Newly Engaged Over Summer?
Your Complete Wedding Planning Guide at In The Grove and How In The Grove Makes It Effortless
Newly engaged between December and Valentine’s Day? Discover a simple step-by-step wedding planning guide and how In The Grove makes it a one-stop, stress-free experience.
There’s something magical about the months between December and Valentine’s Day. It’s the season of champagne toasts, summer sunsets, family holidays… and wedding proposals.
If you’ve found yourself wearing a sparkling new ring…congratulations! This is the beginning of one of the most exciting seasons of your life. But it also raises a surprisingly big question:
“We’re engaged… now what?”
That’s exactly what this guide is here to answer.
At In The Grove, just north of Bundaberg, we specialise in making the wedding-planning journey simple, joyful, organised, and tailored to each couple. As a true one-stop wedding venue, we provide almost everything you need, ceremony spaces, marquee, catering, furniture, styling, décor, lighting, tables, chairs, glassware, staffing, cutlery, linens, bars, cool room, audio, lounge furniture, and full setup/pack-down, all in one place.
Whether you’re engaged for two years or two months, here’s your comprehensive roadmap to planning your dream wedding, plus how we can take the stress (and guesswork) out of the entire process.
Step 1 – Celebrate First (Then Talk About the Big Picture)
Before you dive into checklists and spreadsheets, take time to soak in the moment.
Have a special dinner, pop some bubbles, share the news with family and friends, this is a once-in-a-lifetime season.
When you’re ready, sit down together and chat about the big picture:
What type of wedding do you imagine?
Garden? Marquee? Rustic luxe? Boho? Elegant white-tie?How many guests feels right?
Do you want a long engagement or a short one?
What is your ideal season?
Keeping it cool in winter, spring blossoms & sunshine, lush summer gardens, or golden autumn light?
Diamond are a girls best friend
Found yourself wearing a sparkling new ring…congratulations!
Step 2 – Choose Your Wedding Venue Early (It Shapes Everything)
Your venue shapes almost every decision: date, budget, style, guest experience, and which vendors you’ll actually need.
At In The Grove, we make this step easier because so much is included on-site, meaning fewer external suppliers to co-ordinate:
15m x 10m permanent, all-weather marquee with exposed rooftop fairy lights and lighting ladder or chandeliers and silk linings for that extra touch of romance
Ceremony spaces with chairs, signing tables, and arbor locations
Reception furniture: wooden farmhouse tables, round tables, Cross-back Chairs, Chiavari High Back Chairs or American Folding Chairs
Complete table settings: Plain or coloured linen napkins, plates, bowls, cutlery, wine & water glasses, carafes
Premium lighting: festoon lights, tree-vine lighting, rotunda spotlighting, marquee fairy lights
Bars, wine barrels, drink tubs, eskies, mobile cool room & freezer
Garden lounge furniture, ottomans, coffee tables, stools and high bars
Professional Bose sound system and wireless microphone
Catering marquee, catering tables, and kitchen services
Complete rustic bar setup
Full setup, pack-down, and cleaning
Styling allowance to tailor the look to your wedding vision
This means you don’t have to source a separate marquee, furniture hire, lighting company, or glassware supplier, it’s all managed and co-ordinated for you.
“Guests enjoying sunset canapés and drinks on the lawn beside the marquee at In The Grove wedding venue in Bundaberg, surrounded by tall trees and golden afternoon light.”
Step 3 – Lock In Your Date and Wedding Budget
Once you’ve fallen in love with the venue (and many couples do the moment they arrive at The Grove), the next step is to lock in your date and budget.
Confirm your guest-list range
Most couples begin with a range, such as 80–100 guests. This gives flexibility while you finalise RSVPs closer to the day.
Choose your package or build your own
Your quote clearly outlines what’s included from furniture and tableware to event staffing and styling allowance so you can see how much of your wedding is already taken care of on-site.
Talk through your priorities
Every couple is different. You might want to invest more in:
Food & catering experience
Photography & videography
Music & entertainment
Styling and florals
We help you shape your budget around your priorities so you’re never surprised later.
Step 4 – Book Your Priority Wedding Vendors Early
Once your venue and date are confirmed, your highest-priority bookings are:
Photographer and/or videographer
Caterer (we co-ordinate logistics, setup and service with our trusted partners)
Celebrant
Music – DJ or acoustic musician
Florist
Because In The Grove already provides your marquee, furniture, tableware, glassware, lighting and bar infrastructure, you typically need fewer vendors than at a DIY venue. Less chasing quotes, less admin, and fewer moving parts.
Beautiful Bride posing in the garden at In The Grove wedding venue in Bundaberg while photographers capture portraits among the palm trees and soft afternoon light.”
Step 5 – Plan the Details (With Guidance, Not Guesswork)
This is where the fun really begins and where our team steps in with structure and support.
We help you with:
Creating your wedding day run sheet
Ceremony layout and seating suggestions
Reception floor plan and table layouts
Styling and décor using your included styling allowance
Catering service timings and meal flow
Bar setup, glassware and BYO drinks management
You’re never left wondering “what am I supposed to do next?” We walk through it all with you.
Step 6 – Design a Beautiful Guest Experience
A truly memorable wedding isn’t just pretty; it feels effortless for your guests.
We help you create that feeling by:
Setting up welcome drinks stations under the tall shady trees
Using our games package to keep guests entertained during photos
Offering comfortable seating clusters with garden lounges, ottomans and wine barrels
Planning a ceremony time that gives gorgeous soft light for photos
Creating clear, natural movement from ceremony → canapés in the gardens → reception in the marquee
Providing plenty of cold storage, drink tubs and eskies for BYO beverages
Ensuring music and lighting work together to transition from relaxed afternoon to party-mode in the evening
Step 7 – Keep Wedding Planning Simple with a One-Stop Venue
Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to.
Because In The Grove is a one-stop wedding venue, most of the usual “to-do list” is already done for you:
No hiring multiple suppliers for furniture, marquee, lighting and glassware
No transporting items to and from a bare venue
No worrying about rain with a permanent, all-weather marquee
No pack-down at midnight after your reception
No juggling delivery times or collection windows
No guessing how a blank space will look when styled
You arrive to a beautifully prepared venue, enjoy your day, and leave the pack-down and cleaning to us.
Step 8 – Month-by-Month Wedding Planning Timeline
Right Now (Freshly Engaged)
Celebrate with family and friends
Book a tour at In The Grove
Choose a preferred date or date range
Secure your booking
Within 1–2 Months
Book your photographer and/or videographer
Confirm celebrant and music (DJ/or/acoustic)
Select your caterer (we help with recommendations and logistics)
We set up your Pinterest inspiration page
3–6 Months Out
Send formal invitations
Confirm ceremony location and backup plan (if needed)
Finalise your reception layout and floor plan
We draft your run sheet
1 Month Out
Final guest numbers and seating plan
Confirm styling details, florals and décor
Arrange signage, wishing well and any personal touches you would like to include
Your Wedding Week
Attend rehearsal the day before your wedding, bridal party, celebrant, photographer
At your rehearsal, deliver BYO drinks to the venue (we store and chill them)
Relax and enjoy the lead-up to your wedding day, your venue team will handle setup and details
Why Newly Engaged Couples Love In The Grove
A beautiful private property with exclusive use for your wedding
Garden ceremony + marquee reception in one location
True one-stop venue: marquee, furniture, tableware, lighting, bar and more included
An experienced, friendly team who guides you from enquiry to “I do”
Transparent pricing and clear inclusions
Endless photo opportunities across the gardens, rotunda, arbor and marquee
Ready to Start Planning Your Wedding?
If you’re newly engaged now is the perfect time to secure your preferred date.
We’d love to show you around, hear your story, and help you imagine how your wedding could look at In The Grove.
Book a tour or request information:
📞 07 4155 9098
📧 info@inthegrove.com.au
In The Grove — where your wedding journey becomes wonderfully simple.