Beautiful Merribee Wedding by Candlelight
I can’t believe that it’s taken me ten years of shooting weddings full time to actually photograph a Merribee wedding. This was my first ever Merribee wedding and I very much hope it won’t be my last, as this venue is absolutely awesome. These two wonderful humans Keerah and Jason, and their guests, treated me like part of the family and their wedding was a joy to shoot.
A Springtime Candlelit Wedding
Merribee is tucked away in a beautiful corner of the South Coast. It’s quite near some other awesome venues like Terrara House. It sits on a big wide flat area amongst dairy farms; old rustic sheds, cavernous fig trees, and quiet country laneways. Arriving here honestly feels like stepping away from the rest of the world into somewhere deliciously peaceful.
Keerah and Jason had this entire wonderful venue to themselves. Jason got ready at a property closeby, and Keerah got ready onsite. There are so many little hidden areas on the grounds of Merribee that I almost got lost a few times while walking around 🤣 The ceremony spot for this Merribee wedding was perfectly located. It was just next to a nice tall hedge which blocked the harsh sun, and the aisle leading up to the ceremony spot went through a wonderful old arched doorway. You can see this in my photos below.
Another huge positive of a Merribee wedding is that you don’t have to leave the property an any stage of the day. There are plenty of awesome options for photos on site. There’s a maze, an cool tennis court, old barns, open fields, rows of pine trees. Even the driveway into the venue can make for beautiful photos.
A Candlelit Outdoor Merribee Wedding Reception Under the Stars
If you scroll down to the bottom of this Merribee wedding you’ll see one of the beautiful receptions I’ve ever photographed. The entire evening was outdoors, under the branches of a row of trees. It was completely lit by candles, and the light cast by the moon.
Outdoor receptions like this can be tough to shoot as the available light is so low. In a marquee or a hall, there is generally a good amount of light, and when there isn’t, you can use a flash to bounce some light off the ceiling. But outdoors, things can be tougher. I try to bring enough gear with me to cover all scenarios, including ones like this where I’m shooting in virtual darkness!
Similar work on my website
If you want to see a bit more of this wonderful venue, you can head to their website here. It was my first time working with celebrant Peter Bray; he made the ceremony awesome and was great to work with. Hair was by Chelsea Taylor, and makeup by Kyzo Bride. The incredible flowers you see below were by Follow Your Nose. Keerah’s dress is by Karen Willis Holmes.
You might also like to have a look at this Terrara Estate wedding. It’s just down the road from Merribee!
If you”re planning a Merribee wedding, I’d love to be involved. It’s an incredible venue with so many amazing photography options. The getting ready area is incredible. The ceremony spot is I think one of my absolute favourites as the sun is in a perfect position for good light. There are multiple reception options including the barn, the marquee, and of course the outdoor area.
I’m more than happy to help you plan your Merribee wedding! I can help with things like timing, and recommending other vendors for you to use on your wedding day. Planning a wedding shouldn’t be too hard so don’t worry! I can also help tailor a package that suits your needs and your budget. I look forward to hearing from you, please get in touch!
