{"id":40536,"date":"2016-10-18T05:25:57","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T18:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/au\/articles\/rendezvous-hotel-scarborough\/"},"modified":"2021-11-10T05:16:47","modified_gmt":"2021-11-09T18:16:47","slug":"rendezvous-hotel-scarborough","status":"publish","type":"au-article","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/articles\/rendezvous-hotel-scarborough\/","title":{"rendered":"Four wedding trends modern couples are loving"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rendezvous<\/a>
Image: Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the beautiful things about weddings is that while they\u2019re steeped in tradition, no two celebrations are ever the same, instead reflecting each couple\u2019s very personal and unique love story. From food and family to a healthy dose of fun, there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding how best to frame this story and share it with your nearest and dearest. Here are four trends that modern couples are tapping into.<\/p>\n

Recognising the team effort<\/h2>\n

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and the same is true of weddings. Yes, they may be about getting a couple to \u2013 and through \u2013 \u201cI do\u201d, but there\u2019s a real team effort that goes into planning a dream day. And it\u2019s something venues<\/a> are increasingly looking to recognise, promoting a sense of inclusiveness that acknowledges the joy that comes with input from family and friends.<\/p>\n

At Perth\u2019s 337-room Rendezvous Hotel Scarborough<\/a> \u2013 which has a variety of spaces for intimate celebrations up to gala occasions for 400, and discounted wedding accommodation for guests \u2013 particular priority is paid to honouring the couple\u2019s parents.<\/p>\n

\"Rendezvous<\/a>
Image: Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This ranges from small touches, such as giving them access to valet parking at the wedding, to an open invitation to attend the menu tasting for a small extra fee.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis comes down to recognising that wedding planning is often not just about two people, but about two families,\u201d says weddings and special events co-coordinator Jordan O\u2019Sullivan. \u201cSo with something like food and beverage, for example, you\u2019ll often find that the bride and groom will want their parents involved in the selection because they value their input and experience, so it makes sense to allow them to come along to the tasting.\u201d<\/p>\n

The invitation also extends to the wider wedding party, although in practice, these relationships tend to come into focus more when the wedding itself rolls around.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a lot of brides do is book out the executive suite for the night before their wedding,\u201d Jordan says. \u201cWhat we\u2019ll then do is set it up for them with extra beds, so they can share the night with their bridesmaids and closest confidants.\u201d Throw in some champagne, access to a full room service menu, a little beauty prep and, of course, excited chatter about what\u2019s in store the next day, and there\u2019s no better way to prepare for the transition from singleton to newlywed.<\/p>\n

Indulging in food, glorious food<\/h2>\n

Ask guests what they remember about a modern wedding, and chances are they\u2019ll talk about the food. And it\u2019s no surprise when you consider the ongoing evolution of nuptial menus.<\/p>\n

From the days when it served mainly as sustenance for celebration, these days the food is an adventure in itself. And venues are responding by working with couples to curate very individual and personal culinary experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cFood is definitely something that\u2019s a lot more important than what it used to be,\u201d says executive chef Wendelin Ulrich, who notes their menus can incorporate vegan, gluten free, nut free and vegetarian options. \u201cCouples really want to make sure people delight in the food and wine, so they pay attention to the smallest detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

One factor in this development is that people now know more about food, courtesy of the explosion in reality culinary television, which means they\u2019re willing to plump for a touch of excitement over the expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, with our pre-dinner canap\u00e9s, we\u2019re finding people are willing to be a little more creative, in that they\u2019ll opt for something like a smoked duck breast nicoise style, or Serrano jamon with goats cheese and mini bell pepper,\u201d Jordan says.<\/p>\n

And this willingness to mix things up further extends to the role of food itself, which can be as formal, or as informal, as couples desire.<\/p>\n

\"Rendezvous<\/a>
Image: Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAt its most traditional, we have our plated menus, which are refreshed every six months to account for seasonality,\u201d explains Jordan, noting that they artfully blend simplicity and sophistication to bring a new twist to standards, be it poached Indian Ocean prawns with papaya and black bean salsa, avocado and chipotle yoghurt, or oven-roasted south-west lamb rump with garlic desiree mash, seasonal baby vegetables and thyme jus.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, for those seeking something less formal, there\u2019s the buffet menu, which, unlike the selections of old, is much less about a foodie production line and much more about a chance to create a DIY culinary adventure. Think braised south west beef cheeks, thyme and port jus with crispy parsnips, or pumpkin sage ravioli with lemon cream sauce.<\/p>\n

Again, couples have the opportunity to build on the basics. \u201cWe have a wedding coming up where the bride and groom are big seafood eaters, so they\u2019ve extended the buffet to incorporate delicacies such as prawns, mussels, salmon and oysters,\u201d Jordan says.<\/p>\n

Another option that\u2019s growing in popularity is the purely cocktail reception, where canap\u00e9s take a step up from precursor to the main event . \u201cWith our Moonlight Cocktail Canape menu, we\u2019re finding that it\u2019s quite popular with younger couples,\u201d says Jordan, who notes the venue\u2019s popular Mentelle Deck and Observation Deck have a stunning outlook over the Indian Ocean, allowing for incredible sunset panoramas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese couples want to enjoy the party side of things for a longer amount of time, with great music and dancing, so they choose to have canapes passed around all evening rather than a sit-down meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trick here is curating morsels that are as substantial as they are stylish, be it a grilled Reuben sandwich and potato crisps, or fork food such as pulled pork and slaw on brioche, or Singapore-style chicken nasi goreng.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s all about working with brides and grooms to ensure their wedding menu is exactly what they want,\u201d Jordan says. \u201cThis could mean customising a multicultural element, say creating a menu that is half western and half Asian, or helping them to create a signature cocktail to serve during the festivities.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a recipe that is equal parts about showcasing your own personality and exciting and entertaining your guests. And if they can walk away saying: \u201cI\u2019ve never had that before,\u201d well all the better.<\/p>\n

Tapping into added extras<\/h2>\n

One of the best parts of any wedding is the unexpected moments and experiences. The groom who sheds a tear when he sets eyes on his bride. A wonderful new friendship that finds its beginning at pre-dinner drinks. Or even just an inclusion guests don\u2019t expect but are delighted to indulge. One clever way to create such moments is to tap into wedding package add-ons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we find these days is that many couples are looking for that experience or slice of wow factor that other weddings may not have,\u201d says Jordan.<\/p>\n

At Rendezvous Hotel Scarborough<\/a>, this can range from the fun – such as a photo booth designed to capture guests in light-hearted moments – to the fancy, such as rounding out your ceremony with a glass of sparkling wine for each guest.<\/p>\n

Jordan says many couples are also choosing to bring a little something extra to the latter part of their celebrations, once the main foodie offering is done and dusted and the focus has turned to a party atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething that can really get friends and family excited is an ice cream sundae bar or a s\u2019mores bar later in the evening,\u201d she says. It\u2019s about indulgence meets inspiration, and the benefits are two-fold. For starters, it can help to flag up energy levels with a sugar hit, while it also has that kind of decadent midnight-snack feel that people will be talking about for days to come.<\/p>\n

\"Rendezvous<\/a>
Image: Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other adds-on available at the hotel range from theming and styling packages, which build on the hotel\u2019s relationships with local wedding suppliers, to accommodation upgrades that, for example, allow guests to sample the delights of the executive suites, which have exclusive access to the Club Lounge, including breakfast daily and evening canap\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

Again, it\u2019s about making that special extra effort that reinforces for guests your appreciation for them taking the time and effort to be part of such a milestone in your lives.<\/p>\n

Creating your own adventure<\/h2>\n

Every couple has a different vision for their ideal \u201cI do\u201d.<\/p>\n

For some, it\u2019s a traditional celebration, where guests gather mid-afternoon for the ceremony, followed by photographs, drinks and then a sit-down dinner that anchors an evening of music, dancing and fun.<\/p>\n

For others, it\u2019s less about formality, and more about creating a memorable experience where the wedding is the highlight, but not the sole star, of proceedings. Whatever direction your heart lies, modern wedding celebrations can be tailored to suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cLots of couples have different ideas of how their day will unfold,\u201d explains Jordan. \u201cSome may choose a traditional timeline where a mid-afternoon ceremony flows into an evening of celebrations, while others might choose to say their vows in the morning and then tuck into lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others may choose to say their vows in just an intimate setting and then hook up with their wider guest list for the reception, while some might choose to honour multicultural traditions, such as with Indian weddings, which incorporate multiple events across a roughly one-week span.\u00a0But that\u2019s just the start of possibilities.<\/p>\n

\"Rendezvous<\/a>
Image: Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe have one bride who is starting her reception here at 3pm and then finishing the night off at the nearby beach club later in the night as she has hired a live band as entertainment,\u201d Jordan says.\u00a0Others choose to expand their celebration beyond just the single day, curating a weekend of festivities, or longer, that draws on the hotel\u2019s location right on the beach \u2013 and in a cosmopolitan hub surrounded by restaurants and bars just 15 minutes from the CBD.<\/p>\n

This could cover everything from a day-after brunch at the hotel to a spot of surfing and swimming or even an afternoon of retail therapy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something that suits couples who might have a lot of guests travelling from out of town to attend,\u201d Jordan says. \u201cBut ultimately, it really comes down to each couple. Getting married is such a powerful and personal thing that it\u2019s about celebrating the occasion in a unique and authentic way.<\/p>\n

Each year \u2013 including May next year \u2013 Hotel Rendezvous Scarborough<\/a> hosts a wedding expo to link couples up with information and advice on all aspects of planning a wedding, from hen\u2019s nights and buck\u2019s parties through to \u201cI do\u201d.<\/p>\n

Between that, and the ability to customise packages for all sizes and budgets \u2013 from an intimate wedding for 55 in the Kitson Room to an elegant affair for 200 in the Mentelle room – it all harks back to one central tenet: \u201cIt\u2019s your wedding and you deserve to celebrate it your way,\u201d says Jordan. \u201cIt\u2019s about creating moments that are magical and also memorable, as you embark on your new life together.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40537,"template":"","au_article_tag":[804,392,393,138],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article\/40536"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/au-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article\/40536\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"au_article_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_article_tag?post=40536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}