Serendipity Photography Melbourne

Butleigh Wootton is a memorable location for a wedding showcasing the finest of Victorian architecture over three stunning levels. Butleigh Wootton, with its iconic hand-carved staircase that leads to the Grand Ballroom and an endless array of delightful architectural details, provides amazing wedding photography opportunities. Of distinction is the bow window in Butleigh Wootton’s main dining room, lauded by the Victorian National trust: “‘Butleigh Wootton’ is of significance as a substantially intact large house of the late Victorian period and as such, is one of the key Victorian buildings to have been built in Kew. It is of particular distinction for the graceful and unusual arrangement of the bow window.

Butleigh Wootton, Kew — presumably named after Wootton House, in the hamlet of Butleigh Wootton, built for the Hood family in the eighteenth century in Somerset in the West Country — is more ornate and gracious than the severe majesty of its namesake. Thomas Maidment finished construction of Melbourne’s Butleigh Wootton in 1885 on the then Barkly Road. Butleigh Wootton 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; decoration must be integral, done in the solid, with no stuck on carvings or mouldings, jointing should be proper, and painting should be solid with contrasting lines and mouldings. Pictures of the stairwell and ceilings at Butleigh Wootton recall Wardell’s treatment of the Hall in Government House. See more photos after the break, or head to Serendipity’s Butleigh Wootton Locations page!

Butleigh Wootton has been a favourite of photographers for over fifty years, acknowledged as one of the most desirable venues for those looking for a reception location with loaded with history, elegance and character. It has been a pleasure for us to photograph weddings there, since our first time at Butleigh Wootton almost twenty year ago. A notable feature has been the experience of photographing brides who are the third generation of women to be married at Butleigh Wootton in the same family. 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.

Even though the grand staircase is often described as “the best staircase in Melbourne” (at least when speaking of weddings), its curvacious character belies quite some difficulty creating lighting solutions without the harsh shadow lines ringing the figures — characteristics of direct on-camera flash. Obviously a soft natural look with lighting coming from the direction of the chandelier is preferable. At Serendipity Photography our experience with Butleigh Wootton has allowed us to develop the best methods to bring out the existing elegance of the staircase, using a mix of ambient light and various forms of off camera flash. These remote lighting techniques emphasize the classic character of the 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.

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. Here’s one of great weddings we’ve shot at Butleigh Wootton.

Irene and Daniel – Butleigh Wootton Receptions – Serendipity Wedding Photography

And their glowing review.

More Information: Butleigh Wootton’s site. Butleigh Wotton– Kew or Butleigh Wotton– A History

If you Like Butleigh Wootton, you might like: Rupertswood, Rippon Lea

Weddings at this Location: Irene and Daniel