Hamish + Sunny’s Coombe Yarra Valley Wedding
The Event
Hamish + Sunny’s beautiful Yarra Valley Wedding at Coombe Estate took place on a 44ºC Summer’s’ day, but the super chilled + considerate duo were quick to prioritise the comfort of their family + friends by making a last minute ceremony location change to ensure grateful guests were seated in the shade, before they moved inside to party with the air-con!
When I first met with Hamish + Sunny, they brought their gorgeous Maid of Honour, Jordie, along for the ride, and after a couple of wines and ton of laughter later, I knew the trio were definitely my kind of people and that this wedding would have a seriously fun + relaxed vibe.
It was all that and more. A fabulous bridal party, festive guests, romance, style + elegance galore, lots of laughs, all the feels, and an A-team list of vendors helping to make the day perfect.
Ceremony Details
Initially meeting through mutual friends at the gym, Hamish was confident that Sunny had fallen in love with him at first sight, but when Sunny saw him smashing it out on the cross-trainer in a hoodie in the middle of summer, she only thought him to be a big sweaty mess! But the brief conversation that followed ignited an undeniable spark and they soon bonded over a mutual love of food, travel and finding any opportunity to take a nap.
Popping the big question during a holiday in Bali, Hamish chose total romance by bending to one knee, as they walked along the beach at sunset.
After arriving, bathed in sunshine, on the arm of her prod father, Sunny stood before her smitten groom and promised to “always arrive at the airport 3 hours early so you can get the exit row, to nurse you back to health after your yearly ankle operations” and “to be worth it – worth the time, worth the energy, and most importantly, worthy of your love.”
Hamish declared that he felt “blessed & lucky to be marrying the most beautiful, driven & caring person I know”, before promising to “respect you and protect you with my life and to be by your side no matter what”, before they shared their first kiss as married couple and celebrated on the lawn with cold drinks and hugs all around.
The Photography Team
Many thanks to the amazing team at Lost in Love Photography for allowing me to publish their gorgeous images, as well as superstar videographers Moon & Back Co for the fab film!
Head over to Lost In Love’s Blog for more images of this gorgeous couple’s big day!
Hamish + Sunny | 20.12.2019
Photography: Lost In Love
Location: Coombe Yarra Valley
Videography: Moon & Back Co
Marriage Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Bridal Gown: Toni Maticevski
Florals: Vagari Creative
Ceremony Music: Four Seasons String Quartet
Best Outdoor Wedding Venues + Locations →
← Rain on your Wedding Day – Do you have a Plan B?
Best Outdoor Wedding Venues + Locations in Melbourne
With the new Spring/Summer wedding season almost upon us, couples are once again searching for the perfect wedding venue, so I have created a list of some of the best outdoor wedding venues + locations in Melbourne, plus a few of my favourites a little further out!
There are so many stunning gardens and estates to choose from, so I have made the search a little easier by listing a HUGE selection of some of the best outside wedding locations (in alphabetical order), AS WELL AS some amazing wedding venues that have beautiful outdoor wedding spaces too!
If you are looking for a garden wedding option in one of Melbourne’s beautiful public garden spaces, please visit my Public Garden Wedding Locations page, which also features some great rotundas + undercover options for wet weather contingencies 🙂
Please remember that although many outdoor wedding venues + locations in Melbourne are public spaces, you will still need to obtain a permit from local council in order to marry there. Private venues will of course welcome all enquiries for weddings that take place on their premises independently.
And, as always with outdoor wedding venues + locations in Melbourne, be sure to consider all possible weather predictions, providing shelter for both a 40ºC day, or a surprise downpour!
Your guests (and celebrant!) will appreciate it immensely.
To view the best outdoor wedding venues + locations in Melbourne and surrounds, you can either scroll ahead and view locations in alphabetical order, or visit locations by area using the following links.
By Melbourne Celebrant Meriki Comito
Feature Image: Lost In Love Photography
Best outdoor wedding venues + locations in Melbourne;
CBD + Inner Suburbs | Northern Suburbs
Southern Suburbs | Eastern Suburbs
Western Suburbs | Bayside | Bellarine Peninsula
Daylesford | Yarra Valley | Public Garden Wedding Locations
Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford
Alowyn Gardens, Yarra Glen
Avalon Castle, Cockatoo
Balgownie Estate, Yarra Glen
Ballara Receptions, Eltham
Bramleigh Estate, Warrandyte
Butler Lane, Richmond
Campbell Point House, Leopold
Carlton Gardens, Carlton
Carousel, Albert Park
Catani Gardens, St Kilda
The Prince Deck, St Kilda
Como House, South Yarra
Convent Gallery, Daylesford
Coombe Yarra Valley, Coldstream
Crown Aviary, Melbourne
Darling Gardens, Clifton Hill
Edinburgh Gardens, Fitzroy
Emu Bottom Homestead
Farm Vigano, South Morang
Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne
Flagstaff Gardens, West Melbourne
Flemington Racecourse, Flemington
Flowerdale Estate, Strath Creek
Footscray Park, Maribyrnong
Forest Edge, Gembrook
Gardens House, Melbourne
Glen Erin, Lancefield
Goona Warra Vineyard, Sunbury
Greenfields, Albert Park
Grollo Equiset Garden at the National Gallery of Victoria
Heide Museum of Modern Art, Bulleen
Hyatt Place, Essendon Fields
Immerse in the Yarra Valley, Dixons Creek
Jack Rabbit, Bellarine
JFK Memorial in the Treasury Gardens, East Melbourne
Lake House, Daylesford
Leonda by the Yarra, Hawthorn
Lancemore, Red Hill
Luminare, South Melbourne
Luna Park, St Kilda
Lyrebird Falls, Kallista
Marybrooke Manor, Sherbrooke
Meadowbank Receptions, Campbellfield
Melbourne Botanical Gardens
Melbourne Museum, Carlton
Melbourne Zoo, Parkville
Montsalvat, Eltham
Overnewton Castle, Keilor
Park Hyatt, Melbourne
Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden, Melbourne
Poets Lane, Sherbrooke
Port Melbourne Yacht Club
Port Phillip Estate, Red Hill South
Portsea Hotel, Portsea
Quat Quatta, Ripponlea
Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne
RACV Healesville
Red Hill Estate, Red Hill
Redwood Forest, East Warburton
Rippon Lea Estate, Elsternwick
Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, St Kilda
Sandringham Gardens, Sandringham
Sandringham Yacht Club, Sandringham
Sault, Daylesford
Scienceworks, Spotswood
State Rose Garden, Werribee
St Kilda Botanical Gardens, St Kilda
Little Blue Restaurant, St Kilda Pier
Stones of the Yarra Valley, Coldstream
Studley Park Boathouse, Fairfield
Tanglewood Estate, Dromana
Tatra, Mount Dandenong
Terindah Estate, Bellarine
The Farm Yarra Valley, Warrandyte
Vines of the Yarra Valley, Coldstream
Vue on Halcyon, Chirnside Park
Werribee Mansion, Werribee
Windmill Gardens, Bonnie Brook
Yarra Ranges Estate, Monbulk
Yarra Valley Estate, Dixons Creek
Yering Station, Yering
Zonzo Estate, Yarra Glen
Rain on Your Wedding Day – Do you have a Plan B? →
Favourite Wedding Venues Melbourne →
Recommended Wedding Vendor Directory →
Patricia + Samuel’s Werribee Mansion Wedding
Patricia and Sam began their day with a traditional Tea Ceremony at home. This allowed them to honour their families’ Chinese/Malaysian heritage with traditional elements.
Their Werribee Mansion Wedding continued on with the same amount of elegance, grace, humour and fun that these two embodied.
This wedding had everything. Incredible styling, amazing florals, brilliant sunshine, and a perfect sparkler exit.
A truly beautiful, kind and fun-loving couple certainly deserved such magical day.
The Meeting
A marriage nine years in the making, it took the first two years of sitting next to each other in med school for Sam to muster up enough courage to ask Patricia out on a date.
Unfortunately for Sam, Patricia declined his first invite. His subsequent persistence paid off though and resulted in an official date soon after!
They supported each other through all the stressful study times that followed and bonded over a mutual love of Gelato. A love which consequently supported their decision to hire a gelato cart for the big day!
The Proposal
Sam decided to propose on Christmas Day. He thought it would be hilarious to throw Patricia off with a multi layered wrapped present containing romantic letters and cards, revealing an ugly Christmas jumper at the end. The prank backfired though as Patricia was overjoyed with the jumper! So Samuel quickly bent to one knee and revealed the much more valuable and sparkly present from his pocket!
The Vows
Patricia vowed to cook Sam’s favourite chicken rice more often than once every 3 years and promised to “choose you every day, a million times over, not because I have to, but because I want to.”
Sam declared Patricia as the most “charming, beautiful, intelligent and graceful” woman he knew (we all agree!), promised to always bring her ice-cream, and ended with AA Milnes’ “If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you”.
The Wedding Details
Patricia and Sam secured the services of wedding planner Sarah Wang, from Blooming Love Events to help create their special day alongside Bursaria the Refectory. Enlisting the services of Ivy & Eve, Dann Event Hire and a team of other fabulous suppliers, Sarah produced the most incredible setting for Patricia and Sam to say their I Do’s!
The Photographer
Patricia and Sam chose the amazingly talented Jesse Hiscoe to capture all the details, and I thank him for allowing me to share his beautiful images with you! The smiles he captured say it all!
Contact Meriki to discuss your special day HERE!
Patricia + Samuel | 22.02.2020
Photography: Jesse Hiscoe
Ceremony Location: Werribee Mansion
Reception: Bursaria The Refectory
Videography: Lovely Day Films
Marriage Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Bridal Gown: Enzoani | Eternal Bridal
Planning/Styling: Blooming Love Events
Florals: Ivy & Eve
Ceremony seating: Dann Event Hire
Ceremony Music: Stringspace
Cake: Nobody Hates Cake
Chloe + Mahmoud’s Gardens House Wedding
First meeting
At Phuket airport. Mahmoud tells me he was instantly mesmerised by Chloe’s beauty.
He had just shared a laugh and a hug with one of his friends, before he turned to see Chloe standing there behind him in the customs line, so he promptly broke into a huge smile and asked her if she would like a hug too!
First impressions
They immediately discovered a very similar sense of humour, and bonded over a love of travel and immersing themselves into different cultures, but it was their strong family ties and a love for sports that brought them close together….well, by sports I mean mainly AFL….meaning mainly Carlton….ok so maybe that was just Mahmoud that was obsessed with sport, but either way, it didn’t take long at all for their friendship to develop into the loving bond which led them to marry at the beautiful Gardens House in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens.
Vows
After lots of Lebanese family traditions starting the day off for Mahmoud, Chloe made her entrance at Gardens House as a breathtaking figure in custom Craig Braybrook Couture.
She named her handsome groom as “the most beautiful, smart, and generous person I have ever known”. Mahmoud promised to love, cherish and commit his heart + soul to Chloe for as long as he lived.
Mahmoud’s nephew stood up as the cute as button ring bearer, before a first kiss as husband + wife drew highly anticipated cheers and applause from a very festive group of guests!
Congratulations Mr + Mrs M and thank you for allowing me to share a part of your amazing day with you!
Photo credit
The incredibly talented Theo from Loco Photography for the beautiful images – what a superstar x
Chloe + Mahmoud | 02.11.2018
Photography: Loco Photography
Ceremony Location: Gardens House
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Videography: IMedia Studios
Bridal Gown: Craig Braybrook Couture
Bride’s Shoes: Valentino
Flowers : Floretta By Grace
Groom’s Cars: Pony Passion Cars
Bride’s Cars: RR Classic Car Hire
Ceremony Music: Four Seasons String Quartet
Reception Location: Metropolis
Do I need a Wedding Video?
In the beginning
Discussing wedding suppliers with my couples is always an exciting time for me. I get to find out who I’ll be working with in the coming months, and can assist couples by recommending all the fabulous industry legends I have come to know and highly respect. And I base my recommendations on the excellent quality and standards I have experienced first hand.
(My Recommended Suppliers Directory is here if you’d like to check them out!)
Decision time
Most couples I meet with have already locked in, or are about to lock in a photographer for their wedding, but I have to admit that I am surprised by just how many are still tossing up whether they need a wedding video as well.
My short answer is if you’re already thinking about it, then yes. I really think you do.
What will a video add to my day?
A professional wedding video will capture the fun banter during all the preparations in the morning. It will capture the emotion in your voice as you recite your vows, and the crazy loud reaction from your guests when you share your first kiss as a husband and wife. It will help you to recall the sensation of your first dance together, the playful nature of any young children who attended, and the sentiments of all the speeches made by yourselves, your family and your friends.
My husband would most likely argue that the haphazard, grainy capture on my brother law’s handicam proved sufficient enough, and in the end, saved us a few dollars and enabled us to get, who was at the time, an amazing photographer, but I can say now with absolute certainty, that if I could do it all again, I would most definitely employ one of the fabulous wedding videographers that exist now.
Wedding Video by Humdrum Films
Gone are the days of long winded and boring wedding video’s that feature the romantic strains of Madonna, Whitney Houston and Foreigner, and in their place, are the incredibly fun, candid and cleverly edited captures that flood our social media today!
Why is video important?
Before becoming a Marriage Celebrant, I had always entertained the idea that photos were for ever and that video’s were an expensive form of light entertainment that couples would drag out every anniversary and laugh at, but my mind has changed dramtically, and chatting to my lovely hairdresser, Leanne, recently, she mentioned that as there were many guests at her wedding who have since passed away, her wedding video has become an incredibly valuable source of comfort, as she can listen to their voices and experience the hugs, dances and words she shared with all her loved ones past, again and again, any time she wants.
Wedding Video by Film My Wedding
A recent bride of mine also mentioned that regardless of how hard she and her husband tried to “live in the moment”, the whole wedding ceremony was such an out of body experience.
“At one point, I remember wondering why I was standing up there, and why all my family and friends were staring at me – and I recall you talking and seeing your lips moving but I don’t remember hearing anything you said! It was such a bizarre but equally incredible experience!”
So I’m guessing they’re going to be very grateful indeed to have a beautiful professional wedding video to refer to any time they like!
Who do you recommend?
The following are some amazingly talented teams & individuals who, whilst blending into the surrounds like a video ninja, will have the best quality equipment (as well as know how to use it!) and will totally nail the ability to capture the best and most important moments of your day perfectly.
Wedding Video by Nathan Kaso Weddings
Their experience in the industry means they not only understand and embrace the pressure of only having that “one chance” to capture it all, they know exactly how to read a ceremony, position themselves to best capture all the main moments AND how to document your day in a way that allows to re-live it over and over again – both from your perspective and that of your family and friends. They will also be totally fun and awesome and not boring at all 🙂
Humdrum Films
Video Boutique
Burgess Video
Film My Wedding
Lunar Red
Directors Edge
meriki@simplycelebrant.com.au
0417 394 792
Rainy Day Weddings – Do you have a plan B?
Feature Image by Ben Swinnerton
Is it going to rain on my wedding day?
Nothing sets off the fear in many a brides heart more than the thought of rain on their wedding day.
Weather is the one element you have no control over, but as long as you have a perfect “Plan B”, you can still have a perfect rainy day wedding!
Have the conversation
One of the first points of discussion at all my planning meetings with couples who have chosen to marry outdoors, is what they plan to do if it pours with rain.
Most brides will have an alternative location already in place, which is amazing, but for those of you who are either crossing your fingers that it won’t rain, or attempting to use the power of prayer, voodoo, positive thinking or threats on someone’s life to prevent it from raining, I can tell you now with absolute certainty, that Melbourne weather is ridiculously unpredictable. It doesn’t care how desperately you want that beautiful sunny garden wedding and can totally ruin every one of those HOURS you have spent planning and preparing for that one big day.
Your guests should remember your wedding for the RIGHT reasons..
No bride or groom ever dreams of arriving at the ceremony looking spectacular, only to get out of the car and get completely soaked whilst they sink into the soggy ground down the aisle. And let’s not forget about your guests and husband to be, who have been waiting there 15-30 minutes prior to your arrival, miserably clutching an umbrella, or huddling under the nearest tree. In my experience, guests will often refuse to take a seat at a rainy day wedding, preferring to shelter under a tree rather than sit on a wet chair and be close enough to hear the beautiful vows you have spent weeks perfecting.
On a personal note
Oh, and just from my perspective as a celebrant, outdoor rainy day weddings do not provide an ideal situation for us either. It’s rather difficult to stand in the rain holding an umbrella, and balancing a ceremony script folder, or device, and microphone all at the same time. Even in the cases of a light shower, our sound systems and legal documents don’t tend to do very well when they get wet, so you may find yourself without sound, or a soggy marriage certificate as a keepsake!
An easy, budget friendly plan sometimes isn’t enough
Some couples will arrange for shelter in the form of market umbrellas or gazebos in the event of a rainy day wedding. These are perfect for the days when there’s just some light rain or drizzle, but you will still need to be prepared in the case of heavier rain, as those options will not make any difference when the rain is coming in sideways!
Many brides are totally against a plan B, as they are determined to have their outdoor wedding rain, hail or shine, but trust me when I say that unless dancing in the rain is your thing (and rainy day wedding photos can of course be absolutely magical!), getting completely soaked during the legal parts and having grumpy, wet guests arriving at your reception afterwards is by no way going to contribute to your idea of a perfect day.
Talk to your reception venue
A lot of venues have some beautiful rainy day wedding options, and if you’re lucky enough to book a venue that provides exclusivity, you can normally select which option you would prefer to go with, only a few hours in advance!
In other cases, if your venue is not able to provide an alternative rainy day option, they will most likely allow you to move your ceremony into the space you have booked for your reception.
In short, putting a solid wet weather contingency in place, will provide you with absolute peace of mind that no matter what the weather, you will be guaranteed a truly beautiful Plan B that can actually leave your guests thinking it was the Plan A all along! All it needs is a little organising in advance, so that every one of your suppliers can make sure it happens!
In the end
But the most important point to remember is that at the end of the day, regardless of the fact that you have no control over the weather, you will be married to the person you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with, and that’s something the weather will make no difference to!
So if you’re planning an outside ceremony, and you don’t have a wet weather contingency, the following fabulous suppliers can help you to lock in your dream Plan B!
Otherwise just ask your humble celebrant. I’m pretty certain they’ll be able to send you in the right direction. Just for peace of mind x
Dann Event Hire
Harry The Hirer
The Style Co
Weddings of Distinction
For more Wedding Day planning tips + ideas, have a look at “Do I need a Wedding Videographer?
meriki@simplycelebrant.com.au
0417 394 792
Julia & Craig’s Pioneer Womens Memorial Wedding
Elegant, composed & simply beautiful, Julia waited at the top of the hill as I came to greet her before the start of her Pioneer Women’s Memorial wedding. “Don’t say anything nice to me or I’ll start crying again!” she warned me, but as she made her way down the aisle to Regina Spektor’s “Real Love”, it was Craig’s turn to shed a small silent tear as he saw his bride for the first time.
In the sun drenched courtyard of the Pioneer Womens Memorial gardens, Craig promised his “Boo” to share in her dreams and build a home filled with learning, laughter & light, after which Julia declared that she “will look with joy down the path of our tomorrows, knowing we will walk it together side by side, hand in hand and heart to heart.”
A stylish drink station in a shady corner of the garden provided ample refreshment for guests as they celebrated with the happy newlyweds after the ceremony.
A big thank you to the fabulous Shaun Guest Photography for allowing me to share his images!
Julia & Craig | 24th January 2014
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Venue: Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
Photography: Shaun Guest Photography
Bridal Gown: Collette Dinnigan
Flowers: Zoe Webb