Pilu at Freshwater is one of Sydney's most sought-after wedding venues, set in a beautiful heritage-listed beach house with stunning, uninterrupted views of Freshwater Beach on the Northern Beaches. If you're looking for a marriage venue that offers exceptional food, spectacular views, and a unique, intimate atmosphere, Pilu is an outstanding choice. Here are five compelling reasons why couples should choose to get married at Pilu, Freshwater.
Pilu is perched right on the shores of Freshwater Beach, offering a postcard-perfect ocean backdrop for your ceremony and reception. Imagine exchanging your vows in the beautifully landscaped terrace garden, with the sparkling Pacific Ocean as your witness. The views are a magnificent focal point, providing a romantic and breathtaking setting for your photographs.
This isn't your standard wedding fare. Pilu is renowned for its exceptional, award-winning Sardinian-inspired food and wine. Your guests will be treated to a culinary experience crafted with the best of local and seasonal ingredients. For food-loving couples, the quality of the dining experience alone is a huge reason to choose this wedding venue.
Whether you're planning a grand celebration or a small, intimate elopement, Pilu offers versatile function spaces. From the exclusive use of the full restaurant for larger parties to the more intimate Garden Room or the Pilu Pavilion, there is a space to perfectly match your guest list and desired atmosphere. The venue’s Hampton’s-style beach house feel adds a sense of relaxed elegance.
You can host your entire wedding day in one stunning location, moving seamlessly from your ceremony in the beautiful garden overlooking the beach to pre-function drinks and then into your chosen reception space. This convenience minimises travel time for you and your guests, allowing everyone to fully relax and enjoy the celebration.
Planning a beachside wedding can come with the risk of unpredictable weather. One of the great perks of booking your ceremony through Pilu is that they include a wet weather back-up option, often using one of their beautiful indoor spaces, so you can rest assured that your day will go ahead smoothly, come rain or shine. (Note: this is usually only for ceremonies booked directly through Pilu as part of a package).
Pilu at Freshwater is a private wedding venue and restaurant, not a public marriage registry office or council-managed space. Therefore, you must make a direct booking with the venue for your ceremony and/or reception.
There is typically a fee and/or minimum spend requirement associated with booking an event at Pilu, which varies depending on the date, time, and the specific room or area you wish to reserve (e.g., The Pilu Pavilion, The Garden Room, or exclusive venue hire). If you book an on-site ceremony, there is often an additional ceremony fee, which sometimes includes a wet weather back-up and basic seating/signing table setup.
The authority responsible for making a wedding booking is the venue's dedicated events team.
Requirements will vary based on your package (Boutique, Exclusive Use, etc.), but typically include:
It is essential to contact the Pilu Events Manager directly for a personalised quote and the most up-to-date pricing and terms for your wedding date.
Standard: 20 People. Add Guests: Add up to 100+ in total +$75.
You can have up to 20 people (the 2 of you and 18 guests) at your ceremony. This excludes children under 6 years old. For an additional fee of $75, this number can be increased to 100+ people in total. To add guests after your initial booking, go to the Add-ons tab in your portal.
I understand that, it is my responsibility to make the required booking with the park authority and pay any associated site fees directly to them.
Please aim to arrive 15 minutes prior to your ceremony (along with your guests) to ensure you are in the right location and ready to go at your scheduled time. The address for Pilu at Freshwater is Moore Road, Freshwater, NSW 2096.
The easiest way for many to get to Freshwater is by private car. Pilu is located at the southern end of Freshwater Beach. Parking is available on Moore Road and surrounding streets, but it is metered street parking and can be challenging to find, especially on warm weekends or during peak summer months. We strongly recommend allowing significant extra time for parking or, better yet, pre-arranging transport for key members of the wedding party.
Using a pre-booked taxi or a ride-share service like Uber is an excellent, stress-free option, particularly if you plan to enjoy the fine wine on offer. Simply input the restaurant address (Pilu at Freshwater, Moore Road) into your app. This avoids the hassle of finding and paying for parking.
Freshwater is well-serviced by the Sydney bus network. You can plan your trip using an app like Google Maps or the official Transport for NSW trip planner. Buses frequently run from the Sydney CBD (e.g., routes from Wynyard) and connect from Manly. The closest bus stops are generally a short, pleasant walk from the beach and the restaurant.
For guests travelling from the city or inner harbour areas, catching a ferry to Manly Wharf is a scenic option. From Manly, you can then take a short taxi ride, an Uber, or one of the local buses (such as a B-Line service to a nearby stop) to complete your journey to Freshwater.
Now it doesn't happen often, but when it does you will need to shelter under trees or bring umbrellas - how romantic. If you have booked your ceremony directly through Pilu as part of a package, you are in luck.
Pilu at Freshwater is an established venue that typically includes a wet weather back-up plan as part of their ceremony package. In the event of rain, the ceremony is usually moved into one of the restaurant’s beautiful indoor event spaces, such as an area in the Pilu Pavilion or another dedicated room. This provides a guaranteed, elegant, and dry alternative to the beachside garden terrace.
a) Reservation of Location and Payment of Associated Fees
I understand that it is our responsibility to ensure this location is available for our ceremony. I will make all necessary arrangements and pay any associated fees directly to the venue or relevant authority.
b) Guest Numbers
I understand that the Standard number of people is 20. This can be increased to 100+ people for an additional fee of $75 (click on Add Ons after making your booking).
c) Standard Duration of Booking is 30 Minutes
I understand that the total time for the standard booking is 30 minutes, which is plenty of time for a beautiful ceremony. This time cannot be extended on the day of the ceremony. However, if you would like to extend the duration of your booking, this can be done prior to the date of the ceremony for an additional fee of $150. (Click on Add Ons after making your booking.)
d) Confetti and Natural Materials
I understand that to maintain the cleanliness and integrity of the area, confetti of any sort, including natural materials such as flower petals, rice, glitter, or artificial equivalents, are strictly prohibited—unless prior written consent is received from the venue.
e) Public Liability Insurance
I understand that if Public Liability confirmation is required, there will be an additional fee of $50 to provide this.
