Come Caveside
From the dress code and decorations to the menu and music, the opportunities for statement-making are endless when it comes to your wedding celebration. Choosing an extraordinary venue is no exception, with unconventional locations like historic caves being transformed into the perfect, awe-inspiring backdrop for couples’ big days. Here, Western Australia Wedding & Bride writer Penny Robinson explores the ins and outs of cave celebrations with Amy Villanova, functions and events manager at Yanchep Inn.
CAVE OUT YOUR OWN SPACE
No two weddings – or couples – are the same, and with a venue as extraordinary as a natural cave, there is every opportunity to make the celebrations as unique as the newlyweds themselves, with a rugged landscape that offers a brilliant blank canvas on which to celebrate some of life’s most memorable moments. “We’ve seen so many amazing styling options,” explains Villanova. “The Cabaret Cave [at Yanchep Inn] is beautiful on its own and you wouldn’t be disappointed if you add nothing to it. [Previously] we’ve had Viking, Game of Thrones, enchanted forest, Star Wars, steampunk, and Disney themes,” she continues. “[The space] lends itself to so much, so if [something] matters to you, include it, and if it doesn’t matter to you, let it go.”
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
Choosing something unconventional and veering off the beaten path for your wedding venue also affords spectacular opportunities for everything from your wedding photos to your music. “The main entry of the cave – with its fairy lights and wide red carpet – is just magical. The grand entry to the main cavern, where the bridal party arrive, is such a beautiful photo spot. There is an undercover area of the cave that also provides a lovely sneaky spot for photographers to take the couple for a beautiful quiet moment,” Villanova explains. Many couples elect to have their ceremony on the picturesque lakefront of the Yanchep national park, which is a beautiful contrast to the interior of the cave, where the reception is typically held. “So much of the planning revolves around the reception, as it should, but on the day, it will be the ceremony that matters,” says Villanova.
The use of up-lighting in the cave also makes a huge impact on the space, while soft white lighting, a vast number of candles, and a fairy light extravaganza creates a wow factor and undeniable ambience throughout the venue.
THE WHOLE PACKAGE
The Yanchep Inn itself is a heritage-listed hotel with food and beverage operations on-site. That means there are a variety of accommodation options at the venue and, when a couple books their wedding, the Yanchep Inn team make sure that the rooms are exclusively offered to the wedding guests. “Our included package is a classic wedding; adding the finishing touches like bomboniere, place cards, [those] small tokens that guests will notice, and creating table centrepieces and tablescapes that can be a conversation starter,” explains Villanova. There are also a variety of menus for couples to choose from as part of their package, however these can be tailored to dietary requirements and other specifics.
As Villanova herself attests, the venue itself is of course spectacular, “but what guests remember is the good vibes from the friendly service, the great meal, and spending time with loved ones”. If you’re still deciding which direction to steer your wedding day ship, consider a venue that will reflect the unique qualities of you, your partner, and your relationship, and somewhere that will be remembered for weddings to come. “Our aim is to always have everyone – the couple and their guests – walk out thinking ‘that was the best wedding!’ Tasty food, lovely drinks, beautiful surrounds, and friendly service,” Villanova says.
Above all, remember it is your day, and you should celebrate in a way that is authentically you. From the gorgeous, repurposed cave of Ristorante Grotto Palazzese in Apulia, Italy, to the rock cathedral at The Kangaroo Valley Bust Retreat in New South Wales, marrying in the cave of your dreams has never been more magical.