diyvenue - The Original Wedding Company

diy
venue
Home is where
the heart is
Once the preserve of brides on a serious budget, backyard
weddings are currently experiencing a glamorous revival
S
ay the words “backyard wedding” and
you probably imagine a low-key affair
– a tarp strung between two trees for
shade, fairy lights for decoration, an Esky
of drinks, a pig on a spit and 20 or so
guests seated around trestle tables. Not that there’s
anything wrong with that, but there’s recently been
a shift in people’s attitudes towards home weddings.
Today’s couples want a day that’s completely
unique, in a location that means something to them,
with every detail planned exactly the way they want
it. And the answer is to do it themselves at home.
“A lot of couples can’t find a venue that offers what
they want, and they’re prepared to do the hard work to
plan their own event,” says Jenn Veza, wedding planner
and owner of The Original Wedding Company in Perth
(originalwedding.com.au). “There’s a lot of work involved,
but if you’ve got the space, it’s definitely worth it. When
you see the photos afterwards, the atmosphere that’s
created at home can’t be replicated.”
Of course, it’s not for everyone. First of all, you’ll
need the space (or the use of a friend’s property), not to
mention a lot of time to liaise with all your suppliers.
But if you’re up for a challenge, here’s everything you
need to know to make your wedding dream a reality.
The home advantage
According to Veza, who cut her teeth on her own home
nuptials before going on to start her wedding-planning
business in 2006, there are so many positives to holding
your big day in a private setting.
“One of the main advantages is the lack of a curfew
– you won’t get kicked out at 12pm,” she says. “You’re
starting with a blank canvas and can run the events in any
order you like. And it will be completely tailored to you
as a couple – no-one else will have a wedding like it!”
Being at home, you can get the whole family
involved, putting Dad in charge of the gardens, asking
Mum to help make the favours, getting the bridesmaids
onto decorations, and so on. Then of course, there’s 
Separate chill-out
areas encourage
guests to slip away
and enjoy their
surroundings.
106 Cosmopolitan bride
Cosmopolitan bride
107
Nicole & Chris
“There’s no need to reinvent
diy
venue
y, guests
“For the ceremon
th
sat on hay bales wi
cushions.”
autumn-coloured
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Nicole Redenbach, 33, and Chris Philpot, 34, held their
reception at Nicole’s parents’ property in Cambewarra, NSW.
the wheel. Look around
“We dressed up
what was alrea
dy
in the garden.”
“We were lucky to have five acres to play with. The marquee sat
to one side of the house with the sides open to the views and
garden. We also set up a kitchen tent next to the house, where
there was access to power. The biggest challenge was getting
everything to the property – from tables and chairs, cutlery and
glasses, to a cool room and cooking equipment.
We both love travelling and went for an Asian-fusion feel
with the decorations – lanterns hung from the trees and an
outdoor platform featured a huge bowl filled with floating
candles and flowers, surrounded by cushions.
If you have the space for a home wedding, I definitely
recommend it. My favourite moment was when Chris and I were
looking down on our guests from afar, seeing everyone enjoying
themselves. We were so tired by then, but it felt pretty good.”"
and work with what you’ve got”
hter Wish
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Chantelle & Matthew
Chantelle Maas, 25, and Matthew Webster, 27, were married
at Chantelle’s parents’ property at Tamborine Mountain, Qld.
“My parents’ South
Coast property holds
special memories for
both Chris and I.”
the warm and fuzzy benefits you get from
being in familiar surroundings.
“A home wedding provides a friendlier
atmosphere, and guests get a more intimate
view of the couple,” says John Moss, owner
of Melbourne-based The Event Hire Company
(eventhire.com.au). “You can put up photos
from your childhood, involve the pets, there’s
the old tree that your grandfather planted, the
neighbour waiting out the front to welcome
the newlyweds – it’s terribly personal, like
taking a tonic for the soul.”
Rough conditions
Of course, there are a few negatives you’ll
want to consider before deciding whether
a home wedding is the right choice for you.
“There’s a long set-up and removal
process before and after,” points out Alex
Austin, senior event manager for James Gordon
Workshop (jamesgordonworkshop.com.au).
“It can take a week to put everything in place,
and the number of crew involved can be quite
substantial. So it’s not always a cheaper option.”
108 Cosmopolitan bride
“Another major negative is the cleaning
– before and after the event,” adds Veza. “If
you have your wedding at a reception hall,
you can leave at the end of the night and pay
someone else to clean up after you. At home,
it’s all your responsibility.”
There’s also a chance your guests might
get a bit too comfortable. “Sometimes, being
in a friend’s home can make guests forget
themselves,” explains Moss. “They might go
wandering around inside the house, touch
things they shouldn’t or bring their own alcohol
and start drinking before the ceremony.”
But as Veza says, “They’re not big
negatives, and they won’t stop you from having
your dream wedding. You just need to be very
organised, keep an eye on your spending and
ask for help when you need it.”
the planning begins
“Start early,” advises Austin. “Before you do
anything else, write your guest list and come
up with a rough budget. This will give you
an idea of how you’re going to set things up.
If you’re planning a big event, I suggest hiring
an event manager or wedding planner to help
organise all the little details.”
Structure Once you’ve worked out
numbers and budget, you need to decide how
to “house” the event. “It’s a personal choice,
but I recommend restricting access to the
house, and setting up a separate area outside
in a marquee, shed, barn or some sort of
structure,” says Veza. “There’s a lot more work
involved having weddings inside your actual
home, not to mention the wear, tear and
possible breakages that can occur.”
A marquee is a good all-in-one solution,
says Pavel Chromy, owner of Event Marquees
in Sydney (event-marquees.com). “It comes
with flooring, wet-weather protection and we
can put it up in half a day. Look for flooring
with a steel structure underneath, so once
it’s up, it won’t move. It can also be used to
level out uneven ground.”
He adds, “Rather than trying to squeeze
150 people into a tiny marquee, find an expert
you like, and trust them to give you the right 
Suppliers
ess
(bailie.com.au). Dr
Bailie Photography
hy
rap
og
ot
n
Ph
planner Je
.com). Wedding
ic
Pronovias (pronovias
). Flowers Botan
(asawhisper.com.au
r
pe
his
W
a
As
t,
ast
Wilmot
Graeme Jones, Fe
m.au). Catering
ven
lha
oa
Art (botanic-art.co
Sh
re
hi
). Marquee
.au
et
g.n
rin
te
ca
ast
re
Catering (fe
Cool-room hi
venpartyhire.com).
).
.au
om
Party Hire (shoalha
s.c
m
coolroo
ion (albatrossmobile
Albatross Refrigerat
natural
“We used soft colours to
d
textures an marquee.”
the
decorate
“Dad draped 35
metres of white chiffon
from the balcony.”
“Tables feat
ured black
stones dow
n the centre
,
bought from
Bunnings.”
“I’ve always wanted an informal garden wedding, and it was
so special having it in a place that we can revisit as much as
we like. Our first step was to select a date when it would be
warm, with a low chance of rain. Next we wrote the guest
list, then we booked the celebrant and photographer.
I gave each family member a supplier to look after and
direct on the day. Mum did all the reception flowers – pastelcoloured roses in crystal vases – while Dad lined the entrances
with white flags and set up wooden signs to direct the guests.
Our ceremony took place under two old trees that
grow symbiotically and are more than a century old. We’ve
held many family gatherings there, and it’s a meaningful place.
Afterwards, our friends and family enjoyed drinks, canapés and
live music. We set up couches, cushions, bar tables and stools
in the house and on the verandah, and used two local caterers
to create an international menu including sushi, Moroccan
lamb cutlets and butter chicken. Matthew and I left at 8.30pm
to put our daughter to bed, while our guests partied on!”
Suppliers
Photography
Donatella Parisini
(donatella.com.au).
Dress Collette Di
nnigan (02 9361 01
10). Flowers
Mountains of Flowe
rs (07 5545 0808).
Catering
Spice of Life Cafe
(07 5545 3553); Ea
gle
Thai (07 5545
4445). Equipmen
t hire All Occasio
ns
Party Hire
(alloccasionspartyhir
e.com.au).
Cosmopolitan bride
109
Use decorative lanterns
to illuminate dark areas.
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Got water views? Keep the
decorations simple and let
the setting speak for itself.
advice. A good event-hire company can also
supply you with tables, chairs, lights, cutlery and
crockery, air-conditioning or heating, and more.
If we don’t have it, we will outsource it.”
Organise to have the marquee or
structure erected a few days before the event,
so you’ve got time to set up the decorations.
Good street access is a bonus, but according to
Chromy, “As long as there’s enough space for
the marquee, I can make it work. I use Google
Earth to work out the best access to the house,
and park as close as possible.”
Facilities “Portable toilets are a must, and
make sure you choose nice ones,” says Veza.
“Most houses have two toilets, and that’s
definitely not enough if you’re having 50 people.
Some country properties run on rain water, so
that’s another point worth considering.”
“Toilet facilities can be put in the garage
or on the front lawn, with a marquee erected
for privacy and flood lights for visibility,” says
Moss. “Most hire toilets are very modern, with
sinks, hand soap, tissues and flush mode, and
we’ll even include breath fresheners, mirrors,
combs and antiseptic solution.”
Catering Your next decision: how to feed
the masses. “Cocktail-style is the easiest and
most cost-effective option, especially if you
don’t have the space for tables and chairs,”
says Charles Wilkins, owner of Culinary Edge
(culinaryedge.com.au), which has catered the
weddings of Toni Colette, Sarah and Lachlan
Murdoch and numerous high-profile footy
players. “Make sure you have plenty of food
for the timeline you’re working to, and not
too much pastry – keep it fresh and simple.”
Other menu options include a helpyourself buffet or the traditional three-course
sit-down meal. Start by putting together 
110 Cosmopolitan bride
diy
venue
howid
d
we it
A marquee with see-through
walls and ceiling is a great
wet-weather option.
Bianca & Michael
waltz
“We did our bridal
to get the
and speeches first
the way.”
formalities out of
Bianca Scarvaci, 30, and Michael Rennard, 28, held their
reception at Bianca’s childhood home in Wattleup, WA.
“Growing up, I used to tell my friends I wanted to have a big
wedding at home. I mentioned it to Mike when we got engaged,
and after seeing a few unimpressive venues, he said let’s do it.
Mum and Dad’s 10-acre property is a very rural bush
setting, with amazing views. Because of the distance from the
house to the marquee, we needed to arrange a separate structure
for the caterers, bathrooms, lighting and a bar. An electrician
made up a switchboard to run all the power for the marquee,
band, sound equipment, bathrooms, bar and fridge.
We included some nice personal touches, like bottles of
my dad’s wine, made from grapes grown on the property, and
stationery designed by my sister. Providing our own alcohol
meant we could have a greater range of beverages at a lower
cost. During the night, guests were welcome to wander outside
to see the sunset, get up and watch the bridal waltz, take their
picture in the photo booth, relax in a separate chill-out area and
take sweets from the lolly table. It made everyone feel really
involved and we had
“I got to have the blacklots of compliments.”
and-white checkered dance
floor I’ve always wanted.”
Suppliers
Michelle Dean
Photography
hy.
elledeanphotograp
Photography (mich
ob Bridal (hobnob
com). Dress Hobn
er
edding plann
bridal.com.au). W
ny
pa
ding Com
The Original Wed
om.au).
g.c
(originalweddin
“Long banquet-sty
le
n Wedding
tto
tables created an
Flowers Wille
elegant
an
d
a.
int
sw
im
er
ate
ow
atm
osphere.”
Flowers (weddingfl
aurizio
M
g
rin
te
Ca
).
com
ts Catering
Restaurant & Even
t.com).
(mauriziorestauran
Marquee
Equipment hire
agic.com.au);
Magic (marqueem
otobooths
Push the Button Ph
tobooths.
(pushthebuttonpho
ent
ainm
com.au). entert
ay
M
of
The Darling Buds
ay.net).
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gb
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(thed
“One of m
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made the bridesmaids
cakes.”
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katrina & stephen
Katrina Lyrijis, 30, and Stephen Faucheur, 32, invited guests
to their recently renovated home in Burwood East, Vic.
“When I first started planning our wedding, all the reception
venues I looked at had starting prices of at least $10,000, with
only a few options for food and wine, and four- to five-hour
time limits. We didn’t want restrictions on our day, so we
decided to hold our reception at our three-bedroom home.
We hired a marquee with silk lining, strung
“Signs reading ‘W
fairy
lights
through the backyard and booked a
ill You
Marry Me’ led gu
ests
caterer.
Everything
was structured around the
to the marquee.”
existing space and power supply, and thankfully the
caterer was able to work with our kitchen facilities.
Everyone in our family was very generous
with their time and assistance. Wine was donated
by Stephen’s aunty Mary, who owns a boutique
winery in Red Hill, and Mary and Stephen’s mum
made all the floral arrangements and draped white
crepe fabric around the house. I made wine charms
from a kit I bought online, which we gave to guests
s to level
“It took six month
ss
gra
nt
pla
d
as favours along with bags of sugared almonds.
an
d
out the groun
sit on.”
for the marquee to
A magician kept the guests entertained
with card tricks until the bridal party arrived, and
we served drinks and canapés including homemade
ice cream, as it was a very hot day.
Living in our ‘venue’ and trying to keep it
all immaculate was tough, but I’m so glad we had
it at home. I could change my shoes when my
feet got sore and touch up my make-up in my
own bathroom, and we had enough wine leftover
to last us the next year!”
Suppliers
Photography
Warren Photograp
hy
(warrenphotograp
hy.com.au). Dress
Br
ides of
Melbourne (03 96
39 9900). flower
s Oopsy
Daisy Flowers (03
9802 7507). Cate
ring
Octavia (03 5975
5221). Equipmen
t hire
Dann Event Hire
(danneventhire.co
m.au).
Cosmopolitan bride
111
Not only do ice towers
look impressive, they
keep food fresh, too.
Mother Nature can be fickle, and
Chromy recommends you instigate your
wet-weather plan three days before the
event. “Watch the weather reports and if
the forecast is for rain, switch to Plan B.
If you’re having things on grass, you’ll need
flooring and side walls, and maybe a covered
walkway between the marquee and toilets.”
However, if the weather turns on you
at the last minute, your suppliers can help.
“We have to be ready for the unexpected,
and carry spare equipment, especially wetweather back-ups, at all times,” says Moss.
“Home security is another issue to
consider,” he continues. “Because of the
casual setting, guests may forget to lock their
cars or leave their mobile phone sitting on
the dashboard. So ask a younger family
member, like a cousin, to walk up and down
the street every 15 minutes and check all the
cars, and give them some movie tickets to
say thanks. Or call the police and let them
know you’re having a wedding at home –
can they drive past if they’re in the area?
Keep handbags and coats in one room, and
lock the front doors to keep valuables safe.”
Make a feature of the
pool with floating floral
arrangements and candles.
Deck the halls
Elaborate table
centrepieces add a
touch of elegance to
a marquee setting.
112 Cosmopolitan bride
Flooring with a steel
structure underneath is
sturdy and can be used to
level out uneven ground.
Many caterers will include cool rooms,
cooking equipment, glasses, crockery, cutlery,
alcohol and waitstaff in their quotes, but you
can pick and choose what you’d like them to
supply, and perhaps do some things yourself
to save a few dollars.
damage control
As with any wedding, there are always
potential problems that can occur. The dramas
vary a little when you’re at home, but they’re
easily dealt with if you know how.
First off, parking. “When you send out
invitations, include a parking plan,” says Veza.
“Indicate surrounding streets where guests can
park, or give them directions of which gate to
enter through and which field to park in.”
If there’s not much street parking available,
Austin suggests arranging a specified drop-off
point and organising transportation to take
guests to and from their cars.
Got some narky neighbours who might
object to the noise? Invite any that you have a
good relationship with, and for those you don’t,
give them plenty of advanced warning. “Keep
them on side by sending a nice bottle of wine
and a note warning them that there will be lots
of people coming and going, things could get
noisy and it might go quite late,” Austin says.
“A few couples I know sent the neighbours
away for the weekend, which is a great idea
if your budget allows.”
In terms of legalities, Veza suggests
you contact your local council to check if
there’s any noise or parking restrictions in
your area, and give your home insurance
company some warning of what’s going on.
She adds, “Any vendors that come on your
property must be fully insured, including
public liability. Check before you book.”
Good outdoor lighting is essential,
not only for creating the right look, but on
a practical level, especially for the marquee.
“You don’t want guests tripping over a tree
root, and you will need to light up the
parking, toilet and smoking areas, too,” says
Veza, adding, “Always get professionals to
handle anything that involves electricity.”
photographs courtesy of splendid days (splendiddays.com.au); james gordon workshop
(jamesgordonworkshop.com.au); susan stanford events (susanstanfordevents.com.au); event
marquees (event-marquees.com); the event hire company (eventhire.com.au).
an idea of the menu you’d like, and ask a range
of caterers for quotes. “You want someone who
has experience with off-site events, especially
if you’re travelling out of the city to a country
property,” says Wilkins. “They need to be
extraordinarily organised. If the farm is an
hour away from the nearest town, we can’t
take chances or leave anything behind.”
He also encourages you to make use
of their expertise and ideas. “We know what
makes a balanced menu, what’s popular and
what has the wow factor. Always be upfront
– if you don’t like something, say so. We can
adjust menus to individual needs. But above
all, trust us – we want people to walk away
being happy with what we do.”
Wilkins suggests putting out a gorgeous
display of cheeses and antipasto for guests to
graze on whenever they feel peckish. “I also
love over-the-top ice towers of fresh seafood in
summer,” he says. “Crab, oysters, prawns,
salads – it adds a freshness and generosity to
the event. Dessert trolleys wheeled out in front
of your guests also make a nice focal point.”
diy
venue
howid
d
we it
When it comes to decorating your home and
gardens, Veza sums it up perfectly: “You’re
only limited by your imagination and budget.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, so
look around the existing area – you may
have some beautiful old trees that you can
hang lanterns in, or a path you can light up
with candles and a wooden sign that
reads, ‘Wedding this way’.”
Moss loves a silk-lined marquee
with all the trimmings. “Don’t scrimp
in this area,” he says. “Give your stylist
or event hire company license to go all
out with gothic archways, window walls,
chandeliers, fairy lights, chair sashes and
anything else they come up with. It’ll add
a polished feel to your day and add to the
ambience of the occasion.”
Chromy’s favourite styling idea?
“Incorporate the pool or tennis courts – it
makes for great photos. I’ve seen couples
put a see-through cover over the pool, light
it up and turn it into a dance floor.”
Austin recommends hiring gardeners
and cleaners for a few days before and after
the wedding, or roping in your family and
friends to help, as it’ll be a big job. “You’ll
need to start tidying up months before the
event, to take care of things like dropped
leaves, ugly plant pots, loose pavers and
peeling paint, and just get the place looking
its best,” she says. Stephanie Hope
Emily & Daniel
Emily Field, 29, and Daniel Salter, 30, chose to
hold their reception at Daniel’s parents’ house
in Woolwich, Sydney, NSW.
“Having our reception at Daniel’s parents’
house was an instant decision. It’s a
spectacular home sitting right on the water.
Probably the biggest bonus was being
able to individualise the day as much as we
wanted – there was no limit to what we could
do! I was lucky enough to have my sister, an
event producer, to help plan the whole thing.
We wanted the focus to be on good food and
wine, and I love French provincial antiques,
so we carried that theme through all the
decorations. One downside was the expense.
I think most home weddings end up costing
more because everything has to be brought
in – lighting, generators, marquee flooring
and more – not to mention the time involved
setting it up. The caterers worked from the
garage, and we used a gardener and cleaners
before and after the event.
Guests enjoyed canapés in the garden
before being welcomed into the marquee,
which was decorated with clusters of antique
vases in different sizes filled with roses.
A three-course lunch was served, followed
by cocktails and roaming desserts. When
the festivities wound up, we
organised a bus to take
“A second marquee
everyone into the city.”
held the dance
floor and stage.”
“Daniel has lots of fon
d
memories of growin
g
up in this house.”
Suppliers
Inlighten
Photography
en.com.au).
ht
lig
Photography (in
Dinnigan (02
Dress Collette
g planner
9361 0110). Weddin
412 317 889).
Georgina Ford (0
decorations
Flowers and
erchants (02
Flourish Flower M
f (bleaf.com.au).
9233 8900); Blea
ring (katering.
Catering Kate
ent hire Pages
com.au). Equipm
(pages.id.au).
Event Equipment
initials,
“Our first
roses,
made from e pool.”
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floated in
s
“The marquee wa
les
filled with long tab
.”
and Tiffany chairs
“A chand
el
hanging ier of
ro
stunning ses made a
focal poin
t.”
Cosmopolitan bride
113