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Sunnybrae Estate is no doubt one of Adelaide’s leading function and event spaces. Family owned and run, it is not only a heritage listed estate spanning over 8 acres of fairy tale gardens and enchanting backdrops, but it is only 12 mins from Adelaide’s CBD!

So if you’re looking for a stunning location that gives you the best of both worlds by providing a city central location but with a winery feel, then Sunnybrae Estate is the venue for you. The venue features three function spaces to choose from alongside the magical gardens, making it the perfect location for both your wedding ceremony and reception.

We interviewed Sunnybrae Estate's Function and Events Coordinator and Marketing Executive, Sevanah Sgoutas about what couples can expect when booking their wedding with Sunnybrae Estate, as well as sharing some great tips from herself and the Sunnybrae Estate team that will keep you best prepared as you start your wedding planning journey.

Trust us when we say, this Venue is one not to be missed, read our interview below.

Q. After a couple have booked their wedding at Sunnybrae Estate what is the process your event coordinators will go through with them?

A. Once a couple has booked their perfect date and function space with Sunnybrae (yay!) our booking manager sends through confirmation with important details they need to know before their allocated event coordinator gets in touch at 6 months out from their day. From the 6-month mark, our dedicated event coordinators provide each couple with the necessary tools to plan their unique and personalised day and are available to answer any questions that arise throughout the lead up to their big day. Our lovely events team hold over 35 years of experience between them and are more than qualified to aid and advise brides and grooms on how to ensure they create the wedding of their dreams!

Q. What makes Sunnybrae Estate stand out from other venues?

A. At Sunnybrae, we pride ourselves on our excellent customer service, stunning grounds and function spaces, and our most commonly sung praises come for our incredibly talented in-house chefs, who are constantly striving to ensure each service is better than the last. Our breathtaking gardens offer a winery-like escape in the middle of industrial Adelaide, providing couples with the best of both worlds – all the tranquility of the countryside, only 12 minutes from the heart of the city. We pride ourselves on our incredible team who believe that each couple truly deserves to experience the wedding of their dreams. We aim to provide our absolute best in all aspects for every client from start to finish.

Q. For the budget conscious couple, are there any tips you could suggest to keep venue costs down?

A. Planning a wedding is an expensive task! We truly believe in providing the highest quality experience here at Sunnybrae, no matter your budget. We offer various package options across our three beautiful venues and are always willing to work with couples to make sure they’re able to bring their dream wedding to reality. For those who are looking to reduce the overall cost of their big day, we do offer a $3pp discount for events booked on Friday nights, and a Winter Special in our Coach House and Pavillion venues through our off-season (May through July).

Q. Can you tell us about your spaces, facilities and guest numbers you can accommodate?

A. Sunnybrae’s three function spaces vary in size, so there’s a space to suit every event!

- Pavillion - Round tables 70pax | Trestle tables 100pax

- Coach House - Round tables 230pax | Trestle tables 260pax

- Marquee - Round tables 380pax | Trestle tables 480pax

* All numbers including a bridal table

Q. How far in advance should couples begin thinking about booking their venue?

A. It’s never too late to start planning - we once pulled off a wedding within 6 weeks of booking! (What a whirlwind!) Ideally, you want to have your big vendors locked in by at least 6 months out when you meet with your venue to begin the planning process. Make sure you leave enough time for your RSVP's to be returned at least 5 weeks out from your day – this leaves time for you to chase up any late replies! However, make sure you’re communicating with your vendors if you’re booking more than a year out, as many of them (like us) increase their pricing with CPI increases each year, which could affect your budget in the long run.

Q. Do you see any common mistakes couples make when selecting a venue space?

A. We have so many couples who book their venue date, and then struggle to lock in their preferred vendors for the same date. We recommend being in contact with your most important preferred suppliers (i.e. DJ/Band, photographer/videographer, florist/stylist) to make sure they’re all available on the same date before locking in your venue. This can be overwhelming to coordinate all at once, but it’s much better than missing out on who you really want, and then spending weeks or months searching for someone else!

Q. As an events coordinator yourself, what is your favourite part of the job?

A. I asked our other three event coordinators this question, and we were all torn between watching the couple see their room for the first time, seeing their vision come to life, or having them return the day after their event still on an absolute high, telling us they had the night of their dreams! Knowing we were able to make one of the most important days in a couples’ life absolutely perfect and being a small part of their love stories is what makes all the hard work worth it for us. We’re also extremely lucky to be a part of an incredible industry in SA, with the most supportive and hardworking suppliers helping us achieve the most amazing results and partying with us week in, week out! Having such incredible people surrounding you and offering support and intense positive energy is so rewarding.

Q. What would be your biggest piece of advice to couples preparing to plan and book in their wedding venue?

A. Our number one piece of advice is to enjoy the ride!! Planning a wedding of any scale is going to come with its stresses, but your overall experience should be a joyful one! A follow up on that is to lean on your suppliers. There are so many talented and knowledgeable vendors in SA who will create magic for you if you let them. You’ve hired them for a reason: they are the experts! Trust their judgement and watch the rest fall into place. If it all starts getting overwhelming, take a deep breath and remember the reason you’re going through it all – celebrating the next step in your journey together with the people you love! Focus on that and it really will flow through to every aspect of your day.

It is no doubt that Sunnybrae Estate is the perfect location for your dream wedding. Previous bride Anthea Orphanou who was married at Sunnybrae in 2021 says, "when looking back on our special day, we can’t thank Sunnybrae enough. Their service was second to none, food was fresh and delicious and the venue is simply stunning. It was our perfect day thanks to the team at Sunnybrae who made it all possible."

So whether you are dreaming of dancing under the stars in the clear roof Marquee Room, celebrating in the country chic Coach House that takes you to Tuscany, being surrounded by loved ones in the intimate Pavillion Room that looks out to stunning gardens or gazing at the sky in an open air reception on a warm summers night, then Sunnybrae Estate is the venue for you.

Visit their website today or check them out on Instagram to see the magic continue.

A collaborative piece written by EEA Director, Mariah De Virgilio and Sunnybrae Estate Function and Events Coordinator and Marketing Executive, Sevanah Sgoutas.