Intimate micro wedding venues with an emphasis on safety (and love)
There’s been a noticeable trend towards smaller size and off-peak weddings and many couples are opting for a ‘less is more’ approach to getting married because it’s just right for them. How you get married is influenced by the prevailing restrictions – sometimes it\’s 5 guests, sometimes 20, sometimes 50, but always with love
The micro wedding is now a real consideration for couples wanting to get hitched now and in the near future.
So many amazing venues in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges have risen to the times to offer micro and intimate wedding packages that meet all the needs you and your guests have for a safe celebration. You may even find you can consider venues you’d previously ruled out!
And it not just venues that are luving you up – many celebrants, wedding transfer operators and other services and doing micro wedding packages and special prices.
So don’t delay your beautiful day – a gorgeous ceremony and reception is still a possibility.
Here is a quick list to get you planning underway:
Venues
Seville Estate is an award-winning winery set among impressive gardens and undulating vineyards. Enjoy exquisite estate wines matched with Chef’s menu – a memorable combination that will be the toast of your guests – after you, of course! The newly renovated Homestead offers dining rooms that seat 7-10 people each with dedicated bathrooms and facilities. The main restaurant space can also host weddings depending on your needs and state of restrictions.
Say I do at Vue on Halcyon who are pleased to offer elopement style weddings and short lead time weddings in response to restrictions associated with COVID-19. With rolling hills and a contemporary chapel this is a perfect spot to create your happily ever after moment. Enjoy a winery reception with elegant dishes and complemented by estate wines. You can even exchange vows in the vineyard. If you are wanting all the wedding works, food and beverage, bridal dance, photos, and speeches but working within a budget or wishing for a more intimate day then check out their micro wedding offer of up to 50 people.
Immerse Yarra Valley’s intimate wedding package provides exclusive use of the restaurant and choice of receptions locations either the Vineyard Chapel or Garden Chapel. There is minimum 40 (max 70) people and three hours of venue use for your special ceremony and reception lunch on weekends in 2020-21. A picturesque vineyard wedding with much to love.
Zonzo Estate are offering ‘Ready, set, wed!’ A \’Micro Weddings\’ Package – making it easier to say \’I do\’ in the time of COVID-19. Includes a 1.5-hour Package (includes ceremony, photos and canapés), on-site ceremony in the Capella, a selection of canapés and beverages post ceremony, and use of the property for photos.
Marybrooke Manor have a great new package called the Boutique package which enable couples to select any of their standard packages but instead of the usual $8000-$14000 minimum spend, it’s only $5000 if you are planning on hosting their wedding within three months of booking or on a Monday – Wednesday.
Yarra Rangess Estate – ELOPEMENT/COVID WEDDING PACK – For up to 10 people, 2.5hr onsite with onsite ceremony preparation of grounds. White garden chairs for ceremony and a Wedding Coordinator to assist your celebrant . Includes Use of our 30 acre property for photos. Enjoy Grazing table (eg: antipasto platters, dukkha platters, dips, cheese and fruit) and Drinks priced on consumption. (Non exclusive use of the venue). Your choice of an 11:30am ceremony or 2:30pm ceremony for a total cost of $2,500.
Bulong Estate – Whether you’re planning a micro wedding, or an exciting elopement (just the two of you and a witness), you still get to enjoy Bulong Estate all to yourselves and all the romance that goes with a vineyard wedding. Bulong Estate have ceremony only options, or ceremony followed by some drinks and nibbles and of course photos around the vineyard. If you would prefer to have the whole reception and meal onsite and restrictions allow, their excellent caterers can quote for your intimate meal. Bulong Estate are always happy to work with you to create your day just the way you want it, and are flexible with all the changes that these COVID times can bring with no additional charges.
Set among stunning gardens, perfect for a ceremony or al fresco dining, the Olinda Tea House offers an exquisite range of menu options and private dining opportunities. Choose from one of the delightful gazebos for complete privacy for you and your guests and appreciate a unique approach to intimate weddings.
Chateau Wyuna – Love has not been cancelled – it’s just looking a bit different. If you are looking to have a small wedding or get married within the next 3 months, the Boutique Package is the perfect option. You can invite as many or as few guests as you like for a significantly reduced minimum spend, meaning you can now enjoy an intimate wedding exactly as you want it at a venue which may not have been possible in the past. This Package is available on ANY DAY within 3 months of booking or any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
Skyhigh Mt Dandenong – The Perfect Location For Your Wedding. Spectacular by day, stunning by night, SkyHigh Mount Dandenong is one of the Dandenong Ranges’, if not Melbourne’s most beautiful and truly unique wedding and special occasion venues. Wonderful food, superb views, beautiful gardens, and professional team of experienced professional staff, ensure that your special day will be a dream come true. As one of the top Mt Dandenong Wedding Venues, they offer a superbly presented modern reception room, with floor to ceiling windows that provide the most eye-catching panoramic views across Melbourne’s city skyline.
Fergusson Winery – Now more than ever it is so important to listen to what couples are envisioning for their celebration and offer a service with compassion, flexibility and understanding. Fergusson Winery have removed their packages from their website and replaced them with a “get in out” option so they can hear everyone\’s unique circumstances. It is then up to them, the industry professionals, to be educated on the most recent restrictions and guide couples through the planning journey. We\’re all in this together and working towards and common goal – to get the wedding world back moving and celebrate love.
De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate understand the importance of celebrating with family and friends, sharing special moments and enjoying great wine with exquisite food. They offer exclusive use of their facilities for your wedding celebration. Their contemporary restaurant provides a stunning setting for your reception with gardens offering panoramic views of surrounding vineyards and hills. Premium dining, vineyard feasts and beverage packages available. Off-peak pricing applies – Book your special day throughout these months and e delighted with some fantastic savings. Couples booking their day also receive a complimentary lunch for two.
Celebrants
Soulful Ceremonies – Christine Pedley its offering a deal for those who simply can’t wait any longer – or are tired of ‘re-arranging dates’ yet again. Choose your 5 – 10 people – give a month’s notice (to sign the Notice of Intended Marriage) – choose a great spot outside (she has a garden in Upper Ferntree Gully that has been used a few times) – and go ahead and have your meaningful intimate small wedding. And then when restrictions allow – go ahead and have the big party. FOR NO EXTRA COST – I will provide a “Vow Renewal” – which can look just like a wedding but won’t be legal – because you will already be legally married.
Rainbow Wedding Celebrant – Robynne Mauger has reduced fees to accommodate micro weddings and offers ceremonies held in her garden or on front deck overlooking beautiful Yarra Ranges views. It is a really special time for Robynne who feel privileged to witness authentic love and the desire to be married no matter what. The ceremony holds all the unique attributes of each couple and always bring tears of emotion and love; it doesn’t matter the size of the congregation. It proves that it doesn’t matter what you wear, where you get married or the expense a flash event can cost – the desire to marry is above all that if there are authentic values for marriage. Special Off Peak Wedding packages will revert to normal after October.
Hitched at Olinda Tea House iso-style
Jace and Abigail Denny were married in July 2020 at Olinda Tea House.
“We chose the Olinda Tea House for our is wedding for many reasons. Beautiful gardens and views; the forest, the hedge, the Chinese gardens and bridge. The llamas are so cool. And the food is incredible. We loved the private dining options.
When we first heard about the wedding restrictions because of Coronavirus we were disappointed. We always wanted an intimate wedding but at one point we could only have five people, which we wouldn’t consider, so when it went up to 20 we were happy. The venue handled the social distancing and health and safety requirements so perfectly. The seating arrangements were great. It was a bit weird having everyone’s temperature taken but it had to be done.
One of the advantages of a smaller wedding is there is a lot less stress and we had delightful attention from the venue and event manager. A smaller wedding means its easer to interact with guests as there is not as much separation. It was much harder to find a venue that would cater for a smaller wedding. Even during COVID-19 restrictions so many venues would still ask for minimum payments for a larger wedding even though we could only have 20 guests.
There were lots of advantages to having a July wedding. The rain gave the photos character and they were brilliant, no harsh shadows like on a sunny day. The clouds in the background made for a great atmosphere. It was very cold just 3 degrees on the day!
We were very happy to have a small wedding. It was super intimate, very comfortable and fun. We had a lot of fun. If anyone is thinking of having a small wedding, just do it. No regrets, don’t wait!”
