After the thrill of a marriage proposal, planning a dream wedding quickly becomes the focus of hours of brainstorming, mood boards, phone calls, wedding expos, shopping and emails. Your wedding is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, after all, so it makes sense to put lots of time and effort into planning it.
Before discussing any of the finer details, you must decide when to hold the wedding. Spring weddings are particularly popular, especially for outdoor ceremonies and celebrations. They’re a great choice if you enjoy the sunshine but not the sweltering heat.
Today, we take a look at the important details to address when planning a spring wedding in South Melbourne. Continue reading to find out how you can ensure your spring wedding is the best day of your life.
Plan for all kinds of weather
In Melbourne, a city that experiences ‘four seasons in one day’, the temperamental weather can make planning special events like weddings difficult. A spring day is just as likely to be sunny and warm as it is to be cold and rainy, so planning for all types of weather is essential.
Choosing a wedding reception venue in Melbourne that has both indoor and outdoor spaces is crucial, as this flexibility reduces the likelihood of any weather-related hiccups on the day. To make sure your wedding goes off without a hitch, you should also work with a variety of vendors who provide both indoor and outdoor services.
In outdoor areas, ensure guest comfort by providing options like blankets or outdoor heaters. Opt for a venue with indoor heating and cooling, as spring temperatures can fluctuate significantly from day to night.
These preparations will help you handle the variable weather and ensure that your wedding runs smoothly, regardless of the conditions.
Consider allergies
The high pollen levels in the spring can trigger allergies in people prone to hay fever. If this is you or your spouse-to-be, bring allergy medicine and tuck emergency tissues into your outfits to use as a last resort.
If members of your bridal party will be holding floral bouquets or wearing corsages, inform them in advance, especially if they are susceptible to allergies. Alternatively, select hypoallergenic flowers for bouquets, corsages, and venue decorations.
For those with severe allergies, you might also consider incorporating non-floral elements into your decor, such as greenery, succulents, paper, fabric or silk flowers, bunting, or artfully arranged feathers, all of which add beauty without the risk of triggering allergies.
Seasonal blooms
Spring flowers are divine and, with so many varieties of fresh flowers coming into bloom you’ll be spoilt for choice. If you aren’t allergic to them, flowers are absolutely perfect for a spring wedding.
Take advantage of seasonal flowers, such as peonies, tulips, and daffodils, which are particularly well suited to floral arrangements. Due to their abundance at the time of year, seasonal flowers are generally more affordable in spring.
Many Australian native flowers bloom through winter and into spring, including waratahs, wattles and banksias. They are excellent for early spring weddings and come in a variety of colours and textures, making them perfect for most colour schemes.
Event attire
With spring weather being unpredictable, it’s important to incorporate stylish layers into the outfits when it comes to wedding dresses and suits.
Selecting lightweight fabrics such as cotton or linen for dresses and shirts as a base layer ensures the wearer can cool down on very warm spring days. Pair dresses with a removable shawl, lace jacket, warm cape, faux fur shoulder wrap, satin blazer or an elegant crop jumper or cardigan to achieve a similar effect.
Woollen suits, including vests, worn over a light cotton shirt help keep you warm and allow for the option to remove layers to cool down. Woollen overcoats, long or mid-length, provide an additional layer, perfect when outdoors on colder spring nights.
Daylight hours
After the cold, short days of winter, daylight hours begin to lengthen during the spring. Take advantage of the natural light and plan for the outdoor aspects of your wedding day to take place before the mid-evening sunset.
The golden hour before the sun fully sets is a stunning setting for beautiful wedding photos. The warm tones of the setting sun’s rays cast a glorious glow, giving an ethereal, dreamy quality to the pictures you’ll be hanging up on the walls at home.
Perfect location
South Melbourne is ideally situated between stunning beaches and an abundance of incredible gardens and parks. There are also many fantastic historical landmarks to consider for your wedding venue, though gatherings in public areas may require a permit issued by the City of Port Phillip.
The Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and Middle Park beaches are the perfect settings for a small ceremony or a sunset photography shoot. Waterfronts are inherently romantic, and the contrasting colours and textures of the sand, sea and sky have a dynamic natural beauty.
Alternatively, gardens like St Vincent’s Place and the Gasworks Arts Park provide a beautiful backdrop, and most parks have shelters as a contingency plan for inclement weather. The picturesque surroundings, bursting with new foliage and spring flowers and soundtracked by the sounds of nearby birds, create an enchanting tranquillity.
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Planning a wedding can be stressful, so it is important to take time to reflect on the journey, savour the process, and make decisions that express the loving relationship that has brought you to this point.
By tailoring each step to suit both your preferences, it’s easy to create a beautiful and memorable spring wedding in South Melbourne. Embrace the season’s beauty, prepare for its unpredictability, and focus on celebrating your love with family and friends.
