A Moment With 'Mt Beare Station'
ABIA chats to Wedding Coordinator, Billie Ellis, at this stunning rural wedding venue on the upper Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia.
Image Of Love and Light
It was the requests of friends and family who prompted the evolution of picturesque Mt Beare Station, a working sheep and cattle property in Mount Compass, South Australia, to a sought-after wedding venue.
“We were happy to share the peace and tranquillity of our piece of paradise with them, and this has grown to include other couples looking for the same experience,” Wedding Coordinator, Billie Ellis, says.
That experience takes in sweeping rural vistas, a serene lakeside ceremony setting and a well-equipped woolshed, which provides a comfortable, yet rustic, all-weather reception venue and includes almost everything couples need to pull off the perfect country wedding.
ABIA took a leisurely walk with Billie, around the striking, privately-owned location, to talk styling, preferred providers and dramatic entrances via the helipad.
Image Evan Bailey Photography
Tell us about your venue and wedding services.
Mt Beare Station is an authentic working sheep and cattle station located in Mount Compass, under one hour’s drive from the Adelaide CBD.
Couples can design the spaces however they please, with our extensive support and guidance through every step of the process.
How did you get into weddings and how long have you been hosting them?
Our wedding venue came about through the desires of family and friends wanting to get married on our property. We were happy to share the peace and tranquillity of our immersive farm experience with them, and this has grown to include other couples looking for the same experience.
We are currently in our second year operating as a wedding venue, and have successfully hosted 45 weddings, with bookings taken for many more.
What styles of wedding can you accommodate? And for what event sizes?
We can accommodate both sit-down receptions, for 150 guests, and cocktail-style weddings, for up to 180.
Image Luke John Photography
Image Evan Bailey Photography
What spaces do you have available for wedding ceremonies and receptions?
We offer a choice of multiple indoor and outdoor ceremony locations, including our lakeside site, and reception spaces range from our well-equipped, comfortable — insulated, ventilated, heated and naturally-lit — woolshed through to a vine-covered alfresco terrace, a fairy-light canopy in the valley and a covered beer garden with firepit. Plus, there’s a wedding prep room, a bridal bathroom, ample parking space and a facility manager provided.
What packages do you offer? What's included?
Our wedding couples all enjoy exclusive use of the venue on the day, with flexible access prior to, and following, their event for set-up and pack-down.
Our ceremony locations can be arranged with 40 timber ceremony chairs, one of our wedding arbours, a signing table, powered music platform, vintage rugs and large market umbrellas included.
Couples need to bring in their own caterers and beverage suppliers, but we can assist them with this process, and offer almost everything else they need for a reception.
Commercial catering facilities, mobile bars, a walk-in cool room, an ice-cream cart, specialty lighting, sound-system, dancefloor, stage area and furniture — to suit a range of event styles — are included, together with styling options, which range from dramatic dried flower arrangements, a seating plan board and signage right through to table linen, tableware, glassware, vases, table numbers and candle holders. We’ve even got a lakeside helipad, and party and lawn games, if they’re required.
Image Evan Bailey Photography
Image Evan Bailey Photography
How far in advance should couples book?
Couples with a specific date in mind should book at least a year ahead to avoid disappointment.
What advice do you have for couples looking for a wedding venue?
To ensure peace of mind, I suggest checking a venue has all-weather options to avoid additional expenses, such as last-minute marquee hire, if the weather doesn’t turn out as planned.
It’s also a good idea to check that a venue has legitimate approval to operate as wedding venue, to ensure that they don't get shut down by their local Council prior to an event going ahead. Lastly, we suggest checking that the venue has a back-up generator for the increased electricity blackouts forecast for South Australia.
Image Evan Bailey Photography
How can couples add their own flair? Do you have suppliers you can recommend?
We have a huge assortment of styling options onsite, and happily provide a comprehensive list of preferred suppliers to each couple upon booking. We also offer the addition of a venue wedding coordinator to help plan and execute their day if required.
Could you paint us a picture of a perfect wedding at Mt Beare Station?
A helicopter entrance onto our dedicated helipad, a ceremony by the lake, followed by a cocktail party on the terrace, watching the sun set down the valley while the wedding party are off in the distance having their photos taken.
Then, a grand entrance to reveal the set-up inside the woolshed, followed by a sit-down reception with a live band playing late into the evening.
Image Luke John Photography
Image Luke John Photography
What photographic opportunities, and accommodation options, are available onsite or in the area?
The spectacular photo opportunities at Mt Beare Station are endless! We're also spoilt for choice with accommodation options in nearby Willunga, Aldinga and the McLaren Vale, a little further away in areas like Victor Harbor and Goolwa, and Adelaide is less than an hour’s drive away.
What makes your property and service unique?
The immersive experience of being on an authentic working sheep station is certainly unique!
We're also extremely well placed to provide creative input and help couples to design and execute their perfect day. Couples typically visit our venue on six, or more, occasions before their big day and end up feeling like part of our family.
And, although we are what’s referred to as a ‘dry-hire’ venue, we’re well-equipped with almost everything couples need to stage a wedding, which can significantly reduce costs for couples on a budget.
Image Lumbre Photography
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