So you’ve both decided to tie the knot on Mornington Peninsula? Congratulations! A wedding is one of life’s most exciting and memorable events – the memories of which will stay with you forever. And because of that it’s important to get the occasion right from the get go.
Apart from choosing the bridal gown, probably the next important decision you have to make where a wedding is concerned is where to hold your vows ceremony, booking Mornington Peninsula accommodation and planning where the reception will be hosted. Then there is the all-important honeymoon of course.
Keep reading to find out more about Mornington Peninsula’s abundance of quaint and pretty chapels, romantic cosy cottages, thrilling vineyards, magnificent mansions, gregarious gardens and – it practically goes without saying – the most stunning white sandy beaches and turquoise waters this side of the globe.
Hundreds of wedding suppliers on hand
Mornington Peninsula is such an obvious and popular bridal location so there are literally hundreds of wedding suppliers in the area. From photographers to wedding make-up in Mornington, florists and limousine drivers, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The majority of Mornington Peninsula suppliers not only boast expertise in their field, but have been performing bridal duties for delighted brides for more years than they care to remember now. In other words, you can be rest assured that when you marry, and stay in our Mornington Peninsula accommodation, you are in the trustworthy hands of many of Australia’s seasoned wedding professionals.
The delights of a destination wedding
Destination weddings are popular for a reason. They’re easy to organise because there is no having to bus your guests from location to location, you yourselves as the bridal couple get to relax and enjoy your own wedding (which is, after all, what your Big Day should ideally be about) and there’s no worrying about how your guests will find their way home because their Mornington Peninsula accommodation is right there for them at the end of your wedding festivities.
We find here at Ocean Blue what most couples appreciate about a destination wedding, is that it provides them with the opportunity to keep their wedding ceremony intimate and special – the delights of which can be shared fully with family and friends.
Whether you are looking for a contemporary setting, a traditional wedding or something a bit alternative, then you’ll find it at Mornington Peninsula. There’s also the option to host nuptials which are low-key or – quite rightly – excessive. Here in this post we will go on to describe some of the options available in this beautiful location. We just know you will find something you’ve been dreaming of since becoming formally engaged.
Lovely low-key beach wedding
Everyone loves a beach wedding. There’s still something alternative about stating your vows with the ocean in the background and waves lapping gently against the shore. Then there’s the whole barefoot bit.
Where a beach wedding on Mornington Peninsula really excels is in the area of finance i.e it’s one of the least expensive venues you could choose, so perfect if you and your beau are on a budget (and let’s face it, most young couples who are starting out to tend to be a little cash conscious).
Beaches abound in the Mornington Peninsula from Port Phillip Bay and Mount Eliza all the way along to the breathtaking cliff tops of Portsea. And if breathtaking ocean views are your thing then there’s no better location than Point Nepean and the lighthouse atop Cape Schanck.
You’ll also find that with a beach wedding your venue, reception area and Mornington Peninsula accommodation all tend to be within very close quarters.
Many brides who choose to stay in the villas have enjoyed a wedding reception at the nearby Peppers Moonah Links Resort which comes complete with your very own wedding co-ordinator. The hotel can host ceremonies for as little as ten guests right up to 150 and there are 82 bedrooms available, so we can safely say none of your guests should expect to have to spend the night sleeping on the beach youth-style (unless they particularly want to, of course!).
Gorgeous garden weddings
Want to make your wedding photographs really stand out? Then there is no other more colourful way to do that than with a wedding in one of the Mornington Peninsula’s stunning gardens and vineyard estates.
The Morning Star Estate, for instance, is one such beautiful botanical centuries-old dreamscape. A riot of colour, scent and textures provide a sophisticated backdrop to images and looks magnificent against traditional wedding garb.
The award-winning team here enjoy an enviable reputation as one of Melbourne’s top wedding venues and it’s obvious to see why when you consider the attention to detail and style of the Estate’s reception rooms. There is also ample Monrington Peninsula accommodation here for guests – up to 20 en-suite bedrooms, including a Queen Spa Suite.
Karrawingi Park meanwhile, offers an impressive nine acres of gardens, rolling lawns and interesting parkland for you and your guests to mingle through and admire during your day-long nuptials.
You’ll find a formal and romantic rose garden, a pretty traditional cottage garden and a picturesque settlers hut tucked into the bush amid a small rainforest. A lined birch avenue takes guests down to a jetty, pavilion and lake.
The flora and fauna, not to mention the nature theme, provide a contrasting tranquil backdrop to a day which is bound to be over-run with excitement at times.
Traditional church weddings
A beautiful, charming New England style white painted wooden chapel is the wedding venue at Dalywaters Rose Farm & Chapel Garden. But even more romantic still – the pretty little chapel is approached via aged iron gates and a vine-covered walkway measuring more than sixty metres (plenty of time for guests to peek at that beautiful bridal dress). Arguably the most romantic wedding venue on Morning Peninsula, the chapel itself at Dalywaters is surrounded by ornamental pear trees and grape vines while the woodwork is cradled by 45 white climbing roses. Isn’t this just the stuff of fairytales?!
Floral arbors, an ornamental lake, vine-covered pergolas, a long-stemmed rose-filled garden and colourful gazebos provide pretty backdrops for photographs. Who wouldn’t enjoy having their wedding surrounded by 3,000 fragrant roses?
But to get back to more practical matters, the chapel will seat up to 30 guests but can accommodate a total of 100. A power cable means it’s also possible to supply music. For those who prefer an outdoors wedding, it’s also possibly to have a ceremony on the jetty with seating for more than 30 guests on the decking.
A more formal ceremony can be had at the Catholic church St Thomas in Portsea. Located in Point Nepean Road near Sorrento Park, the pretty brick built church is a favourite with brides throughout Victoria and can accommodate a large number of seated guests. Ocean Blue can easily cater for group bookings so check out our range of nearby Mornington Peninsula accommodation options.
Amazing wedding venues in Mornington Peninsula
If it’s an unforgettable, stand-out wedding you’re looking for and, let’s face it, most couples are – then Mornington Peninsula is definitely the correct destination. However, there are so many to choose from that it can take days to actually hone down your perfect location and review the Mornington Peninsula accommodation on offer.
Here at Ocean Blue we’ve listed some of our own personal favourites. See if you agree:
- Eagle Ridge
Sumptuous is the only word to describe the beautiful Victorian Eagle Ridge mansion hotel. With a marble foyer and elegantly designed and breathtaking ballroom boasting grand chandeliers, every bride who marries at this location is guaranteed to rise to princess proportions. The stunning and fragrant rose gardens, picturesque fountains, bridges and period-style buildings offer a superb backdrop for photographs while the nearby country club offers a warm hospitality venue for guests or bridal parties looking for something a little less formal and intimate, as well as superb accommodation.
Eagle Ridge offer three different wedding packages to suit varying budgets, from a sit-down reception in the ballroom to a cocktail reception in the lounge to the works, with a red carpet on arrival and a romantic gazebo for photographs.
- All Smiles Sorrento Ocean Beach
Sitting above the ocean and beach and specialising in cocktail wedding receptions, the All Smiles contemporary café will leave any bridal couple doing just that – smiling like two Cheshire cats, according to the venue’s owners.
Treat your wedding guests to a plate of beer battered posh fish and chips, gourmet mini pizzas or the delicious-sounding Saffron and Parmesan Arancini with beetroot and seasoned with Dukhah sea salt. Meanwhile enjoy the stunning 180 degree views of the Bass Straight and, in fact, the entire coastline as far as your eye can see.
- The Baths at Sorrento
Another very modern venue, this very fashionable restaurant also enjoys spectacular views and focuses on the relaxed rather than the frilly and formal side. It’s all polished wooden floors and sliding glass doors. You can even enjoy your first dance on the beach here while your guests relax in the private dining venue on the east side of the eatery.
- The National Golf Club
If a formal wedding is your thing and attention to detail paramount then the National Golf Club is impressive in its stately outlook. Then there is the meal – executive chef Craig Gorton promises a wedding buffet guests will still be talking about for years to come. The function room and deck provides gorgeous oceanside viewing.
- Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove
The One Chef-hat rated restaurant on this pretty estate prides itself on its cuisine and in fact publicly considers itself the Peninsula’s number one dining location. You decide. Walking around the venue you’ll find lovely olive groves, immaculately cultivated vines, garden sculpture, a pretty lake and wetlands. There’s a choice of three wedding packages here to suit all budgets and tastes and for a maximum of 100 guests.
- The Shearing Shed
For those who fancy something a bit different, the Shearing Shed is a unique and fun venue which offers three different packages to help couples balance their budget but at the same time have a wedding day specially tailored to their own personalities and outlook. Staff will happily advise on the theme and props for the wedding and co-ordinate with suppliers on the day itself allowing the bridal couple time out to enjoy chatting and partying with guests.
As you can see from the above there is no shortage of reception venues and Mornington Peninsula accommodation or even locations in which to state your vows in this beautiful region of Australia. The Peninsula, with its ocean point location and proximity to Melbourne, is a much loved destination for wedding parties of all ages and budgets. You don’t even have to venture much further afield for a honeymoon, since the area abounds with spa suites, lakeside chalet accommodation and sweet, romantic holiday cottages.
And you can extend that wedding influence further by organising a hen party at our Mornington Peninsula accommodation (we’re thinking of the exciting cocktail lounges, belly dancing classes, psychic readings and spa facilities here) and returning year on year for a romantic anniversary toast.