THE McCallum Residence
A photographer's guide to an elegant private estate with old-world charm, beautiful views and a relaxed coastal feel.
WHY I LOVE THE MCCALLUM RESIDENCE
I think McCallum Residence is particularly suited to couples who love old-world character and understated luxury.
If you want a wedding that feels private and personal rather than like a large traditional wedding venue, it has a really special atmosphere.
The combination of the historic mansion, attentive butler service, private beach and surrounding estate gives the day a feeling that's difficult to replicate elsewhere.
It's elegant without being stuffy, luxurious without feeling flashy, and relaxed enough that you can actually enjoy the setting. For guests staying at the house, the butler service adds an extra touch of old-world luxury to the experience. It's a lovely detail that complements the character and history of the residence and makes an getting ready at the estate feel particularly special.
I love the contrast between the historic character of the luxury residence and the relaxed feeling of the surrounding landscape. The gardens and private beach has an almost Hamptons-like atmosphere, while the surrounding paddocks give the photographs a r distinctly natural, New Zealand feel.
Amanda's MCCALLUM RESIDENCE Notes
Ceremony:
On the grass with the view behind the couple
Summer tip:
Bring plenty of umbrellas for guests as there is limited shade
Overnight experience:
The butler service for guests staying at the house adds a lovely old-world luxury
Best for:
Couples wanting a private, relaxed estate wedding with plenty of variety for photographs
My favourite thing about McCallum:
The Hamptoms feel of the property.
Best feature:
The combination of the historic mansion, private beach and surrounding estate
Overall feeling:
Old-world charm with a relaxed coastal atmosphere
Best photo locations:
The terrace, beach, paddocks and tennis court
Best summer portrait time:
Around 5:30pm
Best sunset:
Around 30 minutes before sunset, from the hill
My Favourite Photo Locations at THE MCCALLUM RESIDENCE
the terrace
The terrace at the back of the estate is one of my favourite places for portraits. The architecture of the house provides a beautiful, timeless backdrop and the afternoon sun backlights this area creating an ethereal, dramatic light.
The Beach
The private beach gives the photographs a completely different feeling. It's relaxed, natural and open which means its a great space for candid walking shots.
The contrast of the white sand and the dark trees in the background are striking and simple, allowing the Bride and Groom to stand out.
The Paddocks
The paddocks are a beautiful minimalistic location for sunset photos. When the sun is low the golden light catches on the grass and is a beautiful tone against a white wedding dress and black tux.
The Tennis Court
If we can get access to the tennis court, it's another fun option for photographs, it adds to the old-world charm of the Estate and gives the gallery a completely different look.
Planning Your MCCALLUM RESIDENCE Wedding Timeline
Plan your photographs around the light.
McCallum Residence sits relatively low and is surrounded by hills, and faces east, so the light disappears earlier than you might expect.
During summer, I like to photograph the bridal party and some couple portraits around 5:30pm before the sun disappears behind the hills.
For sunset photographs, I usually take the couple up the hill in my car to get a beautiful westerly view of the sun going down. The light across the paddocks is gorgeous, but because the surrounding hills block the sun, I recommend heading up around 30 minutes before sunset to get the golden light.
PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINES
AUTUMN
NON-DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
12 PM GETTING READY PHOTOS WITH GROOM/GROOMSMEN
12.45 PM GETTING READY PHOTOS WITH BRIDE/BRIDESMAIDS
2.30 PM CEREMONY
3.15 PM GROUP/FAMILY PHOTOS
3.30 PM COCKTAIL HOUR
4.30 PM BRIDAL PARTY COUPLE PHOTOS - DRIVEWAY
5 PM (APPROX.) SUNSET COUPLE PHOTOS UP HILL
5.30 PM RECEPTION BEGINS
8 PM FIRST DANCE / DANCE FLOOR OPENS
8.30 PHOTOGRAPHY CEASES
SPRING/SUMMER
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
1 PM GETTING READY PHOTOS WITH GROOM/GROOMSMEN
1.45 PM GETTING READY PHOTOS WITH BRIDE/BRIDESMAIDS
3.30 PM CEREMONY
4:15 PM GROUP/FAMILY PHOTOS
4.30 PM COCKTAIL HOUR
5.30 PM BRIDAL PARTY COUPLE PHOTOS - DRIVEWAY
6.30 PM RECEPTION BEGINGS
8 PM (APPROX.) SUNSET COUPLE PHOTOS UP HILL
9 PM FIRST DANCE / DANCE FLOOR OPENS
9.30 PHOTOGRAPHY CEASES
Let the Setting Do the Work
For the ceremony, I love the simplicity of having it on the grass with the view behind you. The view becomes part of the experience and gives your photographs a wonderful sense of place.
One thing to keep in mind during summer is that there isn't a huge amount of natural shade around the ceremony area, so I'd recommend having plenty of umbrellas available for your guests. It can get very hot.
McCallum also lends itself beautifully to a relaxed wedding day. Rather than rushing from one part of the day to the next, I'd encourage couples to make the most of the estate, spend time with their guests and enjoy the surroundings.
If you're having guests stay at the house, the residence itself becomes another special part of the experience. The butler service for overnight guests adds that lovely old-world feeling and makes staying at the estate feel like an experience in itself.
The wedding-day catering and service are provided by your chosen external caterers, so you can create the food and service experience that best suits your celebration. There are multiple options that all work well at McCallum, from a seated reception in the boat house (suits smaller guest list), cocktail style/non seated, a long table on the boat house deck (small numbers) or a marquee on the lawn for larger weddings. I’ve shot all of these styles and all work well depending on your style, budget and guest list.
MCCALLUM RESIDENCE HIGHlIGHTS
Amanda's Verdict
McCallum Residence has a really unique combination of old-world character, beautiful scenery and relaxed coastal living. The historic mansion gives the wedding a sense of elegance, while the private beach, paddocks and surrounding landscape keep the day feeling relaxed and personal.
It's a beautiful choice for couples who want their wedding to feel private, relaxed and a little bit special.
And if you're having guests stay at the residence, the house and its butler service add another layer of old-world luxury to the experience.
REAL WEDDINGS
CLICK BELOW TO VIEW GALLERIES OF REAL MCCALLUM RESIDENCE WEDDINGS
RACHEL & JAMES
THE MCCALLUM RESIDENCE, CLEVEDON
HILARY & AARON
MCCALLUM RESIDENCE, CLEVEDON
Getting Married at McCallum Residence?
I'd love to photograph your day and help you make the most of the mansion, estate, beach and beautiful evening light.