The Grande Reception wedding photos: Katerina and Bill walk hand in hand down the stone steps of the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne
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Real church wedding · Epping, Melbourne

The Grande Reception Wedding Photos: Katerina & Bill

The Grande Reception · Epping VIC · Melbourne

Ballroom Wedding · Church & Cathedral Wedding · City: Melbourne · Venues: Carlton Gardens · The Grande Reception · Toorak Uniting Church

A cream dinner jacket waiting at the altar, groomsmen carrying a cloud of tulle under the plane trees, and a first dance lost in dry-ice fog. Katerina and Bill’s wedding began at Toorak Uniting Church, wandered through Carlton Gardens and finished at The Grande Reception in Epping, in Melbourne’s north, where the dance floor never emptied. We were right there for the laughter at the vows, the grand entrance on the red carpet and Bill flying high on his mates’ shoulders, and we loved it.

The gallery
Two groomsmen fasten Bill's cuffs as he looks down in his cream dinner jacket and black bow tie
Bill and his four groomsmen, the youngest in glasses, stand in black tie before two sedans under a big grey sky
In sunglasses and a cream tuxedo, Bill leans on a ribboned silver BMW with a drink in hand
Bill and a groomsman with a pink rose buttonhole smile side by side against a pale wall
Bill and a groomsman stand either side of a smiling woman in a navy dress with gold lace
Bill rests an arm on the shoulder of the youngest groomsman, a boy in a tuxedo with a pink rose
Bill shares a wide smile with a groomsman in black tie, hand in pocket, before leaving for the church
Katerina stands at the window in a robe slipped off her shoulders, her beaded gown hanging in the light
Katerina in her sparkling tiara among bridesmaids in blush, pink rose bouquets crowding the frame
Katerina holds white roses beside a bridesmaid with pink roses in front of a bright curtained window
A bridesmaid in a blush satin tea-length dress smiles beside Katerina and her round white rose bouquet
A younger bridesmaid laughs beside Katerina, both holding roses in the soft glow of the window
Katerina and a bridesmaid with long wavy hair beam at the camera, white and pink roses in hand
Katerina sprays perfume on her wrist by the curtains, a beaded bracelet catching the light
Katerina stands between an older man in a grey suit and an older woman in navy and gold lace
Katerina smiles between a man in a brown suit and glasses and a woman in a black beaded dress and fascinator
Looking down at her beaded bodice, Katerina smooths her full tulle skirt, her engagement ring showing
A little girl in a lace dress stops to look up at Katerina, who waits in the doorway with white roses
Seated with her white roses in her lap, Katerina smiles under a floral crystal tiara before the church
Katerina poses with loved ones in the living room: two boys, a girl in lace, a woman in navy and a man in blue
Bill waits at the front of Toorak Uniting Church with his groomsmen under the timber roof and stained glass
Seen past a guest in a dark suit, Katerina smiles at Bill as they face each other below the church's stained glass
Groomsmen line the red carpet at the church altar steps as the youngest hides his face and the pews look on
Katerina covers her mouth laughing mid vows as the front pews of the church laugh along with her
Four bridesmaids in blush satin with pink roses wait on the red carpeted steps of Toorak Uniting Church in Melbourne's south-east
Bill slides the ring onto Katerina's finger as the officiant in white robes holds the book at the church altar
In a church pew an older guest presses a hand to his face while the woman beside him watches every word
Katerina and Bill walk arm in arm back down the aisle of Toorak Uniting Church on Toorak Road, smiling
Confetti flies as Katerina and Bill come out of the church, Bill holding up a white folder with a grin
A huge crowd of guests cheers with Katerina and Bill in front of Toorak Uniting Church, a white stretch limousine at the kerb
Katerina and Bill stand with three loved ones on the paving beside the church's sandstone wall and leadlight window
Two couples join Katerina and Bill for a family photo against the sandstone church and its arched windows
An older man in a dark suit and patterned tie links arms with Bill and Katerina outside the church
Katerina and Bill stand between an older woman in navy lace and an older man in a blue tie on the church path
A big family group with children in bow ties gathers around Katerina and Bill on the church forecourt
Katerina and Bill with a woman in black, a man in a grey suit and two boys outside Toorak Uniting Church in Melbourne's south-east
Two boys in tuxedos stand at either end as the family group smiles against the pale stone of the church
Katerina and Bill line up with relatives in suits and patterned dresses along the church's sandstone wall
Bridesmaids in blush satin and pink roses flank Katerina, Bill, a groomsman and a woman in navy lace on the church forecourt
A tighter frame of the bridesmaids, a groomsman and a woman in navy lace with the couple, red blossom at the church's corner
A man in a dark suit joins the bridesmaids, groomsman and couple for a wider group in front of the church
Friends crowd in around Katerina and Bill under the sandstone walls of Toorak Uniting Church on Toorak Road
Bill kisses Katerina between groomsmen in black tie and bridesmaids in blush outside the stone church
Katerina and Bill walk hand in hand past the ornate corner pavilion of the Royal Exhibition Building, her veil trailing
Bill leads Katerina down the steps as her tulle skirt spills before the tall blue doors of the exhibition hall
Bill leans in close to Katerina's cheek as she shuts her eyes, her white roses resting behind his shoulder
Laughing bridesmaids, groomsmen and the couple walk together in a loose line under the trees
The groomsmen gather up Katerina's tulle skirt like a cloud as she laughs on the lawn at Carlton Gardens
Bill and his groomsmen stride across the grass in a line under tall plane trees, sun bursting through the leaves
Katerina sits on a park bench with her bridesmaids perched behind, pink roses in hand, at Carlton Gardens in Carlton
Katerina and Bill stand close on the sunlit lawn under a feathery canopy of leaves after the church ceremony
Hands in pockets, Bill smiles on the shaded lawn of the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
Katerina walks alone along the path in her flowing gown, dappled light falling across the lawn and plane trees
A bridesmaid in blush and a groomsman stride arm in arm down the red carpet into the ballroom at The Grande Reception
A beaming groomsman walks a smiling bridesmaid along the red carpet past the ballroom bar
The youngest groomsman waves to the room as he escorts a bridesmaid in blush satin into The Grande Reception in Epping
A young groomsman in glasses waves as he walks a bridesmaid down the red carpet while guests clap from the ballroom tables
Katerina and Bill make their entrance arm in arm on the red carpet at The Grande as the ballroom applauds
Katerina and Bill cut their white and gold tiered cake as the bridesmaids watch from the bridal table in the ballroom
Bill leans in laughing as he and Katerina slice the cake at The Grande Reception in Melbourne's north
Bill twirls Katerina in their first dance as dry ice fog rolls across the ballroom floor under green lights
Bridesmaids laugh with hands clasped at the bridal table during the speeches at The Grande Reception & Function Centre
A guest in a pink netted hat laughs with her hands under her chin at a ballroom wedding reception table
Microphone in hand, Bill grins down at Katerina during his speech in the ballroom at The Grande Reception
Guests at round ballroom tables turn to listen, candelabra and white roses among them
A woman in navy lace blows a kiss towards the bridal table as guests clap in the ballroom at The Grande
Guests at a round table turn and smile across a packed ballroom of white chairs tied with gold bows
Katerina and Bill dance in the middle of a crowd of guests on the ballroom floor at The Grande Reception in Epping
Bill kicks out in his waistcoat as Katerina's skirt swirls beside him on the parquet ballroom dance floor
An older couple dance and laugh, one holding up a phone on a video call, at The Grande Reception in Melbourne's north
Bill kneels on the ballroom parquet with a giant green bottle at his lips as guests cheer around him
Katerina and Bill visit a table and pose behind two seated guests at The Grande
Doing the rounds of the ballroom tables, Katerina and Bill pose behind a smiling seated couple
Katerina and Bill lean in behind a seated couple by a candle centrepiece at The Grande Reception
Katerina and Bill gather with a seated couple and a little girl at a candlelit ballroom table
Katerina and Bill smile beside three older guests at a table set with watermelon at The Grande Reception & Function Centre
Under red light a bridesmaid laughs as a guest in navy holds a selfie stick high over the ballroom dance floor
Bill rides high on his mates' shoulders, grinning, under the coloured ballroom lights at The Grande Reception in Epping
Bill is hoisted aloft again by friends in white shirts, one in sunglasses pointing at the camera, in the ballroom
Katerina throws her arms wide in front of a crowd of cheering friends on the dance floor at The Grande
A young guest in a bow tie slides across the ballroom parquet on his stomach as Katerina and the crowd watch
Katerina laughs as friends swing a young guest off his feet at The Grande Reception in Melbourne's north
Katerina and Bill hold hands and dance face to face in the ballroom crowd under pink lights
Men in white shirts link arms and dance in a circle under pink and red ballroom light at The Grande Reception
A little girl rides on a smiling man's shoulders beside a woman in navy at the edge of the ballroom dance floor
Katerina and Bill pose with two guests, one in a silver beaded dress and netted hat, at The Grande Reception in Epping
Two friends in white shirts dance shoulder to shoulder under orange ballroom light, one in sunglasses
A guest in a white shirt and red tie strikes a wide dance pose under blue light at The Grande Reception & Function Centre
A man spins a laughing little girl in a sparkly dress on the ballroom floor while Katerina watches behind
Katerina and Bill laugh together against a wall glowing warm orange in a last portrait at The Grande Reception
The wedding story

Our Grande Reception wedding photos: laughter at the altar, tulle under the plane trees and a groom on his mates’ shoulders

Getting ready at home · Ceremony at Toorak Uniting Church · Family on the sandstone steps · Portraits at Carlton Gardens · Red carpet entrance at The Grande Reception · Dry-ice first dance

Read the full story

Cufflinks and a silver sedan

Our day started with Bill, already in his cream dinner jacket and black bow tie, holding out his wrists while two groomsmen fought with the cufflinks. We like to photograph that moment tight, hands only, because it says ‘nearly time’ better than any pose. Then he stepped outside, put on his sunglasses and leant against a silver sedan like he owned the street. Back inside, he lined up with each of the boys in turn, including the youngest of the party in a tuxedo of his own, and every one of them was grinning.

Pink roses and sparkle

Across town, Katerina was ready in a beaded bodice, a full tulle skirt and a sparkling tiara, holding a round bouquet of white roses. Her bridesmaids crowded in close with pink rose bouquets and plenty of laughter, and one by one they stood beside her at the window for a photo. A big window behind a bride is a gift: it puts a glow around the veil and keeps her face soft. Loved ones came in for portraits beside her, and a little girl in a lace dress stopped in the doorway to look up at her.

Waiting by the stained glass

Toorak Uniting Church is all timber roof, Gothic windows and red carpet, and Bill waited at the front with his groomsmen lined up beside him. We worked from the side aisle so we could see his face as Katerina came towards him. When she reached him, they held hands under the stained glass, and halfway through the vows she covered her mouth and laughed. So did the front pews. Church interiors can be dim, so we choose our angles early and work with the window light rather than a flash during the service.

Blush satin on the steps

The bridesmaids stood on the red-carpeted steps in blush satin with their pink bouquets, a lovely line of colour against the cream walls and dark timber. In the pews, an older guest pressed a hand to his mouth while the woman beside him watched every word, and we kept a longer lens on them. Toorak Uniting Church wedding moments like these happen in the congregation as much as at the front. Then it was done, and Katerina and Bill walked back down the aisle together, both of them laughing, with the whole church on its feet.

Family on the sandstone

Outside, the whole crowd squeezed in front of the church for one big group photo, with a white stretch limousine and a vintage car parked at the kerb. Then we moved the family groups against the pale sandstone wall beside the arched windows. Stone like this is a perfect neutral: it warms skin, never competes with the dress and looks the same in every frame of a set. We worked from small groups to large ones, finishing with the bridesmaids in blush and the groomsmen in black ties lined up on either side of the couple.

Doors of the Exhibition Building

From Toorak we drove across town to Carlton Gardens. We started at the tall blue doors of the Royal Exhibition Building, where Katerina’s skirt filled the steps and Bill took her hand to bring her down. Grand architecture can swallow a couple, so we stood well back and kept them centred under the carved stonework, with the doors framing them like a stage. Then we came in close for a quieter frame: Bill leaning in against her cheek, her white roses resting behind his shoulder and the veil catching the light.

Tulle under the plane trees

Under the plane trees the groomsmen took charge. Four of them gathered up Katerina’s skirt and carried it like a cloud while she laughed between them, and then the whole party walked towards us across the grass in a long line. Avenues of big trees are perfect at four in the afternoon: the canopy cuts the glare and the light comes through the leaves in soft patches. We finished with Katerina and Bill together on the lawn, and a portrait of Bill alone with his hands in his pockets, completely at ease.

Red carpet and dry ice

At The Grande Reception the bridal party made their entrance along a red carpet, couple by couple, each pair with their own dance moves. Then Katerina and Bill walked in, arm in arm, to a room full of raised phones. The cake, white with gold trim, stood in front of the bridal table, and they cut it together with the bridesmaids watching from behind. For the first dance the floor disappeared under dry ice, and we lit them from behind so the fog glowed around them. Bill’s speech had the whole bridal table in stitches.

Shoulders and a floor slide

Then the night really started. Bill danced in his waistcoat with Katerina’s skirt swirling beside him, the couple did the rounds of every table, and the lights changed from pink to green to blue. His mates hoisted him onto their shoulders, twice, and a young guest in a bow tie slid across the dance floor on his stomach to huge cheers. A little one rode on someone’s shoulders, and the dancing never thinned out. We closed with one last portrait of Katerina and Bill bathed in warm orange light against the wall.

Photographer's venue notes

The Grande Reception, Epping: a red carpet entrance and a dry-ice first dance under changing lights

Read the venue notes

From Toorak to the ballroom floor

Katerina and Bill came to The Grande Reception at the end of a long, happy day: vows in Toorak, family groups against pale sandstone, then portraits at Carlton Gardens under the plane trees. By the time we reached Epping the ballroom was full and waiting. The bridal party walked the red carpet in pairs past the bar, the couple followed to a room of raised phones, and the night moved from cake cutting in front of the bridal table to speeches, a lap of every round table and a dance floor that stayed busy.

Working with the colour of the room

The ballroom lights shifted all night, from green during the first dance to pink, red, blue and finally a deep warm orange. We love that colour behind dancers, but it can turn skin strange, so for faces we added a small light of our own and let the room glow behind. For the first dance we put that light behind Katerina and Bill, so the dry ice rolling over the parquet lit up around them while Bill twirled her. Those first moments, before the fog spreads, give the cleanest shapes.

Where we stood for the big moments

For the red carpet we waited low at the far end, so every pair danced straight towards us and the clapping tables filled the edges of the frame. At the cake we moved to the side, which kept the bridesmaids in view behind the couple. During Bill’s speech we turned a longer lens on the room: a guest in a pink netted hat laughing into her hands, a loved one in navy lace blowing a kiss. Then we followed the couple table by table, catching each group quickly so nobody waited long.

Ideas for your own ballroom night

Plan the table rounds early in the evening, while everyone is still seated and dressed up, and those small family groups become a lovely record of the whole room. If your mates are likely to hoist you onto their shoulders, as Bill’s did twice, give us a nod so we are already in front. And keep a moment near the end of the night for a quiet portrait against a lit wall. Katerina and Bill’s last frame, laughing in that orange glow, is one of our favourites from their day.

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