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Emily & Hugh

After much searching for a rustic wedding venue that they could completely take over for a day or two and put their own stamp on, Emily & Hugh finally came across a Scout camp near Lilydale. Although the site had never before been used for a wedding, it fitted the bill perfectly.

With a hire fee that was much lower than that of usual wedding venues in the Yarra Valley area, the venue was also available for a few days, so that friends and family could help decorate and camp over on the night of the wedding, which was a great idea.

In order to spend the most time with their guests, Emily and Hugh requested that we photograph most of their portraits prior to the ceremony. They also factored in a little time after the ceremony for a few too, which gave us a several different locations on the site to use, and meant that they got to join the party almost immediately.

With handmade bunting, homemade chocolate, outdoor games and a generally creative and inclusive vibe, the wedding was very warm and welcoming environment.

Throw some amazing food and The Wandering Woodsman caravan bar into the mix and you got the perfect wedding! Surrounded by forest and with clear skies, the night was also perfect for stargazing.

Before you ask, I honestly don’t remember why there was a kids horses head and holding a sword in one of the photos. It probably seemed appropriate at the time!

We’re always keen to photograph weddings in rustic or country locations, so get in touch if you’d like to discuss your plans.

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TarraWarra Estate Wedding

Originally from Victoria, Bec now lives in California, where she met her husband-to-be Rob.

While they love their life in California, returning to Australia for the wedding was important to them, and if you’re going to travel all that way you really should make the wedding venue selection impressive! And that they did!

TarraWarra Estate is perched on a hill overlooking Yarra Glen area and the hills beyond. I never tire of the stunning views in this region.

Known as a producer of exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the first 10 acres of vines were planted in 1983 and are still going strong on the 400 hectares of Yarra Valley farmland.

Located next door to the TarraWarra Museum of Art, the two buildings transition into each other very naturally, with the cellar door hidden away as if part of the hillside.

Bec & Rob readied themselves at a nearby property in Healesville before heading to the venue for a late afternoon ceremony on the lawn in front of the cellar door and restaurant.

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed drinks and canapes on the deck while the newly married couple and their photographer wandered around the grounds for photos before rejoining the guests for dinner in the restaurant.

With dinner enjoyed and speeches laughed and cried at, Bec & Rob led their guests to the cellar door for dancing and more fine wine. I like the use of the 2 different spaces over the course of the evening – it kept the guests interested and got everyone up on their feet and dancing.

All the very best to you both Bec & Rob, we hope you get to visit Australia often.

Redwood Forest, Warburton

One wedding photography location close to the Yarra Valley that has become increasingly popular of late, is the Redwood Forest in Warburton.

Planted sometime around 1930, this grid formation plantation of over 200 trees was to be something of an experiment to test how this particular tree would grow in the area. From what I hear, the experiment is still active.

As you enter the forest, sound becomes muffled and everything feels a little calmer. There are just a few bird calls, and if you’re lucky enough to be there on your own, it really is very peaceful. (Try visiting during the week if you want the place to yourself).

I recently spent the day with Tina & Thomas to shoot their pre-wedding photography whilst they were on a short holiday from Hong Kong and since we had the whole day to play with, we were able to squeeze in a trip to Warburton as well as many of the popular Melbourne wedding photography locations such as Flinders Street Station, graffiti covered laneways and Fitzroy Gardens.

The forest is a really enjoyable and calm place to work, with it’s soft light, great perspectives and huge trees. If we hadn’t had plans for photos at sunset at St Kilda Pier, we all would have been quite happy to hang out there and explore a for longer.

To reach the Redwood Forest from Melbourne/Healesville follow signs to Warburton. Once you have nearly passed through the town you’ll pass the epic wedding venue Projekt 3488 on your right hand side before heading towards East Warburton. Here it gets a bit sketchy, with there sometimes being a sign and sometimes not, so keep an eye out for an unsealed road that bears off to the left of the main road approximately 2km after Projekt 3488. Keep in mind that the road is unsealed so please drive accordingly. You’ll pass over a painted white trestle bridge before reaching a wider section of the road that is obviously used for parking. Hop over or squeeze around the gate and voila! If you’re wearing a wedding dress you’ll need some assistance and protection with the gate! On a wet day, gumboots would be a sensible precaution.

If you’re planning a wedding in the Yarra Valley area and would like to use the Redwood Forest as a location for your wedding photography, I’d be pleased to discuss it with you as there are some great opportunities for photos at any time of day.

Click here to chat about your wedding photography in the Yarra Valley

Kristy & Stuart’s Zonzo Wedding

Kristy & Stuart are experienced travelers and love exploring the world, so it was no surprise that they had combed the Yarra Valley for the best wedding venue and suppliers for their wedding day.

Having enjoyed many enjoyable lunches at Zonzo on their trips to the Yarra Valley, they selected it as the location to host their wedding, with a relaxed ceremony on the lawn looking out over the vines and valley.

There was time to join for Kristy and Stuart to join their guests for drinks and canapes on the terrace, before we took a short walk to the vineyards and abandoned rail line for couple photos.

The timing was perfect with a long, lazy and hazy Yarra Valley sunset that coincided with our call to dinner, where Kristy and Stuart rejoined their guests to feast on the hugh sharing platters that the Zonzo chefs had prepared.

Every time I see wedding guests fed at Zonzo, it’s not hard to tell that they are loving it!

If you’re planning wedding photography in the Yarra Valley, we’d love to speak with you about your wedding plans. Get in touch here.

Samuel & Marianne

Here are a few frames from Samuel & Marianne’s recent wedding reception at Projekt 3488 in Warburton, Yarra Valley.

While the weather wasn’t exactly what we were hoping for and the rain didn’t allow us to get any of the wedding photography session shot in the Sequoia Forest near Warburton , the stormy skies gave us something to play with in front of the huge roller doors that lead onto the enormous deck and native garden at the venue.

Samuel & Marianne found me after searching for a Melbourne wedding photographer who could offer them relaxed and candid wedding photography at the church in Melbourne, followed by relaxed and natural wedding photography afterwards. I’ll post some photos from the church too, as the kids were a delight and I’ve got some really cheeky snaps of them enjoying themselves!

Are you planning a wedding in the Yarra Valley?

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Projekt 3488, Warburton

Every once in a while I come across a Yarra Valley wedding venue that leaves me truly excited, and last weekend was one of those occasions.

Most of the time, wedding venues perform their job without fuss – they have a roof, food and drinks are served, there is dancing, everyone has a lovely time and goes home without giving too much thought to the four walls that were holding the roof up. Last weekend changed all that and every venue I visit from now on is going to be compared to this little beauty that I’m about to introduce you to.

Projekt 3488 is located in the mountains of Warburton in the Yarra Valley (close to Yarra Junction and Mount Donna Buang) and approximately 70km from Melbourne CBD.

Originally a Masonic Hall, this magnificent building has been reimagined with such style and originality that you’re instantly charmed and awestruck by it. This is no quick renovation done to make a few dollars, this is a labour of love that has been carefully considered and arranged as both a living and function space by the designer Mark Fenech.

Photo: Rick Liston

The ground floor hall features enormous timber dining tables suspended via scissor lift mechanisms at either end, enabling both tables and bench seating to be moved with ease between the centre and the sides of the room to create bleacher style seating at the side and a dancefloor through the middle of the hall.

The loft above the main hall features a huge suspended circular fireplace and a 12 metre high lighting sculpture which straddles the cast iron atrium between the two levels.

An enormous pair of wooden barn style roller doors separate the loft area from the native garden and deck but once open, almost double the space available for entertaining. The stunning garden, lovingly planted out with natives and a fantastic boardwalk are the makings of a great wedding photography session and this garden is a gift to wedding photographers that will just keep on giving!

The vast desk overlooking the extensive garden and mountains beyond is large enough and ideally suited for a marriage ceremony. Drinks and canapes on the deck following the ceremony seems like a natural transition between the legal stuff and the dancing, and is also a great way to relish the spectacular view before it gets dark. Fear not, drinks are never far away as there is an open bar area on the deck so you’ll never get thirsty! Whilst we’re on the subject of food and drink, the service is impeccable, friendly and the food is truly excellent – delicious and plentiful!

Attention all mediocre wedding venues – the bar has just been raised! Visit the Projekt3488 website to book your wedding or event.

Talk to me about YOUR Yarra Valley wedding photography

Yes, I love the Yarra Valley too!

As much as I love working in and around Melbourne, I also really love getting out to the Yarra Valley for weddings.

Perhaps it’s because it feels far removed from Melbourne and creates the feeling that you’re on a day out or a little holiday from the city. Maybe those rolling hills and vine upon vine for long stretches gets you thinking about wine early in the day?! That always relaxes me!

With some world class dining and views across the valley, life always feels pretty good up there! One of my favourite spots for a wedding is Yering Station. Partly because of the fantastic food, famous wines and the famous five star service, but also because of the uninterrupted views from the floor to ceiling windows in the restaurant. It’s also great for wedding photography, with plenty of rustic as well as modern looking options around the grounds. Plus, I can land my helicopter on the grounds…

Amongst the other venues and restaurants I enjoy working at, Stones of the Yarra Valley always stands out for it’s attention to detail and picture postcard views. Again, an absolute winner for photography and the chapel is a really great space for photos both during the marriage ceremony and after. The Barn is a nice addition to and has been styled really well. Obviously, if you’ve been there you’ll know that there are loads of options there so I won’t go on about it here as this is more about the wider Yarra Valley area.

Zonzo at TrainTrak winery flies under the radar a little as it’s tucked away and is known best for it’s simple but brilliant Italian food. Pizzas you’ll just want to keep eating even if you’re ready to burst and their endless food service at wedding receptions is something to behold!

The estate at Train Trak winery boats some of the best views in the valley and has some really nice options for wedding photos, including the barn and a disused railway line. Also, because it’s not just a wedding venue and is a restaurant in it’s own right it never feels too weddingy, and more like a jolly good feed and knees up at a great restaurant. No seat covers or sashes in sight!

Please do feel free to get in touch if you’d like to chat about your wedding photography in the Yarra Valley, or indeed if you’d like some feedback on any of the wedding venues in the Yarra Valley that I have worked at previously. I have mainly good stories, but there are a couple of stinkers out there that don’t deserve anyone’s patronage, least of all yours!

Click here to send me a message

Wedding florists in the Yarra Valley

I get to see plenty of wedding bouquets and arrangements in my line of work so have seen all the types, ranging from the wilted all the way to the extraordinary.

Another florist to add to my list of recommended wedding suppliers in the Yarra Valley is Sugar Bee Flowers, based in Coldstream.

I was fortunate enough to photograph Carly & Kaz’ wedding at Yering Station in March and one of the things that really caught my eye on the day (great wedding venue and stunning couple aside!) were the flowers and the way they were presented and positioned around the venue.

Youki from Sugar Bee had used simple, beautiful flowers that were often displayed in unique and understated ways such as hanging from tree branches to just gently blow in the wind during the ceremony.

I’m hoping that the next Yarra Valley wedding I book, Sugar Bee are the florists as I’d love to see what else they come up with – great job Youki!

Click here to contact your Yarra Valley wedding photographer to discuss YOUR wedding plans.

The Enduring Popularity of the Yarra Valley for Wedding Photography

Looking for a magical wedding destination near Melbourne? Look no further than the Yarra Valley, a gorgeous natural setting that boasts some of the most dramatic backdrops for truly affective wedding photographs. Lush rainforests give way to expansive and romantic vineyards. Jagged mountains loom in the background of beautifully manicured gardens. Whatever your wedding preferences may be, the Yarra Valley has something to excite brides, grooms and photographers.

The Parks and Gardens of the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges
Seasonal explosions of colour distinguish the parks of Yarra from any other setting in Melbourne. The area’s myriad blooms provide vibrant and poetic images for the wedding photographer. Here, you can have your choice of a rugged forest versus the harmony of a carefully-tended garden. The North Rhododendron Gardens are particularly spectacular, and feature azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and daffodils.

The RJ Hamer Arboretum provides some verdant, shady respite from the sun, in a quiet alcove of leafy deciduous trees. The Alfred Nicholas Gardens, on the other hand, boast bubbling waterfalls that make for enchanting wedding photographs.
The William Ricketts Sanctuary, on the other hand, has a Secret Garden-type of mystery, with beautiful clay sculptures nestled in beds of overhanging fern.

Vineyards
Do you want your wedding pictures to have a bit of romantic European flair? Consider the rolling wine lands of the Yarra Valley. Here, your photographs will capture endless rows of bright green vines, all heavy with the grape. You’ll also have the chance to capture unforgettable images of a world trapped in time. Imagine old Victorian wineries, ancient cellars, and rambling, rustic estate houses. This is a unique destination that also features some of the most impressive restaurants in the region.

Yarra Ranges
If you’re keen for something a little more dramatic, why not head for the mountains? The Yarra Ranges keep providing photographers with some of the most impressive mountain vistas in the country. The pathways in the ranges, however, consist of deep-green rainforest: perfect for photos that really celebrate nature. Look to the Mt. Donna Buang Rainforest and the Beeches Rainforest on Lady Talbot Forest Drive.

If you want some truly extraordinary pictures to remember your wedding by, then head to the Yarra Valley. It has been inspiring wedding photographers for years, and will continue to do so for years to come.

Click here to chat about your Yarra Valley wedding photography plans.

Tough crowd to please!

I liked this image from a recent wedding at Immerse winery in the Yarra Valley of family members scoring the Best Man’s speech.

3 out of 5 seemed a bit harsh – I thought it was pretty good!

Photographed by Simon Woodcock, a Yarra Valley wedding photographer with a candid and relaxed style

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