Amelina Cottages Wedding Photos
Four cottages in half an acre of garden, state forest across the road, and a wood heater for the morning.
Amelina Cottages is a group of four self-contained cottages on the Marysville-Buxton Road in Marysville, about 99 km north-east of Melbourne in the forested hills beyond the Black Spur. The cottages sit on just over half an acre of cottage-style garden opposite state forest, a short walk from the town centre. Each has a wood heater and a spa bath; two sleep four and two sleep two. Marysville itself was largely rebuilt after the Black Saturday fires of February 2009.
For Veri this was a getting-ready spot rather than a ceremony venue. Jack and his groomsmen got ready in one of the cottages here before the wedding at Narbethong Community Hall, while Aroya dressed at Fernbrook Cottage across town. Small cottages suit the quiet first hour of a wedding day: suits on the bed, a garden step for the group shot, and forest light coming through the trees.
How to prepare for your wedding photos (without overthinking it)
Seven small things that make a real difference on the day — learned across hundreds of weddings. None of them involve practising poses.
In motion, unposed · FR 15A1. Be yourselves — that's where the magic is
You don't need to perform or worry about what you look like. The best photos come from real moments: a glance, a laugh, a shared breath. Let go a little — we'll guide when needed, and the best unfolds naturally.
2. Build buffer time into your timeline
A little breathing room between getting ready, the ceremony and couple portraits makes all the difference. It gives us space for spontaneous shots — and gives you time to soak it all in.
3. Choose locations that feel like you
A quiet lane, an open field, a textured wall — we love meaningful or interesting spots. Trust us to find great light, but if you've got a place you love, let's work it in.
4. Consider an unplugged ceremony
Phones can distract from the emotion (and your photos). Asking guests to be fully present makes for cleaner frames and a more heartfelt atmosphere.
5. Get ready in calm, light-filled spaces
Clutter-free rooms with natural light are a photographer's dream, and calm energy in the morning sets the tone for the day. Keep the space tidy — or assign a friend to do a quick sweep before we arrive.
6. Keep a drink and snacks nearby
Especially during portraits — hydration and a little sugar go a long way in keeping energy and moods high.
7. Trust the process
We've worked at hundreds of weddings and we're here to make you look and feel amazing. Trust us with the light, the angles, the pace — we've got you.
Photographing a wedding at Amelina Cottages
Cottage rooms are small and the light is best at the windows, so I keep the getting-ready set simple: details on the verandah, then the groomsmen on the garden path with the forest across the road behind them. The half-acre garden gives more room than the rooms do, and it is worth walking the party out into it before the cars come. If it rains, the covered verandahs and the wood fire inside carry the morning. The gallery below is Aroya and Jack’s Narbethong wedding, which began here.