If you and your partner love the outdoor, crisp mornings and forests then the Wangarratta and Bright in Country Victoria is the ideal backdrop for your wedding day.

Considering having your wedding day at a private property is a great way to make your day meaningful for you and your family or future family. Here is a guide we have put together to share some light on our experience on weddings that have taken place in private properties.

a couple walking in their private property during their wedding photography

What is a private property wedding day?

A private property wedding day, is a wedding celebration that takes place on private land (as opposed to a commercial venue). Some couples are lucky enough to have family that owns the land or a hobby farm. Holding your wedding day at a private property offers many benefits, and also some variable that you should consider before you embark down this road.

When is the best time of the year for a private property wedding day?

From our experience the best windows in regards to weather in country Victoria are in Spring (around September) and late summer or Autumn (around March). The milder temperatures make it more pleasant to have a wedding dress and a suit on the day. Considering your timing carefully will also allow your guests to have a more pleasant experience and enjoy the outdoors.

Why do couples chose to have their wedding day in a private property?

A great way to involve the extended family in the process
A familiar surrounding
More flexibility to able to design the activities and the wedding ceremony
A more intimate exprience: Many couples chose to have their wedding away from Melbourne for all sorts of reasons. Wangarratta and Bright offer a great backdrop during spring and breathtaking views in autumn. Some couples prefer to have intimate and smaller wedding day with just closest friends and family members, this way they are able to make it unique and a perfect way that reflects their intimate relationship.

Having a small wedding was a difficult decision for us. However we haven’t looked back. We have many family members and friends we wanted to share our day with, but like many LGBTQ couples, we also had others that were quick to judge and provide their unwanted opinion. We decided it was best to concentrate our efforts and energy in ourselves and our commitment to each other. As a way to include them in our day, we asked those that couldn’t be there to write us a letter and we read them on our day.
-Lucy and Megan

Things you should keep in mind when planning your wedding day in a private property in Wangarrata:

Spring and Autumn are the best seasons to get married in Wangarratta:
Wangarratta is an incredible place when the seasons are changing. However there are high risks of bushfires around the alpine during the warmer months of summer. The bushfire risk is in Wangarratta and the towns around it.
Plan warm food and drinks during the cooler months of autumn and winter. Some great options are roasted summer veggies, meats and warm wine.
Plan to arrive to Wangarratta or Bright a few days before your day and plan to stay a few days after to be able to visit the local national parks.
Remember the bikes! Bright has a great bike trail that can be enjoyed by strong and not so strong riders. This is a fun activity for your guests the day before or the morning of your wedding.
Keep in mind the sun: while Wangarratta and Bright might have a cooler climate, the sun exposure is still intense.