19 July 2021

'Bush' or Rustic Wedding Venue and Caterer in Canberra?

| GeoffPH66
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Hi there. My fiancé and I had organised a wedding for March this year outside Canberra, but arrangements have fallen through as the venue has been sold. So now we are trying to finalise arrangements quickly for an informal wedding and reception venue for around 30 people. We are looking at either an outside wedding and separate reception venue, or a combined wedding/reception venue. We would love to be married in a bushland setting or a rustic venue in Canberra such as an old hall.

READ ALSO The best wedding venues in Canberra

Given the small numbers we want at our wedding, I thought it would not be too difficult, although the tight timing now doesn’t help. We have already considered venues such as Gold Creek, ANU, Botanical gardens and the Yarralumla Woolshed, as well as the ‘standard’ offerings around Canberra. We don’t wish to travel too far out of Canberra so guests don’t have to travel. I have already sent some emails off to some restaurants such as Onred, as well as Mt Stromlo observatory, but no responses as yet.

If anyone knows of any ‘out of the way’ or lesser known areas that may be suitable for weddings only or the entire wedding/reception, it would be great to hear from you. We are also looking for caterers, so if anyone has had a good experience with a caterer you have used, please let me know. My fiancé would like to find a caterer that provides fine food. I’m not too fussed about cost as I’m happy to pay for good quality. Thanks very much.

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You should definitely have a look at Goolabri, great venue which has that rustic charm you are looking for. I’ve been to a few events out there (including a wedding) and it was fantastic!
They are only 10 minutes from Dickson but surrounded by bushland, so still nice and close to Canberra. Have a look at their website below.

Hope this helps!

http://www.goolabri.com

My daughter had a lovely outdoor wedding at Tuggeranong Homestead – gorgeous photos and excellent catering, reasonably priced. The meal was in a well arranged wool shed, but of course it was not air conditioned and it was a bit on the cool side, so if you do choose, tell your guests to be prepared for Canberra weather!

Poachers Pantry is a great all-in-one wedding venue. Ditto for Lake George Winery.

tooltime said :

My personal fave is Shaw Vineyard & Flint in the Vines – sensational.

Flint also gets my vote. I wouldn’t go as far as ‘sensational’, but certainly a great place.

Thanks very much for your suggests all. Very helpful. Yes, our first choice was ‘mossrocket’, our first choice was Mt Stromlo after going for a walk up there this week, but it is booked out. Some great suggestions. thanks again

Most of the wineries in Bywong, Bungendore or Murrumbateman will be happy to accommodate you. My personal fave is Shaw Vineyard & Flint in the Vines – sensational.

Don’t have a summer wedding in the Yarralumla woolshed. Not unless you enjoy your guests dripping with sweat and watching butter melt into a pool.

Black Mountain has a nice spot on the top of the hill for the ceremony and if available the reception could be on level 3 in the Tower
You can bring your own catering as well.
http://www.telstratower.com.au

Ginninderry Homestead (out near the old Ginninderra Falls) fits the bill. They can do both wedding and reception. I’ve photographed a few weddings out there, and it’s a venue that sounds perfect for what you’re after, just on the outskirts of Canberra.

Your big issue’s going to be availability though. March is a really popular month for weddings, so you’re either going to have to get lucky with a venue with a free date, or think outside of the box – things like a non-Saturday wedding, finding a lesser known location, etc.

You should also consider the Pavilion at the Hall show ground. I’ve seen it set up for an afternoon wedding where they played up to the rustic nature. For example, there were hay bales under the verandas, small posies in jars on tables, signs written with chalk etc.

Also, not sure if Ginninderry Homestead came up in your search when you say you have investigated the ‘usual suspects’ . It is worth a look as well.

Give Elm Grove Canberra a call if you haven’t already. See elmgrovecanberra.com.au – they were recently featured in The Canberra Word of Mouth blog (http://www.facebook.com/thecanberrawordofmouth and http://thecanberrawordofmouth.tumblr.com

We were married on MV Southern Cross and had some 50+ people on board. Brilliant time meandering around the various lake venues, getting married, wedding reception etc all on the boat. Southern Cross Yacht Club were brilliant.

You can hire the Mt Stromlo Common Room (and courtyard) for your reception – we did and it was amazing. We had the ceremony in the Yale Dome. Organise both through the ANU. (They were a little slow, but once we were organised, it was very smoothly handled – and the hire fee includes cleaners!).

We hired a band to play in there, and we opened the panoramic doors to watch the sunset and to keep the dancers cool.

The courtyard was perfect for a photobooth – we took our own vintage furniture into the courtyard and also the Yale dome (the furniture is all available for hire if anyone is interested!)

Then just organise caterers – we used Food to Go, but there are others – to come up with your food.

There is no commercial kitchen available up there, so you need a caterer who can bring the food up to you…

Madam Cholet2:09 pm 05 Jan 15

+1 to Lanyon Homestead.

I got married there and have very fond memories of the eveing. Very informal, very rustic. Dinner under the stars near the Murrumbidgee River and in the grounds of a lovely homestead. One of the most beautiful spots in Canberra.

We recently hired Tossolini’s “Food to Go” to cater our wedding up on Mt Stromlo after Scope was shut down.
Food to Go were great to deal with, the price was fantastic, and they provided staff and extras like ice buckets and table cloths. They can also provide alcohol including the normal drinks plus cocktails and mocktails. We had a black tie reception, and the food was up to scratch.

Check out Rose Cottage and Lanyon Homestead, or perhaps some of the local Wineries / cellar doors.

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