Wedding Reception Venues Kenthurst

Couples who look at Kenthurst are usually after a country-style reception without committing their guests to a weekend away. It sits in the semi-rural Hills District, on large leafy blocks, so a reception here has space and greenery around it while still being a drive, not a trip, for most Sydney guests. The feel is garden wedding rather than hotel ballroom, and the setting does a good share of the decorating for you.

What to plan around:

• Transport: guests drive to Kenthurst and there is free parking at the venue; for a late finish, book a minibus or shuttle so nobody has to drive after the toasts.
• Style: The Courtyard @ The Heritage House is a garden courtyard with cascading greenery and heritage timber detail, which suits a relaxed, romantic reception more than a formal black-tie one.
• Guest numbers: the courtyard takes up to 150 guests, enough for a full family wedding with plenty of friends.
• Booking ahead: popular Saturdays in spring and autumn tend to go first at garden venues, so start enquiring as soon as you have a shortlist of dates.
• Catering: pricing starts from $80 per person; ask for a sample menu, how drinks are arranged and what changes between packages.

For a courtyard reception, confirm the wet-weather plan early and visit at the time of day your reception will run, so you know how the light falls for photos. It is also worth asking whether the ceremony can be held on site, since keeping everything in one place saves guests a second drive and gives you more time with them. Plan transport home before you plan the playlist. A site visit with your photographer, if they are free, is time well spent at a garden venue. Ask too how late music can run and when suppliers can arrive to set up, as those two details shape the whole run sheet.