12/04/2023
Every thought about having your wedding in the country. Then make sure you keep Bridgetown front and centre for your perfect wedding. this was written a few years ago now but is still relevant.
Whether it is a touch of the whimsical, the beautiful bush surrounds or the resurgence of vintage weddings, there is something drawing couples to Bridgetown for their special day. The playful and quaint feeling of the region and the ability for couples to custom-make the day to reflect a little of who they are as a couple, is just part of the appeal. Wedding caterer and Bridgetown Pottery-Restaurant owner, Pip Mills, believes couples are also looking for an alternative to a beach wedding so they can stand out from the crowd. “It seems people are loving tree change and Australian vintage weddings because they are a totally different experience from say, a beach wedding,” Pip said. The Bridgetown region is also a wedding destination for all seasons. One of the benefits of Bridgetown is the four seasons are quite distinct and each has it’s own appeal to different couples for their wedding. Autumn presents a valley awash with the colours of deciduous plantings. In spring the hills are lush with the greens of fertility and new season’s growth. Summer has the beautiful golden hue that is quintessentially Australian and the surrounds echo to the even song of the cicada, while winter sparkles with fresh water running and fog bathes the area in an ethereal blanket. “ We have weddings here all year round because of the colour and character of the area,” Pip said. Couples speak of wanting to experience the natural environment in the bush surrounds of the Blackwood Valley in which all four major species can be found – jarrah, marri, karri and blackbutt. Many choose to access the beautiful private gardens, whose owners are happy to host weddings, which feature extensive rose collections as well as other exotic plantings. Unique venues that combined accommodation as well as offering somewhere appealing for the ceremony and reception to be held really add to the region’s wedding charm. These venues allow the whole wedding party to stay together for a period of time. Couples can essentially create their own little village. Couples also enjoy the freedom that planning a wedding in the region offers them. Many of the venues allow the bride and groom to select their own caterer, to decorate the venue themselves or select their own decorator, and many also allow them to organise the beverages. There is also the quality and range of equipment available for hire locally, which includes crockery, cutlery, glassware, marquees and more. It really allows the freedom to construct your own wedding experience which sometimes isn’t possible in other areas where the venues often have their own preferred suppliers. Part of a true country wedding is that the bride, groom, family and friends arrive a day earlier, prepare the venue, set tables and have beauty treatments; a very inclusive family-based way to prepare for the celebrations. However, weddings are not always small and intimate, with big international contingencies choosing to fl y in and experience a wedding a la Bridgetown-style. As well as the tranquillity and beauty of the region, couples enjoy the fresh local produce that their guests can enjoy. The region’s talented caterers can source everything from Blackwood River sand whiting and marron to free range pork and grass fed beef. Many of the caterers enjoy having local suppliers of the freshest produce, as well as their own kitchen gardens. The friendly people who make Bridgetown what it is are also only too happy to try to make the bride and groom’s vision for their wedding a reality, no matter how elaborate. The size of the town and the fact that almost everyone knows everyone means that anything from vintage cars, hay rolls, a horse and cart and tractors can be organised for the day. One young couple required a suckling pig to be bought down from Perth at the bride and groom’s request, while a local farmer fashioned some hay rolls into a love heart on the side of the hill when a girl who grew up in the area had her wedding nearby. Anything goes in Bridgetown, which is not surprising given the calibre of talent among local residents. From international photographers and gourmet chefs through to bands and musicians, it is a melting pot for artists in every sense of the word. With its boutique gift and fashion shops, Bridgetown also lends itself to the perfect spot for wedding guests to find a gift for the bride and groom and embark on a little retail therapy for themselves.
