Wedding planning guide for Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges

How to Elope in Daylesford

Daylesford and Hepburn springs are one of my favourite locations for Elopements and wedding days in mid seasons like Spring and Autumn. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and peaceful walking trails, Daylesford is one the best places to elope in Victoria.

If you want to find out more about the ins and outs of eloping in Victoria then make sure that you check our article all about how to elope in Victoria. For now, let’s get into all you need to know to plan your wedding day in Daylesford.

Step one: When is the best time of the year to host a wedding in Daylesford?

Daylesford is a beautiful part of country Victoria. Surrounded by Hepburn springs and Musk Vale, Daylesford has the best combination of country vibes and the amenities of luxurious spas nearby.

Spring wedding days at Daylesford:

Spring can be tricky with the weather but it will be the best season in terms of variety of blooms available for you, and the weather tends to be mild with an average days int he 20s degree celsius during this season. With the days that start warming up you can plan for pre-dinner cocktails with refreshing drinks. White wine and sangria are a great selection for this time of the year.

During this time of the year you can consider a higher hemline and lighter fabrics than in winter.

During this time of the year the times for your wedding or elopement can also be more flexible. Time to ditch the traditions and consider a brunch or wedding lunch, this is a low-key and budget-friendly option if you are considering a smaller event. The longer days towards the end of spring make it also possible for you to have a longer event if you are considering a sit down meal.

Some of our favourite places in Daylesford during this time of the year are:

• The Wombat Flat Mineral Spring

• Central Spring

Summer intimate wedding days in Daylesford:

By far the biggest issue with considering a wedding day in summer in Australia are the chances of having high temperatures but also bushfires. If you still plan to go ahead during this time of the year, double check and make sure that you ask your wedding venue the details of their fire ready plan. Just in case here you will be able to check the fire danger ratings in Daylesford here.

If you are planning a summer wedding or Elopement then remember to keep hydrated during the day, there are a number of ways you can add water bottles to your day, from reusable bottles to keep as mementos to custom made labels for disposable water bottles.

Autumn wedding day at Daylesford and Hepburn Spring:

This is probably the most epic time in this part of the world. Daylesford has a numerous of deciduous trees that change colour when autumn is in town, there are a number of places where you can take the advantage of the colours during this time of the year, and incorporate them in your day. Keep in mind these colours available in nature and add them to your colour scheme, some great colours to consider during this season are: Golden yellow, Dark deep reds, Maroons and bottle green. Consider sticking to a seasonal menu that includes seasonal vegetable soup, fresh fruit tarts, warm cocktails and maybe hot chocolates with warm marshmallows.

Some of the best places to consider in Daylesford in Autumn are:

• Kyneton Botanical Gardens: this garden has numerous trees listed in the National Trust Register.

• Hepburn Spring Mineral reserve

• Tipperary Springs Picnic Area

Winter wedding day or Elopement in Daylesford:

If you are planning your wedding day in winter then remember that days are a lot shorter during this time of the year, this is a great option to consider a wedding brunch rather than a sit down dinner. Daylesford has a great ambiance and cosy options to create the perfect ambiance for a smaller and cosier winter wedding. During this time of the year you will need a plan B for wet weather and also consider allowing extra travelling time in case of bad weather.

Step two: Choose a venue for your wedding day or Elopement in Daylesford

We have searched high and low for great venues that will cater for both small and medium size events. In this map in the red tab you will be able to look at all the wedding venues in the area we have found.

Daylesford wedding venues Map

Things you should consider while choosing your wedding venue

So now that you have in mind the theme, the size and the general feel you want for your wedding day, it’s the perfect time to look for the venue that will be the canvas for your day. While choosing the venue can be daunting, it’s important for you to take the time to decide, don’t let pushy sales wedding planners push you into making a rushed decision. Wedding venues come in all shapes and sizes, and they can range from national parks to luxury hotels and your own backyard. While you are in the planning stages of your day, here are some questions you should be considering when visiting the venues:

• Does this venue follow the vibe and theme you are looking for?

• What capacity has this venue? If you are considering an intimate wedding day then some larger homestead are able to cater for smaller groups rather than having a wedding venue.

• Are you able to use your own catering company? If you are looking for an “all-in” option then make sure that you ask them if they provide catering, otherwise if you are looking for unusual venues like a national park, then you will have to consider if catering would be necessary, and how would the caterer be able to access your chosen location.

• Will you have to rent any furniture or centre pieces for the tables? Most wedding venues have basic furniture, but the decoration will be up to you, and that is a further cost that you will have to take in mind.

• Are the ceremony and the reception going to take place in the place or different parts of the property?

Step three: Choose a location to get ready and to come back

Even if you are considering this little place as a place to crash, it can be a n important part of your wedding day depending on the format you have chosen. If you are considering an intimate wedding day, an Elopement or a Garden wedding day, then this location will play an important role, as it will be the backdrop to your getting ready images and on occasions you might also be able to use it as the place for your ceremony.

Some of our favourite options in places to stay in Daylesford are:

• The Houses Daylesford: This is a compilation of luxury homes and temporary accomodation in Daylesford. They are well decorated houses that will give you a great place to get ready and to come back to crash after the party.

• Kyneton Old rectory: This house is set in half an acre of gardens, it was built in 1850 and it has recently undergone renovations to increase it’s comforts.

  
  
  

• The Coach House in Daylesford: This iconic Daylesford house was built in 1854. It has beautiful european gardens and an beautiful views over Daylesford.

• 64 Main street: This period home is located within walking distance of cafes and shops in Daylesford. This five bedroom house can host 12 guests overnight.

Poets Lodge Daylesford: This beautiful period home has been carefully styled to create a place to breathe and relax.

Step four: Get all the legalities and your celebrant organised  

A wedding can’t be celebrated in Victoria without a celebrant, they are the ones that are officially authorised to legally marry you. In order to get married you will need to:

• Meet eligibility requirements to get married

• Lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)

• Have 2 witnesses attend your wedding ceremony.

There are a number of different formats you could have for your wedding ceremony from exchanging vows to other symbolic ways to show commitment.

For more wedding day planning guides by location:

• Planning guide for Elopements in Victoria

• Urban wedding planning guide in Melbourne

• Northern and country Victoria wedding planning

• Wedding planning in Bright the Alpine area and high country Victoria

• Wedding planning guide in Bendigo and the goldfields

• Wedding planning guide in Mornington

• Wedding planning guide for Yarra Valley and Dandenong ranges

• Wedding planning guide for the great Ocean road