Fitzroy Gardens Wedding Photos
Avenues of elms, a Spanish mission conservatory, and lawns a short walk from the city’s east edge
Fitzroy Gardens is a 26-hectare Victorian-era garden on Wellington Parade in East Melbourne, on the eastern edge of the city. The land was set aside as a reserve in 1848 and laid out in the late 1850s to a design by Clement Hodgkinson. Its avenues of mature elms date from that early period; the Spanish mission-style Conservatory, Cooks’ Cottage and the carved Fairies’ Tree were all added in the 1930s, and the model Tudor Village after the Second World War.
Veri has photographed a ceremony here for Annabel and Sam, who went on to a reception at the Gardens House in the Royal Botanic Gardens, and portraits for Naomi and Hector, who married across the road at the Pullman on the Park. It is a garden that works at both scales: wide lawns and long elm avenues for the group photos, and small corners around the Conservatory and the cottage garden for the couple alone.
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 Fitzroy Gardens
The elm avenues are best photographed lengthways, with the couple walking toward the camera and the canopy closing over them. Autumn colour arrives in late April and May. On hot days the Conservatory is a cool, bright, wet-weather room, and its floral displays change with the season. A portrait session here slots easily between a city hotel and an East Melbourne reception. The galleries below are Annabel and Sam’s ceremony and Naomi and Hector’s portraits at Fitzroy Gardens.