Elisha and Braydan got married at Witchmount Estate on one of the hottest days of the year, sitting around 45 degrees from morning through to the reception. It’s the kind of heat that could derail a wedding day, and it says a lot about this pair that they spent it laughing and taking the mickey out of each other the whole way through, exactly like they said they would when I asked them about it beforehand.
Witchmount sits out at Plumpton, about 25 minutes from the CBD, on a flat stretch of land with vineyard rows running east to west. That orientation matters more than people realise. It means the light rakes across the vines rather than straight down them, and because there’s nothing blocking the western horizon, sunset holds on for longer here than it does at a lot of the hillier venues closer to Geelong. On a stinking hot day like Elisha and Braydan’s, that stretched-out golden hour was a relief for everyone once the sun finally dropped and the heat started to ease off.
A big part of why the day ran so smoothly comes down to Brenton and his team. He’s brilliant to deal with, on the day and in the lead up, and it’s always a genuine pleasure shooting a wedding at Witchmount because of it. Nothing is ever a drama, and that calm flows through to the whole day.
What I love about shooting here
Witchmount gives you options, which is exactly what you want on a day where the weather has other plans. Elisha and Braydan married on the lawn by the vines, walking down between tall, trimmed trees with the vineyard rows stretching out behind a white floral arch. The gazebo was their wet weather backup, only about 20 metres from the ceremony spot, which meant no matter what, we were never scrambling on the day.
Inside, the Barrel Room has that rustic, industrial feel with polished concrete, exposed brick and a solid timber bridal table as the centrepiece. The Harvest Room is the quieter, more intimate option, with vineyard views, a festoon-lit courtyard and a staircase as its standout feature. Either way, it photographs beautifully once the light drops and the outdoor lighting takes over.
How the day came together
Elisha and Braydan had me booked for 9 hours, with separate prep locations in Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook. Elisha kept her first look just for her and her dad at her get ready location, which made for one of those quiet, properly emotional moments before the rest of the day kicked into gear.
The ceremony was set for late afternoon, and with 100 guests and a wedding party that included three bridesmaids, three groomsmen, a flower man and two ring bearers, there was plenty happening. Elisha and Braydan skipped the big whole-group photo at the end in favour of keeping things moving, which on a 45 degree day was a genuinely smart call.
The reception kicked off with the bridal party doing shots as they walked in, followed by a first dance to “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur and a father-daughter dance to round things out. No cake cut on this one, just straight into the party.
If there’s one thing that came through all day, it’s how much these two enjoy each other’s company. Their whole vibe is built on banter, and that’s exactly what they told me they wanted to see when they look back at their album in ten years. Mission accomplished.
Planning a Witchmount Estate wedding?
Three packages, prices published, starting at $2,500. Your full gallery is delivered within 21 days, guaranteed. If it’s late, you get a $500 credit towards an album or wall art.
