Ballara Receptions wedding photos: Kimberlyn and Michael hold each other inside the white lace gazebo, lit up with fairy lights and flowers at night, Melbourne
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Real wedding · Eltham, Yarra Valley

Ballara Receptions Wedding Photos: Kimberlyn & Michael

Ballara Receptions · 1435 Main Rd, Eltham VIC · Melbourne

Garden Wedding · Region: VIC - Yarra Valley · City: Melbourne · Venue: Ballara Receptions

Grey suits on a leafy street, a red carpet running to a flower-garlanded gazebo and a crowd of guests waving from the drive in front of the chapel. Kimberlyn and Michael’s wedding at Ballara Receptions in Eltham, on the edge of the Yarra Valley, was soft summer cloud, pale blue bridesmaids and a dance floor that refused to empty. We were with them from the first handshake of the morning to a kiss inside the lit gazebo after dark, and it was a joy.

The gallery
Diamond engagement ring stacked on a wedding band, resting on the cream and gold invitation beside a sprig of greenery
Michael and his seven groomsmen line up in matching grey suits on a quiet street beneath tall gum trees
The groomsmen stride down a leafy suburban street towards us, grey suits and bow ties under towering gums
Michael in his black bow tie shakes hands with a beaming groomsman out on the street in the morning
A groomsman in glasses rests an arm on Michael's shoulder as the two grin side by side in grey
Michael and a groomsman trade sideways glances on the street, both straight faced in grey suits and glasses
Michael and a mate stroke their chins like detectives, eyebrows raised, in their grey wedding suits
Michael and a laughing groomsman flex their arms and clench their fists for the camera on the street
A fair haired groomsman throws an arm around Michael as they smile together on the tree lined street
Michael, one hand in his pocket, stands beside a smiling groomsman in a pale blue bow tie under the street trees
The groomsmen walk across the street in a loose line, grey suits catching soft morning light under the gums
Michael stands alone on a backyard lawn under a leafy tree, hands in pockets in his grey three piece suit
Glittering silver heels with slim ankle straps laid on white tulle with dried purple flowers and greenery
Barefoot groomsmen in cheeky cartoon body aprons pose on the footpath, Michael crouching in front with thumbs up
Apron clad groomsmen hold hands and balance on small mats along the front path as guests watch from the yard
Kimberlyn sits on the edge of the bed with her lace edged veil down, glancing at a tablet in her lap
Michael kneels on the carpet to hand Kimberlyn her pastel bouquet while grinning faces crowd the bedroom doorway
Kimberlyn and Michael offer small teacups to a smiling older couple seated in the living room at home
Kimberlyn in her off the shoulder lace gown and Michael stand with an older couple for a portrait at home
Kimberlyn in a red and gold embroidered dress holds hands with Michael, a big red silk flower across his chest
Kneeling in red and gold, Kimberlyn passes a teacup to a seated older man as family members look on smiling
Michael and Kimberlyn stand behind a seated older couple in a red dress and dark jacket for a family portrait
Kimberlyn and Michael sit side by side on a timber bench beneath framed paintings, red silk bow across his chest
A loved one in a gingham shirt pins the veil into Kimberlyn's long waves as she smiles softly
Kimberlyn lifts her full tulle skirt so the long train pools across the timber floor, pastel bouquet in hand
Glitter ankle strap heels peek from beneath Kimberlyn's tulle skirt as she sits with her bouquet on her lap
Kimberlyn perches on a gold damask chair in soft window light, a white rose and wildflower bouquet in her hands
Kimberlyn stands with her dad in a red tie and a loved one in gold brocade before leaving home
A loved one in gold brocade holds the bouquet and gazes at Kimberlyn with the softest smile
Kimberlyn smiles out through the open door of the white wedding car, lace sleeves and long waves in the light
Guests fill the white chairs for the garden ceremony at Ballara Receptions, the homestead verandah behind them
Her dad and a loved one in gold brocade walk Kimberlyn along the willow shaded path at this Yarra Valley garden wedding
From behind, her dad and a loved one lead Kimberlyn down the red carpet through the gardens to the gazebo at Ballara
Her dad in a red tie and pink buttonhole sits beside the loved one in gold brocade during the vows
Guests gather on the lawn beside the weatherboard chapel at Ballara Receptions, Eltham, chatting around an old wine barrel
Michael and Kimberlyn hold hands under the white rose garland of the gazebo for their garden ceremony on the edge of the Yarra Valley
Groomsmen in grey stand in a row by the lake at Ballara in Eltham, willows and reeds behind them
Bridesmaids in pale blue satin hold small posies beside a friend in a pale blue suit by the lake in the Yarra Valley foothills
Her dad grins broadly through the vows from the front row of white garden chairs, guests filling the rows behind
Kimberlyn and Michael kiss in the white gazebo at Ballara, its garland of roses and baby's breath framing the garden ceremony
Front row guests clap and beam as the vows finish at this Yarra Valley garden ceremony
Guests applaud from white chairs on the grass at Ballara Receptions, Eltham, the weatherboard chapel and gardens behind
Laughing, clapping guests fill the lawn under weeping willows on the edge of the Yarra Valley, a lamp post and verandah beyond
The whole wedding crowd gathers on the curved drive before the slate grey chapel and the verandah lettered Ballara Receptions
Arms fly up as the entire guest list waves from the drive before the chapel's red door at this Yarra Valley wedding
A big extended family group gathers around Kimberlyn and Michael in the gardens at Ballara, the garlanded gazebo behind
Kimberlyn and Michael stand on the gazebo path with four loved ones, the lake glinting beside the willows
Michael and Kimberlyn flanked by her dad and three loved ones in a family portrait in the Yarra Valley foothills
Kimberlyn and Michael with her dad and the loved one in gold brocade beneath the flowered gazebo at Ballara in Eltham
Her dad, the loved one in gold brocade and two young men in suits join the couple for a Yarra Valley garden wedding family photo
Kimberlyn and Michael at the centre of a wide family line on the gazebo path at Ballara Receptions, willows towering over the gardens
Two older loved ones in a red floral top and an orange blouse join the couple and a man in a dark suit
Michael and Kimberlyn with an older man and a woman in a floral dress at Ballara Receptions, Eltham, gazebo and lake behind
A smiling four person portrait before the white gazebo, Kimberlyn's blush rose bouquet at the centre of the garden wedding family photos
Michael and Kimberlyn line up with four loved ones, one in a terracotta print dress, by the gazebo on the edge of the Yarra Valley
Kimberlyn and Michael laugh with three friends in casual shirts and a black dress in front of the garden gazebo
A large group of friends packs the path around the newlyweds for a garden wedding group photo at Ballara, the gazebo among willows
Kimberlyn poses with three guests, one in a pink blazer, outside the lattice gazebo in the Yarra Valley foothills
Kimberlyn and a bridesmaid with long copper hair smile together on the garden path, posies in hand
A bridesmaid in pale blue hugs Kimberlyn close before the white gazebo in the gardens at Ballara Receptions
Kimberlyn leans in beside a smiling bridesmaid holding baby's breath on the path before the lattice gazebo
Kimberlyn tilts her head against a bridesmaid in pale blue, both smiling under the garlanded gazebo at a Yarra Valley garden wedding
A bridesmaid wraps both arms around a laughing Kimberlyn, eyes squeezed shut, for garden portraits by the gazebo
A bridesmaid pulls a wide mouthed, wide eyed face over Kimberlyn's shoulder as both burst out laughing
The friend in a pale blue suit and floral bow tie grins cheek to cheek with Kimberlyn and her bouquet
Kimberlyn's bridesmaids and the friend in a pale blue suit squeeze in around her in the gardens at Ballara in Eltham
The bridesmaids lean in laughing around Kimberlyn, one whispering at her ear, in a tight huddle by the garden gazebo
Bridesmaids kick up their heels in a playful line with Kimberlyn on the gazebo path at this Yarra Valley wedding
Walking away along the path through the gardens at Ballara, Michael leans in to kiss Kimberlyn, her long train trailing
The couple stand with the bridesmaids and the friend in pale blue by the willow fringed lake on the edge of the Yarra Valley
Kimberlyn stands among Michael and his groomsmen on the path at Ballara Receptions, Eltham, the fountain playing in the lake behind
Michael and his groomsmen link arms in a long line on the path, the gazebo roof rising behind them in the Yarra Valley foothills
Michael and Kimberlyn gaze at each other on the timber deck above the lake at Ballara Receptions during garden portraits
Kimberlyn and Michael pose on the lakeside deck, her long train fanned across the boards, at a Yarra Valley garden wedding
Holding hands beneath a willow, Kimberlyn and Michael pause by a stone wall and iron gate in the gardens at Ballara in Eltham
Michael leads Kimberlyn by the hand along the brick edged path, ribbon trailing from her bouquet, on the edge of the Yarra Valley
Kimberlyn glances back with a grin as Michael leads her across the lawn beneath a huge willow for garden portraits at Ballara
Arm in arm on the grass, Kimberlyn leans towards a laughing Michael under hanging willow branches in the Yarra Valley foothills
Kimberlyn swings her skirt out in a wide arc across the lawn at Ballara Receptions, Eltham, smiling up at Michael beneath the willows
Laughing together on the lawn during Yarra Valley garden portraits, Kimberlyn lets her bouquet hang low as her train spreads over the grass
Kimberlyn gathers her skirt and looks back with a smile on the lawn by the lake, a weeping willow arching over the gardens
In a blush pink gown, Kimberlyn raises a glass with Michael, her dad and loved ones as toasts ring out in the Ballara Receptions ballroom
Friends in satin and florals shriek with laughter as a guest in a grey suit busts out dance moves on the parquet
Michael dances with gusto on the crowded floor as friends in pink, red and floral dresses dance behind him at this Yarra Valley wedding
Michael and Kimberlyn dance hand in hand across the parquet as guests cheer, the garden wedding party in full swing
Bridesmaids cheer as a guest hugs a man in a grey suit on the packed dance floor beneath glowing chandeliers
Kimberlyn and Michael share a slow embrace inside the lit white gazebo at Ballara after dark, the gardens in shadow around it
Michael and Kimberlyn kiss under strings of festoon lights by a stone wall in the gardens on the edge of the Yarra Valley
The wedding story

Our Ballara Receptions wedding photos: a red carpet to the gazebo, a waving crowd at the chapel and a kiss in the lit gazebo

Grey suits on a leafy street · A doorway full of faces · Red carpet to the lakeside gazebo · The whole crowd at the chapel · Lake deck and willow portraits · Ballroom toasts and a lit gazebo

Read the full story

An invitation and glitter heels

Kimberlyn and Michael’s day began with the small things. We set her ring on the embossed invitation with a sprig of greenery across one corner, then laid her glitter heels on a drift of tulle with dried purple flowers. Detail frames like these take a few minutes and are best done early, in soft window light, before the room fills up. Later, as she slipped the heels on, we came back for a close frame of the ankle strap peeking from her full tulle skirt, her pastel bouquet resting in her hand.

Grey suits on a leafy street

Michael and his groomsmen lined up on a quiet street under tall gums, all in matching grey suits. A firm handshake with a groomsman came first, then the jokes: Michael and a mate stroking their chins like detectives, then flexing for the camera with straight faces. We like taking a groom’s crew outside early, because open shade under street trees is kind to faces and gives everyone room to move. The last frame of the set was the whole line walking towards us mid-stride, with nobody quite in step.

Aprons and a crowded doorway

Then the groomsmen turned up for Kimberlyn wearing novelty aprons printed with cheeky cartoon bodies, barefoot on the footpath with their shoes lined up in front of them. Nobody kept a straight face. Inside, Kimberlyn waited on the edge of the bed with her veil down. Michael knelt on the carpet to hand her the bouquet, while a doorway packed with grinning faces watched every second. A wide lens tucked into the corner of a small bedroom lets us hold the groom, the bride and the audience in a single frame.

Red and gold, then the car

Kimberlyn later changed into a red and gold dress for family photos at home, with Michael beside her wearing a big red silk flower across his chest. Back in her gown, she turned in the window light so the train spread over the timber floor, and a loved one in gold brocade held her bouquet and looked at her with the softest smile. We caught that look from close beside them with a short portrait lens. Then Kimberlyn settled into the car, and we framed her through the open door, smiling out at the morning.

A red carpet to the gazebo

At Ballara, guests gathered on the lawn beside the chapel, chatting around an old wine barrel. Kimberlyn came along the garden path between her dad and the loved one in gold brocade, then down a red carpet laid towards the flower-garlanded gazebo. We stood behind them for that walk: from the back you see the train, the guests turning in their seats and the gazebo waiting at the end, all in one frame. A soft grey summer sky meant no hard shadows on the path and no squinting in the front rows.

Vows under the garland

Michael waited at the gazebo with his groomsmen in grey, and when Kimberlyn reached him they joined hands beneath a garland of white flowers and greenery. The bridesmaids stood along the path in long pale blue-grey dresses with small posies, a friend in a pale blue suit among them. In the white garden chairs, her dad in his red tie grinned through the vows, and the rows around him broke into applause. A gazebo ceremony puts everyone outdoors, so we moved quietly around the edge of the chairs to find faces as well as the couple.

Everyone in front of the chapel

Straight after the ceremony we brought every guest together on the curved drive in front of the chapel and the homestead verandah. From a raised spot we shot down the length of the crowd, then called for arms in the air, and the whole drive erupted in waving hands. Family groups followed on the path in front of the gazebo, one generation after another, with the garland still crowning the frame. When a guest list is this big, we work from a written list of groups and call them in order, which gets everyone back to the celebrating sooner.

Bridesmaids, a jetty and willows

Then the fun started. The bridesmaids crowded in around Kimberlyn in front of the gazebo, one pulling a wide-eyed face over her shoulder, and the groomsmen linked arms in a long grey line. We walked Kimberlyn and Michael onto the timber deck above the lake, the fountain playing behind them, then along the garden path and out onto the lawn under the willows. We love making Ballara Receptions wedding photos at the lake edge on a cloudy day: the light stays even, so we keep moving instead of chasing shade. On the grass, Kimberlyn swept her skirt out in a wide arc.

Toasts, dancing and a lit gazebo

Inside the ballroom, Kimberlyn had changed into a blush pink gown, and the toasts came thick and fast with glasses raised high around the bridal party. Michael busted out his best dance moves on the parquet while friends laughed behind him, and soon the floor was packed. Late in the night we took the two of them back outside. The gazebo glowed white in the dark and they shared a slow kiss inside it, then another under strings of festoon lights. Night portraits ask for a little patience and a steady hand, and they were well worth both.

Photographer's venue notes

Ballara Receptions, Eltham: a red carpet to the lakeside gazebo under soft summer cloud

Read the venue notes

How the gazebo shaped the afternoon

Kimberlyn and Michael chose the lakeside gazebo for their vows, so the ceremony happened entirely outdoors, with white chairs on the grass and the homestead verandah behind the rows. Guests mingled on the lawn by the chapel first, then took their seats. After the kiss we walked everyone the short distance to the curved drive in front of the chapel for the crowd shot, and the families came back to the gazebo path. The bridal party, the lake deck and the willow lawn followed before the ballroom.

A grey sky that worked in their favour

Their afternoon stayed overcast from start to finish, and for an outdoor ceremony that is a quiet gift. Nothing glaring bounced off the red carpet and the garland threw no dark band across the couple’s faces, so we could stand behind the walk and still hold every detail in Kimberlyn’s tulle. The even light also let us keep moving through the garden at our own pace, because the willows and the water looked rich and green from every direction we turned.

Spots that worked for Kimberlyn and Michael

For the crowd we climbed a little above everyone and looked down the curve of the drive, with the chapel’s red door at the centre. The garlanded gazebo framed the family groups and the bridesmaid fun, and the groomsmen linked arms along the path with its roof rising behind them. On the timber deck above the lake, Kimberlyn’s train fanned across the boards with the fountain playing beyond. A stone wall and iron gate under a willow gave us a quieter corner for just the two of them.

Tips for a big outdoor gazebo ceremony

Start your walk from the far end of the path, so the red carpet, the turning guests and the gazebo sit in one long line. Once you are married, stay outside: with a big guest list, everyone is already gathered and the crowd frame is over quickly. And come back to the gazebo late in the night. Lit up with fairy lights and flowers, it becomes a glowing frame of its own, and a short step out between dances gave Kimberlyn and Michael the quietest portrait of their day.

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