We love private property weddings. They’re among some of our absolute favourite celebrations to capture. Relaxed, fun and full of deeply personal touches that make each and every special day so unique. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce you to Kahlie Woodford, Wedding Design Manager at Popup With Style.

Popup With Style is a Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula based planning and styling team that specialises in destination and blank canvas weddings. Think marquees, tipis, warehouses and outdoor weddings; you dream it, they create it!

As more and more couples choose to get married outside of traditional wedding spaces, we thought we’d quiz Kahlie on everything you need to know about planning a private property wedding. You can read her wisdom below.

What factors should you consider when deciding whether to have a private property wedding over a venue wedding?
In our opinion, the best reason to have your wedding on a private property is the opportunity to creatively assemble your own unique event. Many people think that having a private property event will be a more cost effective way to host a wedding, but generally speaking this is not the case.

Does the property need to have certain features to make it a successful wedding location?
We have brought together many stunning events on properties with varying features and at the end of the day the only MUST HAVE is enough flat land for your structure. Everything else (like power and water) we are able to bring in - but obviously, having access to these on the property already is a bonus as it will help keep costs down.

What do you book in first, where do you start?
Generally speaking, most of the couples we work with come to us with a property already in mind. We arrange to meet them there for an initial site visit, so that we’re able to develop an understanding of the requirements. At the same time we have an extensive meeting to discuss all of their thoughts and options.

What is the one thing couples forget most often when planning a private property wedding?
There are many small things that can be easily overlooked, but one thing that is important to consider is access for suppliers and the order in which suppliers will move in and out of the property.

What’s the most important thing to plan for a private property wedding?
With the previous answer in mind, it’s probably most important to consider access – for both suppliers and guests. Think about how people will move around the property. Giving thought to this early on will help with the flow of the day.

What’s your favourite thing about planning/styling private property weddings?
The opportunity to always create a unique experience!