smaller groups; many couples also opt to get married at nearby Observatory Hill, a public park that will grant event permits. The Park Hyatt Sydney is popular with locals and destination weddings so make sure to book far in advance. To get more information or book your wedding at the hotel, email phsydney.events @ hyatt.com (remove the spaces).

If you’re coming from the United States, remember the seasons are reversed Down Under, so winter here is summer there and vice versa. But, since Sydney has weather similar to Southern California, even winter is a viable option for a wedding (and potentially cheaper, too).

As you might imagine, there are some hoops to jump through to get married in Australia as an American citizen, but they aren’t too bad. You’ll need an authorized celebrant to perform the wedding, and you’ll need to give that celebrant a Notice of Intended Marriage (a formal form that can be completed outside of the country if necessary) at least one month before the ceremony. Unfortunately, same-sex marriages are not recognized as legal in Australia at this time. For more information about the guidelines, visit the Australian Government’s website.