Newcastle Beach Wedding

So you’ve researched and hired a photographer to document your wedding day, and now you’re tossing up whether it’s worth the extra expense of hiring a professional wedding videographer. With an abundance of editing options now available at the click of a mouse, video professionals can capture your special day in a creative and polished video that you’ll be proud to show off for years to come. Still not convinced? Here are a few reasons why hiring a professional to video your wedding is a great idea!

Capture the memories

Ask any married couple what they remember about their wedding day, and most will tell you all the months of careful planning and building excitement came together in a day that flew by in a happy blur. A wedding video will provide a record of every detail of your day from the minute you begin preparations until you say good bye at the reception. It’s a permanent reminder of your special day that you can sit down and watch time and time again.

View missing moments

Unfortunately there will be moments of your wedding day that you won’t see in person. For example, you won’t witness your groom’s nervousness as he waits for you to arrive at the wedding venue, and he won’t see the moment you’re buttoned into your bridal gown, glowing and ready to be married. These moments are precious and endearing, and a wedding video is the ideal way for you to experience the moments that you won’t see first hand.

Listen to your wedding day

While photographs are perfect for capturing the sights of your big day, a wedding video also captures the sounds. You can experience again the exchanging of the vows, the thoughtful speeches, the high-spirited laughter and even the beat of the music that played while you danced your first dance with your new husband.

Capture the details

When you hire a professional wedding videographer, you’re hiring more than a person who owns an expensive camera, you’re hiring experience. Years of knowledge mean they know the best approach, the best angles, the best vantage points, and their professional camera is designed to capture the smallest detail in high definition. A professionally created wedding video will document your big day in far greater detail than static photography alone.

Future generations

Your wedding video is a wonderful gift to pass onto your children and grandchildren. Imagine how delighted you might feel if wedding videographers were available in your grandparent’s era, and you now had possession of their wedding video to see exactly how their day came together. At the very least, your wedding video may give future generations a bit of a giggle!

Relieve your guests of the responsibility

Hiring a professional to video your wedding allows your guests to have fun with their own video cameras without the obligation of perfectly filming every detail of your day. This means that your family and friends can relax and enjoy the celebrations with you.

So when you’re working out your wedding budget, remember to include money for a wedding videographer. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and capturing it on video will enable you to relive the excitement and happiness in the years to come.

The wedding cake is an important part of your big day, but where do you find the right baking specialist to create the cake of your dreams? If you are a bride-to-be in and around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens or the Hunter Valley, Michelle at The CakeChef is the person you’re looking for. Michelle is a qualified chef and has a Masters Degree in cake decorating. She will work with you to ensure your wedding cake not only looks fantastic, but tastes amazing too.

Order early

You may know exactly what you want for your wedding cake, or you may still be combing magazines for inspiration. Either way, keep in mind it may take some planning and reviewing to turn your dream cake into a reality, so be sure to have the process underway well in advance of your wedding day. Ideally your cake should be ordered as soon as you have chosen your colour scheme and your venue.

Taste test

The CakeChef offers numerous cake flavours with ganache style fillings that you can mix and match to suit your taste. Imagine a Mars Bar mud cake with caramel flavours and dark chocolate ganache, or coconut mud cake with lemoncello ganache. Make an appointment for a cake tasting and be prepared to want every flavour you try!

Current trends

The CakeChef specialises in the popular double barrel and triple barrel wedding cake trend. Each cake or barrel is six inches high, and comprises four layers of cake and three layers of ganache. Cupcake towers are also still very much in demand as wedding cakes, and Michelle’s version can include a one or two-tier cutting cake.

Get creative

The days where a white tiered wedding cake with a generic plastic bride and groom perched on top as the only choice are gone, so get creative and consider coordinating your cake with your wedding theme, or the colour of your bridesmaid dresses, or the jewellery you’ll be wearing on your special day. Imagine your guests gasping in delight when they see your cake draped with the same pearls or rubies you are wearing, for example. This is especially effective if you’re wearing an heirloom piece of jewellery.

Another current trend is to personalise your cake by matching it to the fabric of your wedding dress. For example, if your dress features an insert or overlay of lace, a fondant replica can be made and incorporated in your cake design to highlight your unique style.

Cutting the cake

History tells us wedding cakes began as cakes of wheat or barley that were broken over the bride’s head to ensure fertility. Thankfully, times have changed and brides no longer have to worry about getting cake in their hair (although some YouTube wedding clips show differently!) and modern wedding cakes symbolise good luck for the newlyweds.

However, it’s interesting to know the cutting of the cake is the first task you perform together as husband and wife, and feeding cake to each other traditionally signifies the commitment you have made to provide for each other.

If you’re looking for a wedding cake specialist who can work with you, provide inspiration, and a really great tasting result, The CakeChef is the place to start.

Your wedding day is one of the only occasions in your life where all eyes are on you. Looking and feeling fabulous, from your dress to your shoes, is the order of the day! If you’re searching for bridal shoes, Newcastle wedding suppliers are a great place to start. They are specialists, and can help you find the right shoe for your overall style – and your feet!

Comfort and style

The first thing to remember when you start your search for shoes is that while you want something that looks fantastic, you also have to have something that is comfortable, or your feet will be screaming by the end of a long day and night. Not all shoes are created equal, so take your time looking around, and trying on (preferably in the afternoon when your feet are naturally larger). Steer clear of anything that is uncomfortable after five minutes walking around the shop – they will be no less uncomfortable on the day!

Tricky terrain

Take a good look at the surfaces you’ll be walking on at your ceremony and reception. Steep, narrow staircases, strips of grass and concreted slopes all have the potential to literally trip you up. Not a good look on your wedding day, especially when there are numerous snap happy guests to immortalise your embarrassment! If you’re going to be on solid ground all day, feel free to go with the sky-high stilettos, but if the terrain is not so stable, try a low Louis or kitten heel.

Pumps

A classic pump is probably the most popular choice for brides, due to the numerous styles, heights and colours available. When choosing a pump, stay away from pointy toe styles, especially if you have a wider foot, as they don’t have a lot of wriggle room. The last thing you want is squashed toes!

Ballet flats

Fun, flirty and feminine, ballet flats just might be like the ultimate bridal shoe choice. But beware of ballet flats that can be easily bent in half. Ballet flats with no arch support, no padding and a thin sole can very quickly make you feel like you’ve been walking barefoot for hours. Opt for styles with a thicker sole, a small heel and lots of inner cushioning and support.

Peep toes

Peep toes shoes with a medium heel can be an elegant choice, and ideal for showing off your pedicure. Remember, your toes should ‘peep’ out of your shoes not ‘squish’ out, so avoid styles that tip your feet forward too much. Also stay away from styles that are very narrow at the toe and cause your toes to press together excessively.

Sling-backs

Flirty, sexy sling-backs are perfect for gliding down the aisle at your ceremony and then dancing the night away at your reception. Styles with a lower heel will be more comfortable to wear for an extended length of time. Straps should be firm fitting, but not tight. Too loose and your shoes may slip off, and too tight they might chafe and rub the back of your heel.

Remember when you’re browsing for your bridal shoes, Newcastle wedding specialists can help you find shoes that ooze elegance and won’t leave you hobbling into your honeymoon. Make sure you break your shoes in by wearing them a few times before the day. And, of course, you don’t have to restrict yourself to a single pair of shoes on your big day; many brides choose to switch to a more comfortable shoe at the reception.

Hunter Bride

Getting the word out there about your bridal business is one of the most vital keys to business success. There are many ways to go about advertising your business, from traditional media to social media and online. In fact, advertising online makes increasing sense, given just how fast online shopping is becoming mainstream in Australia. Hunter Bride is a niche, local online wedding directory that can help you boost the visibility of your bridal business in and around the Hunter Valley. Bridal advertising in the Hunter Bride directory is a great way to reach the customers you want, and increase the chances of a bride-to-be locating your product or service. Here are some of the advantages of advertising with us.

More people seeing your business listing

Hunter Bride offers high quality, engaging and useful information on a variety of topics, extensive directory listings, constant updates of information, and an active social media community. Our directory also has the advantage of being easy to navigate, with a simple mouse click linking the clearly marked categories. This provides an excellent user experience, and means we get tens of thousands of visitors every month. What this means for you is that not only are more people likely to find you if you’re on our site, a person who locates your business in our directory is an interested buyer, and is very likely to be ready to make a purchase.

Work with search engine and online marketing experts

The Hunter Bride website is backed by industry professionals who are experienced in running blue chip advertising campaigns. The Hunter Bride website has maximum visibility in the search engine rankings on Google and Bing, and we know how to drive targeted, quality leads to your business.

Small businesses and low budgets

Every business has to start small in the beginning, and that usually means having a strict budget and limited time. This is where advertising in an established directory like Hunter Bride can give you the exposure you need, without huge expense and without the worry of having to concentrate on a large campaign. We can take care of it for you.

Building trust

Unfortunately, many consumers have been burned by unscrupulous people who set up slick-looking websites with the purpose of scamming people out of their money. So if your business isn’t a bricks and mortar business, and sells purely online, consumer trust is vital to your success. Having a presence on Hunter Bride can help you build this trust, and build your reputation as more and more satisfied customers get the word out.

Advantages over print advertising

Generally, print advertising is much more expensive and time consuming to produce than online advertising. It can also be more difficult and more expensive to target print advertising to your exact customer base. Online advertising however can be put together quickly, and has the potential to instantly reach a large number of people who are specifically searching for the products or service your business specialises in.

So consider boosting the awareness of your business, and potentially increasing your sales, with Hunter Valley Bridal advertising. Contact us at Hunter Bride to see how we can work with you to advertise your speciality bridal business.

Photo by The Wedding Designer

The best hen’s days are, let’s face it, one giant movable party on legs. It can be a challenge to organise the best hen’s party ever, but we’re up for it, if you are! Here are a few tips to help you plan an event to remember.

A morning full of activity

Plan a surprise activity for the morning. Using up some energy in healthy exercise gets everyone bonding and is a sure way to feel virtuous before all the debauchery to come! Book some surfing lessons, a ride along the beach or something like a round of golf depending on the level of challenge your group is up for. Is there something your bride has always wanted to have a go at, but hasn’t quite got around to? Now’s the time!

Pace yourselves girls

Or should that be brace yourselves, girls? The important thing is not to peak too soon. You don’t want to be known for the hen’s day in Newcastle that ran out of steam mid-afternoon. Here are two ways to avoid this disaster:

– Don’t start with the alcohol too early on. If there’s going to be a drink or two at lunchtime, make sure everyone knows they’ll need to be on their toes for the afternoon’s activities.

– Alternatively, give everyone an excuse to sneak a quiet snooze by scheduling beauty treatments in early afternoon. The snoozes will pass completely unnoticed when you’re in massage heaven, or a hair stylist’s skilled hands. You’ll leave your various treatments with a spring in your step and raring to go!

An afternoon mystery

When you’re all beautiful and pampered, it’s time to head off on a magical mystery quest. Hand out clues and send small teams off in search of answers! You can do this on foot or in cars. Eventually everyone should end up in the same place to find you and a couple of mates serenely waiting with a prize for the winner and a booby prize for the tail-end Charlies.

Early evening entertainment

While you’re sipping on a cuppa, or a cocktail if it’s that time of day, you’ll be watching the door for the extra-special stripper-gram delivery – yes it’s time to start embarrassing the bride!

Get everyone to vote on how well she handles it and depending on the result give her L or P plates to wear, or make her put on a special Bride-to-Be T-shirt.

Bring on the games

Everyone can get involved in games with an equal chance of winning prizes. It’s up to you whether everyone gets to share penalties too, or whether these are reserved for the bride. Perhaps you could put it to a vote on the night. The bride is sure to be in a minority!

Have a list of bridal challenges at the ready, so people can vote on what she does next. Typical tasks might see her getting up to slaughter a song, asking strangers (male of course) for items of clothing, asking them for a dance or collecting kisses!

Hen’s night quizzes

Having a selection of quizzes up your sleeve is a great idea for quieter moments. You don’t have to be quizmaster, other people are generally happy to take a turn at asking questions too. Here are some ideas:

Bride. How well does everyone know the bride? Talk to everyone in the hen’s party in advance and ask for one thing they know about the bride – the more obscure the better. That way there’s a fair chance everyone finds out something new about the bride. At the end ask the bride to reveal something about herself that no one has yet mentioned.

How well does she know her husband-to-be? Plenty of opportunity for her to make mistakes here! You’ll have got the answers from him in advance. If he’s a bit shy, ask one of his mates to do the questioning for you. You want to know things like :

What she does that really annoys him.

Where did he go to school/what was his first job.

What’s he afraid of.

What fantasy outfit he’d like her to dress up in.

Cheers!

Take a look at our directory listings for things to do on a hen’s day in Newcastle, just make sure you’ve enough energy left to dance the night away and don’t forget to pack some headache pills for the morning after the night before!

When it comes to overseas romantic getaways, you’re spoilt for choice. Whether you want an island retreat perfect for lazing on the beach, or envision strolls along cobblestoned streets in Europe, there’s a destination to suit. Here are our top six getaways.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini

The force of a massive volcanic eruption thousands of years ago reformed the Greek island of Santorini, leaving it with a giant, central lagoon that oozes with romantic appeal. The island’s capital, Fira, is situated on a high cliff overlooking the lagoon, where every evening the sunlight reflecting off the water creates unforgettable sunsets. The island offers amazing views, quaint villages, and sheltered bays that are ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

Venice, Italy

Venice

Just thinking about Venice amps up the romantic atmosphere! Built on a lagoon, this city truly is one of the most romantic getaways in the world, and has managed to remain virtually unchanged in over six hundred years. Imagine viewing magnificent architecture while floating down a canal ensconced in a traditional gondola, or dining in an 18^th century castle. Although water travel is a crucial part of getting around Venice, off the water you’ll find plenty of drama and history in the city’s many cobblestoned squares and hidden alleyways.

Belize

Belize

Magical and mysterious, Belize will have you falling in love all over again. The country is located on the north-eastern coast of Central America, and surprisingly, English is its official language. Once you’re settled in your accommodation, modern resort style or quaint original colonial, you can choose to hike alongside Howler monkeys through lush jungle to locate Mayan temple ruins, or simply lounge on the beach with a good book.

Casablanca, Morocco

Casablanca

Who hasn’t watched the famous movie and ached to be immersed in the romantic spirit of the city of Casablanca? Well, there’s a lot more to the city than intriguing ‘Gin Joints’ and gorgeous movie stars! Dotted among the many mosques, museums and market places are cafes and restaurants offering western and traditional food, or visit one of Casablanca’s beach clubs and find a patch of private sand with a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Taj Mahal, India

Taj Mahal

Completed in 1653, this jaw-droppingly beautiful building was built by an emperor in memory of his much-loved wife. Considered one of the wonders of the world, the mausoleum embodies the spirit of true love.

Each year, lovers visit the Taj Mahal to soak up the tranquil atmosphere and watch the building turn a remarkable translucent pink as it is bathed in the light of the setting sun.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora

Take a leaf out of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman’s honeymoon book and consider this most romantic of romantic getaways. On Bora Bora, your most difficult decision will be whether to stay in a resort next to the beach, or in one of the famous bungalows built over the lagoon. With masses of tropical jungle inland enclosed by warm, blue water and the whitest of sand beaches, Bora Bora is the perfect place for couples to unwind and enjoy being in love.

When planning your romantic getaways, remember, you don’t have to splurge lots of money or even travel very far to spend quality time with your partner. Loads of romantic places and romantic activities can be found right here at home. Check out the Port Stephens area for the most peaceful of romantic getaways, surrounded by the natural beauty the region is known for.

Exquisite Jewels For Hire

Once you have selected a wedding dress, you’re probably going to find yourself on the hunt for the right bridal accessories. Newcastle has lots of specialist jewellery suppliers, and you’re sure to find the perfect pieces with just a couple of clicks on the Hunter Bride directory. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the right bridal accessories to complement your gown.

Your day – your way

You’ll want to choose jewellery pieces that enhance the overall effect of your hair and dress, but it’s also vital that you feel comfortable with the style. If dangly earrings go with your dress, for example, but you can’t stand the feel of them, don’t be swayed. They may look gorgeous, but chances are you will end up finding them an unwanted distraction on the day. You may also need to consider any family expectations about heirloom pieces. If you don’t want to wear a family heirloom because it doesn’t go with your dress, be clear about it very early on.

Gather ideas

You might have pored over wedding magazines and websites to find the right style of dress before you physically tried anything on. Do the same with bridal jewellery. Look at all those pictures again, and focus on the how jewellery has been chosen to complement the gown. Have a look for suppliers on our website, then head to a few showrooms and see what’s on offer for yourself. Even if you have an idea of what you want, be open to suggestions from the experts.

Less is more

Generally, less is more when it comes to accessories. When you are gathering ideas, notice that very few brides are shown in magazines wearing a full suite of jewellery. Too much glitter tends to create clutter, although if you are wearing a very plain or classic dress you may be able to carry off a flashy statement piece.

Exquisite jewels at affordable prices

If you do want a statement piece, or something that is just financially beyond your reach with all the other expenses of the day, remember that you can hire bridal jewellery for the day instead of buying it. If you’ve always hankered for a princess-style tiara but thought it was beyond your budget, check out our bridal accessories page for everything from diamonds to Swarovski crystal.

Using pieces to best effect

Plain but beautifully cut dresses can be made simply stunning with the use of statement pieces, such as a highly unusual, designer necklace, or a chunky bracelet and matching earrings.

Alternatively you might want the dress to make its own statement, in which case think about a more streamlined look for your jewellery – discreet earrings, a simple pendant, or a tiara (a tiara is a great idea as it can add sparkle, without being too close to the detail of your dress).

Bridal jewellery and your skin tone

Be realistic about what you can carry. Some ornate, highly-coloured pieces look exquisite against darker skin tones, but may not suit paler brides.

Chunky gold looks stunning against darker or tanned skin and pearls, platinum or silver settings tend to suit lighter skin tones.

Elegant accessories

Choose Hunter Bride to help you find stylish bridal accessories in Newcastle.  Affordable designer jewellery and more is just a click away!

Jade McIntosh Flowers

Finding the right wedding flowers can be tricky, and if you’re wondering where to start, Hunter Bride is here to help. Sometimes, starting to plan a wedding can feel like you have to do everything all at once and you’ll think you need to grow eight arms like an octopus to manage all the different strands!

Not so! The trick is to know what to do first, and we’d suggest that, for many weddings, organising flowers can safely wait until mid-way through the timeline. We say this because you’ll find that sourcing wedding flowers in Newcastle is typically much easier when you can discuss your chosen colour scheme and venue with your florist.

Familiarity saves time

Local florists who specialise in wedding flowers are likely to be familiar with your chosen venue, which means they probably have a good idea what floral styles are likely to produce the effect you’re after. The bonus for you is that you’ll spend less time and energy trying to visualise end results. The florist may also be able to give you an idea of typical costs for flowers at that venue before you ask for a detailed quote.

Colours, textures and symbols

It’s also easier for both you and your florist when you are able to explain your colour scheme at the outset. The florist can then steer you towards the matching colour palette of plants and flowers that are going to be in season at the time of your wedding.

Rather than focusing entirely on colour, think about including textural effects in your floral arrangements for added interest. Texture can be achieved by using plants with interesting leaves, weaving grasses into the background, or even incorporating eye-catching branches and stones into standing arrangements.

If you are interested in creating some talking points, the language and meaning of flowers may be worth taking into consideration when planning your wedding flowers.

Flowers in season or out

What about if you want roses, but you’re getting married in winter? If you have your heart set on particular flowers that are out of season, you should generally expect to pay more and you’ll probably have to order well in advance. That said, Australian brides are fortunate in that our climate tends to encourage long growing seasons. But it’s still wise to alert your florist as soon as possible to make sure you get what you want.

Abundance or simplicity?

A heady mass of blooms, a carpet of rose petals or flower arches can create a spectacular display at your ceremony and reception. The overall effect is one of joy and sunshine, two very positive and happy energies to surround yourself with on your wedding day. If this kind of floral background is part of your dream wedding day, then you’ll need to budget accordingly, which may mean trimming other expenses. Remember that creating your perfect wedding is all about deciding what’s most important to you and spending accordingly.

On the other hand not every bride wants a full-on floral spectacular and simplicity can work extremely well. In this case you might want to go for a couple of beautiful standing arrangements at the ceremony – perhaps framing the altar or marriage table. At the reception you might have one more standing display to create a link between ceremony and reception, and simple but striking flowers in the centre of the buffet or dining tables.

Ready to find floral heaven?

When you’re planning a wedding it can feel a bit like spinning plates. Many brides find they have to keep dashing from one thing to another to keep their plans going with never a moment to rest. Thank goodness for Hunter Bride! Our directory is stuffed full of useful wedding information as well as contacts for local florists who specialise in wedding flowers in Newcastle.

Searching online means you can curl up with a cuppa and rest your aching feet. Once you’ve found a likely florist, a few phone calls and you can put a firm tick through yet another item on your wedding to-do list!

Hunter Valley Images

Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley, Hunter Valley Images is run by Andrea and Gary Haberl. Between them, they have over 17 years of experience working as professional wedding photographers in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region.

Award-winning photographers

Andrea and Gary have won a number of awards for their work. Their accolades include:

– NSW Wedding Album of the Year

– The Wedding Industry Excellence Award (as voted by bridal couples)

– Twice winners of Front Cover of Newcastle & Central Coast Wedding Magazine

– Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) gold and silver awards

In addition, Gary is the only Master Photographer accredited by the AIPP working in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley.

Stylish creative and modern

Andrea and Gary understand you want wedding photographs that capture all those special, fleeting moments and emotions. With Hunter Valley Images’ tried and tested talent on call, you can be sure the result will be stunning wedding photos that are full of atmosphere and personality.

It’s up to you when you want the photographers to enter the frame on the day (if you’ll pardon the pun!). Some brides want to be able to look back on shots of their pre-wedding preparations, and others prefer to draw a veil over the mysteries of make-up and hair, with the first photos showing their arrival at the ceremony.

We suggest you take the time for a detailed discussion with Andrea or Gary, as they may come up with ideas and options you might not have thought of. They will also work with you to plan the day’s photography so you know exactly what to expect in advance. You’ll also agree back-up plans in case of adverse weather.

Care and attention to detail

Andrea and Gary work seamlessly together after so many years, and with two photographers there’s never a need to pause. They have an eye for the unusual details that make for unique shots. Andrea might be working with the bride, capturing her mother’s emotions as she sees her little girl all grown up and about to walk down the aisle. Gary could be snapping the groom’s mates, looking unusually smart and teasing the nervous groom mercilessly!

Unobtrusive and natural

Gary and Andrea’s relaxed, easy going personalities and low-key style all help tense couples to relax. They know most couples are not used to posing for photos, and with their ability to build a rapport, before you know it, they’ll have you laughing and talking to each other and you’ll be amazed at just how gorgeous you look in the finished photos.

Stunning and elegant wedding albums

Known for their natural flair and artistic vision, Andrea and Gary also know how to make wedding photos fun, while providing you with photos that are also works of art.

You can look forward to a wedding album full of intimate scenes, from a mother’s tears, to a small girl’s tiredness, to spectacular sunset silhouettes. From a small boy wondering when he’ll be let out to get muddy, to excited flower girls and special furry friends, your wedding photos will be treasures for a lifetime.

Stunning photos are just a click away!

Sought after wedding photographers get booked up early and although your wedding day may be months away, it’s worth capturing your preferred wedding photographer as early as possible. Find Andrea and Gary through Hunter Bride under Hunter Valley Images. We know you’ll be delighted with their work!

Margan Restaurant Winery

A small wedding is ideal for couples that prefer to celebrate their formal union with just a few special people. Brides who are not professional event planners (i.e. most of us!) often find that organising a small wedding is fun and much less stressful than the complicated logistics involved in an event for 300. Here are a few tips for planning a small wedding in the Hunter Valley to help you pull together the core elements of a fabulously intimate and highly personalised event.

You still need to set a budget

No matter the size of your wedding, setting a budget is still the key to having a successful event, without a financial hangover. Deciding to have a small wedding doesn’t mean missing out, either. In comparative terms, a small wedding budget can stretch farther than a budget for a big wedding, because you have so many more options. For instance, when you need a reception venue for hundreds of guests, the venue cost typically gulps half your budget in one hit!

Location, location, location

Planning for an intimate event opens up so many choices, as you’re not limited to venues which can handle big parties. Another advantage is that you might not need to book quite so far ahead. An expensive venue that you have been sighing over, but can’t afford, might also be a possibility if you’re not paying for quite so many people.

Do you have a favourite beachside café for example? Why not look into the cost of hiring the whole place? If a beach wedding suits your style, there may be little better than an intimate sunset ceremony followed by a boho evening at a small venue just metres away. Or, imagine a small marquee overlooking rolling hills of grape vines, or a classy waterside restaurant.

The Hunter Valley is a gorgeous setting in which to get married, and options in our directory range from beachside venues or lush garden settings to vineyards and restaurants.

Personal touches

Planning a small wedding may mean you have more opportunity (and time!) to get involved in creating personal design touches with flowers, place settings and even the entertainment. It’s likely that with fewer people, you’ll have more to spend, and you can do more with less. For example, entertainment might be able to be whittled down to one or two musicians, or simply something like a roving cartoonist or magician. If you need fewer place settings, you might be able to really go all out on bomboniere.

And it’s not just about stretching your budget further either. Having a smaller, more intimate wedding can be a lovely experience. There’s something wonderful about being surrounded by just the people who love you best as you take your vows!

Catering

You might think it’s possible to do the catering yourself for a small wedding. But unless you have friends or family who are caterers, it’s typically less stressful to leave the preparation and service of food in the hands of dedicated professionals.

If you choose a venue that doesn’t provide catering packages, check out some of the catering options in our directory. Just because your wedding is small doesn’t mean it shouldn’t still be planned and executed with a little help.

Easy planning

To make your small wedding in the Hunter Valley extra special, we’re here to help. Our directory brings together everything you’ll need in order to create a very special intimate wedding, from caterers, to venues specialising in small weddings, to florists and dress designers. May we be the first to toast the happy couple?