Green And White

Texture is key for this pared-back palette – think lots of greenery in the floral arrangements, complimented with hints of wood and white.

Enhance the overall look with touches of gold, and include beautiful trinkets like shells, hanging ornaments, and stunning centrepieces.

And, consider incorporating a tonal dress code for your special day to lift the occasion even more.

Sunflowers

For a truly magical wedding theme, we can’t go past one overflowing with lush greenery, twinkling lights, fresh sunflowers from Farm & Co, and other botanical elements like fresh fruit platters, and cocktails studded with edible flowers.

Plus, a beautiful, well-lit floral archway or photo booth will be the perfect photo opp for guests.

Pops of Colour

Celebrate your love in full colour! Start with a bold tones for the bridal party (inject colour into the groomsmen’s looks via pocket squares, ties or kitschy socks), pops of pink in the bouquets, and separates for the bride that can be worn again or switched up between ceremony and reception.

Encourage guests to don their most ‘extra’ outfits to match the mood, and make your cake or dessert table the centrepiece with a ‘more is more’ approach – think painterly brushstrokes, geode-inspired confections, or a buffet of sweets.

Coastal Cool

There’s nothing quite like a cool, coastal wedding here at Babalou. With the stunning scenery providing the perfect backdrop, your wedding day will be a dream.

Whether you opt for an outdoor wedding by the beach, or an indoor intimate affair, Babalou is the perfect location to say your ‘I do’s’.

Think pastel tones of blue, crisp whites, and a touch of wood or wicker. And, for a bit of fun, add in a photo booth with beachy-coastal accessories to ensure you and your guests take home plenty of wonderful memories from the day.

Glamour

There’s no better time to indulge in all-out glamour than your wedding day! Intricate, Victorian-style lace gowns are a key 2020 bridal trend, and long-sleeved styles are perfectly suited to a winter wedding.

Go luxe with chandelier lighting, swathes of draped fabric, and oversized romantic florals like peonies and cabbage roses.

A photo booth with glamour-inspired accessories ensures you and your guests will take home plenty of wonderful memories from the day. Complete the theme with an indulgent layered cake and classic cocktails.

Cocktail Party

It’s always a great idea to escort the Christmas party away from the usual corporate scene, and there’s no better place to slip on the party attire, position a cocktail in hand and mingle with colleagues than at a cocktail party for up to 200 guests overlooking panoramic ocean views.

For a little extra Christmas cheer, book your cocktail party during the week to take advantage of our midweek package and consider your corporate Christmas party ideas organised.

Bottomless Beachside Brunch

For the ultimate Christmas party idea, pop the champagne early with a bottomless beachside brunch of chef-prepared seasonal meals and, you guessed it; bottomless beverages.

Our Kingscliff event space is fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure a corporate Christmas party precisely tailored to your needs, including incredible ocean front views and full serviced bar.

Sit Down Banquet

If you’re lucky enough to work amongst a team who enjoys each other’s company, savour the festive spirit over a sit-down banquet with flowing drinks and conversation.

With seated capacity for 140 guests, our skilfully trained team will create and deliver a gourmet feast to remember.

All you’ll need to do is relax knowing everything is taken care of, and perhaps dine light on breakfast in lieu of dessert – we promise it’ll be worth it.

The Long Lazy Lunch

You’ve been nominated to take charge of this year’s Christmas party ideas, so do your office a favour and make plans to call it a day as the clock strikes 12 to indulge in a long, lazy lunch within the coastal ambience of Kingscliff’s best events venue.

Graze all day to alternating sounds of Christmas tunes and waves crashing, because after the hard work you’ve put in this year, your team totally deserves a beach break.

Dress Up Party

Nothing triggers the Christmas party spirit quicker than the opportunity to dress in theme.

Whether it’s a colour, character, era or alphabetic letter, dress up parties are fun, fabulous, and with our luxe interiors, Bose multimedia system and dance floor, they’re one Christmas party idea guaranteed to provide fun for everyone.

The Ceremony – Babalou Weddings and Events

Crystal and Jeremy said their vows surrounded by family and friends, in Babalou’s indoor ceremony space. The beautiful ceremony was held under Babalou’s rustic timber arbour, which was adorned with peach, red, white and blush coloured roses from Wilderness Flowers.

Babalou’s ceremony room was styled in warm tones, with guests seated on individual rattan chairs with more peach, white, and red toned roses lining the aisle.

After the ceremony, guests moved downstairs where they enjoyed some gourmet antipasto platters and cold beverages, before being invited back upstairs for the reception.

During this time Crystal, Jeremy and the bridal party made their way to Fingal Headland for some stunning bridal photos by the water.

The Reception – Babalou

At the commencement of the reception, guests were greeted with complimentary sparkling wine, before the bar tab was opened and guests could choose from a number of local and imported beers, wines, and ciders.

The reception venue boasts white walls, timber floors and beams as well as large windows overlooking the trees with views of the ocean. The space offers modern AV facilities and access to it’s own exclusive bar.

Crystal and Jeremy’s reception was set up with three long banquet tables, with one table for the bridal party. The long tables were styled with simple, elegant floral arrangements and long candles. The colours of the flowers coupled with the rustic elegance of the exposed beams and timber tables gave the reception space a romantic coastal atmosphere.

Guests were served shared plates of 12 hour braised lamb shoulder with black beer jus, and thyme roasted chicken pieces with preserved lemon for mains. These generous share plates were served with sides of tomato, beetroot and rocket salad, steamed greens with almond butter, and shoestring fries with truffle oil and parmesan.

After dinner, guests enjoyed plated wedding cake, served with berry coulis and cream. Following this, guests danced the night away. The elegant reception was styled to perfection and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Personalise your programs

Wedding programs are a lovely way to give your guests a break down of the day. Make sure you include all of the usual things like wedding party details and order of proceedings, but make things personal by including a note to guests, a tribute to a loved one who has passed on, or a favourite quote or song lyric.

Design your own cocktail

For the ultimate personal touch, offer guests a personalised drink designed just for your wedding day. Pick your favourite flavours and choose a name that means something to both of you. Including personalised recipe cards will allow guests to enjoy your wedding drink for years to come!

Include your pet

Your pet is an important part of your family, so why not include them in your wedding ceremony too. Make sure you run it past the venue first, but there’s nothing cuter than a furry friend dressed to the nines for the occasion.

Put your name on it

Include your monogram or initials throughout your ceremony décor to put your personal stamp on the day. From large chalkboards, to light up letters, to grass covered initials, there are lots of options, so choose whichever suits your theme.

The Ceremony – Fingal River

Nikki and Dean tied the knot in a stunning ceremony at Fingal River. The beautiful couple said their vows in front of a simple timber archway, styled with elegant white flowers and timeless greenery. Guests watched the ceremony on rustic long white benches, looking out over the beautiful Fingal River.

After the ceremony, the married couple posed in front of a baby blue vintage car where their photographer, Ivy Road Photography, shot some beautiful images.

The Reception: Babalou

The Reception – Babalou

At Babalou, the guests were greeted with free-flowing flutes of champagne, premium beer and other delights included in the premium beverage package. Hot canapes of filet mignon and coconut prawns, slow-cooked beef cheeks, king prawns and other delicious dishes kept the guests satisfied during the evening.

The beautiful multi-tiered cake from Tarla Hoven fulfilled the sweet tooth, adorned with elegant white flowers and lush greenery, it was decorated to perfection.

The guests danced the night away, even enjoying some late night gourmet pizzas. The elegant reception was styled to perfection and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Langford Island Beach, Whitsundays

This beautiful uninhabited beach in the Whitsundays is surrounded by soft white sand and idyllic turquoise water. Just a short 25-minute boat ride from Airlie Beach, Langford Island Beach is a perfect coastal location.

Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

One of Tasmania’s most iconic wedding locations, Wineglass Bay is ranked as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. The remoteness of its location only adds to its appeal, with privacy and beauty abound.

Cable Beach, Western Australia

22 kilometres of white sandy beach, this Western Australian location is known for its beautiful sunsets. Displaying a paintbox of stunning colours, the famous sunsets provide the ultimate backdrop for beautiful wedding pics.

Palm Beach, New South Wales

You might know this beach as Summer Bay from Home and Away or the location where The Bachelor is filmed. A little over an hour from Sydney, Palm Beach is a beautiful and sheltered spot perfect for weddings.

Twelve Apostles Beach, Victoria

The scenery along the rugged Southern Ocean is nothing short of spectacular. Sheer limestone cliffs line the beach, making the 4-hour drive along Great Ocean Road from Melbourne absolutely worth it.

Turquoise Bay, Western Australia

Just a short, 2 hour flight from Perth, Turquoise Bay is widely considered to be one of Western Australia’s most romantic beaches. Crystal clear, bright blue waters and pristine white sand make this spot a perfect wedding venue.

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays

Named one of Queensland’s most beautiful beaches, Whitehaven stretches across 7 kilometres of Whitsunday Island and features turquoise water and soft squeaky sand.

Kingfisher Bay, Fraser Island

Perched on the white sandy beaches of Queensland’s Fraser Island, Kingfisher Bay is private and exclusive. Accessible by a short boat ride, Fraser Island features a number of different beaches, all perfect for a beautiful wedding.

Bunker Bay, Western Australia

Nestled on white sands and tranquil waters, Bunker Bay in Western Australia is a picturesque wedding venue. The nearby Pullman resort offers wedding packages for ceremonies and receptions, making organising a wedding at this beach a breeze.

Start Planning Your Beach Wedding Today

If you’d like to create your dream beach wedding, contact our dedicated wedding team at Babalou today here.

Dusty Pink Florals With A Touch Of Driftwood

If you’d like to incorporate more traditional wedding ceremony styling elements into your beach wedding, consider adding flowers in dusty pink hues. The pink will perfectly complement the sand and sea, while not detracting from the natural beauty of the beach environment.

Expert floral styling companies like Wedding Flowers by Julia Rose can create the perfect custom arrangements and even weave together classic and beach elements for your dream wedding.

Timber Wedding Arbor

A simple way to break up the skyline without obscuring guests’ perfect view is to add a timber arch or arbour as a beach wedding ceremony backdrop. As well as helping to draw attention to the main event of the ceremony, a timber arch, like this one beautifully styled by Bliss and Willow, helps to enhance the beach-themed decor and keep things fresh. Layer yours with flowers or greenery for a more classic finish, or keep things sparse and simple and let the timber itself be the feature.

Refreshment Station

Keep your guests cool while they wait before and after the ceremony with an adorable beach refreshment station. Styling businesses like Wheel + Spoon can provide styled gelato bikes like the Mrs White featured above, that’ll fit perfectly with your beach wedding ceremony styling and be a practical addition to your celebration.

Unique Shade Elements

As much as all Aussies love the beach, we all need to be conscious of sun safety! To fit with your beach wedding ceremony styling, keep guests covered and cool with some unique shade solutions like individual parasols, rattan umbrellas like those available from Love Struck Weddings or soaring shade sails. For an additional touch, have parasols or individual fans personalised as a sweet wedding favour.

Zero Waste Weddings

Throwing confetti is out and plastic-free is in. 2018 saw a growth in zero waste weddings as couples become more environmentally conscious, which is a sustainable trend predicted to continue as the new year rolls around.

Planning a zero-waste wedding may be tough, but an overall rewarding experience for couples who are environmentally-friendly.

Taking into consideration sustainable practices such as sending out wedding invites and thank you cards on 100% recycled paper.  E-vite save the dates and wedding websites are another eco-friendly way to do things and becoming increasingly popular. Have your recycled place cards embedded with seeds so guests can plant them after so they also fare a favour. Mini succulents or something edible also work out as an earth friendly gift for your guests.  

Hire or purchasing a pre-loved wedding dress will keep the Earth happy and add a unique aspect to your upcoming wedding.  Here at Babalou, we have started making small changes by switching to paper straws, recycling our bottles and limiting our disposable waste.  Every little change helps make a big difference.

Modern Brides

Speaking of the dress, opting for a classic white wedding gown is becoming less common as the years go on.

Modern brides are taking points from recent bridal icon Meghan Markle and defying tradition with décolletage-baring or off-the-shoulder dresses featuring crisp geometric lines over lace and chiffon.

In 2019, the more contemporary the better, with some bridal designers adding bright colours, sequins and jumpsuits to their wedding collections.

Dessert Tables

Past wedding receptions in our Kingscliff venue would often revolve around a huge cake ‘moment’, where the bride and groom come together to cut the first slice.

However, our industry experts at Babalou anticipate that overall, traditional wedding elements such as the cake will fall on the wayside as dessert stations grow in popularity instead.

Think stunning cupcake displays, donut walls, gourmet cake pops, and fruit tarts… whatever your preference when it comes to dessert, our friendly wedding organisers at Babalou can help you every step of the way.

Shared Dining

We have seen firsthand at our Kingscliff wedding venue, that brides and grooms are requesting shared dining experiences instead of traditional sit-down alternate drop styles catering.

Having shared dining at the reception affords you the ability to better personalise the food, and allows guests more room to mingle freely with others.  

For example, we anticipate trends such as fresh seafood bars for summer weddings, themed pop up food stations, custom pizzas, and even taco stands becoming reception favourites in 2019.

Switching Off & Unplugging

‘Switched Off’ weddings are no longer unique to just the nuptials of celebrities and the camera-shy.

Also known as the unplugged wedding, switching off during the ceremony and even reception has many benefits, including allowing guests to be in the moment rather than in your professional photographer’s way.

Opting for a switched off wedding in 2019 ensures a sea of smiles instead of a sea of phones during your special day.

Save The Dates

Summertime is the perfect season to celebrate your wedding. However, it is also the time of the year when most people are free to chase the sunshine, which means many of your close family and friends will whisk themselves away. Unless that is, you send out Save The Dates. At Babalou, we believe the earlier the better, so aim to send Save The Dates six to eight months before your wedding day.

Keep Your Guests Cool

You may love a summer climate and sunny days, but not all your guests will feel the same. Creating the perfect summer wedding requires a few extra deliberations to ensure that your guests stay cool throughout the ceremony. Scout your potential wedding venues for shade, a big Figtree or additional space where a stunning marquee could be built. Beach weddings consider market umbrella’s like our couple did above. Drink stations with icy cold waters or flavoured lemonades are a perfect addition for after the ceremony. 

Opt For Lighter Catering

While decadent lamb shoulders, filet mignons, and indulgent slabs of pink salmon are often favourites when it comes to selecting the main dish served at your wedding, such heavy meals won’t fare well amongst the summer heat (and your guests). For the perfect summer wedding menu, we suggest moving away from hot dishes and opt instead for lighter courses instead. Gourmet salads, seasonal fruits and fresh seafood are what you need to ensure happy feasting at your summer wedding.

Lighter, Season Appropriate Fabrics

Choosing a wedding dress made of fine lace or tulle over glossy satin or brocade will work wonders for comfort during your summer wedding day. Staying with the tradition of wearing white will reflect the sun, while adventurous brides could opt for a stunning cocktail dress. As for the groom, wearing crisp linens in fair tones will keep him comfortable and looking handsome, especially if the summer wedding is taking place on the coast.

Customise & Personalise

Don’t be afraid to be inventive when preparing guests for the heat during your summer wedding. Special touches such as serving signature cocktails, handing out beautiful fans featuring the names of guests, or surprising guests with a cute gelato cart all serve the dual purpose of keeping everyone cool and adding extra fun to your perfect summer wedding.

The Reception: Babalou Weddings & Events

At Babalou, guests were greeted with free-flowing flutes of sparkling, chardonnay and other delights included in the premium beverage package. Lush hanging plants by The Borrowed Nursery and a barrel trestle table for the guest book added a rustic feel.

Quaint high bars and stools, peacock chairs, and elegant lounges were scattered throughout the room, providing guests plenty of seating as well as space to move around. Taking centre stage on the guest tables were the menus, designed with delicate touches by The Wondery. Geometric rose-gold pendant lights, courtesy of AVideas, brought extra warmth into the reception venue as day turned to night.

Capturing all the special moments in perfect resolution was wedding photographer Brenden from FigTree Photography, whose brilliant shots showcased Kim’s wedding dress, designed by Grace Loves Lace, in all its beauty. Accompanying Brenden was Gold Bear Films’ Mike and Rich, who caught all the wondrous times and speeches.

The Wedding Catering: Babalou Weddings & Events

Soon after the bridal party’s entry, came the entrée, an alternate drop of indulgent Maraschino cherry pork belly with snow pea, radish, and jus alongside salt and pepper calamari with lime aioli and green apple salad.

Following the entrée came delicious pan-seared barramundi accompanied by wilted greens, cherry tomatoes, kipfler potatoes and vanilla butter, as well as 12-hour braised lamb shoulder, truffled mash, wilted spinach, fennel, rocket and black beer jus.

The courses finished on a sweet note with a picturesque traditional wedding cake created by Maree Hilton. Standing on a single wine barrel, the cake was iced to perfection and adorned with soft pink and pastel florals.