Olinda Tea House Wedding Photos
Bi-fold doors onto the deck, bushland beyond the garden, and a glasshouse for the wet days
Olinda Tea House is a restaurant and function venue on Olinda-Monbulk Road in Olinda, in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. It opened in June 2011 as a memorial tea house and passed to new operators in 2017. The reception room has floor-to-ceiling windows and bi-fold doors that open onto decks above the garden and bushland, there is a glasshouse-style sunroom, and a garden ceremony area with a stone path was added more recently. Weddings run from small dinners up to about 150 guests.
Veri photographed Jasmine and Ben’s wedding here from the garden ceremony through portraits and the reception, and on into the night. A day at the Tea House stays on one site: vows in the garden, portraits in the surrounding bush and along the village road, then dinner behind the glass as the ranges go dark. The alpacas on the property tend to end up in a photo or two.
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 Olinda Tea House
Olinda sits high in the ranges, so the light is softer and cooler than down on the plain, and mist is common in the mornings and in winter. Afternoon sun comes through the bush in patches; the deck gives even, open shade for the family groups. The sunroom is the wet-weather ceremony room and photographs well in rain. After dark the lit windows of the restaurant make a strong exterior frame. The gallery below is Jasmine and Ben’s wedding at Olinda Tea House.