Summer Weddings: My ULTIMATE Guide To Getting Married On The Mornington Peninsula

Known for its fine dining, incredible venues and breathtaking beaches, getting married on the Mornington Peninsula is THE quintessential choice for summer weddings in Victoria – and with good reason! Home to the world-class beaches of Portsea and Gunnamatta Beach and with a history that dates back to the 1800s, the Mornington Peninsula has served for two centuries as the ideal summer escape for vacationers and a perfect location for loved-up couples planning to tie the knot.

If you’re looking for a summer wedding location that will absolutely wow your guests and provide a once in a lifetime experience for you and your fiancé – the Mornington Peninsula should be top of your list! The warm yet pleasant weather and stunning beaches create the perfect festive, summery vibe for a celebration you’ll remember forever. With a rugged coastline, historic forts, crystal clear water, quaint seaside towns and beautiful venues, the Mornington Peninsula in the summer has everything a couple could ask for…and then a little bit more ;)

Now that you’ve gotten past our gushing introduction (you can see why we’ve based ourselves here!), let’s get down to the good stuff – wedding planning! We’ve put together a bunch of useful information all about how to plan a summer wedding on the Mornington Peninsula, including useful information on summer weather wedding planning, golden hour times, amazing indoor/outdoor and beach-based wedding venues, picturesque (being the very operative word) natural locations and a collection of our favourite summer wedding vendors.

We hope this guide is helpful and sparks inspiration for your own celebration. As you can tell, we absolutely LOVE the Mornington Peninsula and the near-endless benefits that it offers engaged couples. We would be honoured as your Mornington Peninsula summer wedding photographers to help you plan your celebration here, so if there’s something we’ve not covered, you have some follow-up questions, or you just want to reach out and say hi – we can't wait to hear from you!

Mornington Peninsula Summer Wedding Weather Planning!

During the summer, we enjoy beautiful, long days that are very rarely rainy (only ~13 days across the entire season!). Because of this, we know wedding venues with ample outdoor areas are an absolute must! While temperatures typically sit at a comfortable 24°C (75°F), some days can creep up into the 30s, so it’s a good idea to think about shaded areas for your guests and to make sure that there is ample water available to keep everyone hydrated. You’ll also want to ensure you’ve scheduled plenty of rest and drink breaks for yourselves within your wedding timeline, so that you’re able to cool down and relax during the day. Read here on how to craft a stress-free timeline for your day that puts an emphasis on fun, allows you plenty of time to spend with your guests and prioritise a little alone time to smooch with your new spouse!

Golden Hour

Golden hour couples photos on the Mornington Peninsula are absolutely stunning. Soaked in a nostalgic light, the scene is effortless, romantic, warm and flattering. During the summer, the sun sets later, which means the afternoon’s golden hour falls between 7.30 - 8.30pm (for more precise times, you can visit this site). Sunset falls just after golden hour and presents even more possibilities for stunning couples photography. Make sure to leave a little room in your timeline for photos at this time. It could be that your wedding party photos happen earlier in the day and we just nip off during your reception to sneak in a few of these special moments.

Juggling timelines to capture those perfect sunset photos and spending quality time with your guests is always something that's on the forefront of my mind. That time is best used to have a quick 10-15 minutes outside to connect with each other and bask in the gorgeous golden light. Then, once I've beautifully captured those moments, whisk you back in. If you'd love to have even more stunning photos an engagement session could be perfect for you. Here, we don't rush, rather spend as much time as we need capturing those perfect moments. These sessions will also provide you with some incredible photos to present in your guest book on your wedding day or use in your announcements and invitations. Read about my favourite engagement shoot locations here and how to prepare for them.

Stunning Nature Spots On The Mornington Peninsula

The incredible scenery is the biggest drawcard to the Mornington Peninsula in our opinion! From gentle bay beaches to wild oceans, rugged coastlines, luscious nature reserves and an abundance of incredible wildlife, the Mornington Peninsula is absolutely jam-packed full of options for nature-loving newlyweds to explore! We love taking couples on little adventures for engagement photography or couples sessions and have a bunch of ideas on how to create a memorable adventure elopement on the Mornington Peninsula. Here are just a few of our favourites to get you started, but please reach out if you’re after more specific inspiration!

St Andrews Beach

Nestled among the sand dunes between Gunnamatta and Rye, take some time for a sun-soaked sojourn over on St Andrews beach. Well known for its refreshing breeze, grassy hills and interesting rock pools, the wild waters of the Bass Strait are perfect for surfers (however, swimmers should enter with caution). You’ll find a lot of high-end vacation properties in this affluent neighbourhood, which can serve as wonderful accommodation for your wedding guests travelling in from out of town – guests often book a couple of extra nights and make an extended holiday out of the celebration!

Seawind Gardens

Newly weds that love nature just as much as each other will absolutely love losing themselves in the over 34 hectares of this beautiful national park. With breathtaking views across Port Phillip Bay, Seawinds Gardens is the perfect place for a loved-up couple to nibble on a picnic and get comfy for the afternoon. Explore the park’s network of beautiful walking trails, which lead you through their indigenous and exotic gardens.

Alba Thermal Springs

After all the planning that comes with a wedding, a dip in a relaxing geothermal spa sounds pretty great, right? Well, good news! Alba is the latest lucury experience on the Mornington Peninsula and has fast made it's mark as a world leader for health and wellbeing – is here to soak you into a state of pure bliss. The hot springs are naturally occurring and the facilities around them truly need to be seen to be believed.

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Towns Of The Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is home to several quaint seaside towns; including Portsea, Sorrento, Flinders and Rosebud. Each town has its own beachside aesthetic and a variety of venues that make them an ideal choice for your summer wedding on the Mornington Peninsula. Flinders especially really comes alive during the summer months, and we reckon a trip out to the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie for an ice cream is absolutely obligatory!

Mornington Peninsula Wedding Accommodation

There are endless options for wedding accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula to suit a variety of tastes and budgets. Our biggest tip is closer to the venue the better. Spending time sitting in your transport (even if you do have the Rolls Royce) is better used elsewhere. There are beautiful oceanview hotels and cosy Airbnbs throughout the towns of Portsea and Sorrento, or you could also look further along the beach near Dromana and Rosebud. Not only does this provide ample opportunities for stunning Mornington Peninsula beach wedding photography, it also means that you can head for a dip in the days before or after (probably not during…) your wedding – just be sure to remember your bathers!

Best Summer Wedding Venues On The Mornington Peninsula

There are bucketfuls of fantastic summer wedding venue options on the Mornington Peninsula. From fabulous hotels to gourmand-approved restaurants, wineries and beautiful rustic barns, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a host for your wedding ceremony and reception. Here are just a few of our favourites, but please get in touch if you’d like any more inspiration!

Portsea Hotel

Catering to intimate events, blowout celebrations and everything in between, Portsea Hotel has a range of unique spaces to suit every kind of wedding. Located in the historical beach town of Portsea overlooking Port Phillip Bay, this hotel is bright, airy and incredibly beachy. With an Italian restaurant that crafts meals from the finest local produce and a full bar with breathtaking views of Port Phillip, the Portsea Hotel is an amazing venue for summer wedding photography on the Mornington Peninsula.

The Baths Sorrento Wedding Venue

Another beautiful venue choice for a beach wedding on the Mornington Peninsula. With a light, modern aesthetic and decor that reflects its sandy surrounds, The Baths offer a hugely flexible service that caters all the way from the intimate to the extravagant – right on the water’s edge!

Lindenderry at Red Hill

A place that could quite possibly be the poster child for a ‘picture perfect wedding venue’, Lindenderry at Red Hill has the resources, space, and aesthetic feel to bring the big day you’ve been dreaming about life. Not only does it have a ceremony and reception venue in the same place, but also a bridal suite and guest rooms for the nearest and dearest. Having accommodation on site allows everyone to let their hair down on the day and really make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime occasion! The myriad of trees and flowers across the grounds set the perfect backdrop for a rustic-style wedding in Spring, but the venue is adaptable enough to fit whichever style you decide.

Jackalope Hotel

Named one of the most luxurious boutique hotels in all of Australia, the Jackalope Hotel can easily accommodate your fairytale winter wedding dreams. With jaw-dropping views over Willow Creek Vineyard, a mesmerising infinity pool and 46 luxury rooms (with deep soak Japanese tubs), Jackalope Hotel is able to cater for even the most demanding of occasions. While your ceremony can take place outdoors on their large outdoor terrace – with unbelievable views! – your reception will take place indoors in a room that has a capacity for around 66 seated guests, filled with only the finest of food. If your wedding party stretches bigger than this, they recommend an entire hotel buyout for exclusive use. Pricey no doubt, but having your big day at one of Australia’s most luxurious hotels will certainly be a day to remember.

All Smiles Sorrento Wedding Venue

With a 180° view of the ocean and Sorrento’s ocean beach, All Smiles Sorrento provides a stunning backdrop for those looking for a cocktail reception by the beach. This indoor/outdoor wedding venue on the Mornington Peninsula specialises in catering laid-back cocktail-style wedding receptions to couples who are after a less formal and more party-focused atmosphere.

Butterfly Red Hill Wedding Venue

A rustic barn, handcrafted wooden tables and lush garden – this boho and beautiful wedding venue in Red Hill is bound to live up to your deeply romantic wedding dreams. Perfect for chasing a festival feel, this venue hosts several concert stands where musicians can come to perform and entertain your guests, while the small farmhouse accommodation offers a calm oasis where the bride and groom can enjoy themselves before and after the big day.

Our Favourite Summer Wedding Vendors On The Mornington Peninsula

A wedding is only as good as its vendors and after years of working in the world of Mornington Peninsula wedding photography, we know the best of the best. We’d like to think you’ve got your summer wedding photographer and videographer locked in with us (😉) – for all the rest of the little details that go into planning a wedding, here are a few very special vendors who will help you create a summer wedding for the ages!

• Mornington Peninsula Event Planners: Summer weddings are perfect for that outdoor festival vibe, which Gather Round is more than a little equipped to provide. From food trucks to mobile bars and fun marquees – these guys are absolute summer wedding legends!

• Mornington Peninsula Wedding Bands: Speaking of festivals, let’s dive into who’s providing the best summer beats! Enjoy the live music stylings from Like This Band - who excel not only in creating a vibey dinner atmosphere but also classic dance-floor fillers. We Are Paper Hearts are a boutique collective of acoustic musicians and wedding DJs who specialise in intimate love songs as well as ‘roof-raising hits’ to dance the star-studded night away. Isaac Main blends a perfect mix of folk and pop to deliver heartfelt songs with a danceable beat.

• Mornington Peninsula Wedding Florists: For the best summer wedding flowers on the Mornington Peninsula, it’s best to ask the experts! Say hello to Poppy Culture’s team of ‘can do’ professionals for advice on the best seasonal buds and how to properly do up a buttonhole! Peninsula Wildflower believes in ‘green thumbs, dirty nails and floristry as art’. Their team of natural floral artists are sure to dazzle you with their expertise, warm hearts and undeniable talent.

We hope that you have found our summer wedding guide to the Mornington Peninsula informative and helpful. We always enjoy getting to know our couples, their history and their vibe, and would love a chance to tailor our services and deliver the wedding of your dreams!

Although we’ve covered a lot of ground in this overview, this really is just a fraction of our local knowledge and insider info about the Mornington Peninsula. Please reach out and fill us in on all of your wedding plans – we’ll come up with a bespoke list of recommendations just for you!