Serafino Winery Wedding – Maor & Sasha

Preparation

Our photography coverage began in Plympton, where Maor and the boys were getting ready in an apartment before making their way south to McLaren Vale. The apartment was a little on the cosy side, particularly with several people moving around getting dressed, but that actually made for some fun photographic opportunities. Sometimes a smaller preparation space encourages everyone to interact a little more, and there was certainly no shortage of good-natured banter between the boys!

The layout of the apartment also provided some surprisingly interesting compositions. Long hallways created lovely leading lines that I could use to frame Maor and his groomsmen as they moved between rooms. It’s always fun finding creative angles in unexpected locations, and the narrow corridors gave the preparation photographs a rather distinctive look.

One of the nicest aspects of the morning was watching Maor interact with his dad. There was something wonderfully genuine about their exchanges, with those little father-and-son moments providing a welcome contrast to the general excitement of getting ready. These are the kinds of interactions I love keeping an eye out for as a wedding photographer. They’re not necessarily the big, obvious moments of a wedding day, but they’re often the photographs that become more meaningful as the years go by.

Once everyone was dressed and looking suitably sharp, we headed outside for a few photographs around the nearby streets of Plympton. Rather than spending ages trying to find an elaborate location, we made use of the surrounding urban environment for some relaxed group portraits. The boys were in great spirits, and having a little wander around gave them a chance to loosen up in front of the camera before the main event.

With our photographs wrapped up, it was time to leave Adelaide’s suburbs behind and make the journey towards McLaren Vale, where Sasha and her bridal party were preparing just a short distance from Serafino Wines.

Sasha’s preparation was taking place at a charming bed and breakfast in McLaren Flat, conveniently located only a few hundred metres up the road from Serafino. Being so close to the wedding venue certainly helped keep things relaxed, particularly with a rather impressive number of people getting ready throughout the house!

There were bridesmaids, family members, makeup preparations, dresses being organised, and what felt like half a football team of young flower girls adding their own delightful brand of chaos to proceedings. Anyone who has experienced a wedding morning involving a collection of excited little girls will know that things rarely stay quiet for very long! There was plenty happening in every corner of the house, making it a lively and entertaining place to photograph.

The bed and breakfast offered a lovely intimate atmosphere, with its smaller rooms and cosy interiors lending themselves to natural, close-up photographs. I spent some time capturing the finishing touches of makeup, the interactions between the girls, and all those little details that help tell the story of the morning. There was always something happening somewhere, so it was a matter of keeping an eye out for those spontaneous moments amongst the organised preparations.

Of course, getting everyone dressed was an adventure in itself! With so many flower girls to coordinate, the process was understandably busy, although the resulting photographs were incredibly sweet. Their little dresses and excitement added another dimension to Sasha’s preparations, and it was lovely seeing the younger members of the wedding party involved in such an important occasion.

Sasha looked absolutely beautiful once she was ready, and we took advantage of the house’s comfortable surroundings for some portraits before heading out. The soft light and intimate spaces worked beautifully for these photographs, allowing us to capture her bridal look without needing anything particularly elaborate.

Serafino Winery Wedding Ceremony

The outdoor ceremony setting at Serafino Wines is one of the property’s most recognisable features, and it’s easy to understand why couples are drawn to it. A magnificent old gum tree provides a spectacular natural backdrop beside the venue’s large lake, while the expansive lawns offer plenty of room for guests to gather and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Maor and Sasha’s ceremony took place beneath this enormous tree, with their beautiful Jewish chuppah positioned on the grass. The chuppah is a meaningful part of a traditional wedding like this, symbolising the home the couple will build together. Its open sides represent hospitality and welcome, making it a particularly lovely setting for a ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

The combination of the chuppah, the gum tree, and Serafino’s peaceful lakeside grounds created a setting that felt both intimate and wonderfully Australian. I loved the contrast between the traditions of the ceremony and the natural McLaren Vale landscape. The huge tree provided a sense of scale, while the gathering beneath it kept the focus firmly on Maor and Sasha and the significance of the promises they were making to one another.

Their ceremony was deeply connected to their faith, with Jewish customs playing a central role in the proceedings. It was lovely to photograph something so meaningful to the couple and their families, particularly as everyone gathered close to share in the occasion. There was a real sense of community among the guests, with plenty of heartfelt expressions to capture throughout.

The ceremony was also livestreamed, allowing those who couldn’t attend in person to share in Maor and Sasha’s special day. It’s a wonderful way to include family and friends who might be interstate or overseas, especially when cultural and religious traditions make the celebration particularly important to loved ones.

As a photographer, ceremonies like this are an absolute pleasure to document. There are the familiar moments of anticipation and excitement, but also so many little expressions and interactions that deserve attention. A proud smile from a parent, a quiet glance between the couple, or guests reacting to something happening beneath the chuppah can tell just as much of the story as the wider ceremony photographs.

Following the ceremony, we gathered everyone together for the traditional group photographs. With the beautiful weather on our side and guests already assembled nearby, we managed to get through these fairly quickly. Nobody wants to spend their entire cocktail hour standing around for photographs, after all!

Maor and Sasha then made their way towards the cellar door, where a champagne tower had been set up for them. What a fabulous way to kick off the celebrations! The tower made for a fun little moment between the newlyweds, with guests able to enjoy the excitement before we headed off to explore more of the winery for their bridal portraits.

Glamour Photos

One of my favourite things about photographing a Serafino Winery Wedding is the variety of scenery available within the property. There’s really no need to venture off-site for beautiful wedding photographs, with everything from formal tree-lined avenues to relaxed lakeside lawns just a short stroll away.

For Maor and Sasha’s glamour photos, we began with the bridal party along Serafino’s famous pencil pine-lined driveway. The tall trees form a wonderfully symmetrical corridor, drawing the eye straight towards the people in the photograph. It’s a fantastic location for larger bridal party groups, particularly when you want something that feels a little more structured without becoming overly formal.

The bridal party were wonderful to work with, and we had some fun making use of the driveway for a mixture of group photographs and more relaxed compositions. I always prefer to keep these sessions fairly casual, giving everyone a little direction while allowing their personalities to come through. A bridal party having a good laugh together usually makes for much more memorable photographs than everyone standing perfectly still and trying not to blink!

The pencil pines also add a rather distinctive European feel to the setting. It’s quite a contrast to the big Australian gum trees surrounding the lake, and that diversity makes Serafino such an appealing McLaren Vale wedding photography location. Within a few minutes, we could create images that looked completely different while still staying on the same property.

As the afternoon began turning towards evening, we moved away from the driveway and headed towards the lake and surrounding grassed areas. The sun was starting to dip, bringing with it that softer, more flattering light that wedding photographers are always rather excited about!

This was a lovely opportunity to spend some time photographing Maor and Sasha together without the entire bridal party around them. After such a busy day filled with preparations, family, ceremony traditions, and celebrations, having a few quieter moments together is always worthwhile.

We wandered around the lakeside grounds, making use of the warm evening sunshine and the natural scenery. The reflections across the water, open grassy spaces, and enormous gum trees provided a wonderful collection of backgrounds for their portraits. I particularly enjoyed the way the lowering sun illuminated the landscape, giving everything a beautiful warmth without the harshness of the earlier afternoon.

My approach to these photographs is always to keep things comfortable and enjoyable. Rather than turning the session into an elaborate photoshoot, I encouraged Maor and Sasha to interact naturally as we explored the grounds. A little direction here and there was all that was needed, especially with such a lovely setting doing much of the work for us.

There was something particularly nice about the contrast between the lively bridal party photographs along the driveway and the quieter portraits beside the lake. Both were equally important parts of their wedding story, and together they captured the excitement and romance of their afternoon at Serafino.

With the sun slipping lower and the reception celebrations waiting for us, it was time to head back inside and see what the evening had in store!

Serafino Winery Wedding Reception

The reception space at Serafino was looking absolutely gorgeous when we arrived, with fairy lights creating a warm, inviting atmosphere throughout the room. After spending much of the afternoon outdoors in the sunshine, stepping inside to the softly illuminated reception was a lovely change of scenery.

Fairy lights are always a favourite of mine to photograph at wedding receptions. They bring a wonderful sparkle to the background of candid photographs and create a sense of warmth without needing elaborate decorations. The lighting worked beautifully for Maor and Sasha’s celebrations, giving the room a festive atmosphere while still feeling cosy and welcoming.

Family and tradition had been such important parts of the day, and this continued throughout the reception. The speeches were particularly lovely, with heartfelt words from those closest to the couple. There were some wonderful expressions around the room as everyone listened, from broad smiles to emotional reactions.

I always enjoy photographing wedding speeches because you never quite know what the next few minutes will bring. One moment everyone can be laughing at a funny story, and the next someone is holding back tears. Those reactions are often every bit as entertaining to capture as the people delivering the speeches themselves!

Of course, the real excitement was waiting on the dance floor.

And goodness, did this crowd know how to party!

The dance floor was absolutely packed throughout the evening, with guests enthusiastically throwing themselves into the celebrations.

There was a fantastic energy in the room, with people of all ages getting involved and the music keeping everyone moving. From a photography perspective, it was an absolute treat. I love a busy dance floor, particularly when guests are so caught up in having fun that they completely forget about the camera.

The fairy lights provided a beautiful backdrop to all the action, while the movement and excitement made for some wonderfully lively photographs. There were arms in the air, plenty of laughter, and a seemingly endless supply of enthusiasm. It’s safe to say this was not a reception where people spent the entire night sitting quietly at their tables!

Despite all the excitement, the evening still had a lovely balance of heartfelt moments and family interactions. Guests were clearly delighted to be celebrating Maor and Sasha, and the happiness throughout the room was infectious. It was one of those wedding receptions where you could point the camera almost anywhere and find something worth photographing.

As the celebrations drew towards their conclusion, everyone gathered outside to give the newlyweds a spectacular send-off.

Maor and Sasha’s Serafino Winery Wedding was a wonderful reminder of just how special a wedding can be when a couple brings their culture, faith, family, and personalities together. From the cosy preparations in Plympton and McLaren Flat to their heartfelt ceremony beneath the gum tree, sunset portraits beside the lake, and packed reception dance floor, there was so much to enjoy and photograph.

Serafino Wines once again proved itself to be a beautiful location for a McLaren Vale winery wedding, with its spectacular grounds and welcoming atmosphere providing the ideal setting for this lovely couple.

A huge congratulations to Maor and Sasha! Thank you both for having me along to capture your gorgeous wedding day. It was such a pleasure being part of your celebrations, and I hope your photographs bring back all the laughter, emotion, and excitement for many years to come!