Okie Dokie Wedding Photos
A reception on Canterbury Road in Braeside, where the industrial south-east meets the parkland
Okie Dokie is on Canterbury Road in Braeside, about twenty-five kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD in the City of Kingston. Braeside is an unusual wedding address: it is a largely industrial suburb with only a handful of residents, and more than half of it is Braeside Park, a reserve of heathland and trails opened in 1987. That mix, warehouses on one side and open parkland on the other, is what a couple gets when they choose a venue here rather than a city hotel.
Veri photographed Elissa and Kenny’s portraits and reception at Okie Dokie, with the venue doing double duty after their ceremony. A single-venue afternoon and evening like this keeps the day relaxed: no convoy, no clock-watching between locations, and the guests already in the room when the couple walks in.
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 Okie Dokie
With portraits and reception under one roof, I use the venue’s own surrounds and the hour before guests sit down: the street frontage, doorways and whatever light falls through the windows in the late afternoon. Braeside Park is in the same suburb if the couple wants trees and open sky in the set, and the industrial streets nearby give a plainer, graphic look that suits a modern wedding. Evening in the room is speeches and the dance floor. The gallery below is Elissa and Kenny’s wedding at Okie Dokie.