Wedding Receptions and Functions

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Wedding Receptions and Function Rooms

Three separate function/reception rooms are available to ensure your privacy.  Two of the rooms are capable of seating up to 150 guests, plus a Bridal Table.  The third, smaller room (upsatirs) can seat up to 64 guests, including the Bridal Table.

For evening functions/receptions, we generally work with a 6:00, 6:30 or 7:00 pm start time.  We will not have two events starting at the same time, so whomever gets in first, gets their choice of start time.  Evening sit-down events are a five hour event and Cocktail events, a maximum four hour event.  All lunch time events are 4 hour events and must conclude a minimum of two hours before any evening function in the same room.

We do not charge for the use of a clothed and skirted Cake Table and Present Table.  We also do not charge to "cut your Wedding Cake" (although you will need to supply us with the Cake Bags).  After the Wedding Cake has been "cut and bagged", we place the portions into cane baskets and give them to your Bridesmaids to distribute amongst your guests.

DJ's

Your DJ is the person who will make-or-break your event.  They are the one who sets the overall atmosphere of the event and if you have a bad one, then your guests may not have such a good time.

Invitations

We recommend that you send out your invitations to your guests about six weeks prior to your function/wedding reception (for local guests but longer for interstate and overseas guests) and have your RSVP four weeks prior to your  function/wedding reception.  We conduct our "final interview" with you three weeks prior, so this gives you a week to 'chase up' all those who didn't RSVP.

Talking to most Bride and Grooms, an average of 25% of their guests did not, or forgot to RSVP.  The longer you give them to think about it, the less that will RSVP as your invitation has been placed under the fridge magnet and forgotten all about.

Another good thing to ask your guests to RSVP with any special catering requirements.  For example; if they are vegetarian, what will they, and what will they not eat; are there any allergies (8% of the population is allergic to shell fish) etc.  If we are aware of any of these requirements, then we can easily cater for them on the day.

Garden Weddings

Two gazebo's and a pergola are sited within the gardens and are suitable for wedding ceremonies of varying sizes.  Up to twenty chairs are provided adjacent to the wedding ceremony site so that ample seating is available for the elderly or those who may require to be seated.  Additional chairs can be provided at a small charge if required.  A clothed table, with two chairs, is also provided for the signing of the registry.

During wedding ceremonies, the bridal cars are permitted to drive onto the lawn areas to designated drop off points closer to the area being used in the gardens.  A popular arrival method is by Horse and Carriage or Harley Trikes.  These are often retained for photographic sessions on completion of the wedding ceremony.  We have also had a number of arrivals by Helicopter.

The average garden wedding ceremony will take about 20-25 minutes (the shortest we have had is 8 minutes and the longest about 45 minutes).  In your planning, we suggest allowing 30 minutes for your ceremony.  "Fashionably Late" is no more than five minutes!

If you are having your reception at our venue, then, once your reception start time has been determined, work back 2.5 hours for your ceremony start time.

If you are not having your reception at our venue, then you will need to time your ceremony and photos so that all is complete by 3:00 pm please.

Wedding Photos

After your ceremony, you can use the gardens as your backdrop for beautiful wedding photos.  We generally recommend to allow two hours for your photographic session.  Two hours is fine as long as you are not planning to travel elsewhere for photos as well.  If you are, then please allow for travel time in your planning (both there and back).

If your Photographer has not been to Willow Pond before, please ask them to visit the venue a few weeks beforehand so that come your day, they have a good idea of what to do and where to go.

Free Bridal Expo

We hold two Free Bridal Expo's per year where the majority of services that you will need for your Wedding and Reception will be on display.  Usually, they are held on the 3rd Sunday of February and the 2nd Sunday of September.  Keep an eye on our News and Events panel at the top right of the page.