Melbourne Mini Weddings – At A Glimpse.
Mini Weddings are small, elegant, intimate, perfect little wedding days designed to cater for the private gatherings that so many of our couples are now seeking.
Back in 2018 Avalon Castle recognised the need for a Melbourne Wedding Venue to offer a specialty service. Small weddings in Melbourne are a popular option for any wedding budget but our all-inclusive Mini Wedding Packages cover every detail. Here at Avalon Castle, we believe that everyone is entitled to experience an extraordinary wedding day. There is no minimum spend. If you want to escape, just the two of you. We can assist with that too! Every wedding hosted here, regardless of your wedding budget, is treated with the same respect as the last. Just to give you an idea of how our Mini Wedding Days operate, let’s give you a quick glimpse of your wedding day itinerary. For this example, let’s say you that you present as a bride and groom. You have invited 30 guests for a 4pm Melbourne Winter Wedding:
Only three days prior you have met with your designated Avalon Castle Wedding Planner. She has compiled your wedding day schedule.
There is a slight chill in the air with a little rain on the radar, so she has prepared the Rose Terrace with a gorgeous decorated wedding arch. Three rows of chairs on each side of the aisle, provides a generous space for the photographer to move about freely. The water fountain is flowing, Kookaburras are watching from above. They know that if they wait around long enough, the humans will leave, and they can have their fountain back!
It is 3pm.
The Avalon Castle Chapel doors are closed but the heaters have been turned on, just in case! We are still aiming for an outdoor wedding ceremony but at the very least, the guests can sit, relax, and keep warm in the chapel whilst they await your arrival. There are lap rugs nearby and you have organised a lovely little surprise for your guests – a hot chocolate Winter Warmer Station”.
There are giggles in the chapel. Wedding guests are arriving. There are hugs, high fives and some serious tie-fixing taking place.
The Melbourne Wedding Celebrant has arrived very early. The sound check has been completed and he is ready to go. He chats with the Melbourne Wedding Photographer (who is wrestling with his tripod) all the while discussing how the ceremony will play out. They know each other well. They know the venue well. They are keen to get things underway.
The sun bursts through and everything is just as it should be.
All your Professional Melbourne Wedding Suppliers have arrived by now. Avalon Castle Wedding Planners have helped you to select the best suppliers for your Mini Wedding.
The wedding cake has been delivered – it smells divine!
The guest tables have been styled to perfection, the candles are lit, the place cards are set.
The wedding bouquet is on your cottage dresser.
The Melbourne Make-Up Artist is departing. Her work here is done – she takes a quick snap of the castle and waves as she hops into her car “see you next time”.
The wood fire heater is blazing in the honeymoon cottage and the bridesmaid is reminding everyone to keep the door closed. The wee flower girls are feeling the chill but a lot of that is pure excitement. They have not slept much so they will be ready to nap by 7pm. Their flower crowns sit in a tissue-lined flower box, delivered by the florist earlier that morning.
The bride has been onsite since 12pm and the empty champagne glass tells us that she has had some time to settle in and enjoy some pampering before slipping into her gown. The wedding planner reminds her to wait a moment whilst she brings the photographer up to capture a couple of shots.
Meanwhile, you have chosen a couple of “yummy” dessert upgrades from the Avalon Castle Menu options. We use the word “yummy” because that is exactly what we hear when we deliver the desserts to the table. The smell of sticky date pudding is wafting down from the kitchen. Everyone can smell it and the Avalon Castle’s DJ is complaining that it’s making him hungry. He says he didn’t have time to grab a snack before he left home, but secretly, we know he was saving himself for our famous Pork Belly entrée.
It is 3.40pm
By now the boys are making their way down to the Rose Terrace. They stop for a moment, checking out our Hired Lawn Games. The groom is feeling a little anxious but not enough to let it show. He greets some of the guests. They pat him on the back and tell him that his new haircut looks good. He assumes his position and the celebrant does a quick run-through with the boys.
It is 3.50pm
The wedding planner knocks on the cottage door. “It’s only me”. She brings a paper towel, dabs the bottom of the bouquets, and lays them on the table outside.
We clear the guests from the guest accommodation area.
The wedding celebrant asks the guests to take their seats.
The flower crowns go on! The flower girls have been very well behaved.
One by one the girls make their way out of the cottage. The bride leads the way and we ask the girls to assist with her train.
We make our way through the back to the steps of the big orange door.
We signal the celebrant to start the music. The photographer is in place. He points his camera towards for the top of the steps.
One by one they make their way down. There is a pause after bridesmaid number 3. The bride steps out. She takes the arm of her “significant family member’. Her mum, her dad, her brother – her chosen support person. They pause as we close the door for that “signature shot”.
There you go…
Your groom gets his first glimpse. Once he has you in his sights, he doesn’t take his eyes off you. Guests are beaming.
{Everything that happens from this moment, for the next 20 minutes, is completely unique and personal to you}
Now the group shot. The bar opens. The food starts to flow in abundance, as does the chatter.
{This is our favourite part of the day. The formalities are over, and the selfies are in full swing}
The groom has a beer in his hand, the bride has her second glass of Champagne. She understands she needs to pace herself because sparkling wine makes her head spin. The bridesmaids know this too. They are more than happy to drink her share.
It is 5.15pm
Your guests are being ushered upstairs. Some take the staircase, others take the rear entrance, avoiding the stairs.
You are having some quiet time in the cottage. Your wedding planner has come to collect you. You have opted to enter via the rear door.
Two by two, the wedding party enters the room.
The MC introduces you as Melbourne’s newest newlyweds “Mr & Mrs”
You enter and go straight into your first dance. It’s an “ice breaker” and you are both feeling so relaxed so why not take this opportunity to embrace the moment on the dance floor. Your first dance is now “done and dusted” and everyone is ready for a great night.
It is 5.30pm
Entrée is Served
The Pork Belly is a huge hit. The DJ comments about it being his favourite dish.
It is 6.15pm
Main Course is Served
Each guest has an alternating meal. One guest is overheard telling her husband that she would swap if she was not keen on her choice. Now she has changed her mind. It was too good to give away. He doesn’t mind – he was already halfway through his Roast Scotch Fillet. We expect to hear that same conversation when the dessert comes out.
Speeches take place
It is 7.15pm
Dessert is out and that Sticky Date Pudding was everything you imagined it would be!
Ordinarily you are due to wrap up by 8.00pm but you have arranged to have some extra time and thank goodness that you did! The time has flown.
The Wedding Cake is served on the coffee station. You have chosen our Mini Wedding Cake – White Chocolate with Chocolate Chips. Within an hour there is little left on the table, but you don’t mind because the staff have already put some aside for you.
It is now 10pm
Oh, what a day!
Oh, what a night!
Oh, what a sparkler exit.
Guests are departing. Some have decided to stay. There is a brief discussion about the hot breakfast time of 9.00am. The groomsman is thrilled about breakfast. He loves his food.
You depart to your cottage. The shoes come off and you cannot wipe the smile off your faces. This was so easy, so stress-free, so organised, so beautiful, so memorable, and so personal. It was everything they had promised it would be.
Avalon Castle absolutely nailed this for us!