Love among the red gums

THE TIMBERCUTTER RESTAURANT PROVIDES A PICTURESQUE PLACE FOR WEDDING CEREMONIES, AMONG THE TALL RED GUMS AT THE JUNCTION OF THE EDWARD AND MURRAY RIVERS.

Kalli Crump and her partner Joel Smith have transformed a stretch of bushland just 10km from Mathoura into a venue that has been a wedding favourite since opening. “We have a few spots left for 2023, but people are mostly looking towards 2024 now,” Kalli said. “We probably did around 35 weddings last year.”

It’s not hard to see why the venue has become such a favourite for couples from near and far.

The venue’s permanent wooden arbour structure is surrounded by red gum forest and boasts panoramic views of the river junction, making the location perfect for ceremonies.

If inclement weather threatens to dampen the big day, weddings can be moved onto the deck area. “The arbour overlooks both the Murray and the Edward River, it’s right on the junction of the two rivers,” Kalli said. “People can get married up on the deck, which we haven’t had to do yet — touch wood — but there are two big deck areas overlooking the river if we need to.”

The Timbercutter restaurant is an allinclusive venue, and nearby accommodation providers mean an easy and safe trip home at the end of the night. “There’s accommodation as close as across the road from us, which is nice along the river,” Kalli said.

Couples are often taken away from their wedding celebrations, their venue and — mostly importantly — their guests, to take the all-important wedding portraits, but this is not a hurdle faced at the Timbercutter.

Photographers and couples alike will be spoilt for choice, with plenty of scenic locations at their fingertips including the historic red gum bushland surrounding the restaurant. “You don’t have to travel too far for photos,” Kalli said. “A lot of couples come up to the big sandhill here and have sunset photos all on the same property, and they can have photos through the bush here. “There are so many nice places, even just over the road from us.”

Even the interior of the venue, with an open fireplace, can make for perfect backdrops for photographs, and will be sure to warm up the celebrations. “The aesthetic of (the venue) really complements the area that we’re in,” Kalli said. “We’ve had stylists come through, but a lot of people don’t do a lot of additional styling because it’s all so natural.”

After the formalities of the ceremony are completed and the reception begins, the restaurant can seat about 170 people inside, with room to spread out onto the deck if planning for a bigger celebration.

Besides the ceremony and reception, couples can plan cocktail hours and celebrations the following day for their guests if they so choose. “Our caravan bar is a popular one,” Kalli said. “A lot of people are having cocktail hours at the ceremony site down on the lawn first before they come up to the more formal setting.”

For those staying nearby — or those who celebrated a bit too hard the night before — the Timbercutter Restaurant can keep the celebrations going into the following day. “We often do a ‘recovery breakfast’ the next morning out on the deck, that’s become quite popular,” Kalli said.

The Timbercutter Restaurant has been closed for the winter months, reopening at the beginning of September.

For inquiries and bookings, contact the Timbercutter Restaurant on social media or email: bookings@thetimbercutter.com.au