So you’ve sussed our Packages. Now, to find your location!
The beauty of eloping is that you get to choose where you want to do things, although it can feel overwhelming to have so much choice!!
We provide your celebrant and photographer (option to add live music, or videography), and the location is the responsibility of our wonderful couples to book/organise.
However, we ain’t leaving you high and dry! We have lots of help available all across our website to simplify your planning and reduce the amount of time you need to spend researching/creating spreadsheets/all the jazz.
And for our couples that have booked in, you get access to our wealth of knowledge and community expertise in creating a stress-free, streamlined experience for your elopement with us.
Most of our couples know their preferred Big Love Elopement package before reaching out to venues for availability, to co-ordinate an exact date that works for the venue as well as for our elopement team.
After more than 200 elopements, we have been all across Geelong, the Surf Coast, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Otways, and all the way down Victoria’s coastline from Torquay to Johanna and everywhere in between!
Let us help you get started.
To choose your location, it basically comes down to three options:
A natural location (a beach, in a forest, along a river, the Geelong Botanical Gardens, etc).
A beach, in a forest, along a river, the Geelong Botanical Gardens
A venue.
This includes places like restaurants, cafes, bars, Airbnbs, hotels, etc
A combo of the two.
You might like to get married out in nature somewhere, and then head to a venue afterwards with your guests.
Sometimes it just makes sense to get married somewhere and then move on to a celebration at a venue afterwards. Perhaps you want to get married in the Geelong Botanical Gardens, but then want to go out for drinks with everyone in town.
See some examples below.
Still unsure what you might like to do? Reach out via our contact form and book a meeting with one of our team. We can talk you through our processes and give you lots of ideas for how to celebrate your elopement with us.
Reach out here and we can help youA natural location
Beaches, gardens, forests, national parks, etc
This typically requires a permit (generally ranging from $90-$450) from the relevant council/authority that manages the land, but sometimes you’ll receive a response indicating no permit is required.
See below for what some past couples have done.
View our full list of locations
A venue
This includes places like restaurants, cafes, bars, Airbnbs, hotels, etc – just any type of business that can host your guests for a celebration.
Maybe you want to have a ceremony and then lunch with zero guests (just the two of you), or maybe you want to have a ceremony and dinner with 15 guests, orrrrr maybe you want to have 50 guests for a micro wedding and enjoy a whole afternoon & evening at the one venue.
Having a venue is a great way to reduce travel requirements, to reduce your own involvement (they might be able to do setup/styling/organising tasks for you) and to gain the experience of professionals in bringing your event/celebration to life.
It also means you avoid dealing with permits, as venues will have their own permits/insurances/etc.
See below for what some past couples have done.
View our full list of locations
A combo of the two
You might like to get married out in nature somewhere, and then head to a venue afterwards with your guests. Or, get married at a venue and then head out in nature for photos!
Sometimes it just makes sense to get married somewhere and then move on to a celebration at a venue afterwards. Perhaps you want to get married in the Geelong Botanical Gardens, but then want to go out for drinks with everyone in town. Or get married in the Redwoods and then head back to your Airbnb for a bbq dinner with your guests.
See some examples below.
We LOVE working at the following RAD venues
Please note that these venues run their own show; we don’t handle the booking of venues and this allows us to keep our costs down whilst ensuring these venues give you their high level of customer service using their own methods and processes.
Once you know which package you’d like from the Big Love team, we suggest reaching out to any venue that you like the sound of, and running your plans by them.
For a full breakdown of how we suggest you order your planning, head to our Process page.
And for a full location list (including venues and otherwise) where we have previously held elopements, head here.
Batesford Hotel
Suitable for LITTLE LOVE, BIG LOVE and MEGA LOVE packages
The recently renovated Batesford Hotel is under new management from the crew that brought Geelong Alma, Felix and Barwon Edge. Safe to say it’s an absolute GEM of a spot for an elopement! Married in the courtyard overlooking the river, some photos at Dog Rocks, then back to the venue for a delicious sit-down meal with your guests in their private dining room. Fab!!
Contact the team directly here for further details and to book the venue.
At The Heads, Barwon Heads
Suitable for LITTLE LOVE, BIG LOVE and MEGA LOVE packages
At The Heads is located in Barwon Heads on the Bellarine Peninsula, 25 minutes from Geelong.
Situated on the water’s edge with stunning panoramic views of The Bluff and beyond, At The Heads is the ideal natural setting for your special day. The views, the food, and the endless photo opportunities ensure that you and your guests will experience a truly memorable day.
Why not book this gorgeous venue, and make a weekend out of your celebrations with all your peeps?!
Contact the team directly here for further details and to book the venue.
Woolbrook Homestead
Suitable for BIG LOVE and MEGA LOVE packages
Woolbrook, with its bluestone homestead and generous wrap-around verandas, monkey puzzle tree with sun glinting through its canopy, paddocks stretching to the horizon and sweet-scented garden “rooms” can be your romantic backdrop.
Large and lively, small and intimate or anywhere in between, Woolbrook is yours to sculpt into the size and style that reflects you.
Owned and operated by two of the loveliest people you’ll ever meet, Anise and Lachie. Contact them directly for further details and to book the venue.
The Peak, Lorne
Suitable for BIG LOVE and MEGA LOVE packages
Situated high above Lorne, this is a particularly epic private venue.
The views, the food and the endless photo opportunities ensure that you and your guests will experience a truly memorable celebration.
Check in with The Peak for guest limits. Contact them directly for further details and to book the venue.
Full details available here: https://www.thepeaklorne.com/
Mt Duneed Estate
Suitable for LITTLE LOVE package
Located just 15 minutes from Geelong and the Surf Coast (or an hour from Melbourne), Mt Duneed Estate offers everything needed for a special, intimate elopement experience. Stunning grounds, delicious food and some of the best wine in the region.
Get married amongst the olive trees and enjoy lunch in their restaurant. They also have accommodation onsite now to add that extra special experience.
Contact Mt Duneed Estate for further details and to book the venue.
Union St Wine Bar
Suitable for TINY LOVE package
Our alternative to registry-style weddings. Legals only (no ceremony), 20-30 mins of photo coverage.
Your 20-30 mins of photography includes coverage of proceedings, little bit of mingling time, and some photos of you two at the venue. Super quick and super chill. Wouldn’t it be nice to sit around a table in a wine bar, drink good wine, eat excellent antipasto, and get hitched?! Super low-key, with all the good vibes.
Contact Union St Wine Bar for further details and to book the venue.
Let’s talk about your elopement
Get in touch with us via email using the form below and we’ll aim to reply within 48 hours. There’s no such thing as a silly question, We’re open to discuss any ideas/requests!
Elope now, party later
