Pop Up weddings - new and fabulous!!!

Feb 19
4 min read

A Pop Up wedding couple standing outside the venue on a beautiful summer's day. — Valentine's Day couple outside the Starling Homestead

A Pop Up wedding is a fantastic option for so many couples! Let me tell you why.

(All images from the amazing Chaznel Photography)

Jodie and Jae Starling, owners of The Starling Homestead just outside of Amberley, are offering couples the opportunity to have ALL the marriage magic without the stress of planning, pleasing others and being in a crowd.

What they are offering is something quite beautiful.

A beautiful table set up to enjoy after your ceremony and photos.

Starling Homestead 90 minute Pop Up weddings include:

their gorgeous venue, fully styled for you, with every detail thought of
a photographer to capture all the moments, memories and group photos
a celebrant who looks after the short and sweet ceremony and all the legal bits before, during and after
fresh florals – for the couple. Bouquet or boutonniere – whichever is your vibe. Beautiful florals on the ceremony arch
a delicious cake – eat on site or take it home to enjoy
time left over to spend with your guests – a refreshments station to bring what you would like to share, a fully laid table to sit around and chat, lawn games to play, or have a few speeches, a first dance… the choice is yours

The second Pop Up wedding couple walking out at the end of their ceremony. Beautiful florals. — Intimate, effortless, unforgettable.

The more I think about the Pop Up day recently held on Valentine’s Day, the more excited I get. Pop Up weddings suit such a wide range of clientele.

Don’t like a crowd:

If you are shy, introverted, experience anxiety, or are neuro-diverse, then a Pop Up wedding is for you. No guests, or up to 10 guests maximum. A short ceremony. You only have to be ‘on’ in a social setting for 90 minutes. Then you can go home to the peace and quiet and relax.

This is not your first rodeo:

It’s your second or third time getting married and you don’t want the ‘fuss’ of a large wedding. Pop Up weddings may be small in size, but they are all class. You can still get glammed up and celebrate with champagne and caviar if that’s your style. Select your 10 favourite people to join you and then maybe go on to enjoy a lovely lunch/dinner at a local winery, or host a BBQ at your place.

Young children:

You are a couple with young children. Yep, a Pop Up wedding is a winner in this case. A manageable time frame to keep children happy, relaxed and involved. The ceremony is short, and precious family photos can be captured afterwards.

A photo of the ceremony area at the Starling Homestead. A gorgeous courtyard with arch, bench seats and decorations. — A gorgeous ceremony area is all set up for you.

Finances:

Have other priorities for your money? Want to buy a house, travel, start a business, or simply survive current economic conditions…, but still want a beautiful day celebrating love and the luck of finding your person? Then a Pop Up wedding is for you. Super budget-friendly, without compromising in style, this is a winning option.

LGBTQIA+:

Don’t feel safe asking a whole bunch of vendors if they are inclusive when planning a wedding? Tired of coming up against discrimination (however subtle) for anyone outside of the hetero norm? Then Starling Homestead Pop Up weddings are your safe place. ALL couples are welcome.

Drama:

Family drama. I hear and read about this a lot. If family drama is getting in the way of you having a beautiful wedding, then book a Pop Up. It is not selfish to put yourself first. Love is a gift in life and deserves celebrating. So, invite the people you know will wholeheartedly cheer you on, focus on having an amazing time, and let go of the rest.

Just Us:

You want the wedding to be just about the two of you – private, personal, a forever memory made together without a minute of distraction. Our final Pop Up wedding on Valentine’s Day was just that. Just the couple. Jodie stood in as one witness, Chaznel the photographer the other. The couple exchanged heartfelt vows before us, exchanged rings, and shared their first married kiss. Magic. The cake went down well too!

My new love for Pop Up weddings:

In my role as a celebrant, I offer packages from the government $90 Mon-Fri Registry Ceremony right through to my $1,499 Platinum Package which sees me staying to MC a couple’s reception. During the last 16 years I have married close to 700 couples and witnessed a vast array of occasions.

Based on this experience, this is what I know. Regardless of guest numbers, or the scale of the occasion, a successful wedding is one where LOVE and CONNECTION are the focus. And that’s what I saw on Saturday. Three very different couples, who chose different things in the smaller details, but who ALL had an occasion of love and connection. Hence my newfound excitement for Pop Up weddings. They rock!

Don’t get me wrong, I have been lucky enough to witness many larger scale weddings that were beautiful in every way, because the focus remained on love and connection. Big doesn’t necessarily mean drama, or stress, or disconnect, but it does sometimes create the perfect storm for those things.

Now that I know how amazing a Pop Up wedding can be, I’m heading off to write a wee bespoke ceremony for The Starling Homestead Pop Ups, because I believe that next season they are going to FLY and I love being a part of them!