August wedding, indoors and out

I’ve read through the posts and there are some good suggestions. First off though, Pommy bastard, do your friends know that according to the Marriage Act of 1961 (which is still current) that they must lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage form with their celebrant a minimum of one month and one day before the wedding? For instance, if they plan to marry on August 2, they must get the Notice to the celebrant by July 1st.

The form is available for download from the Attorney-General’s site. When completed, and this includes having signatures witnessed by a diplomatic officer or a public notary – see details on the form – it can be scanned and emailed to get to the celebrant by the required date. Or posted, ideally by registered post. One party to the marriage can do this lodging if both are not available to sign the Notice.

Having said all that, here are my ideas on venues.
My thanks to Rougelette for kind words, and I am looking forward to her wedding at Rose Cottage in October. I agree that Rose Cottage is an excellent venue for a winter wedding – inside, near the fireplace.

I’ve been working with another winter bride, thinking about good venues in August. We thought of quite a few places with fireplaces. I think that she and her fiance will marry at the Diamant.

University House has a large room with fireplace. Hill Station did have a cosy lounge with fireplace and Hill Station used to be one of my favourite wedding venues. Now I’m sad to say, Hill Station has closed for business.

I think the fireplace at the Kurrajong would be too public. Can’t recall the fireplace at the Brassey but there is a sunny enclosed courtyard. A couple from Adelaide is coming to get married in Canberra next month and I think they’ll actually marry in their suite at the Hyatt. The Hyatt has some large suites with fireplaces as I recall but even a small suite at the Hyatt is cosy and pretty special. The bathrooms are legendary.

The Boathouse has a fireplace and superb views but I think the fireplace part is not available for ceremonies. Their other rooms would let in lots of winter sunlight tho’.

The Botanic Gardens would be good on a sunny winter day because so many Australian native plants flower in August, but a bit too chilly if it’s full-on winter.

The Ginger Room at Old Parliament House is, in my memory of weddings there, dark and cosy. Garden-wise, the courtyards would not have much going for them at this time of the year. Likewise the Rose Gardens – nothing much doing in the winter.

Cuppacumbalong’s been mentioned and they had a gorgeous fireplace room, but that venue, as far as I know, has closed permanently. As has Madew winery which was great for winter weddings.

For spectacular winter light, the Leonard French windows at the National Library are magnificent. Would give unique memories of the National Capital. Perhaps an arrangement could be made with Bookplate cafe. I have beautiful photos from weddings there – it’s quite cathedral-esque.

The Carillon. I would not recommend a wedding there in August EXCEPT… wait for it!…. Right at the top of the tower!! Yes, there’s a small room there for intimate weddings. As you can imagine, the views are stunning. I think Wendy Hudson from Botanic Gardens has the catering contract there, and her food and service are excellent. I guess you contact the National Capital Authority if you want to book this unique venue.

My last suggestion, and thanks again Roguelette, is my own lovely garden. It’s available for small, quiet, intimate weddings on weekdays at no extra cost. If the weather’s unpleasant, we can hold the ceremony in my meeting room with windows to the garden on three sides.

Pommie bastard, if your friends would like to contact me via my blog Michele the Celebrant, I can send them photos from 2 winter weddings in my garden. There are many bare trees, so lots of winter sunlight. I have a huge tree covered in winter-flowering apricot blossoms as I write. It’s right in the middle of the garden and there are quite a lot of winter flowers, like camellias, violas and hellebores. Your friends’ winter wedding would be so welcome here.

My wife and I were married in Nara Park, part of Lennox Gardens, which is on the shores of the Lake. Having said that, there is a small slope in the park, so if the day is windy, you could always alter your plans to be out of the wind somewhat.

Our day was in October (statistically a windy month), but we had a glorious day of fine,calm weather :)! I don’t know if you could rely upon this in August, though. Along those lines, something to keep in mind is the airport – winter fog often grounds flights from either coming or going, so you’d want to advise interstate or international guests to get in the day before if possible.

Celebrant was Peter Hyland, http://www.weddingcelebrant.com/. Peter was very helpful and patient with my wife, who speaks English as her second language, and he struck the right balance between being formal and being friendly.

The back-up/wet weather venue we had was the Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club – and we had our reception there. Food was good, and the event organiser, Laura-Kate Gregory, was very thoughtful. Website: http://www.cscc.com.au

Our photographer was Thierry Nguyen Cuu…see http://www.nomadphotography.com.au.
We were very impressed with Thierry’s skills and his willingness to work together with us on our special day.

It is not the fanciest location in Canberra, but the gardens and the Yacht Club are only about 700 metres from each other. It’s about a 10 minute walk around the edge of the lake when everyone has good clothing on, or a 1 minute drive :). It is also nice to have wedding photos with colourful yachts in the background!

Genie said :

I attended a wedding at a cottage in Hume, in winter. It was a really nice small venue, and the couple had only planned the wedding a few weeks earlier.

That would be Hill Station.
Nice venue with an attractive surrounding garden.

I attended a wedding at a cottage in Hume, in winter. It was a really nice small venue, and the couple had only planned the wedding a few weeks earlier.

Although if you need help I heard on the radio this morning there is a wedding expo on at the AIS on Sunday (?) Perhaps you can go attend with all the bridezillas ??

Clown Killer makes a good point. If it’s going to be winter, there might as well be some snow! Thredbo is lovely or there’s a bunch of lovely resorts in the general area.

five or six people, from the old dart? wig and pen.

Not Canberra but … Thredbo – on a sunny day beneath the Ramshead is a manic spot. Or the chapel with the bells pealing through the valley – very romantic. Reception at The Denman, Credo or The Black Bear.

OPH is good, we had our June ceremony in one of the dinning rooms. We did’t get any catering, we had the reception somewhere else. You can hire it as a wet weather option as well.

I am getting married at Rose Cottage in October – the indoor/outdoor option was also an issue for me – $450 to book the indoor area which also gives you access to the grounds as well. But seeing the further details – may be a little bigger than what you need – the indoor bit seats about 150 – however they do have a little bar and a little cafe which may be options.

Our celebrant does very small ceremonies that she is officiating for free in her garden (which are lovely and if I didn’t have as many guests as I do I would have jumped at the chance to use it). Her name is Michelle – and I found her here on the Riot Act to boot!.

wedding: St John’s Reid

Reception: A pub with a roaring fire (Old Canberra Inn?).

It will be freezing and windy – if the weather happens to be fine, there will be plenty of “outdoors” outside the church, people can linger in any sunshine for a bit.