Rippon Lea is one of Melbourne's most prominent estates—for its architecture as well as for its phenomenal garden design. It's up there with the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens for its beauty and tranquility, and as far as we're concerned at Serendipity , Rippon Lea has a fascinating history which ties it to the prosperity of Victoria. Weddings at Rippon Lea can really take advantage of the elegance of the gardens and of the mansion and photos taken there are always rich with beautiful detail.
Designed in 1868 in the Lombardic Romanesque style Rippon Lea has many distinctive architectural qualities that have retained their unique elegance. The Italiante design was popular in Victoria during the gold rush and reflects opulence of the time, but the choice of polychromatic brick is what sets Rippon Lea's design apart from any other private structure of the era. Rippon Lea set a new fashion in Victorian design, it featured an Italianate tower, as well as ornamental stained glass windows and embossed wallpaper.
Rippon Lea has a rich variety of styles in a small area, which allows us to spend the right amount of time walking through the property while still capturing a great array of photos featuring the classic, lush style that Rippon Lea is famous for. The house is visually fascinating with many points of interest, and beautiful settings for photography. At Serendipity Photography we love the polychrome brick, elaborately carved with beautiful light and shade at different times of the day. The cast iron porte-cochère is another fantastic location for wedding photography, as well as the beautifully-constructed glass barrel-roofed conservatory. In 1938 the then occupant updated much of the house to the popular neo-baroque "Hollywood style", adding an elaborate pool area for entertaining.
The impeccably-landscaped gardens lend themselves well to wedding photography with many lush settings, especially the harmonious evergreens around the lawns. The lake is fantastic for photography, with bright waterlillies and surrounded by a variety of foliage. Couples can walk through the property and view some of the best aspects of Rippon Lea while Serendipity captures them in the array of delightful places, such as the fernery or by the lake, which is also a fantastic place for a ceremony.
The attention to detail, passionate design and well-loved and maintained grounds means that Rippon Lea remains one of Melbourne's most beautiful private properties and an exceptional location for a wedding photography shoot.
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