So you’ve decided to make yourself a destination wedding ? You aren’t alone! So many brides are now choosing to ditch traditional city wedding venues held for one night only– and it’s not hard to see why!
Whether it’s for budget reasons or just for the enjoyment that comes from planning your dream wedding – a DIY wedding can be an awesome experience from start to finish!
That’s not to say it’ll be easy – as any wedding planner or bride to be will tell you – planning a wedding is a lot of work. So many decisions and a whole load of organising! That doesn’t mean you need to panic – if you’re not sure where to even start, look no further than this step by step guide!
Choose your budget
First and foremost, choose your budget. You need to know what you’re working with. How much can you spend on the things that matter to you? Plan out the maximum you can spend early in the process, and then you can go on to details like the venue, decorations and number of guests.
Choose a venue
Choosing a wedding venue is easily one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make during your wedding plans. There’s so much to consider, but we would say that the first thing to think about is the type of wedding you want. Do you want a theme? Countryside? Views? Something small and private? Do you need a wedding venue with accommodation for guests? These are all questions you need to ask yourself before making any decisions. What about the location of your wedding venue? You need to think about travel time for yourself as well as guests.
Once you’ve chosen the best wedding venue make sure to visit to make sure you love it. And don’t forget to book well in advance to avoid disappointment! Many of the good venues are booked 18 months in advance on weekends – so plan early.
Credit: View from the new Barn that will be ready in November 2017. Photographer: Jon Harris.
Seacliff House provides a romantic setting for weddings of up to around 150 people. The venue is having a special barn conversion this year which will provide a beautiful blank canvas, and alongside the stunning country and sea views, make the perfect location for an intimate wedding.
If you’re thinking of spreading your wedding over a few days Seacliff House is a wedding venue with accommodation. The accommodation consists of a main living area, kitchen lounge, and games room. There’s also a decking area and pool, as well as a BBQ, making it easy to entertain and really make the most of your stay.
Figure out a date
Once you’ve chosen your dream venue, it’s time to pick and date and start planning! Maybe you want to choose a date that has a special meaning to you, like the date you first met or got engaged. Or maybe another date that has a significant or personal meaning to you. If not, then you need to consider other things like the season you’d prefer, whether you’d rather have a weekend or weekday wedding, and of course the availability of your dream venue.
Top tip – if you’re on a budget, don’t forget to consider looking at mid-week or winter deals – this can save you big time!
Decide on the number of guests
How many guests you invite to your big day is down to personal preference (and, of course your budget). You may choose to have a small and personal wedding, or invite everyone you know. Whatever you choose, make your list early on to make you planning run smoothly!
Find your suppliers
Choosing your wedding suppliers is one of the most exciting parts out of all of your planning. It’s where you really get to really make the day your own! The most important piece of advice we would give is do you research! Research, research, research and then research some more. Make your time, check out recommendations and reviews, make sure everything’s perfect before finally choosing the suppliers you’d like to work with.
Top tip – wedding planners like The Wedding & Event Creators or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wedeventcreators can really help pull everything together for you and make your day perfect.
When it comes to choosing a caterer, it’s all about personal preference. If you’re looking for personal and creative approach, with locally sourced food, we would highly recommend Garnish Catering. Jo the owner consistently gets rave reviews from her wedding and other event work.
Looking for a photographer? Why not try David Campbell Photography. David is a wedding photographer based in Sydney. He really captures all the excitement before him, perfect for capturing the best moments from your big day. You can even check out his blog of a wedding he recently did at Seacliff House here.
Ripple Weddings also offer a team of highly dedicated video photographers who will work endlessly to make sure your wedding moments are captured. To take a look at their work visit here. You can also check out Ripple Weddings video on our website home page, just click here.
Seacliff House can work with you to introduce to a number of reliable wedding suppliers we work with on the South Coast. Get in contact with our friendly team now on 1800 442 388 so you can discuss your requirements with them.
How to make your dream DIY wedding perfect
Above all else, it’s important to have a vision for your special day. Once you have a better idea of what you want, you can get down to the fun part – creating your dream wedding. It’s all about the details and making it unique and special…Having a romantic location, the food, what type of flowers you want and (of course) the wedding dress! Once you’ve created your visions for your dream day, make sure you share all your ideas with your family and friends so they can share in the excitement of all your ideas.
Why choose the NSW South Coast?
So why choose the South Coast? What does it have to offer? The NSW South Coast is one of the most beautiful spots in Australia. Seacliff House offers some of the most beautiful views you can get of the South Coast. With it’s rolling green hills, fresh air and stunning country views, it really is one of the most romantic locations for you to host your special day. It’s only 2 hours drive from Sydney, yet it feels a million miles away. You can even stretch your wedding over a few days by choosing a wedding venue with accommodation, creating priceless memories that you and your family and friends will remember forever.
How can couples get more information?
If you’re looking to book our luxury wedding venue, just visit Seacliffhouse.com.au and make an enquiry on the contact form. As an alternative venue we would also recommend Willow Tree Farm near Berry. Whilst planning your wedding, be sure to check out Berry Chamber of Commerce wedding directory, and wineries like Silo, Cupids.
For more information on booking your wedding at Seacliff House call 1800 442 388 during business hours and speak to one of the friendly staff at South Coast Holidays who are our exclusive agents and handle all wedding bookings.
