PRE - CEREMONY

FAQ’S

Weddings at Stones of the Yarra Valley

  • All suppliers are welcome to bump into The Chapel 2 hours before the ceremony start time (eg. ceremony start time: 5 pm, then bump in commences: 3 pm). Your Wedding Administrator will be in contact with your suppliers closer to the date to confirm access times across the property.

  • As part of your venue hire, you will have access to Stones of the Yarra Valley styling items and furniture listed in the “Stones Styling Inclusions Guide”. 

  • You can plan for a beautiful outdoor ceremony. However, please keep in mind that you will need to hire ceremony chairs and any AV equipment (microphones, extension cords for power, etc.) externally. Additionally, the feasibility of an outdoor ceremony will depend on the weather.

  • Your helicopter supplier will liaise with our team to get approval - then all you have to do is hop in! You’ll land on the grass next to our gorgeous driveway. Please find our preferred helicopter supplier listed on our “SYV Preferred Supplier List”

  • Yes! For evening weddings, The Day Room can be hired for all your preparation needs, including a bottle of Chandon and a brunch board, with access from 8:00 am until the ceremony. For luncheon weddings, we recommend booking The Villa, a private five-bedroom, self-contained accommodation, for a two-night stay, subject to availability. Reach out to our weddings team for more information. 

  • Generally, the other party will get ready offsite. However, if you have booked the Tuscan Suite, check with The Farmhouse at (03) 8727 3030 about an earlier check-in, available only if the room is not booked the night before.

    You may also wish to consider booking The Villa for a one- or two-night stay, subject to availability. The Villa is our five-bedroom self-contained accommodation with a picturesque courtyard, spacious living areas, and beautifully decorated queen bedrooms, all with ensuites. A booking of The Villa includes the use of The Day Room, located directly next door, making it perfect for two wedding parties to get ready separately.

  • You will only have access to The Chapel and surrounding grounds 45 minutes prior to your ceremony. Noting that it is not a long period of time, as you will need to account for guests' arrival.

    If you are interested in having more time to capture a “first look” prior to your ceremony, please reach out to the team as we have a First Look Package that may suit your needs!

  • Absolutely! We have our exclusive First Looks Package which offers an enchanting start to your wedding day. This package ensures time for your private first look moment to be beautifully captured. Please reach out to our team if this is something you might be interested in.

  • Yes, it is subject to availability and your requirements. Please note that additional venue hire charges will apply on top of your current venue hire fee. 

  • We highly recommend being driven from The Day Room to the ceremony to protect you from the weather elements right before walking down the aisle. It doesn't have to be a hired vehicle!

  • We recommend letting your guests know to arrive at around 30 minutes before the ceremony commencement time. This gives them time to locate the space, take in the views, and to be seated ready and in time for your arrival.

CEREMONY

  • The Chapel is a non-denominational space, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds and cultures.

  • Florists and stylists have access to set up the ceremony space 2 hours prior to the commencement of the ceremony and must vacate the space (including their vehicles) at least 30 minutes before the ceremony begins to accommodate early guest arrivals.

  • We don’t allow fresh rose petals inside The Chapel as they can bleed into and stain the carpet. For inside The Chapel, as long as they are synthetic petals, it’s okay!

  • Let your florist know that you would like this and they should be able to add rose petals to your package. On the day of the ceremony, we will display the petals in our clear fishbowl if not already provided by them or you.

    Please note that confetti, rice, or any materials that aren't biodegradable overnight cannot be thrown in lieu of rose petals. 

  • On request, we can supply a small signing table, 2 x chairs and 2 x wine barrels to frame the altar or aisle.

  • If you have chosen an outdoor ceremony and the weather turns unfavorable, your ceremony will be moved to The Chapel at no additional charge. Please note that your external suppliers (florist, band, etc.) will need additional time to relocate, so it's helpful to inform them in advance about the possibility of last-minute changes. Stones reserves the right to make the final decision to move your wedding location to ensure your safety and the safety of your guests, suppliers, and staff.

  • We have one handheld microphone in The Chapel. If your celebrant requires more than one microphone, they will need to provide their own. However, the acoustics are amazing in The Chapel, so they may not need one!

  • There are 9 pews on either side of the aisle as well as a couple along the side near the piano and near the vestry. The Chapel can comfortably seat 140 - 150 guests and standing room for up to 200 guests, with overflow guests directed upstairs in the mezzanine level. 

  • You can have lit candles on top of the altar table, or on the concrete portion of the floor, however, please note that all candles must be in an appropriate candle holder.  

     For OH&S reasons we can’t have candles lit on the carpeted aisle. If you want candles along the aisle, we suggest substituting for LED candles. Stones reserves the right to make the final decision to relocate the candles to ensure your safety and the safety of your guests, suppliers, and staff. 

  • We do have a generic ‘Welcome to our Wedding’ chalkboard sign and a wooden easel that you’re more than welcome to use at The Chapel entrance.

  • The aisle is approximately 13m long and 1.95m wide, with 9 pews on either side of the aisle. It takes approximately 17 seconds to walk down at a slow & steady pace.

  • Let your wedding planner know that you’d like to have a rehearsal at The Chapel and they will confirm available times with you.

    Please note, rehearsals are limited to 1 hour, between 10:00am to 1:30pm. We only allow rehearsals after hours if there is an evening wedding on that night, from 7:30pm onwards. Please be aware, these rehearsals are unattended by Stones staff, and need to be pre organised with your Wedding Administrator. 

     

DAIRY

  • The Dairy will be open to your guests 1 hour after your ceremony start time (as per your booking agreement). For your suppliers that wish to set up at The Dairy, they can have access 2 hours before your ceremony start time.

  • We strongly suggest having a seating chart that your guests can refer to, to find their seats and highly recommend having one should you have 80 guests or more. Our team will also be there to assist your guests if they need any help finding their table.

  • Of course! Let your photographer know that you wish to join your guests at The Dairy, pre-reception and they will be able to work this into your photo-time!

  • At an additional cost, we have a wide range of food & beverage enhancements you can choose to add, please reach out to the weddings team for the full list!

  • Canapes and beverages will start being served at The Dairy, no earlier than 1 hour after your ceremony start time please refer to your booking agreement for time frames.

  • There are a few options for music at The Dairy. We can play background music, or you can provide us with a music device with a set playlist or, you can have an external musician set up to play live music for your guests!

  • Your guests will be in The Dairy for approximately 45 mins. Guests will be invited to The Dairy, 1 hour after your ceremony start time and then invited to the reception 15 mins before your bridal introductions - this will give your guests ample time to find their seats and order a drink at their table before we kick off the formalities!

  • The enhancements are specifically designed for each venue and are not transferable. Each space has its own unique enhancement options. For a full list of reception-only enhancements and their prices, please reach out to the weddings team.

RECEPTION

  • You will be able to choose from our Stones ivory, oatmeal, white runners, or cane mats. Alternatively, our white table cloths are also available for your use. We also provide folded Stones white napkins per guest. 

  • They are a requirement, whether it is provided externally or using Stones linen as they do protect our gorgeous tables from oils, heat damage from candles and water stains from vases.

  • Our team will assist with the setup of your small personal items such as place cards, bonbonnieres, guest book and photo frames on the gift table etc. If you are having quite a large set-up we do require you to hire an external stylist or on-the-day coordinators to assist with making everything look gorgeous on your behalf! We have a list of stylist that we wholeheartedly recommend on our “SYV Preferred Suppliers List”

  • Table Width: 1.05m
    Table Height - 78cm

    Please enquire about the custom length of your tables once you have confirmed the floor plan with your planner.

  • No, Stones don’t provide any additional tables on the back patio. We have Stones outdoor cafe tables with chairs included as part of the outside layout in the gravel area for guests to use throughout the reception. You can however hire outdoor furniture to put on the outdoor patio, should you wish!

  • No, we don’t permit marquees to be set up on the property.

  • At The Barn, the maximum is a 10 piece band, as any larger, you start to encroach into the dancefloor! 

    At The Stables, the maximum is a 3 piece band, as any larger, you start to encroach into the dancefloor! 

  • The Barn has its own car park, as you head down the Stones driveway, veer right (follow The Barn signage). Park in any of the available spaces and make your way on foot to the ceremony.

    At The Stables we have a private car park for guests, as you head down the Stones driveway, veer left (follow The Stables signage) and head towards the hedges for convenient parking. 

    *Any elderly or guests with limited mobility can be dropped off right in front of The Chapel, and the car can then be parked at the respective car parks.  

  • Unfortunately, logistically we won’t be able to accommodate this for a couple of reasons. It will disrupt the food and beverage service to your guests, the DJ/musician can only be positioned in the back corner due to power so it will be very loud for any tables positioned on our usual dance floor and not so loud for the dancefloor. Plus, we do have limited heating/cooling facilities at the back of the space also.

  • You certainly can, but we don’t recommend you substitute cake for the canapé desserts. Please note that this won’t change your food costs per person and there will be additional charges for plating individual cake pieces. 

  • Yes we do! See our “SYV Styling Inclusions Guide” for an image of our Stones cake stand, cake table & cake knife.

  • That’s fine! Depending on the weather and time the cake is delivered, we will either keep the cake in our cool room or set it up straight in the reception venue. Make sure you ask your cake supplier for storing instructions. Any earlier than the day of your wedding, storage will be subject to the volume of events. Please note that for early deliveries, Stones may require a “Cake Policy & Waiver” to be signed. 

  • Stones will cut and serve your cake on platters for guests to share from. Bags can be placed next to platters for guests to take for themselves. We can individually box your wedding cake on the night, provided you have pre assembled them when dropped off (if they’re the flat pack style).

WEDDING CAKE

AUDIO / VISUAL

  • No, this will need to be organised by your videographer or through an external live streaming provider.

  • Stones has two wireless handheld microphones in The Barn, however we recommend where we can that you just use the one to avoid any mic feedback and for the ease of your videographer recording from one microphone.   

    Stones have one wireless handheld microphone in The Stables. 

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

  • No, as a licensed food & beverage venue we do not allow external catering or beverages to be brought in at Stones. If for any reason, you require special arrangements, please reach out to the weddings team for further advice.

  • Crew not staying for the reception do not require a crew meal. You don’t need to include them in your final crew numbers.

  • Any members of your crew that are staying throughout the reception will be catered with entree and main course. This is priced at $85 per person.

  • Childrens food & beverage packages are currently priced at $85 per person. Children will go toward your final guest count. Catering for little ones such as toddlers, tends to be at the discretion of the parents given how carrying the stage of development can be, irrespective of age. We do offer a separate children's 3-course menu. 

  • You can certainly organise a bar tab with your Wedding Administrator for your guests to enjoy after the main course is served. All spirits mixers will only be served from behind the bar.

  • Of course! Please have these delivered as close to the time/day of your wedding. Please also make sure they can sit at room temperature as we are unable to store large boxes/bags of your edible bonbonnieres in our cool room. Please note that Stones are not liable for these items and Stones may request for a “Food Waiver” to be signed.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Your suppliers/crew will be set up and seated in the crew room (noted on your floor plans, not at the guest table. If suppliers/crew are allocated to sit amongst the guests, they are charged at guest rate.

  • The Farmhouse at Meletos offers 23 rooms on 2 floors, including The Tuscan suite (bridal suite).

    Please contact the lovely team at The Farmhouse for more information.

    Hotel Reservations
    (03) 8727 3030 | stay@meletos.com

  • Please find our preferred suppliers listed on our “SYV Preferred Supplier List”. This list showcases a range of suppliers we have used many times, that we trust and love! 

  • Outside of daylight savings, our lunch weddings run from 10 am - 3 pm and dinner weddings 4 pm - 10 pm.

    Inside of daylight savings, our lunch weddings run from 11 am - 4 pm and dinner weddings 5 pm - 11 pm.

  • We recommend A1 as a perfect size and A0 as the largest sign for our rustic easels. 

    For guest numbers of 100 or more, A0 is recommended. For ~99 or less, A1 or A2 works well. 

  • The Day Room is located 2 minutes drive from The Chapel. Between Meletos and Stones of the Yarra Valley, nestled behind our car park. A map is available on request!

  • We suggest each speech go for around 3-5 minutes, although in our experience, sometimes your loved ones may have some longer stories they have been waiting to share! 

    If a family member is also translating, it’s a great idea to have a buffer of 5 minutes or plan for double the speech timing (eg. 5 min speech + 5 min translated speech). 

  • We highly recommend letting your guests know to prebook their transport to and from the venue in advance. Rideshares and taxis are very difficult to book on the night. The last thing you want is for guests to be stranded!

  • We have a list of medium to large group transportation recommendations. Please find our preferred transfer suppliers listed on our “SYV Preferred Supplier List”

    Melbourne Silver Service
    Dave - 0406 506 964

    Yarra Valley Shuttle
    0434 421 150