After all the rain we got in the weeks before we were lucky to get some beautiful sunshine. It was a perfect day for an outdoor ceremony on the lawn. The nighty still a bit too cold for an outdoor nighttime function. It’s a pity as Flowerdale Estate would have the perfect spot for a dancefloor under the stars. All these fairy lights.

Flowerdale Estate is not too far from Melbourne between the Yarra Valley and the Macedon Ranges in Central Victoria. It was just an hour drive from Melbourne. The historic venue (founded in 1893) is a wedding photographer dream.  There are so many different spots to photograph. We had the pleasure of photographing Carla & Joe’s beautiful wedding here. Special!

Photographing a country wedding near Melbourne

Carla and Joe planned their beautiful wedding for a long time and they were very lucky – they got married just before the Victorian lockdown which limited weddings to 5 people. It was the last wedding we photographed before the country came to standstill. Flowerdale Estate was able to easily accommodate the wedding. It was just under 100 guests.

Flowerdale Estate – A wedding photographers dream

Carla and Joe got both ready at Flowerdale Estate. The couple got ready in beautiful rooms in a wonderful setting.  The gardens surrounding the accommodation give you lots of options for photos. Plenty of rooms and space offer plenty of privacy before the ceremony and it’s easy to guarantee that the bride and the groom don’t meet before the wedding ceremony.

A glass of whisky before the wedding for the groom. Enjoying the drink in the pool room playing with the best man. The beautiful bride on the other side had some champagne while getting ready with their family and maid of honour. For instance, the large bridal room featured a piano and 4 poster bed – just magnificent to photograph.

A unique wedding venue – Flowerdale Estate

This wedding venue is truly unique. Firstly set in wonderful gardens and bush-land you can venture out to explore the grounds. Our wedding couple on the day had a vintage Ford Mustang to drive around and we made a little trip up the road to get a breathtaking view over the hilly landscape. Sadly you can’t hear the noise of that car in the photos.

Secondly, Flowerdale Estate offers lots of locations for the photoshoot. There are the old rustic looking stables (with an old Furphy cart) and picturesque gardens throughout the grounds. During our wedding photoshoot, we ventured down the hill to the open fields and haybales – it’s just a minute walk away but you can easily forget the wedding party at the Pavillion. It’s a special feature of this venue that your wedding guests are entertained while you can have your wedding photoshoot on the grounds and be totally separate and can relax a bit.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Flowerdale Estate

Flowerdale Estate offers several spots for your wedding ceremony – lakeside or in the gardens. The large oak tree with old stone steps can be used for the family photos and the group shot – all close to the ceremony so no one needs to walk that long. The arbour in the gardens was decorated with stunning flower arrangements and framed the couple during the ceremony. What a romantic garden wedding setting. The spaces at Flowerdale Estate are very versatile and suits smaller and larger weddings without looking too cramped or being too empty – perfect for a rustic garden wedding. The couple went through a lot of effort and planned lots of little details – an amazing setup.

Fun at the wedding party

The wedding party started in the glass pavilion. What a location – in summer it’s pretty much an outdoor Pavillion but we had it nice and cosy inside. A unique architectural design which makes every wedding party special.  The couple made an entrance cutting a ribbon and straight away ventured to the amazing cake. After that, we had some divine food. A perfect wedding party. Some surprise wedding music, Cuban cigars and romantic moments under the fairy lights made it the perfect wedding day!

A wonderful victorian country wedding at Flowerdale Estate. I had lots of pleasure photographing this wedding.

More info about the venue: flowerdaleestate.com.au
Planning your own wedding at Flowerdale Estate – let us know – we would love to capture your wedding.

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We took Emily and John out to Mount Lofty just on the outskirts of the beautiful Yarra Valley for our styled photoshoot as we knew we had a great chance of a beautiful sunset gracing our photos up there. It’s also so pretty and quiet there, giving us the right setting, where the focus is just on our couple. It was a warm winter’s day and Emily and John made creating beautiful images easy as they do what comes naturally – being a couple in love.

Yarra Valley Wedding Photography

Whatever the season, the Yarra Valley is stunning for couples who want a vintage look and feel for their wedding photography. We couldn’t resist bringing in a vintage bike to accessorise our photoshoot. The bouquet of tulips, carnations and other various fauna were all kept in wintery hues which gave us some colour to brighten up our winter photoshoot.

The day was warmer than usual for winter, which kept our stunning bride warm for most of our photoshoot. The ground was dry and the sunset burst through the clouds to give us some beautiful sun-drenched photos at the end of the day.

We separated the photos of Emily and John into two parts as there were so many we wanted to showcase (patience – there will be more soon). Most are shot with an 85mm 1.2 lens and our new Petzval 85mm art lens which produces some amazing portraits!

Love is like the wind, you can’t see it but you can feel it.

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Every vineyard up in the Yarra Valley has it’s own special appeal. Whatever your taste and budget are, there’s sure to be a winery to suit you. We’re going to give you a run-down on some beautiful wineries to help you choose your perfect winery wedding location. The great thing is that the Yarra Valley is only an hours drive from Melbourne’s CBD so your guests have the option to stay overnight or head back to town.

Tips for a Yarra Valley Wedding:

• Be nice and organise a bus to pick up guests from the city and to drop them back off at the end of the function. Your friends can enjoy themselves and the beautiful wines of the Yarra Valley without having to worry about driving.
• If your chosen winery has a cellar door, maybe organise for your guests to arrive earlier for a wine tasting. Just make sure there is someone to round them up for your ceremony!
• Some vineyards have an on-site chapel if you require a traditional church wedding.
• Some wineries have on-site accommodation which makes it convenient for yourselves and some of your guests. You might want to stay the night prior to your wedding day so that you can start your wedding preparations there. You’ll be a lot more relaxed for it.
• Some wineries are surrounded by mountains and hills which means that the sun disappears faster than the predicted sunset time. Check with your venue and your wedding photographer to get your timeline right.
• Winter means that the sun will disappear much sooner so maybe your intended 5 pm wedding ceremony is not such a great idea! Maybe aim for an earlier ceremony to utilise the natural light. Check our wedding photography article here.

Yarra Valley Weddings – Vineyard Venues perfect for Wedding Photography:

Chateau Yering

One of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne is the restaurant at Yering Station. The food and wine is amazing, the service is impeccable and the grounds are picturesque. Chateau Yering offers their brides and grooms a wedding venue which oozes some old-world charm. With its stunning heritage-listed gardens, a restored 1854 Victorian Mansion and 32 hotel suites which are decked out with welcoming antique furnishings, your wedding day will be as romantic as you envisioned.

Don’t take my word for it, go up there and take a look for yourself. Sample their award-winning food and wine and soak up the beautiful surroundings. It will be hard to pass up this venue for your special day.

More info: Weddings at Chateau Yering in the Yarra Valley

Stones of The Yarra Valley

This is another exquisite wedding venue with an on-site Chapel. With uninterrupted views which travel right up to the Great Dividing Range and two superb restaurants which have gained a great reputation for its eclectic menu and extensive wine list – this premier wedding venue will make your wedding day something to remember. The event will be etched into your guests’ memories for a long time after.

The Barn and the Stables are the two restaurants at Stones of the Yarra Valley. The Barn hosts impressive private functions, including weddings. It’s also a great place to head for a relaxed weekend lunch. The Stables is open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s Tapas on offer for Saturday and Sunday lunch. They’re open all year long so why not treat yourself and your guests to some sensational food and excellent service.

More info: Weddings at Stones in the Yarra Valley

Balgownie Estate

Balgownie Estate, nestled within the heart of the Yarra Valley, is another one-stop wedding venue. They will cater for your ceremony, function and accommodation needs. You can exchange your vowels in a lovely large, white marquee which seats up to 80 guests (holds up to 100) and then move to their Melba function room for the party. Their 4.5-star accommodation (equipped with a luxurious day spa) is offered at a discount price when you book your wedding with them. You and your bridal team can indulge in some spa treatments (at the Natskin Spa Retreat at Balgownie Estate) on offer during your wedding preparations and you won’t have to travel far after a great day of celebrations. There are 70 suites available so your guests will be very happy as well.

More info: Weddings at Balgownie Estate in the Yarra Valley

Coombe Yarra Valley

This elegant wedding venue, set across 7 hectares of manicured gardens, will set the romantic scene for your special day. You will have a choice of different locations for your ceremony to suit your style and size of your guest list.

Your reception will flow into the stunning Clock Tower restaurant, where you and your guests will experience the unique dishes made from predominantly estate-grown produce and sip on award-winning wines from the vineyard. This venue seats up to 150 guests. There is no on-site hotel at this Yarra Valley wedding venue.

More info: Weddings at Coombe Yarra Valley

Immerse Winery

This quaint winery has it’s on Chapel for your traditional wedding ceremony needs. For the not-so-traditional, you can choose to have your ceremony with the vines in the background. The stunning gardens and man-made lake will provide the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos.

The on-site hotel makes for a relaxed start and finish to your special day. Their indulgent day spa treatments will take away any stresses prior to your ceremony and have you floating down the aisle with ease.

You and your guests will then enjoy fabulous hospitality in the light-filled Immerse Restaurant, which has been written up several times in the Age Good Food Guide. The food is created from produce which is locally grown and farmed. Wash down the delicious flavours with Immerse’s award-winning wines, crafted from the grapes grown on their vines.

More info: Weddings at Immerse in the Yarra Valley

Zonzo Yarra Valley

If a rustic vineyard wedding with Italian flavours is what you’re after for your wedding day, look no further than Zonzo Estate in the Yarra Valley. Formerly known as Zonzo Train Trak Winery, this wedding venue has a full-time wedding coordinator to help your day run smoothly. You can choose to have your ceremony outdoors against the picturesque landscape or set up inside their rustic barn.

You and your photographer can then head out to wander through the vines, across the rolling fields and along the abandoned train track for your photoshoot. The breathtaking scenery will provide the perfect backdrop for your wedding portraits.

Zonzo serves up traditional Italian fare, using some produce from their own garden. Guests can nibble and mingle away on the terrace to start off with, before being fed a homestyle Italian feast, including antipasti and wood-fired pizza, for dinner. Zonzo’s 45 acres of vines produce some lovely drops to accompany their delicious Italian fare.

More info: Weddings at Zonzo Estate in the Yarra Valley

Wedding Photography in the Yarra Valley

Photographing weddings in the Yarra Valley is always an experience. The beautiful backdrops and scenery are just there. No need to travel. Ideal for a relaxed wedding. Make sure you have a look at our wedding portfolio when you are looking for a wedding photographer in the Yarra Valley. We would love to capture your big day.

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Yarra Valley Wedding Photographer

The bride and groom got ready in two different Bed & Breakfast places. Beautiful houses with lots of flair and atmosphere. A relaxing morning for everyone and plenty of time to get ready. The Yarra Valley also offers plenty of accommodation for wedding guests (and maybe a vineyard tour on the day after the wedding). The houses were decorated with love and had lots of cute little details. The perfect setting to get ready on your big day. We just love to photograph Yarra Valley weddings. 

A vineyard wedding at Zonzo Estate in the Yarra Valley (Yarra Glen)

Most beautiful vineyards in the Yarra Valley have beautiful scenery for photography. Zonzo Estate (Train Trak) Vineyard near Yarra Glen is no exception and a perfect wedding venue in the Yarra Valley. The food is just amazing (just visit them and try the wood-fired pizza … yum … delicious). The venue features a rustic barn which can be used for the ceremony or alternative you can celebrate outside on the lawn overlooking the vineyard. Having the barn option is always a great alternative for a rainy day. When you plan an outdoor wedding ceremony you need to have a Plan B. This is easily done at Zonzo in the Yarra Valley.

There are plenty of photo opportunities at Zonzo Estate and as everything is very close you just can have a relaxing stroll in the vineyard to the old train tracks (not in use anymore) or sip a glass of champagne near the barn overlooking the hills. You forget that you are just 30min out of Melbourne.

Wedding Photography in the Yarra Valley is pretty relaxed so that you can enjoy your wedding without travelling too much. Ideally, you stay close in one of the beautiful Bed and Breakfast places so you can even avoid the late drive home to Melbourne.

Rustic vineyard wedding photography in the Yarra Valley

Zonzo has the rustic feel ideal for a vintage wedding in the Yarra Valley. The rustic chandeliers, the brick wall, wine barrels,  raw hardwood, the wood-fired oven added to the atmosphere of this rustic wedding. The ideal location for our couple. A Polaroid Camera guestbook, a message in a bottle station and a beautifully decorated cake (loved the hessian accents), cute flowers and wine corks as name cards.

The long tables had plenty of space for all the wedding guests and lots of room for the dance floor. Lots of fun! Party on!

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