Summer wedding planning essentials
While in the throngs of winter it's hard to cast the mind forward into sunny, sweltering-heat territory. But while the Australian summer is a great season to be married, it does come with a list of peculiarities that you need to consider when booking a Wedding reception venue. Best Venues spoke to brides and to Penny Miller, manager of Rocket Event Services, and all round wedding planning guru, to glean some advice.
Ceremony
The Wedding venue in which you're going to say your "I dos" is quite important - it is the crux of the hundred-year-old affair and the moment that everybody frocks up for. If you choose a venue that's prone to overheating, even if your guests display ingenuity by using your order-of-service cards as fans, everyone will still have to fend off beads of sweat and the desire to hitch up their skirts and pants (bridal party included). Even your flowers will wilt in displeasure.
"Flowers don't like hot weather so make sure that the venue has good air-conditioning or a nice breeze to keep them fresh and lively," Penny says.
Some great air-conditioned venues are Mediterannean House and Dockside Darling Harbour. These can also provide brides with a full wedding package - including food and decor.
On the other hand, if you select an outdoor function venue, apart from the heat (if the wind doesn't obey your wishes), you also need to consider the positioning of the sun. "You don't want to be squinting at your partner while you are saying your vows," Penny explains.
The mix of joy and irritation makes for funny pictures - and tests the true ability of your Wedding Photographer - but the results are less than mantle-worthy. (You probably shouldn't test the eyesight, optical muscle endurance or the forbearance of your guests either). So according to Penny shade - whether given by umbrellas or a kindly tree - is a must.
Our brides' favourite Outdoor Function Venues that give the eyeballs much-needed reprieve are: Banjo Patterson Cottage Restaurant and Carrick Hill.
Wedding Reception
Although the ceremony is the heart of the wedding, the afterparty (or reception as it's more civilly known) is where you'll spend the most of your time and, let's be honest, the bit that your guests look forward to. You're probably aware of this and I don't need to say it (but I will anyway) - you need to put lots of thought into where you hold your reception.
The practical aspects:
Size - your venue has to be big enough (or small enough). You may love the views of a grand ballroom, but your intimate wedding of ten may not want to hear their voices echo throughout the reception dinner. Cramming hundreds of guests into a venue that's too small is also a rather awkward exercise - especially when the balmy summer heat makes things a little sticky.
So be sure you search for a venue that can accommodate up to 50guests, up to 100 guests, up to 300guests or more than 300 guests as your guest list dictates.
Distance - Even the most athletic of your guests will not appreciate the Sahara-style experience of walking for miles to your reception oasis. A solution could be a venue like Campaspe Country House Hotel and Restaurant, which allows for the ceremony and the wedding reception to take place on the same property.
Things that melt and wilt - Your flowers, ice-sculptures, cake and collagen-endowed guests will not appreciate hot weather, so ensure your venue has good air-conditioning or a breeze. Most club function rooms are ideal for this.
Parking - back to the Sahara point. Don't force your guests to park in desolate areas, miles from where the party is. "Your venue must have convenient parking, without a 5km trek," Penny says. If public transport or taxis are available at the end of the night so much the better, she adds.
Construction - Even the prettiest venues need to powder their nose once in a while - so Penny advises that you check that this isn't being done on your wedding day. Scaffolding makes for weird photos.
Naturally, if weddings were all about being practical, and not at all about being fairy-like and fun we'd all be single or the entire affair would morph into a giant house party. So to get on with the fun bits and get some super styling advice from Penny click here.
Penny Miller is the manager of Rocket Event Services (RES) - an event services company with more than a decade of experience in the wedding industry. RES styles hundreds of weddings every year and has decorated the majority of Sydney wedding and function venues. For more information visit www.rocketevents.com.au.
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