Loreto Mandeville Hall wedding photos: Melisa and Paul glance back from the grand stone staircase, her long veil drifting under blue sky in Melbourne
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Real church wedding · Toorak, Melbourne

Loreto Mandeville Hall Wedding Photos: Melisa & Paul

Loreto Mandeville Hall · 10 Mandeville Cres, Toorak VIC · Melbourne

Church & Cathedral Wedding · Heritage & Historic Venue Wedding · City: Melbourne · Venues: Loreto Mandeville Hall · The Hamptons Apartments

Hip flasks clinking on a rooftop, a bride laughing through happy tears on a sunlit stone terrace, then a twirl under the arches of one of Melbourne’s most lavishly decorated Victorian mansions. Melisa and Paul’s Loreto Mandeville Hall wedding in Toorak was all sage satin, white roses and bright summer light, with a garden full of family cheering them on. We were there from the first boutonniere to the last kiss on the grand front staircase, and we loved every minute.

The gallery
A groomsman pins a white rose boutonniere to Paul's light grey lapel on a rooftop terrace, a palm tree behind them.
Paul and his two groomsmen in matching light grey suits and navy ties stand together on the rooftop timber deck.
Paul walks across the rooftop deck with his groomsmen, all smiling in light grey suits and tan leather shoes.
Paul laughs with his groomsmen beside a green living wall on the rooftop terrace as one tells a story.
Paul trades a fist bump with a groomsman beside a planter of succulents on the rooftop deck.
Paul and a groomsman hold up small black hip flasks for a quick toast, arms around each other on the rooftop.
Paul and a groomsman take a swig from their hip flasks together beside the rooftop planters on an overcast morning.
Paul and a younger groomsman grin with their flasks in hand, palm trees and grey sky behind the glass balustrade.
Paul stands between two loved ones in a pale blue lace dress and a floral ruffled dress on the rooftop deck.
Paul poses beside a smiling loved one in a blush floral dress with a ruffled hem on the timber decking.
Paul links arms with a loved one in a blush pink lace and pleated dress, both smiling on the rooftop.
Paul throws his head back laughing while a loved one in blush pink lace holds his arm and laughs with him.
Paul shares a warm laugh with a grey haired loved one in a charcoal suit and a loved one in blush pink.
Paul smiles between a loved one in a charcoal suit and silver tie and a loved one in pale pink lace.
A family group of seven lines up on the rooftop terrace in grey suits, blue lace, blush pink and florals.
The family group of seven breaks into laughter and playful poses on the rooftop deck beside a green wall.
Paul sits on a white wire chair, one leg crossed and green socks showing, his two groomsmen standing behind him.
Paul and his groomsmen lounge on white wire chairs with their legs crossed, holding hands in a playful chain.
Melisa's bouquet of white roses, baby's breath and eucalyptus rests on soft tulle beside the rings in a black box.
Melisa in a white robe lifts her satin gown on its hanger up to the window at The Hamptons Apartments, St Kilda.
Melisa in her white gown stands between two bridesmaids in sage satin slip dresses by tall windows.
Melisa in her veil stands with a hand on her hip beside a brunette bridesmaid in sage satin.
A bridesmaid in sage satin leans in to kiss Melisa's cheek as she laughs in front of the windows.
Melisa smiles in her veil and satin gown with a blonde bridesmaid in a sage satin dress.
Melisa and a blonde bridesmaid in sage satin blow kisses at each other by the tall windows.
Melisa in her gown and veil stands between a loved one in a black dress and her dad in a navy suit.
Melisa laughs by the bright windows, held close by a loved one in a black dress and her dad in glasses.
A young loved one in a white shirt cracks up laughing beside Melisa as she beams in her veil.
Melisa poses by the windows with a young loved one in a white shirt, a loved one in black and her dad.
A blonde bridesmaid kneels to smooth Melisa's gown as a loved one in a black dress helps from behind.
A blonde bridesmaid in sage satin walks the curving path through the historic gardens of Loreto Mandeville Hall, Melisa and her dad behind.
A brunette bridesmaid in sage satin holds white roses and eucalyptus in front of a clipped hedge and a heritage stone urn.
Melisa walks the garden path to her ceremony on her dad's arm at Mandeville Hall as he gives a thumbs up.
Paul waits on the stone terrace with a quiet smile, a groomsman at his shoulder, in the grounds of the mansion and its church.
Paul grins with his hands clasped as Melisa arrives, sunlit trees and lawn behind him in the historic grounds.
Melisa's dad beams in sunglasses as he walks her across the lawn at Loreto Toorak, her veil lifting in the breeze.
Paul smiles on the stone terrace in the heritage grounds, framed past the edge of Melisa's veil and bouquet as she arrives.
Her dad shakes Paul's hand warmly before handing Melisa over, bridesmaids in sage satin looking on a short walk from the church.
Melisa and Paul face each other for their outdoor ceremony on a paved stone terrace at Loreto Mandeville Hall, wedding party either side.
A loved one in blush pink lace presses a hand to her lips, watching the vows at the historic school and its church.
Melisa smiles up at Paul during the vows at Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak as guests watch from the tiered stone steps.
Her dad stands by the tiered stone steps as guests in sunlight and shade watch the ceremony near the historic chapel.
Guests in florals and pale blue lace watch the vows from the stone steps, a loved one in blush pink deep in thought.
Smiling guests in sunglasses and bright summer prints sit along the stone steps above the ceremony at Mandeville Hall and its church.
Two guests sit on the stone wall in front of a clipped hedge in the heritage grounds, one resting a hand on her chin.
Melisa and Paul share a kiss on the stone terrace at Loreto Toorak as guests on the tiered steps and the celebrant look on.
Melisa covers her face with both hands as the happy tears come, Paul close beside her, the mansion's 1928 church a short stroll away.
A loved one in blush pink lace signs the register at a white draped table at Loreto Mandeville Hall as Paul watches.
A loved one in a black dress signs the register at the white draped table in the historic chapel grounds as the celebrant points.
Melisa and Paul grin as they hold up their marriage certificate at Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak, the celebrant smiling between them.
Melisa and Paul pose with family in front of a tall green hedge, a little one in white held on a hip.
Melisa laughs as she lifts a little one in a white dress and bow in front of the tall hedge of the heritage church grounds.
The whole wedding party and guests gather on the paved terrace at Mandeville Hall beneath leafy trees for the big group photo.
Every arm goes up in a cheer as guests and the wedding party wave on the paved terrace of the historic school and church grounds.
A family group of fourteen stands with Melisa and Paul on the paved terrace at Loreto Toorak in front of the hedge.
Melisa and Paul stand with her dad and a loved one in a dark green one shoulder dress, a short walk from the chapel.
Melisa and Paul pose with a loved one in a charcoal suit and one in blush pink lace in the heritage mansion and chapel grounds.
Melisa and Paul smile either side of an older loved one in sunglasses and a black and white top at Loreto Mandeville Hall.
Melisa holds her bouquet beside an older loved one in a black cardigan and white rose corsage, in grounds shared with the chapel.
Melisa and Paul with the groomsmen and two loved ones in blue lace and a floral dress against the hedge in the historic chapel grounds.
Melisa and Paul stand with a young loved one in a white shirt in front of the hedge at Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak.
Melisa and Paul with loved ones in a grey shirt, a navy floral maxi and a black floral dress in the chapel and mansion grounds.
The bridal party throws their arms in the air on the grand front staircase of Mandeville Hall, a 19th century heritage mansion.
Melisa, Paul and the bridal party walk hand in hand down the long drive of the historic church and school grounds, shadows stretching behind.
Melisa and Paul walk hand in hand up the church aisle of the Chapel of Christ the King, stained glass glowing at the far end.
Paul spins Melisa under his arm in the arched colonnade of the heritage mansion, her long veil sweeping across the patterned tiles.
Paul hugs Melisa from behind and kisses her hair in the arched colonnade at Loreto Mandeville Hall after their church portraits.
Melisa looks back over her shoulder holding Paul's hand as her veil drifts across a flowering path in the historic gardens.
Melisa and Paul kiss holding hands as her veil catches the breeze and wraps around them in the gardens after their chapel portraits.
Melisa and Paul stroll hand in hand across the sunlit lawn at Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak, Paul carrying her white roses.
Melisa and Paul laugh as they walk across the grass past orange flowering beds and clipped hedges of the heritage grounds.
Paul kisses Melisa's hand as they wander across the lawns of the school and its church, her bouquet tucked under his other arm.
Melisa and Paul walk arm in arm across the lawn at Loreto Toorak beneath a big shady tree.
Melisa and Paul smile at each other as they walk hand in hand across the front lawn of the historic mansion and chapel.
Melisa and Paul hold hands on the front lawn with the whole Italianate facade of heritage listed Mandeville Hall behind them.
Melisa smiles down at her bouquet on the front lawn, the 19th century mansion's arched balconies and white statue behind her.
Melisa and Paul look back from the grand staircase at Loreto Mandeville Hall, her veil trailing down the stone steps.
Melisa and Paul glance back from the historic staircase in black and white, her long veil sweeping the steps of the mansion beside its chapel.
The wedding story

Our Loreto Mandeville Hall wedding photos: happy tears on a stone terrace, a twirl under the arches and a cheer on the grand stairs

Getting ready at The Hamptons Apartments, St Kilda · Flasks on the rooftop · Vows on a sunlit stone terrace · Arms up by the hedge · Chapel aisle and arched colonnade · The grand front staircase

Read the full story

Flasks on the rooftop

Our day with Melisa and Paul began on a rooftop terrace, all timber decking, planter boxes and palm tops over the trees. A groomsman pinned the white rose boutonniere to Paul’s light grey lapel while we stood close enough to catch the concentration on both faces. Then the three of them strode across the deck in matching grey suits and navy ties, traded a fist bump and raised a pair of little flasks for a quick toast. Bright overcast skies are kind to a rooftop: soft, even light, no squinting and nobody hunting for shade.

Family on the terrace

The family arrived and the terrace filled with hugs. Paul stood between two loved ones in a pale blue lace dress and a floral one, then linked arms with a loved one in blush pink, and the two of them burst out laughing at something we never quite heard. We kept the camera up through the laughter, because the frame after the posed one is nearly always the better one. A family group of seven got playful at the end, and the groomsmen finished the morning lounging on white wire chairs, one leg crossed, looking very pleased with themselves.

Robe, rings and window light

Melisa got ready at The Hamptons Apartments in St Kilda, in a room with floor to ceiling windows. Before anything else we laid her bouquet of white roses, baby’s breath and eucalyptus on soft tulle and set the rings in their box at its base. Then Melisa, in a white robe, lifted her dress up to the glass and smiled at it. Big windows are the best friend a getting ready room can have: we turned her side on so the daylight wrapped around her face and the satin, with no lamps needed.

Sage satin and last touches

The bridesmaids were in sage satin slip dresses, and the moment Melisa was in her gown the room got loud. There were cheek kisses, hands on hips and a lot of talking with hands. Family came through for photos by the windows, and a young loved one in a white shirt cracked up beside her. Then a bridesmaid knelt and a loved one helped from behind to settle the gown into place while Melisa looked down at the fit. We like to photograph those last adjustments from low and to the side, so the hands and the dress tell the story.

Down the path with her dad

At Toorak the bridesmaids went first, one by one, along a curving garden path between clipped hedges, bouquets of white roses in hand. Then came Melisa on her dad’s arm, and he gave us a thumbs up and could not stop smiling. Paul waited on the terrace with his groomsmen, and we framed him past the edge of Melisa’s veil as she arrived. Her dad shook Paul’s hand warmly before handing her over, and that handshake is one of our favourite frames of the day.

Happy tears on the terrace

Melisa and Paul said their vows outdoors on a paved stone terrace in the grounds, the bridesmaids on one side, the groomsmen on the other and a wide lawn behind them. Guests sat along tiered stone steps under the trees, which put every face at a different height and made reactions easy to find. A loved one in blush pink pressed a hand to her lips. Melisa smiled up at Paul, then covered her face with both hands as the happy tears came. The register was signed at a little table draped in white, and they held up the certificate, grinning.

Arms up by the hedge

Family photos came straight after, against a tall green hedge that gave everyone a clean, even background and a little shade from the summer sun. Melisa lifted a little one in a white dress high into the air and laughed. Then we gathered everyone together for the big group, and every arm went up in a cheer. After that we moved quickly through the family lists, one side of the family at a time. A hedge like this is gold for groups: no distractions, no squinting into the sun.

Stairs, chapel and arches

With the bridal party, we headed for the grand front stairs of the mansion, ornate colonnaded balconies above and arms flung wide below. Then the six of them walked down the long drive, their shadows stretching out across the sun-bleached bitumen. We took Melisa and Paul inside the Chapel of Christ the King for a quiet walk up the aisle, stained glass glowing at the far end. Out in the arched colonnade, with its tiled floor and stone balustrade, Paul spun Melisa under his arm and her veil swept across the tiles.

A kiss on the grand staircase

Our Loreto Mandeville Hall wedding photos finished in the garden and on the lawns. Melisa’s veil caught the breeze and wrapped around them both for a kiss, and they wandered hand in hand across the grass while Paul kissed her hand and carried the bouquet. Out on the front lawn, the whole Italianate facade filled the frame behind them. We ended on the grand staircase under a clear blue sky, the two of them glancing back at us from the steps, and we kept one version of that frame in black and white.

Photographer's venue notes

Loreto Mandeville Hall, Toorak: vows on a sunlit stone terrace and a twirl under the arches

Read the venue notes

Terrace, hedge, stairs and colonnade

Melisa and Paul kept their whole ceremony outside. Melisa walked the curving garden path between clipped hedges on her dad's arm, and the vows happened on the paved stone terrace, with guests seated up the tiered steps under the trees. Family groups stayed on that same terrace against the tall hedge. From there we took the bridal party to the grand front stairs and down the long drive, slipped into the chapel for a quiet aisle walk, and finished in the arched colonnade and on the front lawn.

Bright summer sun

This was a clear summer day, and the sun was high for the ceremony. That meant strong light on the terrace and deep shade on the steps, so we watched where each face sat and kept the couple fully in one or the other, never half and half. Guests in the shade read beautifully against the sunlit lawn behind them. The hedge gave families an even green background, and stepping into the chapel gave the two of them a few quiet minutes out of the glare.

Spots that worked for Melisa and Paul

The tiered steps were a gift, because guests sat at different heights and every reaction had a clear line to the camera. On the grand stairs we shot wide from the drive so the colonnaded balconies sat above all those raised arms. The long drive turned the high sun into a feature, with the bridal party's shadows trailing behind them. In the colonnade, the patterned tiles and stone balustrade gave depth for a spin, and the veil swept right across the floor.

Planning tips from this day

If you marry in high summer, find shade for your guests, and seats on the steps under the trees are perfect for that. Pin your veil firmly, because the breeze across the lawn lifted Melisa's more than once, although it also gave us that kiss with the veil wrapped around them both. Keep the bridal party with you for the stairs and the drive, then let them go, so the chapel and colonnade portraits feel calm and unhurried.

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