Bellarine Estate Wedding Photos
North-facing vines above Corio Bay, a family winery on Portarlington Road twenty minutes out of Geelong.
Bellarine Estate is a family-owned winery on Portarlington Road at Bellarine, about twenty minutes from Geelong on the Bellarine Peninsula. The vineyard was planted in 1996 on north-facing hills that look over Corio Bay, 27 acres of vines within a property of more than 100 acres, growing chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz. The estate also runs Thirty Acres Distillery and its restaurant, a bright room with large windows that opens to the outdoors, and glamping on site.
Elly and Marc held both their ceremony and reception at Bellarine Estate, and the 338 images in that gallery show how the day moves: vows outside with the bay behind, drinks on the lawn as the light drops over the water, then dinner in the restaurant. Ceremonies seat up to 80; the restaurant takes 80 seated or 100 for a cocktail reception, so it suits a mid-sized wedding rather than a big one.
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 Bellarine Estate
The slope faces north, so the water is behind the couple for most of the day and the sun comes across rather than into the lens; a late-afternoon ceremony puts warm side-light on faces. Walk the vine rows for portraits, then drop to the restaurant windows for the last frames before dinner. Wet weather moves the ceremony indoors under the same big windows. The gallery below is Elly and Marc’s wedding.