An ambient experience

STORY: GEORGIA ROSSITER

UNIQUE AMBIENCE ADDS TO THE EXPERIENCE

IN THE HEART OF ECHUCA, RADCLIFFE’S IS THE EXPERT AT CELEBRATING LOVE

From enchanting affairs to intimate gatherings, owner and functions co-ordinator for the venue Rebecca Mitchell said there were two things that set Radcliffe’s apart from the rest when it came to hosting weddings.

One of them is the conservatory; the other is its central location.

“Our conservatory is a very unique spot,” Rebecca said.

Unique is a good way to put it. The conservatory’s glass roof means the live vines in the room bring the outside in, giving the room a fairytale feel. The vines begin growing in August and are in their prime until March or April.

“That’s when they start to change their colours into the autumn colours,” Rebecca said.

“It adds a whole different atmosphere to the room.”

Atmosphere is important for any good soiree, which is why the optimally located venue is ideal for weddings—guests spending a couple of days in the area will find themselves within walking distance from everything in town.

“They can walk to the ceremony, walk to the reception here at Radcliffe’s, and walk back to their accommodation,” Rebecca said.

Together with her husband Adam, Rebecca has run the business for almost a decade—including managing the Port 53 restaurant, hosting functions in their dedicated spaces and catering for events at other locations—meaning they can offer a range of services on a couple’s special day.

“If you have another venue, then we can bring the food to anywhere, really,” Rebecca said.

Radcliffe’s offers three main catering options for weddings: three-course meal; buffet; and canapes.

If you’re planning a low-key reception, the finger-food option is always popular.

“Our chefs hand make all of the fingerfood so everything is made from scratch,” Rebecca said.

“Guests can mingle a little bit more as the staff have roaming canapes.”

With enough food for seconds and the option to pick and choose your meal, the buffet is also a firm favourite and will ensure no-one goes hungry on the night.

“It’s not like they get one plate of food in front of them and that’s what they’re stuck with for the night,” Rebecca said.

“Guests can choose what they want, and how much they want of it.”

The entire venue can hold up to 400 people, ideal for couples with big families unable to make their guest list any shorter. As a result, Radcliffe’s has catered for many big weddings, including various traditions and entertainment.

“We’ve had Greek weddings, where they’ve been smashing plates,” Rebecca said.

“We’ve had another wedding with a big, big family and they had pyrotechnics here.

“They had fireworks and smoke machines and all that sort of stuff inside the building, which was quite special.”

Visit radcliffes.com.au for more information about its wedding packages.