Image via Yarra Valley Conference Centre

Hints and tips to help you plan your wedding are always helpful – and it’s worth putting time into it so that everything just falls into place on the day.

Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Invite the guests you want and not the guests you need to make up minimum numbers – your wedding day is about you, so surrounded yourself on your special day by those you love.

2. Beverage packages are not necessarily cost effective for the bride and groom. Select a venue that can be flexible and provide you with beverage options. This way you control your budget more.

3. For everyone’s sanity, don’t involve too many family members at your catering meeting with your venue. If you want input from a number of people in your wedding party, have one initial meeting with everyone, and from then on just have the bride and groom meeting with the caterers.

4. Err on the side of a shorter event that ends on a high, rather than a long reception that becomes drawn out. We’ve all been at weddings where the photos have taken over an hour with nothing planned for the guests to do. A good rule of thumb is two and a half hours for a breakfast reception, four hours for cocktail and lunch receptions, and five hours for a dinner reception.

5. When planning the run sheet for the reception have the speeches after the main course so the chefs can ensure the appetisers, entrée and main course are cooked to perfection. There is room to move timings on desserts and cheeses. Ask your guests in the wedding invitations to advise any dietary considerations at their time of acceptance.

Chesters of the Yarra Valley is a rustic wedding venue with staggering views over 120 acres of picture perfect  gardens and grounds. To every bride they offer a free cottage for two on their wedding night – with their compliments.* (*subject to conditions)