Pip of Church364

There’s something about a historical building and elegance going hand in hand and so it is with Church364. A beautifully renovated mansion that retains the best of the past while including modern design features, that is perfect for whatever wedding style you dream of. From the bridal couple who want their entire wedding planned and styled, to the DIY couple, Church364 will look its elegant best. Coupled with dedicated, passionate staff such as Pip and the team, you can be assured of a beautiful wedding day, with all the sparkle your day deserves.

Please describe Church364 – a little of its history and current ambience and decor.

Church364 is our little hidden gem, a Victorian Style mansion converted into a very stylish and elegant event space. Unlike a typical function venue which can be a little stark and cold, Church364 offers warmth and is extremely inviting. Old world charm meets modern glamour with wooden floor boards, open fire places and marble bar.

Where is Church364?

The name gives the location away! Church364 is located on Richmond Hill at 364 Church St. It’s not a Church but very conveniently we are situated right next to St Stevens and St Ignatius Churches where many wedding ceremonies take place before walking next door to Church 364 for the reception.

Promotional photography of 364 Church St, Richmond

Please describe the precinct in which Church364 sits?

Church364 sits in the heart of Richmond, which is located east of Melbourne’s city centre, between East Melbourne and Hawthorn and across the Yarra River from South Yarra. Richmond has a very popular food, shopping and sporting culture. Whether it’s catching up with friends for brunch or dinner, having a cold drink before heading to the MCG or perhaps Rod Laver for a game of tennis or to watch your favourite band play; Richmond is always a hive of activity and is located only minutes from the CBD.

Are couples able to have their ceremony as well as the reception on site?

Yes absolutely! We have a few different options for ceremonies depending on guest numbers. The two most popular options are on the terrace out the front for smaller numbers or we love to add a bit of theatre into the mix and perform a room change between ceremony and reception. This has become a very popular option for many brides and grooms. Guests arrive and are seated for the ceremony before heading into our piano bar where they enjoy drinks and canapés for an hour while we “secretly” reset the room for the reception. Guests are truly amazed by the room transformation!

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Are guests able to utilize the whole space, moving from one area to another for ceremony to reception to dancing?

The space is yours when you book a wedding with us at Church364. The venue is completely exclusive and the venue has a perfect flow from cocktails and canapés on the outside terrace in summer or in the Piano bar by the fire in winter. Drinks and canapés then flow into the back event space, to a seated dinner of individual plates or shared grazing platters. We can design menus to suit our client’s requirements. Then for the party! The dancefloor is located parallel to the main room so those that want to dance the night away can and those that would prefer to sit and mingle at the table can also do so with full view of the dancefloor. I forgot to mention there is also a bridal room upstairs if the Bride and Groom need a little time to relax and refresh!

When a wedding is booked, do the couple have exclusive hire of your venue?

Absolutely! This is a very special day for Brides and Grooms. It’s all about them so we would never book another event the same time.

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How would you describe the food you serve?

Our menus represent a modern Australian Cuisine with European, Middle-Eastern and Asian influences – presented with a modern twist. Our Chefs LOVE food, they are committed to keeping up with the latest food trends but most importantly we pride ourselves on sourcing only the freshest local ingredients. Our food is always fresh, always flavorsome and always creative!

May a bridal couple request that the food be served in a particular way (e.g shared platters, dessert bar)?

Absolutely! We have a range of different menu styles but even better than that we love the challenge of designing tailor-made menus to suit your specific requirements.

Are you able to assist with food and wine matching?

Yes we certainly can. Our wine list has been written in conjunction with a sommelier to offer variety and compliment the dishes we have on our menus. Once our guests choose a menu our staff are trained to suggest the wines from the list which will best compliment the dishes they have chosen.

Is the bridal couple able to arrange a menu tasting with you?

Yes all of our couples are provided a complimentary menu tasting as part of their package.

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Is a couple able to request a favourite dish, or work on a signature cocktail to offer their guests?

Definitely! We love the challenge of designing new dishes and cocktails for our guests. Our overall aim is to ensure our guests have memorable experiences and if all it takes is to design a new menu or cocktail then we will do it! We get great satisfaction from exceeding client expectations.

What’s on the menu this winter? 

Where do I start!! I would have to say our most popular main dish this season would probably be our Beef fillet with a cigar of braised beef, cauliflower and parsnip mash and baby carrots.

What I have found is currently trending is the grazing table menus. These have been extremely popular. Couples will choose two or three main dishes, two or three sides, followed by cheese and some dessert canapés to share. It’s a more relaxed way of dining and it allows guests more choice.

Once a couple books Church364, how does your wedding planner assist them? Is the service an on the day service or a full planning service?

Our event coordinators will manage the event every step of the way from the very first phone call right through to the completion of the special day! Our aim is to take the stress out of planning a wedding and make the experience an enjoyable one. Our coordinators can not only assist with your reception and catering but also point you in the right direction for wedding styling , entertainment and theming.

Do you have a list of vendors you can recommend to assist the bridal couple?

We certainly do. Having been in the industry for as long as us we have come across some amazing suppliers and why wouldn’t we share and recommend the true professionals in their field of work? We have a list of preferred suppliers however we do not restrict our clients with who they wish to use.

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What is special about assisting bridal couples plan their day with you? 

I’m in the business of delivering on people’s hopes and dreams. If I can deliver on those hopes and dreams particularly weddings “one of life’s most treasured occasions” I get great satisfaction and that’s what makes it special!

What do you enjoy about living and working in Melbourne?

Until October last year I had lived in Melbourne for over 12 years. Being a genuine lover of food, wine, events & sport, Melbourne has it all! I spent a few years living in other countries around the world but I will always call Melbourne home. We have such great produce and we are so far ahead in the food and wine game.

In October last year I moved from a 60sqm apartment in the city to a place call Tooborac on an 80 acre property with my partner who’s a winemaker. (Hence my love for wine) We love our new country life. We have our own veggie garden, an orchard with almonds, chestnuts, cherries, quinces, apricots and an olive grove with over 300 olive trees. Food and wine is a big part of our lives and we are both so lucky that our jobs are also our passion!

Thank you Pip for sharing your story. To find out more about Church364 visit the website.

All images with permission of Church364.