An itinerary of indulgent delight
Take a break from wedding planning with a sneaky midweek break or weekend away in the Yarra Valley or Dandenong Ranges. Take your commitment to a whole new level and dedicate real time to enjoying the best the region has to offer – a perfect way to build the anticipation for your perfect day, and a great opportunity to trial the venues or ideas you’re so busy dreaming about.
Day 1
Play up high!
Mornings are made for this – and it’s so worth the early start. A hot air balloon ride taking in the glorious vista of the Yarra Valley, a glass of sparkling in hand, and hand-in-hand with your one true love. What a way to make a ‘forever’ memory. When your feet are back on earth, take a drive and explore the stunning scenery – keep an eye out for those special places that promise to be perfect backdrops for your photos, or just special places to pause and remember all the reasons why you fell in love.
Eat to your heart’s content
Hatted. Feast. When luxury matters, Levantine Hill will steal your heart at hello! For an indulgent ‘We’re so worth it’ dining experience this award-winning destination is the ultimate reward for star crossed lovers.
Embrace a Spa
Escape the world for a couple’s massage at Nourish Day Spa, where balance and rejuvenation are the only KPIs you need to worry about. Packages can be custom made just for two.
Good night stays
You know that feeling when you arrive somewhere and it’s so beautiful it takes your breath away? That place is Araluen Boutique Accommodation – it’s like cupid took a course in interior design. And you can get married at Araluen, right there by the pool…the pond…the garden…in the sunlit arbour. It’s all there for you!
Nightcaps for night owls
Find a secluded corner for a snuggle and a night cap at Herd Bar or Graceburn Wine Bar in Healesville. When you don’t want a perfect day to end, a late-night drink (and a midnight tapas snack!) in a tucked away bar is the only way to make the moment last.
Day 2
Look at me
Refreshed and enlivened, it’s time for your photo shoot! Booking an Engagement photo shoot is a great way to banish any camera nerves you might have before your wedding day and the delightful Rick Liston is a Yarra Valley Photographer that can truly capture your look of love. (And radiance is just a step away at Miss Josie’s Beauty Parlour for a beauty treatment or makeup do over.)
Sweet Bites at High Tea
Life is a special occasion and the Olinda Tea House is a stunning destination for a lunch or High Tea set among tranquil gardens, a hen’s celebration or a pre- wedding dinner. Love is always on the menu. A High Tea of sweet delicacies, an authentic Chinese banquet, or an impressive a la carte dinner – this is food for lovers…of food.
Marry into the ‘wine’ family
It’s impossible to visit the Yarra Valley without taking the time to enjoy a little wine tasting, so imagine taking a little time to get married too! A perfect trilogy of fine wine, fab food, and a stunning setting – start married life as you mean to go on!
De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate is a family owned estate that boasts several generations of winemakers and an impressive cellar door experience. Oakridge Wines is a perfect match for discerning couples in a totally picturesque setting. The award-winning boutique winery Boat O’Craigo has an intimate setting that feels like the stars just aligned for you. Don’t take our word for it – go and explore!
A wine tasting and lunch is a great way to rehearse a wedding reception.
Feel your florals
Floral inspiration abounds at Cloudehill Gardens – a magical setting for photos, or a ceremony, and an endless source of ideas for bountiful bouquets and seasonal style. Locals know and if attention to detail is high on your ‘to do list’, The Redwood Florist is with you every step of the way to bring your floral vision to life.
