Russo Estate wedding photos: Loren and Tim embrace between white flowering bushes as the sun sets over the gum trees in Melbourne
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Real winery wedding · Diggers Rest, Melbourne

Russo Estate Wedding Photos: Loren & Tim

Russo Estate · 760-818 Holden Rd, Diggers Rest VIC · Melbourne

Garden Wedding · Winery & Vineyard Wedding · City: Melbourne · Venue: Russo Estate

A groom with his face in his hands under a weathered log arch, a champagne spray between the vines and a sun sinking behind the gum trees while Loren and Tim kissed among white roses. Their Russo Estate wedding kept the vows, the portraits and the party on one family winery at Diggers Rest, north-west of Melbourne. Loren walked into the reception in heart-shaped sunglasses and the whole room got to its feet. We loved every minute with them.

The gallery
Tim's dark wedding band in a green velvet hexagonal ring box, resting on a dark green invitation with white script.
A groomsman crouches to fix Tim's trouser leg while he sits laughing at the dining table as the boys get ready.
A groomsman in a pink bow tie straightens Tim's black bow tie over his pleated white dress shirt.
Tim and his groomsmen hitch up their trousers in the hallway to show off black socks stitched with their names.
A loved one in a black floral dress pins a blush boutonniere to the lapel of Tim's black tuxedo.
Two loved ones plant a kiss on each of Tim's cheeks at once as he grins in his tuxedo and bow tie.
Tim stands at home with three loved ones in black, one in a floral dress, all wearing white or blush boutonnieres.
A smiling woman in an off the shoulder black dress and red lipstick helps pin Tim's buttonhole, a white rose on her own dress.
Close portrait of Tim in a black tuxedo with a shawl lapel, a peach rose and pampas boutonniere pinned on.
Tim bursts out laughing in his black tuxedo and bow tie, a soft window glow behind him.
Tim and five groomsmen in black tuxedos line up against a dark garage door framed by grey brick.
The groomsmen hoist a laughing Tim sideways across their arms in front of the dark garage door.
A bearded groomsman in round glasses wraps Tim in a bear hug against the grey cladding of the garage door.
Tim and a groomsman in a peach bow tie stand arm in arm, smiling, in front of dark timber-look cladding.
Tim laughs and looks away as a groomsman tugs his lapel with a grin beside the brick edged garage door.
Tim and a tall groomsman in a dusty pink bow tie smile side by side against horizontal dark cladding.
A groomsman kicks up his heel and flashes his ring as he leans on a beaming Tim by the garage door.
Tim and a groomsman with a shaved head share a relaxed portrait, blush boutonnieres pinned to both lapels.
A bearded groomsman in a green bow tie throws an arm around Tim and points at him with a cheeky grin.
Tim and his five groomsmen stride along a suburban footpath in bright afternoon sun, long shadows stretching ahead.
Loren's pear shaped halo engagement ring sits on a sage green invitation beside a blush rose and pampas grass.
Loren fixes her earrings in a sheer floral robe, her lace wedding gown hanging on a timber door beside her.
Flat lay of a dark green invitation with Loren's ring, crystal drop earrings, pampas plumes and a pale pink rose on timber.
Two bridesmaids and Loren's mum and dad wait for the bride's reveal.
Loren's bridesmaids and loved ones pull her into one big group hug, her long blonde ponytail at the centre.
Loren in an off the shoulder lace gown holds a cascading bouquet of white orchids, roses and pampas.
Loren glances back over her shoulder, her tulle train trailing across the floorboards in soft window light.
Loren twirls her lace gown and smiles down at the swinging skirt beside a bright glass door.
Looking back with a wide smile, Loren lifts her tulle skirt as the train fans out on the timber floor.
Close portrait of Loren in crystal drop earrings, looking down over blush roses and feathery pampas.
Loren and a bridesmaid in a rust satin dress laugh at each other over their orchid and pampas bouquets.
A bridesmaid in sage green cracks up with Loren, both holding blush rose and pampas posies.
Loren poses with a bridesmaid in an emerald cowl neck satin dress, their bouquets side by side.
Loren and a bridesmaid in a peach slip dress smile straight at the camera, holding matching blush bouquets.
Loren throws her head back laughing beside a bridesmaid in a champagne one shoulder dress.
A bridesmaid in champagne satin kisses Loren on the cheek as she smiles upward, bouquets held low.
Loren and her mum in a dusty pink lace dress share a quiet look, her bouquet of orchids between them.
Her mum in pink lace presses a kiss to Loren's forehead as the bride smiles with eyes lowered.
A loved one gently brushes a strand of hair from Loren's face before she leaves for the ceremony.
Loren stands with her dad in a dark three piece suit and pink tie, her cascading bouquet in hand.
Loren between her mum in pink lace and her dad in a dark suit, her tulle train spread on the floorboards.
Loren pauses on a dusty track among the gum trees, her long tulle train fanned out behind her.
Loren and her five bridesmaids in rust, champagne, peach, sage and emerald dresses smile among the gums.
Close group portrait of Loren with her bridesmaids, each in her own colour, holding pampas and orchid posies.
Full length shot of Loren and her bridesmaids lined up on a bark strewn track under tall gum trees.
The bridesmaids gather around Loren and laugh together in dappled afternoon light beneath the gums.
Tim and his groomsmen wait under the weathered log arch at Russo Estate for the garden ceremony, the celebrant beside the red carpet.
Loren's mum and dad walk her down the red carpet aisle of the winery ceremony, her long train spreading behind.
Loren's mum and dad hold hands in the front row of the garden wedding at Russo Estate Winery, the glass walled marquee behind.
Loren and Tim hold hands under the log arch as the celebrant reads, open vineyard country stretching to the hills.
The bridesmaids stand in a row of colour beside the log arch in the gardens of Russo Estate, Diggers Rest.
Tim covers his face with both hands, overcome, as Loren laughs and reaches for him at their winery ceremony.
Two bridesmaids share a reading during the garden ceremony at Russo Estate in Diggers Rest as Loren and Tim listen.
Tim leans in laughing as Loren holds his arm under the timber beam, the winery lawn stretching out behind them.
Guests stand on the red gravel at Russo Estate for the garden wedding vows, gum trees and a curved wire trellis behind.
Loren's mum and dad watch from white chairs as a guest shades an older guest with a patterned umbrella, vine rows behind.
A guest in a black floral dress claps, close to tears, from her white chair during the garden ceremony at Russo Estate Winery.
Loren and Tim grin down the lens as they sign at a timber table, open vineyard paddocks behind them.
Loren and Tim sign on a wine barrel table with a bridesmaid and a groomsman in the garden at Russo Estate, Diggers Rest.
The first kiss under the weathered log arch as groomsmen clap and the sun flares over the garden wedding.
Every guest gathers around Loren and Tim in one high frame by the waterfall rocks at Russo Estate in Diggers Rest, the vineyard beyond.
Arms fly into the air as the whole crowd cheers around the newlyweds beside the rock gardens, the winery lawn behind.
Loren and Tim with three loved ones under leafy trees on the red gravel paths of the Russo Estate gardens.
Loren and Tim beam beside three older loved ones in garden portraits under the winery's shady trees.
A family group of six stands with Loren and Tim beneath the leafy garden canopy at Russo Estate Winery.
Loren and Tim with her mum and dad on the red gravel among the gardens and boulders.
Garden wedding family photo at Russo Estate, Diggers Rest: Loren and Tim with her mum and dad and bridesmaids in peach and champagne.
A tall family portrait on red gravel, leafy fruit trees from the winery gardens arching over the group.
Loren and Tim's garden portrait at Russo Estate in Diggers Rest with two loved ones, one holding a red clutch.
Loren and Tim with three loved ones, one in a black floral dress, in a shady corner of the winery garden.
Two loved ones, one in a grey tulle skirt, stand with the newlyweds under the fruit trees in the gardens at Russo Estate.
Loren and Tim with two bridesmaids and two young men in white shirts under the vineyard estate's garden trees.
A guest in a pink slip dress and a man in a tuxedo join Loren and Tim for garden portraits at Russo Estate Winery.
A larger family group of eight lines up with Loren and Tim along a boulder edged path through the winery gardens.
Loren stands with Tim and the groomsmen under the curved wire trellis walkway in the gardens at Russo Estate, Diggers Rest.
Loren and Tim kiss under the arching wire trellis on the winery's garden wedding walk, white climbing roses beside them.
Tim kisses Loren's temple under the trellis as late sun washes over the gardens at Russo Estate in Diggers Rest.
Hand in hand, Loren and Tim walk out from the trellis laughing, sunlight flaring through the gardens.
The whole bridal party walks towards the camera between the vines at Russo Estate, long shadows stretching over the grass.
Loren's bridesmaids raise their bouquets high around her in the long grass of the vineyard, hills on the skyline.
Tim laughs in the middle of the bridesmaids as they stroll through the vineyard at Russo Estate Winery in warm light.
Loren and Tim rest their foreheads together in low golden light at the winery, her pampas and rose bouquet in front.
Loren looks back over her shoulder as she and Tim walk hand in hand past the vine rows at Russo Estate, Diggers Rest.
Tim sprays champagne into the golden light as Loren opens her own bottle among the vines, the bridal party cheering behind.
Tim smiles down at Loren as she glances back over her shoulder, the sun low over the vineyard at Russo Estate in Diggers Rest.
Loren and Tim walk arm in arm through the long grass towards the camera under a soft peach sky at the winery.
Loren tips her head onto Tim's shoulder in the last light over the vineyard at Russo Estate, her orchid bouquet held close.
Tim dips Loren for a kiss between the vine rows, her bouquet hanging loose at her side.
Loren makes her reception entrance in heart shaped sunglasses as Tim dances behind her at Russo Estate Winery.
Loren and Tim cut a gold drip cake topped with figurines of the pair on a wine barrel in the winery's glass walled room.
Guests rise to their feet and clap in the glass walled winery reception room at Russo Estate, Diggers Rest.
Loren and Tim hold each other among white standard roses by the old stone wall of the rose garden as the sun sinks.
Close sunset garden portrait of Loren and Tim nose to nose, her hand on his lapel, at Russo Estate in Diggers Rest.
Loren and Tim share one last kiss among white standard roses as a peach and gold sunset ends their garden wedding at the winery.
The wedding story

Our Russo Estate wedding photos: happy tears under the log arch, champagne in the vines and a sunset among white roses

Getting ready at home · Vows under the log arch at Russo Estate · Every guest in one frame · Trellis and vineyard portraits · Heart sunglasses at the reception · Sunset in the white roses

Read the full story

Velvet boxes and sock checks

Tim’s afternoon started at home with the groomsmen, and the first thing we photographed was his ring in a green velvet box, resting on the invitation. Then the room got busy. One groomsman crouched to sort out Tim’s trouser leg, another straightened his bow tie, and the whole crew lined up, trousers hitched, to show off their socks. A loved one in a floral dress pinned on his boutonniere, and two more planted a kiss on each cheek at once. We worked wide in the small room so every laugh stayed in the frame.

A lift by the garage door

Outside, a dark clad garage door became our backdrop. It sounds unglamorous, but a flat, dark wall is one of the best places for groom photos: the light is even, nobody squints, and black suits and pale pink boutonnieres stand out cleanly. The groomsmen hoisted Tim sideways across their arms, then we worked through pairs, a bear hug, a kicked-up heel and a cheeky point at the lapel. To finish, all six strode down the street together in the afternoon sun, long shadows stretching out in front of them.

A robe, a gown and a reveal

Across town, Loren’s ring sat on her invitation among pampas grass and a blush rose. She fixed her earrings in a sheer floral robe while her lace gown hung on a timber door beside her, and we stood back so the window light could do the work. Once she was dressed, two bridesmaids, a loved one in pink lace and a loved one in a dark suit lined up for the reveal. Hands went to mouths, then everyone piled into one big hug. Loren finished with a twirl in the window light, her train swinging across the floorboards.

Five dresses, five colours

Loren’s bridesmaids each wore their own colour, rust, emerald, peach, champagne and sage, and every one got her own frame with the bride. That meant a lot of laughing, a kiss on the cheek and one bridesmaid who simply could not keep a straight face. A loved one in pink lace brushed a strand of hair from Loren’s face, a small moment we kept tight and simple. Then we headed outside among the gum trees, where the bridesmaids gathered around Loren with their pampas and orchid bouquets.

Vows under the log arch

At Russo Estate, Tim and the groomsmen waited under the arch: a weathered log beam laid across two bare trunks, with the vines, open country and a line of hills behind them. A red carpet ran down the aisle over red gravel, white chairs on either side. Loren’s mum and dad walked her in, her long train spreading across the carpet behind them. The late afternoon sun was strong, and a loved one held a patterned umbrella over an older guest. We stood low and to the side so the arch framed the couple against that big, bright sky.

Hands over his face

Partway through the ceremony Tim put both hands over his face, completely overcome, while Loren laughed and reached for him. It lasted seconds, and it is the frame people will remember. We always keep one of us on the groom’s face during the vows for exactly this. The bridesmaids stood in a row of colour beside the arch, guests clapped from the chairs, and Loren and Tim signed at a round timber table set on a wine barrel, grinning straight down the lens. Then came the kiss under the log beam, and the cheering started.

Every guest in one frame

Loren and Tim wanted a photo with every guest, so their Russo Estate wedding photos started big. We climbed up high above the ceremony area, with the rocks of the waterfall on one side and the arch behind, and fitted the whole crowd into one frame, then again with every arm in the air. Shooting from height is the trick for a group this size: everyone’s face shows and nobody hides behind a taller guest. Then we moved through the family groups under the trees on the red gravel, including Loren and Tim with three older loved ones beaming beside them.

Trellis, vines and champagne

Next came the bridal party under a curved trellis walkway, the groomsmen lined up either side of Loren, then the two of them alone beneath the arching wire. As the sun dropped, we took everyone out into the long grass beside the vines. The bridesmaids threw their bouquets in the air, the whole party walked towards us with long shadows behind them, and Tim popped a bottle of champagne and sprayed it across the golden light. For the couple portraits we put the sun behind them in the vine rows, so their hair and Loren’s train lit up.

Sunglasses, cake and roses

The reception was in the function room, all glass walls and a warm timber ceiling. Loren made her entrance in heart-shaped sunglasses with Tim dancing behind her, and every guest stood up clapping. They cut a gold drip cake topped with little figurines of the two of them, set on another wine barrel. Then, just before sunset, we slipped back outside for a short session among the white standard roses on the old stone wall. The sun sank behind the gum trees, everything turned peach and gold, and Loren and Tim stole one last kiss.

Photographer's venue notes

Russo Estate, Diggers Rest: log arch vows in strong sun, champagne in the vines and sunset roses

Read the venue notes

Loren and Tim’s path through the estate

Tim and the groomsmen were waiting under the log arch when Loren’s mum and dad walked her down the red carpet, her train spreading over the gravel behind. Once the vows were done we went straight into the big group by the waterfall rocks, then took the family photos across to the shady trees on the red gravel paths. The bridal party went next under the curved wire trellis, before we all headed out to the long grass beside the vines. After the reception entrance, we came back outside once more for the rose garden.

Working with bright afternoon sun

The sun was strong for the ceremony, bright enough that a loved one shaded an older guest in the front rows. Rather than fight it, we let the sun flare over the arch for the first kiss and saved the softer frames for later. Family groups went under the leafy fruit trees, where the shade evened out everyone’s faces. By the time we reached the vines the light had dropped low and warm, and at sunset it turned the sky peach and gold behind the gum trees.

The spots we chose for these two

For a crowd this big, height was everything, so we stood above the ceremony area with the waterfall rocks to one side and fitted every guest into a single wide frame. The curved trellis, with white climbing roses beside it, gave the couple a tunnel to kiss under and then walk out of, laughing. In the long grass we kept the sun behind the bridal party as they walked towards us. Last of all, the white standard roses by the old stone wall gave us a quiet close to the day.

Tips from Loren and Tim’s wedding

If you want a champagne spray, do it in the vines with the sun low behind you: the droplets catch the light, and the bridal party cheering in the background makes the frame. Put your family groups under the fruit trees, as we did here, so older loved ones are out of the sun while we work. And once the reception is under way, keep an eye on the window. We slipped Loren and Tim out to the roses just before the sun touched the gums, and a few minutes was plenty.

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