Engaged and excited, Congratulations! Now where to begin?

Orchards at Spring Vale Farm is Victoria’s newest alternative to the Yarra Valley, The Bellarine Peninsula and Daylesford

Were you one of the lucky ones to receive the most wonderful of surprises on Valentine’s Day or over Easter? Perhaps you are one of the same-sex couples who celebrated the change of marriage laws in Australia with a proposal? Are you now dreaming of a 2018/2019 wedding? Orchards at Spring Bale Farm is Victoria’s newest alternative to the Yarra Valley, The Bellarine Peninsula, and Daylesford.

Engaged and excited is a beautiful and memorable feeling. If any of the above describes you, there is a very good chance that you are now waist-deep in wedding inspiration. The first few days or weeks after a proposal are normally spent on cloud nine. Sharing the news with family and friends, admiring that shiny new ring, and starting to think about and discuss what sort of wedding you dream of.

It’s an exciting time and it’s to be enjoyed. When the elation settles a lot of couples suddenly feel overwhelmed and the sheer joy can be replaced with sheer confusion. The list is long when planning a wedding, so where to begin? If you were engaged over New Year or Valentine’s Day or even Easter, you have by now had a chance to discuss possible dates. This is a job with high priority, it is never too early to book and we often see bookings that are two to three years in advance. However, that is not to say a wedding cannot be planned in a much shorter time frame. As long as there is availability and you are committed to taking on the task then as we like to say, “let there be bells”.

Before deciding on a date though, you must have your choice of venue and have a confirmed booking. Once the ‘where & when’ have been locked in, you then have the luxury of relaxing slightly with the rest of the planning and enjoying the lead-up to your big day.

A venue is a very personal choice, here at Orchards at Springvale Farm we are lucky enough to offer a diverse range of options and locations to bring your dreams to life whatever they may be. Becoming engaged is one of life’s most special milestones so take a moment to breathe and let us help you find the perfect space within Orchards.

In times gone by, we have been used to seeing weddings traditionally held on a Saturday or Sunday, usually during the warmer months. These days we see winter weddings, Thursday and Friday weddings, and many a cocktail-style celebration. There are no hard and straight guidelines for planning your celebration in this day and age.

Your wedding means your choice. Some factors may dictate slightly such as:

the size of the guest list
your budget
the time of year that you have chosen
a smaller wedding can get lost and lose intimacy in a large space
larger weddings need the space to ensure it does not look or feel overcrowded.

Here at Orchards, we can offer the best of both!

Ceremonies at Orchards are exclusive and private. We have several locations throughout the property including:

The Willow – which overlooks our stunning spring-fed dam
The Birches – situated close to the homestead and surrounded by lawn and calls of nature
The Atrium – indoor ceremonies within our glass atrium with picturesque views of the gardens so wet weather need not be a worry.

There are also a number of historic nearby churches with cars available to transport you and your bridal party to and from the location.

When the formalities are over you want to welcome your guests to a reception that lets your individual personalities shine through and leaves you and your loved ones with memories to last a lifetime. An intimate venue within our original 1860’s bluestone homestead could comfortably host up to 80 people for a cocktail-style function or smaller sit-down dinner. The homestead is warm and inviting. It offers open fires and can look spectacular with minimal styling. Fresh flowers and candles can bring this space to life and give guests the feeling that they are celebrating in a friend’s own home. Accessible from the homestead is our beautiful Italian tiled veranda. French doors can be opened to lead guests out to cocktails and canapés whilst overlooking the property and admiring the views. The homestead is a particularly beautiful option for an autumn or winter wedding.

Marquees are a popular choice for brides and grooms who have a larger wedding and would like to put their personal touch on what begins as a blank canvas. Clear walled marquees let the country landscapes and beautiful views into your celebration and lighting, furniture, heating, and cooling can all be arranged through our incredible team of stylists and suppliers. Our purpose-built croquet lawn or tennis court can make for the perfect position to erect a structure.

If a warm summer’s night, celebrating under the stars is what you have in mind we have our secret garden or apple orchards as other options. The secret garden is surrounded by dry stone walls and has a fairy tale, old-world feel. The apple orchards provide a mystical and romantic option. Moonlight combined with fairy lights could transport your guests to a world far away while they indulge in fine food and wine in the warm, open air. The options at Orchards are endless. The sounds of nature and the calmness of the surrounding landscapes make for a beautiful backdrop that is hard to find elsewhere. While location and in particular, countryside weddings are not a new concept, we feel that Orchards is unique. It is situated alone, surrounded by rolling hills yet it is the only 1.5hrs from the Melbourne CBD and a short 15-minute drive to the Ballarat Township. With the Yarra Valley, the Bellarine Peninsula, and Daylesford being popular choices for some time we now see bridal couples that want to give their guest’s a different experience and take them to a location that they may not have experienced before. With Orchards at Springvale Farm being situated at the gateway to the Grampians, it means guests will have the added bonus of having access to reputable local wineries such as Michael Unwin or Blue Pyrenees all within a short drive.

When deciding on a venue it is important to view the location in person. Words and photographs lead to intrigue and interest but it is the feeling you get when there in person that truly matters. Orchards have a charm that is hard to come by. The manicured gardens and water features are magic and the different options of space mean you get to choose your theme and create the wedding of your dreams. Our caterers are also some of the finest with renowned names such as Truffle Duck, Peter Ford, and Peter Rowlands catering choosing Orchards as a preferred venue. If Orchards seems like the perfect place to start the next chapter of your life together then please get in touch. We welcome all inquiries so please call Linette on 0419 542 714 or email linette@orcharsatspringvalefarm.com.au to arrange a time to visit us and begin planning your wedding day!