Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Wedding Photos
The top fifteen floors of Collins Place at the Paris end of Collins Street, lobby on level 35
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins occupies the top 15 floors of the taller, 50-level tower of Collins Place at the Paris end of Collins Street. Collins Place was designed around 1970 by I. M. Pei & Partners with Bates Smart & McCutcheon and completed in 1981; the hotel floors form a tall interior atrium. The lobby and No35 restaurant are on level 35, looking over Southbank to Port Phillip Bay. The Grand Ballroom on level 1 is 800 square metres and seats up to 690.
Veri’s gallery from the Sofitel is a 25-image location set rather than a single couple’s day: the marble and glass of the lower levels, the atrium, the city from level 35 and the Collins Street footpath outside, made to show couples what an urban wedding here looks like. It is the classic city-hotel option, with the tram-lined street, the Treasury Gardens and the laneways all within a short walk for portraits.
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 Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
Level 35 is the picture: the window line gives the couple against the whole of Southbank and the bay, best in the last hour of daylight and again once the city lights come on. The ballroom is big and low-lit, so we light the room from the corners for the dancing rather than from the camera. Outside, the Paris end of Collins Street works in any weather, with the plane trees and the old bank facades a minute from the door. The gallery below is our Sofitel location set.