Crittenden Wines Wedding Photos
Vine rows at the foot of Red Hill, willows over the water, and a lake that holds the last of the light.
Crittenden Wines is the Crittenden family’s estate in Dromana, on the Mornington Peninsula. Garry and Margaret Crittenden planted the first vines here in 1982, and the family still runs the property. Most couples know it by its old name, Stillwater at Crittenden: the lakeside restaurant that hosted peninsula winery weddings for two decades before the family took it back in 2025 and rebuilt it with a wider terrace and a pergola over the lawn. The lake, the willows, the villas over the water and the pinot noir rows are all still there.
For wedding photos it is a generous place. Ceremonies sit on the lawn under the willows, portraits move into the vines as the sun drops behind Red Hill, and the Dromana foreshore is ten minutes away if you want a first look on the sand. Caitlin and Brad’s wedding below shows the whole day, from golf carts in the morning to the lakeside boardwalk at dusk.
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 Crittenden Wines
Keep the hour before sunset for portraits: the vine rows and the boardwalk along the lake are the two spots that earn it, and they are a short walk apart. Group photos work on the lawn with the willows behind. If you are planning a Crittenden Wines wedding today, the gallery is a faithful preview of how the estate photographs, since the grounds Stillwater used are the grounds the family kept. It is one full day, start to finish, in the order it happened.