The Timber Yard continues to make its mark as one of Melbourne’s most sought after venues for event planners wanting to create extraordinary experiences.
Perfectly positioned just minutes from the city, The Timber Yard features re-purposed local timber across its range of flexible spaces which can accommodate any style of event. From luxe weddings and important business events through to exciting boxing matches and festivals (and everything in between), catering up to 1,500 guests.
On this month’s “Venues we Love”, we spoke to the team to find out why events at The Timber Yard are always so epic.
Why is The Timber Yard the best place to party?
The Timber Yard is a landmark Melbourne venue of unprecedented size and event flexibility. With six different spaces to choose from, The Timber Yard will transform in any way you envision. We are the heart of Melbourne’s entertainment and events culture.
What kinds of events do you host at The Timber Yard?
The Timber Yard is the perfect venue choice for all manner of events.
From live music to corporate Christmas parties and everything in between, the spaces can be catered to any and every event. Whether you want a space for a black-tie gala or a backyard shindig – we host it all.
The Polished Man Gala – an inspiring charity event at The Timber Yard. Photo by Andrew Morley.
What are your team’s tips for making an event really memorable?
The most memorable events are well planned out and exceptionally executed. You want your guests to feel included and immersed in the experience; a marriage of micro and macro – a big picture filled with a million tiny details.
We are officially in Christmas party season! Which is great if you’ve already organised your office Christmas party – but not quite as joyful a prospect if nothing’s been planned, and suddenly you’ve been lumped with the task of making it happen.
Sound familiar? For you, the team at Venuemob have whipped up a last minute Christmas party planning checklist to get you through December unscathed.
1. Figure out what your non-negotiables are
This first step is arguably the most important one. Know exactly what you need from your Christmas party and your venue, because it will impact the entire process of planning your event. Decide from the get-go whether those items on your list fall under ‘must have’ or ‘that’d be great’.
Your very-much-confirmed budget could be the non-negotiable. It could be the date of the event. It could be accessibility requirements, or menu items (vegetarian, Kosher or Halal, for instance).
Identifying your non-negotiables and must-haves early will make the rest of the process of planning your last minute office Christmas party SO much easier.
The team at Venuemob recommend that you work out your ‘non negotiables’ for your event. For example – an outdoor space for guests to relax and mingle might be a ‘non negotiable’ when selecting your perfect venue – like this gorgeous private courtyard at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne’s CBD.
2. Find some venue options
You’re running out of time, and key dates are getting booked out. You could rack your brains for appropriate venues, contacting them one by one. Or you could book the venue everyone’s sick of – again. Or, you could access best options in one spot. Complete with imagery, availability information (vital), function package and menu information, and a rundown of minimum spend requirements for all spaces.
Venuemob – both as a website and an in-house team to assist larger corporate groups – is adept in finding the perfect venue for teams and groups organising last minute Christmas parties. Our tip? Get connected with available venues that suit your budget, with just a click.
Venuemob makes finding your ideal Christmas party venue stress free. Venue – Melbourne Gallery at Melbourne Museum, Carlton.
3. Is the venue convenient?
This might seem like a no-brainer, but venue location is worthy of its own item in the last minute Christmas party planning checklist. Is the venue conveniently located for your colleagues or guests? Where is it in relation to your office, and public transport options? How far will they have to stumble post-party? The distance guests have to travel to reach the party often influences how many people actually attend, and how much of a good time they have.
4. Ask the right questions
First up? That’s easy. Ask the venue about your non-negotiables.
Next, we recommend the following questions – depending on your requirements, of course.
What are our catering options? Is there a bar tab option?
How much time will you have for set-up and packdown?
Realistically, will guests be comfortable in the space, or will they be squished?
What’s included in the cost of the venue hire or min spend?
Until what time will we have access to the venue / space?
If you need AV – will you need to pay more?
If you need an exclusive space – will the public be able to see inside / have access to your space?
5. Organise food and drinks
Important checklist item ahead! How many times have you been to an event and thought afterwards ‘gosh, it was fun – but I wish there had been more food’? Avoid those pitfalls by ensuring you budget and plan appropriately, even when you’re in the throes of last minute Christmas party planning.
Will your guests need lunch? Lunch AND dinner? If you’re planning on serving canapés at your event, how many pieces will your guests need to make sure their tummies are lined? Consider when your event starts, and how long you expect festivities to run.
Same goes for drinks! Beverage packages provide more bang for your buck, and can be limited to a particular number of hours for service – this is a great option for when you have a very specific start and end time, and when you have a large number of guests.
More casual? Chuck some money on a bar tab, and let your colleagues buy their own drinks when it runs out. Easy.
6. Make sure guests are going to have fun!
Be honest. Are your colleagues going to need a helping hand to get mingling and chatting amongst different departments? If the answer’s yes, we recommend including an activity in the day’s festivities: go karting, an escape room, or other hands-on, fun experiences. You could even choose a venue that comprises both an activity, AND the food and booze everyone’s looking forward to.
For other teams, the only the thing they’ll need to have a great time is a great soundtrack. If you’re planning on bringing your own music or playlist, double check whether your venue is able to provide an aux cord and speakers, and that you can in fact play your own tunes.
Similarly – if you’re organising a band or DJ, chat to your chosen venue about your plan well in advance so you’re not caught facepalming in frustration on the night.
Want your event to be talked about for years to come? Some venues can provide activities to incorporate into your event such as Melbourne Museum that offers a range of bespoke experiences that will engage and delight your party guests. Image: Stewie Donn Photography, Melbourne Museum
7. Tee up an after-party venue
This will depend entirely on the vibe and average age of your guestlist, but you may want to consider organising an after-party venue. If that’s the case, here’s the Venuemob hot tip: avoid playing it by ear on the night.
Nothing takes the wind out of a group’s party sails quite like standing on a street corner trying to decide which direction to take, or waiting in line at a club!
Whether it’s a reserved VIP booth or an entire semi-exclusive section of a bar, make sure it’s a done deal before the date of your office Christmas party. It might even be worth sending out an email to your team during the party planning process to gauge how many guests are keen, and which venues they’d prefer for kick-ons.
So. What are you waiting for? Go forth and lock in your last minute Christmas party, and deliver an event that runs like a planned-months-in-advance Christmas party.
With Venuemob on your side, you’ll be sinking a bev (or five) and enjoying a tasty morsel (or ten) in the perfect venue in no time.
Country and garden weddings are always in style. Summerfields Country House and Estate is a simply stunning property based on a large olive grove on the Mornington Peninsula. Only a short hour’s drive from Melbourne, the style and elegance of the venue is typical of the Cape Cod style architecture reminiscent of the East Coast of America. The team at Complete Function Hire were thrilled to speak to Tania Ng, Event Coordinator of this unique hidden gem to find out why Summerfields is the ultimate destination for beautiful weddings and stand out business events.
The lush surrounds of the Olive Grove are tranquil and green and feature a picture perfect ornamental lake.
What kind of events do you host at Summerfields and what makes these stand out for clients and guests?
Summerfields is the perfect destination for all kinds of events and our multiple event spaces allow us to cater for large events and more intimate events too. We are perfectly suited to business events including conferences and meetings through to large scale family days, team building days and VIP business retreats. Automotive events are also popular due to the long driveway and wide open spaces.
Wedding and event planners enjoy the versatility of the venue which includes multiple spaces for ceremonies or break out areas.
Really anything is possible at Summerfields! I think what makes the venue so memorable is the stunning surrounds, the unique opportunities to include experiences (such as Olive Picking or a traditional High Tea) and the high quality catering. We are really committed to working closely with event planners to ensure that their wedding, celebration or business event is just perfect.
What makes Summerfields such a special destination for beautiful weddings?
Instagram-worthy ceremony spots and photo backdrops are abundant at Summerfields.
Summerfields is set on beautiful grounds surrounded by a delightful semi-formal garden, an enchanted grove of 2000 olive trees and an ornamental lake where our family of resident geese make their home. Our unique venue provides many photography opportunities with many beautiful backdrops (and ceremony spots) as well as a private place for the wedding party to relax and stay in afterwards – everything you need for your special day is all under the one roof. We are so proud of our wedding and event menus which are all hand crafted with love by our dedicated chef and kitchen team.
For something different – event planners can incorporate an olive picking or olive oil tasting session into their event. Image by Shot From The Heart Photography.
Tell us about the accommodation on site?
Our boutique onsite accommodation is a real feature of the property and enjoyed by couples after their special day or used for events such as family reunions and special milestones. We have 6 individually styled suites and each is a haven for rest and relaxation. We love cooking up a big home style breakfast for our visitors the day after their wedding or event! Corporate retreats are also perfectly suited to the venue and event planners love incorporating outdoor team building experiences into their conference.
Speak to the friendly team at Summerfields about your upcoming wedding or event today.
Conveniently located in South Melbourne and sprawling across 3 stunning levels, The Albion is Melbourne’s newest event space. Perfectly suited to private and corporate events alike, The Albion’s various, luxe function spaces can accommodate intimate soirees or large, lavish cocktail parties for up to 600 guests across the entire venue. Whilst The Albion is known for it’s cocktail parties, the venue has been designed to adapt to any occasion from product launches, engagement dinners and large scale corporate celebrations of all kinds. On this month’s ‘Venues We Love’, we were thrilled to catch up with the team of event professionals at The Albion to get the low down on their magnificent venue and to get their top tips for event planners this winter.
What makes events at The Albion so memorable?
We pride ourselves on our service and always ensure every guest leaves our venue happy and well fed. Food and beverage is at the heart and soul of what we do and we always deliver this to the highest quality. Your guests can except to leave an event at The Albion on a first name basis with our amazing front of house team who strive to ensure every guest has been incredibly well looked after.
Winter events are perfectly suited at The Albion because…
We have all the provisions to keep guests comfortable no matter the weather. The Lounge boasts leather booths creating a cosy and intimate setting.
The Rooftop is completely enclosed with heating and louvered roof to accommodate Melbourne’s notoriously fickle weather.
We enjoyed being a part of this awesome event at The Albion Rooftop – styled by Miss Carter Style, photographed by Prue Aja Photography
Our function menu features hearty and wholesome, substantial items like our Moroccan Chickpea Tagine with Pomegranate Cous Cous which pairs perfectly with a big bold Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, a perfect winter warmer.
What are your team’s top tips for event planners this winter and how can event planners create an event at The Albion that everyone will talk about for years to come?
Being Melbourne’s newest lifestyle venue, we are sure guests will be impressed by our beautiful venue which will provide enough talking points on its own… however you will find everything you need for a memorable event at The Albion, including in house AV, beautiful décor and design, carefully curate food and beverage menus … and of course access to Melbourne’s best event suppliers.
We enjoyed being a part of this awesome event at The Albion Rooftop – styled by Miss Carter Style, photographed by Prue Aja Photography
When hosting a function or event in winter there are a few key items every event planner will have on their checklist:
1. A cloak room is essential and often overlooked.
2. An adaptable menu that features seasonal local produce.
3. Climate controlled spaces and a dry, enclosed, heated space for the smokers to congregate.
On this month’s Venues We Love, we were thrilled to chat to the creative team of event experts at Fourside Events about their chic new space, 40 Rd.
Simplistic industrial design features including polished concrete floors are complemented by abundant natural light in this ultra cool, pillar less space.
Comfortably hosting events for up to 200 guests (stand up), 40 Rd provides superior flexibility for wedding and event planners who like to think outside the box.
Why is 40 Rd the best place to party?
40 Rd is fresh on the Melbourne event scene. One of the best things about our space is that it can be anything you want it to be – from a glamourous fashion catwalk to an intimate wedding soirée or VIP management meeting… the possibilities at 40 Rd really are endless.
What kinds of events do you host at 40 Rd?
Everything!
From weddings and celebrations through to business events of all kinds (including working days, product launches, photoshoot and wellness retreats), 40 Rd is a modern blank canvas space that transforms to suit your style.
What are your team’s tips for making an event really special?
Find suppliers who get you.
This is the day to change it up and show your guests who you really are. Be you not them!
Fourside Events manage some of Melbourne’s coolest event spaces – tell us why your team are so great at what you do?
We know how to party!!
We handcraft menus and source the freshest local produce.
We approach each event with a customised catering experience tailored just for our clients.
And…. we are excited to announce another cool new venue very soon – watch this space!
Let your imagination run wild at 40 Rd – the ultimate blank canvas venue. Contact the team at Fourside Events to find out more about this fabulous space and their range of unique Melbourne venues.
The team at Complete Function Hire cannot wait to discuss your special day or dream event with you! Click here to enquire today.
Images provided by Fourside Events -photo credits: Ben Potter Photography, Kas Richards, Ksenia Belova Photography
Located in the heart of St Kilda, The Deck at The Prince Hotel, has played host to some of Melbourne’s most elegant weddings and spectacular events. Eternally chic, The Deck’s contemporary style and exceptional food make it a popular choice for wedding planners year in, year out.
On this month’s Venues We Love, we were thrilled to speak to Sarah Bolitho, Sales Manager at The Deck, to find out why The Deck continues to be one of Melbourne’s most sought-after spaces for beautiful weddings and to get up to speed on some very exciting times ahead for this iconic venue.
Why are weddings at The Deck always so special?
The Deck is such a unique, yet iconically Melbourne venue. With panoramic views of both Port Phillip Bay and the city skyline, it’s a destination that feels like Melbourne, yet, as the sun sets over the bay also feels removed.
The Deck exudes chic style. Image/ Flowers Foxy Ever Green.
With both the inside function space and the large outdoor deck area, the property is also well suited to Melbourne weather which, at times, can be unpredictable (always great to have a wet weather option!). The Prince Hotel facility also encompasses a 38 room boutique hotel which makes it easy to accommodate guests travelling from abroad, and also gives the bride her own space for between-photo touch ups!
What are your team’s favourite wedding style predictions for the season?
Love in every way is exciting and we are really looking forward to helping all couples celebrate their love in 2018 and beyond.
Being able to mingle and speak to all your wedding guests is always important to our Brides, however can also be challenging. Our clients love incorporating roving entrées and desserts to maximise their time talking to friends and family, not to mention allowing for more time outside on the rooftop and on the dance-floor!
An impressive entrance to an elegant soiree. Image by Jerome Cole.
We continue to see a trend towards feasting style mains, which are a great way to offer variety and encourage interaction between guests.
We also love creating signature cocktails with our clients – if they have sipped something special somewhere in the world we can recreate for their wedding (our beverage manager loves a challenge!).
What’s new at The Deck?
We have some very big changes happening at The Prince Hotel in 2018. The entire property including The Deck and all food and beverage outlets, will see a renovation and rebranding this year. We are working with the extremely talented Iva Foscia on the redesign, which will commence with the renovation our restaurant space (Circa) from May. The Deck will follow in June/July – we can’t wait to give the space an amazing face lift.
In late 2017, we completed a full refurbishment on The Prince Hotel accommodation rooms. The interior design approach was focused on preserving the hotels original art deco architecture, offering a softer palette of alternating textures and hues, suggestive of Miami beaches and candy coloured ice-creams.
Perfectly romantic. Credit: Erin and Tara
What are your team’s top tips for making a wedding really memorable?
Make it personal – showcase things that represent you both eg: cocktails, signage, fave dishes.
Don’t over complicate things – keep it simple and don’t lose sight of what’s important to you.
Enjoy the process – it should be fun the whole way!.
The team at Complete Function Hire enjoys working with Melbourne’s most talented event planners and incredible venues.
On this week’s blog, we were delighted to speak to the team of foodies at White Card Food & Events to get their food trend predictions for the year ahead and some great tips on how to create an event that your guests will remember for years to come.
What are the White Card team’s catering trend predictions for 2018?
Wedding and event planners are going to continue to opt for shared menus and grazing stations this year. This style of catering is so wonderful for all kinds of events as it allows people to explore new flavours in a fun way and it also creates a visual experience too.
Grazing stations create a real wow factor!
We love featuring local produce through our menus and another food trend for this year will be around creating innovative ways of healthy eating including Buddha Bowls and really gorgeous mocktails.
White Card manage events at some of Melbourne’s most unique spaces. Tell us why weddings and events at The Immigration Museum and Scienceworks are always so memorable?
Our spaces vary so much – from the elegance of the Immigration Museum to the rustic industrial feel of the Pumping Station .
Our Pumping station is so full of history with unique design features such as beautiful red bricks and metal engines. Minimal effort is needed to turn the space into your own to create your dream event. We have also enhanced the space with rows of Edison festoon lights which creates a gorgeous ambience for parties.
The Immigration Museum is conveniently located in Melbourne’s CBD and is the perfect location for summer cocktail parties.
The Immigration Museum is so elegant and full of light. The gorgeous urban courtyard is perfect for a summer cocktail party or end of year event. The Immigration Museum is conveniently located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD so it is a very popular choice for business events of all kinds.
We love our unique event spaces and work closely with our brides and corporate event clients to ensure we create extraordinary event experiences that incorporates their own personal style.
What are your team’s top tips for organising memorable events this year?
Try and find spaces that offer an experience for your guests. We can organise for your guests to view one of our original steam pumps in action or to lie back and enjoy a planetarium show before a cocktail or dinner event. Incorporating one of these special experiences will leave a lasting impression on your guests
Guests love a grazing table with an interesting selection of tasty bites. We find that grazing stations enhances the event space and creates a real wow factor when guests arrive
Get in early if you have your heart set on a special event space for end of year events!
What’s new at White Card Food & Events?
We are currently finalising our end of year packages so stay tuned to White Card & Museum Spaces for more details very soon! Baja was a huge success in 2017 and we are working on something very special for the end of this year which we can’t wait to share.
If you are looking for a unique Melbourne venue to create your dream event, speak to the team at White Card Food & Events today.
For all your wedding and event hire needs, click here to contact the team of event experts at Complete Function Hire.
Complete Function Hire are proud to announce our new furniture and crockery ranges for hire. Coming soon are our two new furniture hire ranges – Cruise Range and Torquay Range.
Cruise Range
Understated and elegant, the Cruise Range is a stylish addition to any venue or event. Coming in two seater and one seater sizes, the Cruise Range is modern with a versatile colour palette of black on charcoal.
Torquay Range
We are excited to introduce the Torquay Range. Coming soon to Complete Function Hire, this simple yet striking range is suited to both indoor and outdoor events.
Concrete Range
Meet the super stylish Concrete Range. Designed to complement a modern or industrial interior, this chic range is available to hire in Entrée, Main, Side and Dessert plates
The Concrete Range adds a stylish touch to the table.
The Duck Egg Range
The Duck Egg range comes in a soft Blue and complements all kinds of cuisines. Coming soon to Complete Function Hire, the Duck Egg range is an elegant crockery choice for any occasion.
The Duck Egg (Blue) crockery range will be available to hire soon.
With Melbourne event season in full swing, we rely on our hardworking team to maintain our (always) high levels of customer service when we go from busy to really busy in October. Our conscientious team includes 15 Complete Function Hire Road Staff. These guys are the glue that holds our operation together over event season with their tireless efforts to ensure our hire products are delivered, bumped in and set up on time, every time. And with a smile! Our Road Staff make sure our furniture and equipment are in top condition and that our busy warehouse is running like clockwork.
Andrew is part of our hardworking Road Staff team.
Meet Andrew de Vos. Andrew plays an integral role at Complete Function Hire as part of our awesome Road Staff. Pizza fan, beer lover and fanatical Essendon Supporter, Andrew is a meticulous member of our team that loves providing the best possible customer service to our clients and event partners.
How long have you been involved in the events industry?
Just over a year.
What prompted you to start working at Complete Function Hire?
I joined Complete Function Hire because I believed the event industry would be interesting and I could utilise my background in customer service and hospitality.
First Complete Function Hire gig?
My first job was a corporate dinner at Munich Brauhaus.
Andrew and the Complete Function Hire team love working on weddings and events at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
Most memorable event or wedding you have worked on at Complete Function Hire and why?
We’ve done a few weddings in the Royal Botanic Gardens. I always enjoy delivering and setting up there as there are so many amazing locations throughout the Gardens – it’s hard to top!
What do you enjoy best about working at Complete Function Hire?
The variety of function venues we go to always keeps the job interesting. We are able to go to places that we wouldn’t normally have access to and see amazing spaces and events – there’s never a dull moment.
Favourite hobbies and past times?
I am a huge basketball fan (and horrible basketball player!). I also enjoy drawing and painting and anything creative.
Who do you barrack for in the AFL (or other favourite sport) and why?
The mighty Bombers!! It runs in the family. It’s been great to work so closely with Essendon Football Club this year as we (Complete Function Hire) are event support partners of the club.
With its beautiful natural surrounds, manicured centuries-old gardens and different habitats each designed to reflect native home of animal communities, the Melbourne & Werribee Open Range Zoos provides a magnificent setting for truly memorable weddings and events.
With world class food, flexible event spaces and a range of cool experiences to incorporate into your event, the team of event experts at Melbourne & Werribee Open Range Zoos are at your disposal, ready to make anything possible. On this week’s blog, we spoke to the awesome events team from Restaurant Associates about what makes weddings and events at the Zoo’s so spectacular.
The unique backdrops at both Werribee Open Range and Melbourne Zoo make for incredible photo opportunities.
Why are weddings at Melbourne and Werribee Open Range Zoo so amazing?
We can provide a truly unique event with the number of beautiful reception rooms and stunning outdoor ceremony sites to choose from, each with their own different atmosphere at the Zoo. You can do it all at the Zoo – ceremony, pre drinks before reception at a special location and of course our amazing Zoo grounds provide the perfect backdrop to beautiful wedding photography. Couples are escorted around the Zoo to take photos in the award winning gardens, interacting with animals and also just around the exhibits such as the stunning bamboo forest and famous carousal.
Tell us about some of the unique event experiences at the Zoos?
We can provide unique animal experiences or have the function set up overlooking various exhibits and different animals. Our special encounters such as feeding the giraffe, having a kiss by a seal, meeting our meerkats and keeper talks are very popular and bring that extra level excitement to the event and make it truly unique.
Are there any stand out events at the Zoos that stand out for your team and why?
We run Murder Mystery Dinners at both Melbourne and Werribee Zoo throughout the year, which is quite an unusual event but always such fun. People come as couples, groups of friends and even work groups to solve the mystery whilst dining on a two course meal and unlimited drinks. Everyone gets in the spirit by dressing up in the theme of the night and has fun with the photo booth and actors activities.
The spectacular scenery at the Zoos help create magical moments.
What’s on the menu at Zoos?
With the many types of events available at the Zoo, we have a huge variety of menus and packages – from gourmet gala lunches and dinners, innovative canapés to high tea styled bakery treats, classic breakfasts and family favourites. We also have our own onsite Zoo Bakery (the only Zoo in the world to have its own bakery) with our Pastry Chef making amazing wedding cakes and treats. Our food philosophy includes a commitment to sustainability and sourcing local and ethical produce (including all our seafood being MSC certified).
The Zoo’s in-house Pastry Chef at the onsite bakery creates stop shopping cakes.
What special offers are available at the Zoos?
During the winter months (June to August) we offer significant discounts for weddings at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Couples can save more than 25% off our standard wedding packages.
On this month’s Venues We Love, we were thrilled to chat to the creative team of event experts at 
We are excited to introduce the Torquay Range. Coming soon to Complete Function Hire, this simple yet striking range is suited to both indoor and outdoor events.
Meet the super stylish Concrete Range. Designed to complement a modern or industrial interior, this chic range is available to hire in Entrée, Main, Side and Dessert plates
