Butleigh Wootton Melbourne Wedding Photo Locations

Butleigh Wootton is a memorable and highly elegant location for wedding day celebrations; showcasing the finest of Victorian architecture over three stunning levels. Serendipity Photography have captured an inspiring selection of weddings at this exquisite mansion and consider it the perfect option for brides and grooms who are looking for touch of timeless elegance in their wedding day locations; as Butleigh Wootton definitely delivers! Experience the old world glamour and beautiful architecture within what is deservedly one of Melbourne’s top wedding photography locations! Unique details such as the grand central staircase, intricate glass chandeliers, decorative sculptural ceilings make the perfect backdrop for romantic portraits of the bride and groom.

Located in the heart Kew (just a short car ride from Melbourne’s CBD) This Victorian style mansion was in fact named after Wootton House in the hamlet of Butleigh Wootton, England, and built for the Hood family in the eighteenth century. Luckily for the brides and grooms of Melbourne, our Butleigh Wootton is far more ornate and gracious than the severe majesty of its namesake!

Kew is one of Melbourne’s most affluent suburbs, boasting a plethora of Victorian and Art Deco mansions graced by stunning gardens set back from tree-lined streets. A favourite amongst these mansions is the grand Butleigh Wootton. Located at 867 Glenferrie Road, Kew, you, like Serendipity Photography, will fall in love with the abundant architectural details and stylish features that Butleigh Wootton has to offer.

In 1851, Crown Land sales occurred in the area. One of the purchasers, Nicholas Fenwick, subdivided his land (which was just further out from the center of the colony of Melbourne than the area known as Richmond) and named the region Kew, based on the thought that Kew in England was near Richmond. He also notably named its streets after British statesmen. The area quickly became a sought-after suburb for the well-to-do in Melbourne. Access to Kew was originally via Bridge Road in Richmond, crossing the Hawthorn Bridge to Burwood Road, until the Johnston Street bridge was built in 1858. Just a few decades later the Butleigh Wotton was conceived.

This grand mansion was most likely named after Wootton House, in the hamlet of Butleigh Wootton, England, has stood since 1714, its similarity to Buckingham Palace renders it a fine example of English Baroque architecture. Its owners have included Tony Blair. What a history to be linked to!  Back in Australia, architect Thomas Maidment finished construction of Butleigh Wootton in 1885 on the then Barkly Road. The mansion was built as a two story 26 roomed Italianate mansion (the basement didn’t count) boasting rendered walls, “with some applied decoration, brackets to the eaves line and engaged ionic columns under a broken pediment at the front entrance.” Italianate villas had become popular in the heady days of Melbourne’s 1880’s; the much admired Government House, designed by William Wardell, had been completed in 1876.

Italianate style buildings utilised 16^th century Renaissance vocabulary, including Palladian frontages (think temple columns and pediments, pedimented windows, and balustrades) thanks to John Nash and Charles Barry in the early 1800’s in Britain. Charles Eastlake’s 1868 missive on Italianate interiors has undoubtedly influenced Butleigh Wootton. With classic decoration that required artisan skill to incorporate them effortlessly into the interior walls and ceilings, each detail of the mansion was considered to aid and complement the overall harmony of the interior and architectural design.

The venue caters for wedding ceremonies as well as receptions, when the luxurious interior, stunning grounds and overall picturesque quality is combined with the mansion’s proximity to Melbourne’s CBD, iconic Yarra river, and gorgeous greenery such as Studley Park, Alexandra or Royal Botanic Gardens, the result is a reception and ceremony venue that is almost too good to be true. Transform you wedding fantasies into a reality, as your day unfolds effortlessly and with elegant style, as the experienced photographers at Serendipity capture every beautiful moment expertly . From the intricate details and elegant features, to the centuries of history contained within the walls of the mansion, your day at Butleigh Wootton will be a day to remember.

Wedding couples at Butleigh Wootton are spoilt for choice — romantic balconies, lush gardens and regency pastels in the bedroom. At Serendipity Photography we celebrate the magnificence of the chandeleir, and enjoy shooting through the ornamentally carved stair balustrades.

Butleigh Wootton boasts an exceptional array of delightful architectural details, from grand central staircase which leads up to the Ballroom, to the intricately carved ceiling decorations, the interior décor provides stunning wedding photography opportunities.

The grand central staircase at Butleigh is often described as “the best staircase in Melbourne”. That gorgeous, curving banister always creates something exceptional.

Serendipity expertly utilise the elegant staircase and balcony areas, and the use of directional light that creates more flattering depth and dimensionality to the figure and bridal gown, and allows accuracy in the placement of portrait lighting, to achieve the optimal sense of beauty.

Another unique feature is the graceful bow window which is perfect for strikingly elegant compositions of the newly wed couple.

After seriously romantic photography on the staircase, enjoy the fun and photography of champagne and canapés in the private bridal suite. Toast your bridal party and prepare yourselves for the magical day ahead as each smiling detail is captured effortlessly by the photographic team. Surrounding the mansion, a European terrace and garden setting incorporating a floating silk canopy with clear sides, fountain and pergola, make for a truly unique location for your ceremony.

Butleigh Wootton is an unparalleled wedding photography location, offering the best of classic Victorian architecture and all of the opulence, grace and charm that come with it.