Sarah and Philip’s wedding at The Golf Club at Newcastle in Newcastle, Washington was sunny, emotional, high-energy, and packed with the kind of moments that make a full wedding day feel worth photographing from start to finish. They had a balcony first look overlooking the golf course, an outdoor Jewish wedding ceremony with a floral chuppah, a ketubah signing, a full ballroom reception, the Hora, sunset portraits, flash photos, and a sparkler exit to close the night.
This was also a two-photographer day, which made sense for the size and pace of the wedding. I started with Sarah and her bridal party, while my second photographer covered Philip and his side of the morning. With a large wedding party, multiple ceremony traditions, a busy reception, and a dance floor that never really slowed down, having two photographers helped tell the day more completely.
The Golf Club at Newcastle is one of the stronger wedding venues near Seattle if you want big views without leaving the area. You get golf course views, city views, Olympic Mountain views on a clear day, balcony portraits, outdoor ceremony space, and a ballroom that can handle a full reception.
If you’re planning your own day and want coverage that feels real, polished, and fun, you can explore my work here:
Planning a Wedding at The Golf Club at Newcastle?
The Golf Club at Newcastle works well for couples who want a wedding venue near Seattle with a more elevated, scenic feel. You get panoramic views, indoor and outdoor spaces, getting ready areas, ceremony space, reception space, and enough portrait locations that you do not need to leave the property.
For photography, the biggest advantage is variety. The balcony works well for a first look, the golf course gives you open space and views, the ceremony area gives you a clean outdoor backdrop, and the reception space photographs well once the room is set.
For Sarah and Philip, the venue worked especially well because their day had a lot of moving parts: a large wedding party, Jewish wedding traditions, family moments, ceremony coverage, ketubah signing, reception details, the Hora, sunset portraits, and a sparkler exit. Keeping everything in one place helped the timeline stay manageable.
Getting Ready at The Golf Club at Newcastle
Sarah’s getting ready portion was “standard” in the best way. Lots of friends, lots of excitement, and detail photos that looked straight-up luxury. The flat lays came together beautifully.
But the moment that truly stood out was with her dad.
Sarah’s mother has passed away, and she wanted to honor her in a way that felt personal and meaningful. So Sarah put on her mom’s wedding dress and did a first look with her dad. It was quiet, sweet, and emotional without being performative. Her dad’s face said everything. Shock, awe, pride, love. One of those moments that reminds you weddings are not just about the couple, they’re about family and memory too.
Philip’s side: the bobbleheads (and peak Philip energy)
Meanwhile, Philip’s morning had its own signature moment. He gifted his groomsmen bobbleheads of themselves.
I don’t even need to explain why this was hilarious. It was the perfect “this is who we are” touch, and it immediately set the tone for the day: meaningful, yes, but also genuinely fun.
Balcony First Look at The Golf Club at Newcastle
Sarah and Philip’s first look happened on a balcony overlooking the golf course, with the city in the distance. Newcastle is known for those panoramic views, and it absolutely delivered.
This part of the day felt like the perfect mix of elegant and relaxed. No rushing, no chaos. Just them seeing each other, taking it in, and letting the day finally feel real.
Wedding Portraits Around The Golf Club at Newcastle
Right after their first look on the balcony, we did a short portrait session while the energy was still fresh and the nerves had settled. This is always one of my favorite windows to photograph because couples are usually the most present right then. It’s like the day “clicks” into place, and the photos naturally feel more connected.
Outdoor Jewish Wedding Ceremony at The Golf Club at Newcastle
Their ceremony was outdoors on a bright, sunny, hot day overlooking the course, with the Olympic Mountains sitting far off in the background. Newcastle’s ceremony views are a huge reason couples choose it, because you get that elevated “Pacific Northwest panorama” feeling without needing to leave the Seattle area.
They incorporated a number of Jewish wedding traditions, and I want to name a few here (with quick story context), because it’s part of what made the ceremony so special.
The Chuppah (the beautiful “altar” with four openings)
A chuppah is the canopy used during a Jewish wedding ceremony. It often symbolizes the home the couple is building together, open on all sides as a reflection of hospitality, community, and the people who will be part of their life.
Sarah and Philip’s chuppah was stunning. It was covered in roses and framed the ceremony beautifully against the Newcastle views.
Rabbi Mordechai Farkash
Their ceremony was officiated by Rabbi Mordechai Farkash, who guided the day with a calm presence and clear intention.
Ketubah Signing After the Ceremony
After the ceremony, we moved into the ketubah signing.
A ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract. But calling it “paperwork” doesn’t really capture it. It’s a written commitment that reflects responsibility, partnership, and the seriousness of the promise they’re making. It’s often signed with close family or witnesses present, and it creates a quieter pocket of time in the middle of a big day.
This part felt like a breath. A reset. A “we’re really doing this” moment.
Newcastle Ballroom Reception, Hora, and Nonstop Dancing
Once we rolled into the reception, we got hit with two things back-to-back:
- Toasts that were actually great (the kind that make people laugh and feel something), and then
- a dance floor that basically didn’t stop.
The Hora and chair lifting
The “chair lifting thing” is part of the Hora, a classic Jewish wedding dance that’s all about celebration and community. The couple gets lifted up on chairs while everyone dances around them, usually in a big circle, and the energy spikes immediately.
It’s chaotic in the best way. It’s also one of my favorite moments to photograph because you can feel the joy through the images.
And then… they just kept dancing. All night.
Sunset and Flash Wedding Portraits at Newcastle
Later, as the sun started dropping, we snuck out again for a second round of portraits. The light at Newcastle is unreal during that time of day, and it gave us a totally different feel compared to earlier.
And then we brought in flash.
These ended up being some of my favorite images of the day. That punchy, cinematic look, the kind of photos that feel like they belong in a magazine. Sarah and Philip were completely down for it, which made it even better. When a couple trusts the process, those flash portraits go from “cool idea” to “holy crap.”
Sparkler Exit at The Golf Club at Newcastle
They finished with a sparkler exit, which was the perfect final beat for a day that balanced elegance, tradition, and full-send party energy.
Why The Golf Club at Newcastle Works Well for Wedding Photos
If you’re planning a wedding in the Seattle area and want a venue that feels elevated without being stuffy, The Golf Club at Newcastle is a solid option. It’s known for panoramic views and large event spaces (including ballrooms that can host big guest counts).
If you’re currently venue hunting, you might also like this resource I wrote:
Best Wedding Venues Near Seattle (Photographer’s Guide)
And if you’re building your timeline right now, this will save you stress:
The Ultimate Wedding Day Timeline for Amazing Photos
Vendor team (linked)
Here’s the team that helped bring everything together:
Venue: The Golf Club at Newcastle
Coordinator: BD Event Management
Makeup: Salon Maison
Cake: Inna Shibu @innashibu
Ceremony Officiant: Rabbi Mordechai Farkash (bio/info) Chabad Bellevue
Entertainment: Orion Entertainment & Sway Band
Florals: Sweet n Design
Rentals & Decor: Superior Event Rental & Amazing Ice Sculptures
Video: Seattle Wedding Videographer
Photography: Weddings by Andre
Planning a Jewish Wedding at The Golf Club at Newcastle?
If you’re planning a wedding at The Golf Club at Newcastle, another Seattle-area venue, or anywhere in Washington, I’d love to hear what you’re putting together.
I photograph wedding days with a mix of candid coverage, clean portraits, and enough direction to keep things moving without taking over the day. For weddings with larger guest counts, religious traditions, busy timelines, and packed dance floors, I also recommend considering a second photographer.
You can view my wedding photography packages, browse more Washington wedding stories, or reach out through my contact page to check availability.
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