At Feature we absolutely love filming weddings at locations soaked in history. The right location will create a mood and spark feelings, elevating the shot to the next level…the Feature level!
Victoria National Trust Venues are the perfect locations to film at. They are timeless, intriguing and dynamic. They hold a rich history filled with beautiful stories. As such, they act as characters in a photo, sparking emotions and enriching an image.
Not to mention, Victorian heritage buildings look striking as a backdrop for multicultural weddings; the combination of history and traditions is absolute magic!
From grand Victorian mansions to early settlers’ homes, we explored the history, and photographed Victoria’s Natural Trust’s finest venues to show you how the right location can provide the most unbelievable photos.
The beautiful Rippon Lea Estate includes a grand 19th Century mansion, set in seven hectares of Victorian gardens.
The mansion was built in 1868 for Frederick Sargood, who made his fortunes selling soft-goods on the goldfields. He named the estate after Rippon, his mother’s maiden name, and Lea, the English word for meadow.
Sargood was very practical with a passion for gardening. As such, he set up an elaborate underground watering system for the garden and imported orchids ferns and an array of fruit trees.
Today, thanks to his vision, the garden includes a large lake, extensive shrubberies, flower gardens, an orchard, a fernery and rose gardens. Rippon Lea is a bustling tourism hot spot, with bird spotting tours, outdoor movie nights, a gift shop and a team room. Most importantly (to us), it is the most amazing spot to get married! The estate’s grounds can be used for garden wedding ceremonies, while the Ballroom provides an impressive venue for wedding receptions.
Check out a few of our favourite photo spots at Rippon Lea Estate.
Labassa is one of Victoria’s finest and most decorative mansions. This unique wedding venue is the perfect location for couples who want grandeur and privacy on their special day.
The mansion’s interiors provide quite the wedding photo backdrop, including heavily embossed and gilded wallpapers, mahogany panelling, a rare trompe l’oeil ceiling, and a magnificent stained-glass window by the grand sweeping staircase. While, externally the mansion features Corinthian columns, arcaded verandahs, classical marble decoration and ornamentation.
The mansion has a vibrant history. In 1889 it was remodelled into a 35 room mansion with views across Port Philip Bay, in the 1920s it was converted into flats, in the 1950s it housed post-war European immigrant families and it then functioned as a tenement until 1980. Over its history, Labassa has been home to a silent movie star, artists and bohemians.
This stunning venue now hosts various functions, with the Drawing Room creating a glamorous setting for wedding ceremonies. The Dining Room is ideal for corporate entertaining for small seated dinners or private celebrations, while the music room makes a lovely ceremony or cocktail location.
Como House and Gardens is a colonial mansion of Australian and Italian design set over two hectares of superbly landscaped gardens.
Centrally located in South Yarra, this beautiful property was constructed in 1847. Como offers a glimpse into the privileged lifestyle of former owners, the Armytage family, who lived there for nearly a century. The Armytages became famous amongst Melbourne high society for their many elegant dances, dinners and receptions. Those elegant dining and reception rooms are still furnished with Armytage family heirlooms.
Como’s gardens provide many beautiful locations for your outdoor ceremony such as the Fountain Terrace, a versatile space set in front of a stone fountain, the Croquet Lawn, a generous space for large functions and Ellis Stones, nestled in a beautiful natural setting with a small pond and lush gardens. Como House’s ballroom is perfect for opulent indoor photos and a stunning reception.
Here’s how we would bring this gorgeous location to life in your wedding photos…
Tasma Terrace was built in 1879 for wealthy grain merchant George Nipper as a stylish guest house and family home. Facing demolition and replacement for high-rise towers in 1970, this beautiful and unique building was saved through the advocacy of the National Trust.
Thank goodness for that, as it’s now one of our favourite Victoria wedding venues. Tasma Terrace also houses the head office of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), a gallery space, and several period decorated meeting and function rooms. It’s a building filled with history and importance, and a special place to mark your wedding day.
Let’s see how magical this location can look in your wedding photos…
Built in 1839, La Trobe’s Cottage is Melbourne’s earliest surviving building. The gorgeous cottage is the perfect venue for small and intimate wedding ceremonies.
Home of Victoria’s first Lieutenant Governor, Charles La Trobe and his family the property hosts an array of original furnishings and artefacts set within a picturesque garden in the heart of Melbourne.
The white weatherboards of the cottage, outbuildings and surrounding white picket fence give this unique venue a country feel framed by a neatly planted garden.
After photo ideas? Here’s how we can bring this beautiful cottage garden to life…
Photography & Creative Production: @feature.weddings
Creative Direction: @vaish.artistry & @thankam.kurup
Jewellery: @theajewels_official
Makeup: @vaish.artistry
Hair: @thankam.kurup & @vaish.artistry
Female Models: @thankam.kurup & @vaaaishx
Male Models: @jds.active & Vishaal
Locations & Venue: @nationaltrustvic | Kim
