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 →

Contact Melbourne Celebrant Meriki Comito

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

Larissa + Paul’s Greenfields Albert Park Wedding

Initially planning to marry at an outdoor location, strong weather warnings led Larissa + Paul to make a very wise, last minute decision, to move their ceremony to the indoor sanctuary of their reception venue, and have a Greenfields Albert Park wedding.

The staff at Greenfields Albert Park, together with the amazing Tori Allen Events team, were absolute superstars in setting up a beautifully elegant ceremony area indoors, where guests and vendors alike gathered gratefully within the welcoming, warm and light filled space.

Acoustic artist, Emma, from Top Dog Entertainment provided the perfect start to proceedings, as Larissa made her way down the aisle, in a stunning Suzanne Harward creation, to stand beside her clearly smitten Paul.

The Meeting

Larissa and Paul told me they felt an instant attraction from the the first moment they laid eyes on each other, but once they started working together, the chemistry between them was undeniable and they bonded very quickly over their shared values, similar sense of humour, a deep love for family + friends, and passion for good food, great wine and a desire to travel the world.

The Vows

In her vows, Larissa told Paul that she knew from their first date that he was the one she wanted to spend her life with, and that he was the most amazing person she had ever known.
And Paul told Larissa that he had loved her from the first moment they met and that she made his life better in every way.

The Photographer

The lovely and talented Amanda Alessi and Suzie from Lovely Day Films were there to capture all the details of the day and I thank Amanda and the new Mr + Mrs A for allowing me to share their incredible images!

Contact Meriki to discuss your special day HERE!

 

Larissa + Paul | 15.02.2020

Photography: Amanda Alessi Photography
Ceremony Location: Greenfields Albert Park
Videography: Lovely Day Films
Celebrant: Meriki Comito 
Bridal Gown: Suzanne Harward
Styling: Tori Allen Events
Music: Top Dog Entertainment

Kylie + Duncan’s stunning Luminare Wedding

Kylie + Duncan’s Melbourne city wedding was not only about celebrating the love of a  super fun and incredibly kind couple at one of my favourite venues, Luminare, but was made next level amazing when their adorable fur babies joined them down the aisle too!

The Meeting

When Kylie and Duncan first met, Kylie knew Duncan was special when she noticed that he had just finished cooking and was cleaning up after himself in the kitchen!
Duncan saw Kylie as a cute + smart, dog loving, lawyer, who liked to play Xbox and had free VIP tickets to music festivals.

Kylie loved that Duncan shared her sense of humour and got as excited over dogs as she did.
Duncan loved the free music festival tickets.

Duncan gave Kylie a grape-flavoured ‘ring pop’ during one of their first trips away together (which she still has!), but realised that he wanted to marry her for real when he realised that Kylie could build pre-packaged Ikea furniture faster than he could.

The Proposal

The adoption of Holly, Charlie and Mac confirmed their commitment to one another and after a hilariously chaotic proposal that involved all three crazy fur babies, Kylie agreed to marry Duncan and their #kyliejoinsthejoiners Melbourne wedding was born!

The Wedding details

Apart from some heartfelt and hilarious Vows, there was a Donut Wall, a Gin Bar, a Fly-away Veil, a Champagne Tower, a Sparkler Exit and of course the three fur babies – thanks to superstar Melbourne wedding dog handlers Katie + Mark from Heads + Tails! What a celebration!

The Photographer

The fabulous Jenna Fahey White captured their amazing day, together with the brilliant team from
Film My Wedding, and I thank them and the new Mr + Mrs J for allowing me to share their amazing images + footage!

 

Check out the awesome highlights film by Film my Wedding

 

Kylie + Duncan | 16.06.2018

Photography: Jenna Fahey White
Ceremony Location: Luminare
Videography: Film My Wedding 
Celebrant: Meriki Comito 
Bridal Gown: Mariana Hardwick
Flowers : Lulu Bird
Dog Handlers: Heads + Tails

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

 

Ceremony Entrances – Know your options!

Feature photo by Ben Swinnerton

Ceremony entrances, most commonly referred to as the processional, are one of the most highly anticipated moments of every wedding, and these days, you have more choices than ever!

Whether you’re a traditional couple, or an unconventional one, there’s a ceremony entrance to suit your style, and I have listed my Top 10 processional options here!

1. The Traditional Couple

One person waits at the front whilst the other makes their way down the aisle on the arm of their father.

Alternative A: You can also walk down the aisle with your mother, or both parents, step parents, a sibling, uncle, aunt, grandparent, children, dog, best friend or anyone else for that matter!

Alternative B: BOTH parties can walk down the aisle separately, each to their own song (think of the options!) They can also both be accompanied by their mum, dad, sibling, grandparent, child, pet, etc.

 

**If you liked this post, you may also like “Rain on your wedding day – Do you have a Plan B?

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

My Top 10 Most Asked Questions!

“I’ve never done this before, so I have no idea where to start”

Every new couple I meet with, even those who have been married previously, have questions regarding the marriage ceremony and what they need to factor into their planning. Just about every couple I have “worked” with, will know that I take at least 15-20 minutes at the beginning of our initial meeting to establish what to expect during their wedding ceremony planning journey, but I will ALWAYS allow for a question/answer time, (once we have discussed all the important things like whether or not they have found their dream wedding dress!) as I know at least one of these following questions will pop up!
Main Photo Credit: Theodore & Co

Let’s start at #10 and work our way through to the #1 most popular question.

10. “IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A GREAT WEDDING CEREMONY?”

I believe this is very similar to asking someone what, in their opinion, makes a great holiday?
A great wedding is one that is absolutely perfect for you.
Every couple is different, so the more of yourselves you put into it, the more likely your ceremony will be everything you’re hoping for!
It should reflect not only who you are, but also what you love, and what you consider to be most important in life.
It should be fun, romantic, sweet, hilarious, serious, formal, casual, lighthearted, traditional, totally random, or all of the above, but most of all, it should be meaningful to you, should be memorable for all the right reasons and should create all the feels you would like to see shine through in your photos  – your memories of that one big moment you will come back to for the rest of your life.
Finding a marriage celebrant who understands you, can offer you ideas that inspire you, and with whom you feel confident can create this magical moment with you is SO very important, so please take the time to get to know a few of us!

       Photo Credit: Candid Captures

9. “WHAT DO YOU (as a celebrant) NORMALLY WEAR?”

Whatever you would like me to!
This is something I will always discuss with every couple, to ensure I complement their colour scheme and dress code on the big day. In fact I wouldn’t mind at all if you requested a specific colour dress that I didn’t already have in my wardrobe – any excuse to buy a new frock is a great one in my opinion! But don’t worry, unless it is specifically requested, I will NEVER wear white, in any form – that is for the bride and the bride only!

 

8. “CAN OUR VIDEOGRAPHER CONNECT TO YOUR YOUR PA?”

Absolutely! It means, in many cases, that you will have a much better quality sound for your wedding video, and I’m all for working with your suppliers to ensure you receive the best outcome in every aspect of your planning!
You are also welcome to pass on my details to them so they can contact me in the lead up to the big day to discuss any connection requirements.

       Photo Credit: Gerard Assi

7.“WE’RE QUITE SHY, DO WE REALLY NEED TO USE MICROPHONES?”

In short, no, as long as your two official witnesses are close enough to hear you state your legal intentions.
The long answer is, your family and friends have all come along to hear you make a lifelong promise to one another and are so excited to be able to witness such an important moment in your lives, so unless you prefer that they sit and wonder what on earth it was that was said to make you smile, laugh, cry or all of the above, then yes, microphones are always a good idea, but I promise I won’t make you hold it yourself, i fact I’m happiest holding the microphone for you so you can concentrate on sharing the beautiful words you have written for each other!

       Photo Credit: Vlad Savin

6. “WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF OUR BABY STARTS CRYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CEREMONY?”

Babies cry. It’s a fact. If you have young children, the best thing to do is NOT assume that it will be a magical day where they won’t cry at all. The best thing to do is to accept that they probably will, so be prepared for that, and always have a nominated carer on hand to keep an eye on them at all times so you don’t have to!
I have conducted many ceremonies where young children are involved and I find it all works out for the best when you simply follow their lead and go with whatever happens on the day.
If they want to be held by one of you for the entire ceremony, then let them. Their squishy little face between you when you share your first kiss as a married couple will be captured by your photographer and will provide you all with the best memory in the years to come.
If they want to sit on the ground at your feet and play with the flowers/dirt/sand/grass/ shoelaces/ empty ring box/ cracks between the floorboards or anything else that amuses them, then let them.
If they want to be held by you one minute, then your mum the next, or the bridesmaid or groomsman, or any other random guests that captures their attention, then let them.
And if they want to grab my microphone and say hello with a big cheesy (and sometimes dribbly) grin, then believe me, I will let them do that too 🙂
Don’t worry if they get dirty. Don’t worry if they don’t want to smile perfectly for the camera. Don’t worry if they rip off their flower crown/boutonniere/vest/jacket/ shoes before they’ve even made it down the aisle. And don’t worry if they want to stand up the front and pull faces at you, at your guests, at your photographer, or at me – it will be really funny (about a week later for you maybe), and everyone will look really happy in all your photos! Trust me.

       Photo Credit: Kate Deagan Photography

5.“WHAT AGE WOULD BE CONSIDERED TOO YOUNG FOR A FLOWER GIRL/PAGE BOY/RING BEARER?”

Well, if they can’t walk down the aisle themselves, most would consider them too young.
Unless a parent carrying their child down the aisle adds significant meaning to your day, I would advise against it, as the parent can sometimes appear embarrassed, leading to a rather awkward start to the ceremony….

        Photo Credit: Nicole Taranto Photography

4. “HOW LONG DO YOU NORMALLY STAY FOR AFTER THE CEREMONY?”

Long enough to a) Watch you receive lots of congratulatory hugs + kisses from your family + friends,
b) Pass your marriage certificate on to a nominated person of your choice (that you have already decided on in the lead up to the big day), c) Pack up all my equipment, and d) Give you a hug goodbye with my very best wishes for a fabulous celebration!
Oh, and if there is champagne going around, I may make a quick toast to your future as a new Mr + Mrs!

       Photo Credit:ProShot Photography

3.“WE DON’T WANT A REHEARSAL, BUT HOW WILL WE KNOW WHAT TO DO ON THE DAY IF WE DON’T HAVE ONE?”

No problem at all! That’s what I am there for!
I will always discuss ceremony details at our final meeting leading up to the big day, to ensure that I understand your brief exactly regarding every moment of how you would like the ceremony to run.
I will meet you when you arrive and will discuss your entrance with your venue co-ordinator to ensure it runs smoothly. If you don’t have a venue coordinator, I will assist you with your arrival and your entrance.
I will show your bridesmaids where to stand after they walk down the aisle to ensure they are nice and symmetrical to the groomsmen. But if your bridal party is uneven, I will work with numbers to ensure you are all still positioned perfectly for photos.
I will guide you through every aspect of the ceremony from start to finish and will ensure both you and anyone else involved directly in the ceremony knows what they are doing and are confident in their individual roles. You won’t need to worry about a thing!

       Photo Credit: Blumenthal

2.“WHAT WILL I DO IF I START CRYING DURING MY VOWS AND CAN’T SAY THEM?”

Again, try not to overthink this part.
In most cases, you have never done anything like this before, so how can you possibly imagine how you are going to feel and react? You can’t. So don’t even try. Just go with it, and like with everything else, be prepared for anything.
But know that I will always be there to help you through those ridiculously unpredictable emotions.
Trust me, I’ve done this a few times now and I’m pretty good at keeping those words flowing and turning sobs into smiles, but I will always let the tears with the feels fall if it means that your partner (and all your family and friends) can see just how much you mean to each other x

       Photo Credit: Doux Wedding Corp

And the number one question most brides ask……..

1. “WHAT NAME DO I SIGN ON THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE AT THE WEDDING?”

Your usual name! You have to actually sign the marriage certificate before you can be considered legally married and eligible for a change of name!

        Photo Credit: Luke Lornie Photography

****************

As I said, these are only MY top 10, but if you have any other questions in regards to your wedding ceremony (and there is absolutely no such thing as a silly one!) please feel free to contact me at any time!

 

Sharmaine & David’s Luminare Wedding

What does marriage mean to you?

When I asked David and Sharmaine what marriage meant to them, they recited a quote that struck a real chord with them. It read, “love is a friendship set on fire – a combination of everyday life and magic bundled into one. Love has the unique ability to transform the webs and pillars of everyday life into silk and gold. It is more than a feeling or emotion, concept or theory; it is a being.”

After all the traditional Chinese customs in the morning, I was waiting with David on the rooftop deck at Luminare, when admitted that he was very much looking forward to seeing Sharmaine make her way down the aisle. I’m pretty certain that she most definitely exceeded his expectations as she stepped into the sunshine, absolutely exquisite in Anna Campbell.

First Meeting

David and Sharmaine first met at University about 8 years ago. David recalled his first impressions of Sharmaine as being that she was very small, but very pretty! Sharmaine admitted that she loves the fact that David is tall enough to reach all the things that she can’t!

True love

All jokes aside, David & Sharmaine also share an incredible connection and found themselves wanting to share all the important moments in their lives quite early in their relationship, eventually leading to David’s amazing mid-air proposal.

Sharmaine said that she loves how well she & David understand one another and that he is so open minded, with  the endearing quality of being both patient and impatient all at the same time.

David said that Sharmaine is caring and compassionate and absolutely beautiful, inside and out. He also loves that she supports him 100% in any decision he makes, always offering encouragement in any endeavour he decides to embark on.

Wedding Symbolism

Incorporating a hand fasting ritual to provide a visual representation of their commitment,  Sharmaine & David’s hands were bound with silver & white ribbons to represent purity, peace, creativity & inspiration, before they shared their first kiss as husband & wife to the absolute joy of all their family & friends.

Photo credit

These exquisite images by Jonathan Ong captured every ounce of this couples’ outer AND inner beauty and the absolute pure love they both radiated & elicited. What an absolute pleasure it was to declare them husband & wife! xx

Sharmaine & David | 27.12.2014

Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Ceremony & Reception Location: Luminare
Styling & Florals: Tori Allen Events
Bridal Gown: Anna Campbell
Photography: Jonathan Ong
Videography: The White Tree
Ceremony Music: The White Tree

Tran and Damon’s Grand Hyatt Melbourne Wedding

The Event

Tran + Damon decided that a Grand Hyatt Melbourne wedding would be the perfect way to celebrate their love.

They initially connected online, quite randomly one lazy Sunday afternoon, and within two days, they were having their first meeting over dinner.

Tran loved Damon’s patient & calm manner, and Damon loved Tran’s energy & confidence, so not long after, Tran very considerately helped Damon pick out her engagement ring, and on the 29th March they married in spectacular style at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in a Vietnamese/Australian fusion ceremony.

The Ceremony Details

Tran & Damon provided their guests with an Order of Service titled “So You’re Going To Sit Through A Wedding – A practical guide to not falling asleep and figuring out just what exactly is going on”.
It included interesting facts & past world events pertaining to their wedding date, a Sudoku challenge, the story behind the Tea Ceremony, all the details involving the wedding planning (ie. Dresses tried on = 2 & messages to bridesmaid = 900+) and of course, the names & titles of everyone involved in the wedding day!

In keeping with an ancient Vietnamese custom, Tran and Damon chose to incorporate a traditional Tea Ceremony into their celebration, to serve as a formal introduction into each other’s families. This ceremony is usually performed at home before the wedding takes place – sometimes with a cast of thousands! – but as Tran & Damon planned to include only their parents,  it was truly special to witness it as part of official proceedings, as it allowed all their guests (and me!) to experience it too. So beautiful.

The Vows

Tran promised “to live by and protect what we build together”, before Damon vowed “to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all that I am, in the only way I know how – completely and forever.”

The Photography

These gorgeous photos by the super talented Alli Oughtred have captured all the love & joy of their day perfectly x

 

These gorgeous shots were taken in ACDC lane in Melbourne’s CBD

 

Tran & Damon | 29.03.2015

Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Ceremony & Reception Location: The Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Photography: Alli Oughtred Weddings
Florals: Balwyn Events
DJ/MC: Bruce Harrison

 

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