Merrimu Receptions Wedding Photos
An 1882 homestead turned reception house on Dandenong Road, with a Grand Ballroom for 400
Merrimu Receptions is on Dandenong Road at Murrumbeena, in Melbourne’s south-east opposite Chadstone. The site began as a colonial homestead built in 1882 and was converted into a reception venue in 1955; that original house is now the Merrimu Room, seating up to 140, and the Grand Ballroom, seating up to 400, was added about twelve years later. The interiors are traditional: wool carpets, ornate ceilings, gilded mirrors and a grand staircase. The name is said to be a local Koori word for meeting place.
Veri has photographed two weddings that finished at Merrimu, including couples who stopped for portraits at Carlton Gardens on the way and one who also took in St Dominic’s. That is the usual shape of a Merrimu day: a church or garden ceremony elsewhere in the south-east, a run into the city or a park for portraits, then the ballroom for the evening. The staircase and the mirrors give the indoor portraits and the entrance shots.
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 Merrimu Receptions
Merrimu is an evening venue in photographic terms, so the daylight portraits happen before you arrive; Carlton Gardens is where the couples in the galleries below went. Inside, the ballroom lighting is warm and low, which suits flash bounced off the ornate ceilings rather than available light. Use the grand staircase for the entrance and the mirrors for the couple. Rain makes no difference here. The galleries below are two weddings that celebrated at Merrimu Receptions.