The Hamptons Apartments Wedding Photos
Serviced apartments on Chapel Street, St Kilda, where two Veri couples got ready before the drive to the ceremony
The Hamptons Apartments is an apartment hotel on Chapel Street at the St Kilda end, run by the Corporate Keys group, established in 2005, and styled after the American seaside town of the name. It offers studio, one and two-bedroom furnished apartments for short and long stays, back from the St Kilda foreshore, Acland Street and the Botanical Gardens on Blessington Street. St Kilda is about 6 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD, with the pier, Luna Park and the Esplanade within walking distance.
For Veri this is a getting-ready location rather than a venue. Emmett and Karmen started their day here before portraits at the St Kilda Botanical Gardens and a reception at Encore St Kilda, and Melisa dressed here before her wedding to Paul at Loreto Mandeville Hall in Toorak. An apartment gives more room than a hotel bedroom for the bridal party, the dress and the family who come to see it.
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 The Hamptons Apartments
Apartment preparation photographs live or die on window light, so open every blind, turn the overheads off and put the chair for hair and make-up beside the biggest window. The kitchen bench and the living room give a second setting for the details and the first look. Chapel Street itself is a plain, quick exit frame for the cars, and the Botanical Gardens are minutes away if the timeline allows a walk. The galleries below are Emmett and Karmen’s and Melisa and Paul’s weddings, both starting here.