Penny and Tom celebrated their wedding at Merne in the summer of 2020. They loved the idea of getting married in the woods, having cocktails and canapes on the lawn and then dinner in the restaurant, ‘it was like three venues in one!’
How would you describe yourselves and what inspired your style of wedding?
As high-school sweethearts, we have been together for literally half our lives so for our wedding we just wanted a casual, fun celebration in a beautiful setting!
What were you looking for in a wedding venue?
As a foodie, the most important thing for me was making sure we had good food and good wine, and Merne exceeded both of these! We also wanted somewhere that could cater to a sit-down dinner but also a great d-floor.
What made you choose Merne?
As we grew up in Pt Lonsdale and Geelong we always planned to get married on the Bellarine Peninsula. Although we had looked at a few venues, as soon as we arrived at Merne we knew it was the one! We loved the idea of getting married in the woods, having cocktails and canapes on the lawn and then dinner in the restaurant, it was like three venues in one! The team was also exceptional, they were so accommodating and you could instantly tell they just wanted us to have our dream day!
How would you describe the process of planning your wedding at Merne?
Planning our wedding with Merne was stress-free. Honestly, there is no other way to put it. We had a really clear vision on what we wanted and Jess, Caleb and the entire team said yes to every single thing we asked for. They made recommendations when needed and tweaked things to suit us when they could. We also trusted that they knew exactly what they were doing so didn’t worry (or even think) about any of the small stuff. They are professionals and they know how to make it a fun day and a smooth day for everyone! Trust them and enjoy the day.
Was there a highlight from your wedding day you would like to share?
I remember chatting to Jess and saying that the one thing we really, really wanted, was to make sure there was enough booze. We wanted guests to have a drink at all times. And wow, did they deliver! I can’t tell you how efficient and polite the wait staff were and they didn’t stop refilling drinks all night. So many of our guests commented on the incredible food, wine and service, which made our day!
Any final words you would like to share about your experience planning a wedding at Merne?
We had so much fun planning the wedding and celebrating with all of our loved ones! There is nothing we would change if we could do it all again.