Serendipity Photography Melbourne

At Serendipity Photography we adore the picturesque Carlton Gardens for its striking aesthetics and peaceful ambience, and ability to cater to a range of distinct wedding styles and themes.

Notable features include a marvellous avenue of trees, Victorian fountains, lakes romanticised by characteristically serpentine borders and plantings, and flower beds that are varied and luxurious. The unique Hochgurtal Fountain which sits decoratively in the grounds surrounding the Exhibition Centre provides a beautiful backdrop for wedding day portraits of the newly weds.

The Carlton Gardens are a 26 hectare expanse of park facing onto Victoria Street, Rathdowne Street, Carlton Street and Nicholson Street, just north of Melbourne’s CBD.  The gardens are home landmarks such as the Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum, this coupled with the sites suburb landscape design and rare array of both native and exotic plant species is perhaps the reason why The World Heritage body described the gardens as being of “historical, architectural, aesthetic, social and botanical significance to the State of Victoria.”

The Carlton Gardens can be understood as two parts: an axial garden layout in the southern part of the site, and a northern garden that was landscaped after the close of the two great 19^th-century exhibitions. During the 1880 and 1888 international exhibitions, the southern portion of the garden became a pleasure garden with many attractions.

The South Carlton Gardens, as it is now known, continues to be used for exhibition purposes. It largely remains as designed by William Sangster and Joseph Reed. The southern entrance to the building, on the city side, is the apex of the design. A level promenade was created along the front of the building, and a semi-circular space has as its centrepiece an ornate fountain. A ceremonial approach is provided by a 24-metre wide avenue, and two other paths form a radiating axis from the fountain. In 1888 another fountain, the Westgarth Fountain, was added.

With each new season the Carlton Gardens reveals a stunning level of variation, providing a gorgeous range of angles and visual details for spectacular wedding day photographs. During the Spring and Summer months an abundance of vibrant florals fill the expansive grounds with beautiful pastels and harmonies of colour. Doris and Sky made the wise decision to visit the gardens as an alternative location on their wedding day, where they were blessed with an enchanting combination of rich Autumn tones (think atmospheric deep reds, romantic sepias and hints of yellow) as well as luminous bounties of lavender — perfect for softly framing the newly wed couple.

The aesthetic significance of the Carlton Gardens lies in its embodiment of the 19^th-century Gardenesque style. This includes parterre (formal or symmetrically-placed) garden beds, significant avenues such as the southern carriage drive and Grand Allée, the path system, specimen and clusters of trees boasting leafy foliage, two secluded lakes and three sculpted fountains. Whether you decide to hold your outdoor ceremony within the gardens, or you simply wish to visit the spectacular site as an alternative photographic location spot (perhaps on your way to one of the many city reception venues), there is an abundance of features to add beauty and natural elegance to each shot. Serendipity are more than confident that the combination of the lustrous grounds with the expertise and artistry of our team of photographers, will deliver a day you’ll remember for years to come.