Sails on the Bay Wedding Photos
Glass walls a metre from Elwood Beach, the sun going down over Port Phillip, and the bridge lights after dark
Sails on the Bay is a restaurant and event venue on the Elwood foreshore, two minutes from St Kilda. It opened in 1994 and sits about a metre from the sand, with glass walls giving a 180-degree view over Port Phillip Bay; the sun sets in front of the windows and the West Gate Bridge lights show across the water at night. Weddings use the Event Room, the restaurant and the terrace, with receptions from 50 to 250 and ceremonies indoors or on the beach.
Veri photographed a wedding here with the ceremony, the portraits and the reception all at Sails on the Bay, and the gallery below is that day across more than 350 frames. It is the simplest kind of bayside wedding: vows on the sand, a walk along the beach for the couple, and dinner behind glass with the sunset doing the decorating.
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 Sails on the Bay
The beach faces west, so a late-afternoon ceremony puts the sun behind the couple and the bay glowing; we time the exit for the half hour before it sets. Elwood Beach and the foreshore path run either side of the venue, so portraits stay within a hundred metres. Inside, the room is lit by sky until dusk, then reflections take over and we shoot speeches from the land side. Wind off the bay is the only complication. The gallery below is the Sails on the Bay wedding Veri photographed here.