TAKE ME HOME-STEAD
As the saying goes, with age comes beauty, and nothing could be truer than that of homestead wedding venues. Whether large or small, grazing land or vineyard, homestead locations have an enchanting atmosphere and presence that sets them apart from alternate, urban locations. Here, Amelia Mansell delves into the wonderous world of homestead weddings with Eynesbury Quarter’s Wedding and Events Manager, Annabelle Lindor, to discuss what makes these venues unique – from beautiful photography and styling opportunities, to how they differ from inner-city weddings.
Merging old world elegance with raw natural beauty, and ranging from gardens to bluestone, homestead locations provide the perfect foundation for every couple to design and celebrate the day of their dreams.
WHERE TWO WORLDS MEET
Homestead locations bring with them a gloriously rich aesthetic that can be the perfect backdrop to any wedding celebration. With history steeped into the very stones and surrounding landscape, you can find yourself whisked away from the rigours of a busy life and transported to an idyllic celebration where the focus is placed on the here and now, and more specifically, celebrating you and your partner’s special day. While inner-city weddings might be restricted by the size, venue type and aesthetic of the event – not to mention how each of these factors work together – there is no limit to the kind of celebration you can create when planning a homestead wedding.
For those concerned about swaying to current trends, the most resounding review of a homestead wedding compared to an inner-city celebration is that venues such as Eynesbury Quarter have “withstood the test of time”. Having seen generations of bridal couples married before its beautiful bluestone walls and dance beneath the canopy of hundred-year-old trees, you would be hard pressed to find a similar tranquil environment within the heart of the city. Moving beyond the natural aesthetic of a homestead wedding, Lindor notes that one of the many perks of these venues is that you have found what can essentially be a “one-stop destination for your ceremony, predinner drinks, photography and reception”, saving you the trouble of finding and booking separate locations all within an easy drive of one another.
While the idea of a homestead wedding may capture the imagination of any bride-to-be, the word itself may make many Melburnians think of far-flung rural areas and thereby rule it out entirely. But rest assured that while the venue itself feels a world-away, you do not have to travel too far afield to find the perfect location for your special day. Established in 1872, Eynesbury Quarter is a mere hour drive from Melbourne’s CBD and resides in the centre of Eynesbury town, offering ample option in terms of transport and accommodation for your guests, ensuring that you and all your loved ones can enjoy the celebration and appreciate the beauty of your tranquil escape.
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
With the choice of sweeping landscapes, pristine historic gardens, and enchanting old-world estates, homestead weddings offer a stunning array of photo opportunities that will capture the imagination of any bridal couple and their guests. Whether you wish to be whisked away on a summer breeze beneath 100-year-old magnolia trees or complete your picturesque intimate ceremony by saying your vows floating upon an ornamental lake surrounded by swans and ducks, you will be spoiled for options and variety at locations such as Eynesbury Quarter. “The homestead grounds and gardens are the perfect surroundings to make any photographer excited,” Lindor says. “Take the time to walk around imagining your special day, take a breath and enjoy the journey.” And with only a short stroll between each stunning photo opportunity, you can ensure you capture every breathtaking moment with minimal coordination, and of course, zero traffic.
As you and your bridal party wander through the property, with either a pre-planned list from an initial tour of the property, or simply seeing where the day takes you, the beauty of having a single venue for your entire celebration can play out. Either setting up official photo opportunity moments, with either props or small suggestions as to where they can explore, the bridal party and couple can truly relax into their wedding photos. And with ample space to spare, guests can also be kept busy with “pre-dinner wine and dine options” or “activities and entertainment such as lawn games, live music, or photobooth”.
SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS
Whether you are embracing a garden party atmosphere, decked with festoon lights, white marquees and tulle, or seeking a sleek, old-world elegance to perfectly offset your modern or vintage look, there is no end to the style of wedding that you can create. As Lindor explains, the Wedding and Events team at Eynesbury Quarter has spent years establishing a venue that offers couples all the necessities to create a “classic or timeless reception” or serve as “the perfect blank space for the happy couple to bring in their own decorations and create their dream day”.
When dealing with such naturally stunning surrounds, you have every opportunity to embellish to your hearts content or let the simple beauty sing. When asked what made her most memorable homestead wedding a standout, Lindor explained that the unique, warm colour palette which blended burgundy, deep purple and stained dark timber, the live jazz band, and simple fine touches of decoration “created the perfect ambience and intimate setting”. “Sometimes it’s about the details and how you incorporate them with the surroundings,” the events manager affirms.
Just like fine wine and Maggie Smith, homestead locations have stood the test of time, their beauty, elegance, and grace only improving with age. These venues offer the unique balance of ambiance and structure for every couple to build upon to their hearts content and achieve the wedding of their dreams. While only a short drive from the city, homestead wedding venues have a deep-set beauty that is able to transport the wedding party to another time and place where old meets new, and the bridal couple can celebrate their next stage in life together.
Photography by Eynesbury Quarter