A Winery Wedding - Yarra Valley

Kristina + Jake - Immerse Winery 

Oh how I LOVE Immerse.... It is a complete one stop shop when it comes to finding the perfect wedding venue, what makes it even MORE awesome is the amazingly talented staff. It is a family run business and I feel so very fortunate to be one of their preferred suppliers. In the peak of wedding seasons I have found myself there twice a weekend at times. When you roll in the drive that many times in a month, you tend to feel like you have become part of the furniture!

Many of the couples I marry here including the gorgeously stunning Kristina and Jake, take up the opportunity to get ready on site. Kristina and Jake could both get ready on site in the same location. It makes taking photos a dream as no travel time is wasted on your day. The boys were on one side of the grounds whilst the ladies took over the bridal suite.

As the guests start to check in, you can't help but feel hype starting to build around the property. And when the time is right, everyone is ushered into the chapel for the ceremony to commence. 
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There are plenty of pre wedding shots to be had on site at Immerse and when the day was as perfect for Kristina and Jake it isn't any wonder that Sean from A Touch of Flash was snap happy capturing all the gold that was on offer. Sean is one of those guys who can get the bride tribe to be on point during photo time. Always finding the most inappropriate ways to get a giggle out of the girls. Never an awkward shot to be taken as everyone is always having such a great time! AND this shows through in the photos. Add Sean with Michael from Allure Productions and you have a bit of photo/video magic!
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Kristina did a little private reveal to her dad. She popped out of the bridal suite and surprised him with a little tap on the shoulder. To say her gorgeous dad was  blown away would be an understatement as he was completely lost for words. It was a gorgeous little moment in time which will be etched in their memory before we all made the short walk over to the chapel.

I am always like to arrive an hour early to your wedding. When at Immerse I catch up with the gents in the chapel first. More often than not I am whipping them into line over in their accommodation and then we quickly run through what we need to chat about, where to stand, who has the rings, a mini rehearsal and then the guests all start rolling through the double doors. I love leaving the guys out the front of the doors to welcome everyone, that way they have something to do but also don't look like shags on a rock out the front. IF for some un-be-known reason we are running late, there are no awkward walks of shame up and down the aisle as they are just waiting for me to return to walk them down when we are absolutely ready to go.

The girls get a rehearsal in the bridal suite. I often find myself on the little step to the spa bath running through where everyone will be standing. Involving everyone in those last minute instructions so it is all fresh in their minds. I have been known to be called a very good 'micro manager', but in good faith, I just want you to feel like no rock has been left unturned and have a few little gold nuggets with all the worrying left to me! 

The staff at Immerse are right by your side the entire time. So when we all walk over to to the ceremony location, I quickly hoof it in front at the last turn of the corner, grab the gents, cue the music and that moment you have been dreaming about gets under way. 

The floor to ceiling windows in the Immerse chapel provide the perfect backdrop (but that isn't something that any old photographer can shoot). There is a reason why there is a preferred supplier list. There are a handful of 'togs' (photographers) who can NAIL the shot making sure we can see the detail out the window and YOU the subject aren't under or over exposed. Trust me, you want to book someone AWESOME for this job, not just someone you found on the back of a chip wrapper. 

Sean... NAILED it! Any wonder why he is award winning at his craft...

There are so many locations on site to head off for bridal party shots and then couple shots up on the hill on sunset. That golden light twinkling through the trees making it the perfect combination for a 'rippa' champagne spray!
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When you think you are just about all smiled out, it is time for the party to get started and there is no better sound than live music. Adam and Brendan from Something Borrowed Duo are THE BEST little two piece band going around.

They were propped in the corner of the chapel playing whilst everyone arrived, kept playing as the girls entered and walked down the aisle AND continued on during photo hour whilst everyone enjoyed lawn games outside the cellar door. 

Then when the meals were served, dancing shoes were primed, they ramped it up for all to tear up the D-floor. 
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You can see now why Immerse is a top pick when looking for a wedding venue.
I assure you, when you roll in the drive you will see why I fell in love with the place and you are about to, TOO!

Meet The Team 
Celebrant - Kate Haley
Venue - Immerse Winery Yarra Valley
Photographer - A Touch of Flash
Videographer - Allure Productions
Band - Something Borrowed Duo
Florist- Petra flowers
Hair- a friend Anglea
Makeup- makeup by Juana
Suits- Ferrari formal
Dress- Ferrari formal
Cake- creme de la cakes