Bellarine Peninsula Wedding Photography
Vines above the bay, the You Yangs on the horizon and the ferry crossing to Sorrento
The Bellarine Peninsula pushes east from Geelong into Port Phillip, about an hour and a half from Melbourne, with Queenscliff, Portarlington, Drysdale and Clifton Springs on the bay side and Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads facing Bass Strait where the Barwon River meets the sea. The land is gentle, nowhere above 150 metres, so the vineyard venues look straight across the water to the You Yangs and, on a clear day, the Melbourne skyline. Beach clubs and farm estates fill out the list.
We have filmed a wedding at Jack Rabbit Vineyard, one of the peninsula’s vineyard venues with the bay in view, and we photograph and film weddings across the Bellarine and Geelong. Late spring and early autumn bring the calm days; summer can be hot and windy on the beach, and winter suits the venues with a fire and a water view.
Photographing weddings on the Bellarine Peninsula
Bay views are the peninsula’s asset, so we set the ceremony where the water sits behind the couple and check the sun angle on the recce. The Queenscliff ferry has crossed to Sorrento since 1987 and makes a good frame from the pier if the timeline allows. Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads add surf and dune grass for couples who want the Strait side. Wind is the thing to plan for; a sheltered garden corner is worth finding before the day. Geelong is the nearest transport hub.