Last updated: 3 June 2026
Planning a Chinese tea ceremony at The Melbourne Hotel in Perth gives you one of the most meaningful parts of a wedding day in a setting that genuinely photographs beautifully. I am Norman Yap. Norman Yap Photography is my personal wedding photography label, based in Perth, Western Australia, working with couples across full-day, upper-tier and luxury weddings. I am from a Chinese background and held my own tea ceremony, so I know the moments that matter and the cultural sensitivity it deserves.
This guide covers where to hold the ceremony at The Melbourne Hotel, what the light is like in each space, how the ceremony runs, and the timing and photo spots to plan for.
A Chinese tea ceremony at The Melbourne Hotel is a formal wedding ritual where the couple serve tea to their elders, eldest to youngest, to show respect and receive their blessing. At this Perth venue it is usually held in a bridal suite, the Grand Orient restaurant, or the rooftop bar.
The Melbourne Hotel gives you three options, and the one you choose shapes the look of your photos. Most couples host the tea ceremony in one of the larger bridal suites. You can also pre-book the Grand Orient restaurant, which caters for tea ceremonies, or head up to the rooftop bar for something different. For the full meaning and order of the ritual, see our guide to the Chinese wedding tea ceremony.
If photography matters to you, the Grand Orient is the standout. It has a real heritage feel, with beautiful mural wallpaper as a backdrop, gorgeous windows and striking architecture. The light there is lovely for a tea ceremony, which means relaxed, natural images without heavy lighting.
The suites are the most common choice and keep everything in one place on the morning. They are a little darker, so we supplement with artificial light. If you decide on a suite, let your photographer know in advance so the lighting is planned and the ceremony still looks its best.
For couples who want a different backdrop, the rooftop bar is worth considering as a third option.
The ceremony follows a clear order of respect. The couple serve tea to their parents first, then to aunties and uncles, moving from the eldest to the youngest. Allow about 30 minutes for each side of the family, and leave a little extra for couple portraits while you are in your traditional outfits.
The heart of a tea ceremony is the people being served. This is the couple's formal acceptance into the family, the elders offering their blessing, and the giving of gifts and ang baos, the red packets. We focus on the elders receiving the tea and their reactions, alongside the couple together, because those faces are the story of the day.
There is no shortage of beautiful backdrops here. The Grand Orient and its mural wallpaper near the windows are a highlight, along with the stone architecture, the grand staircase, the balcony and the facade of the building itself. Just across the road, QV1 offers a striking modern contrast if you would like a few frames further afield.
Ready to talk through your wedding photography and see if we are the right fit?
There are three options: a large bridal suite (the most common), the Grand Orient restaurant (pre-book), or the rooftop bar. The Grand Orient is the most photogenic.
The Grand Orient, for its heritage mural wallpaper, windows and natural light. The suites are dimmer and need added lighting.
Allow about 30 minutes for each side of the family, plus a little extra for couple portraits in your traditional outfits.
The couple serve tea to their parents first, then aunties and uncles, then eldest to youngest, receiving blessings and red packets in return.
The elders being served and their reactions, the giving of gifts and ang baos, and the couple together.
Yes. If it is in a suite the light is dimmer and needs planned lighting, so let your photographer know in advance.
A Chinese tea ceremony at The Melbourne Hotel is a moving, meaningful part of the day, and it deserves a photographer who understands it. Our studio is very experienced with Chinese tea ceremonies, and as someone from a Chinese background who has held my own, I know the order, the etiquette and the moments that carry the most meaning, along with the cultural sensitivity the day calls for.
If you are planning a tea ceremony at The Melbourne Hotel, I would love to hear from you. You can see more of our Perth wedding photography, or reach out and we can plan your day together.
About Norman Yap
Norman Yap is the founder and principal photographer of Norman Yap Photography, his personal wedding photography label based in Perth, Western Australia. With hundreds of weddings photographed across Western Australia and his own experience planning a wedding as a groom, Norman brings both technical skill and genuine cultural understanding to every wedding day.
Ready to talk through your wedding photography and see if we are the right fit?
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