For owners Michele and Stephen, purchasing Terara Riverside Gardens wasn’t an overnight decision; it was years in the making. With two of their three children working in the wedding and event industry, it was a dream of theirs to one day own a wedding venue.

Michele and Stephen ran a successful manufacturing company in Sydney for over 40 years and were looking for a lifestyle change. After spending many years holidaying on the south coast and with family in the region, it was an easy decision to relocate when the right property became available.

Throwback to four years ago now, and Michele and Stephen have hosted over 50 weddings, met wonderful people {yes, we’re talking about the amazing couples}, created friendships with local suppliers and grown the business to be a successful venture.

The venue is their pride and joy, and any couple that visits the property will agree, that Michele and Stephen are in their happy place. If Michele isn’t on the ride-on mower maintaining the immaculate lawns, she is in the greenhouse potting up new plants, taking newly engaged couples on site tours or knee-deep in soil and mulch.

Stephen is often found on his tractor transferring mulch or soil from one location to another, building beautiful little shacks, or climbing the citrus tree to collect the beautiful oranges, mandarins, lemons and limes the property produces.

Hosting wedding’s is their newfound forte, and they’re great at it. They’re always behind the scenes ensuring the wedding is running smoothly, making sure the catering and bar staff are ok, or chatting with the guests about the beautiful gardens they have created and maintain on a daily basis.

What does their workday look like when there is a wedding on?

As the venue owners, they’re on site during the entire wedding weekend to ensure everything runs smoothly:

• They test run your music, to ensure it works properly

• They hook up the speakers and microphone, and do a test run

• They assist in setting up the chairs and tables in the marquee or greenhouse

• They mow and maintain the lawns and gardens, even at the last minute, to ensure it’s picture perfect for your wedding photos

• They assist with setting up the wedding furniture, umbrellas and ceremony if required

• They place all recycling and rubbish bins around the property/marquee for waste/recycling

• They meet with all of your suppliers on arrival, to ensure they’re set up and comfortable – from the musician and celebrant, MC and stylist…you name it, they’re ready

• They’re in the car park when the guests arrive, to ensure all your guests park correctly

• They monitor music noise levels throughout the evening

• They do the odd clean up of rubbish/recycling during the evening, and assist bar staff with clearing rubbish to the major waste bins

• They ensure all guests leave the property quietly and safely

• They begin doing a light pack up, within the marquee and grounds, from 11.00pm on the night of your wedding

• They’re on site the following day, to ensure the pack up runs smoothly

Their south coast dream is alive and well, and they’re excited for the future of Terara Riverside Gardens.