FAQ

The Old Shed where the ceremony is held, is completely weatherproof.

The Restaurant where the reception is held is completely weatherproof.

We are flexible, this can be discussed on your site inspection.

No approval required.

Security isn’t provided by the venue.

No.

Car parking for vendors and guests is available. Couples have the option to have decorations delivered and stored at the venue before the wedding. Space for your wedding cake will be available in our cool room the day prior the wedding.

The Restaurant Inclusions:

• Exclusive use of the waterfront venue on the day of the wedding, with early arrival on the day for setup.
• Support and development of a venue run sheet in the lead up to the wedding from our professional wedding team.
• A professional team to service your wedding from start to finish.
• Function manager to assist with catering and venue logistics.
• Use of fixed lighting and festoon lighting inside the venue.
• Bar set up, including staff and all glassware.
• Lighting over the garden
• 3 wine barrels
• Timber sideboard
• Cake presentations table and cake knife
• Thick paper napkins, cutlery, crockery and glassware
• Wooden A frame for seating chart
• Sonos music system, suitable for background music

Ceremony standing capacity: 200, Seated capacity: 120
Reception standing capacity: 200, Seated capacity: 150

Music must be kept at a reasonable level and bumped in/out at allowable times. Live music must conclude by 10:30pm and 10:00pm on Sundays.

Photographer: Seed & Salt Photography

Photographer: Maple & June Photography

Events Styling & Hire: Salt & Wildflowers

Flowers: Ellerslie Flowers

Videographer: Refined Visuals

Event Hire: Rosie Pose

Celebrant: Kirsty Laing

Music: The Funk Thieves

Wedding Makeup: Rocks Beauty Therapy

Wedding Hair: Saltwater Hairstyles

Wedding Cake: Jacksons Designer Cakes

Transport: Cavanagh Bus & Coach Service

Ceremony time slots: 11am or 4pm
Reception: Lunchtime 12pm – 4pm, Evening 5pm – 11pm

Event bump in is available from 8:00am the day of your event and must be completed two hours prior to the start of your event. Bump out must be completed by 8:30am the day following your event or as negotiated with The Garden Bar.

Last drinks 30 minutes before the end of the event.

There is no accommodation on site, we have recommended accommodation in our wedding package.

The following items are not permitted at your event – confetti, rice, streamers, poppers, glitter, and fireworks.

Yes

The restaurant has a SONOS system which is suitable for background music.

The Garden Bar & Kitchen is located, 1 minute off the Pacific highway in Frederickton, 5 minutes from Kempsey, 25 minutes from the beach towns of South West Rocks, Crescent Head and Hat Head, 35 minutes from Port Macquarie airport, 1 hour from Coffs Harbour airport.

There are 3 different bathrooms located inside the restaurant; men, women and disabled.

There are 3 different areas for the wedding reception; the main restaurant, the terrace with can be enclosed & the deck which has a roof but no walls. Most clients tend to use the terrace area for the band/DJ and dance floor.

Parking is available in the car park next to the restaurant and also out the front of The Old Cheese Factory.

The Garden Bar & Kitchen has disabled access via a ramp to the restaurant and also disable bathroom facilities.

Guests can mingle at the entrance to The Old shed or in the garden in front of the restaurant.

Event bump in is available from 8:00am the day of your event and must be completed two hours prior to the start of your event. Bump out must be completed by 8:30am the day following your event or as negotiated with The Garden Bar events team.

Ceremony furniture package $350

• Festoon lighting
• Registry table
• Set up and use of Wooden Hexagonal Arbour or White Triangle Arbour
• Hanging floral installation frame
• Set up and use of 30 x oak cross back dining chairs

The Restaurant Optional Extras

• White linen curtains $180
• Glass vases $3 each (40)
• Glass jars $3 each (10)
• Crystal candlestick $3 each (100)
• Brass candlesticks for bridal table $5 each (3)
• Linen napkins: dusty pink or burgundy $2 each (120)
• Hanging floral installation frame $50
• Oak cross back dining chairs $5 each (90)
• Trestle tables with white table cloth $2pp

Our events team are able to provide complimentary simple setup such as tables settings and place cards. These items are to be supplied at a minimum 24 hours prior to the start of the event with clear placement instructions.

More complex decorations will have to be installed by the client within our designated bump in times.

There is a fireplace in the main restaurant, 3 portable gas heaters, ceiling fans in the restaurant and a north easterly breeze which blows through our wedding venue.

Trestle tables with white table cloths are available for hire @ $2pp which seat 120 guests.

We only host one wedding per day.

A minimum spend applies, the rate differs between weekdays, weekends, lunch and evening receptions. Please download our wedding package to view the minimum spend rates.

If the venue is exclusively hired, our wedding space is completely private.

All staff will be provided, the number of staff provided is dependent on how many guests are attending. Staff include; wedding coordinator, bartenders, waiters, chef, sous chef, kitchen staff

Yes, you will have a designated wedding coordinator.

Approximately 1 staff member for every 15 guests.

Upon booking you will liaise with our events manager. One month prior to your wedding you will be introduced to your wedding coordinator. A meeting will take place at the venue to run through seating plan, run sheet, etc…

Yes, $300 per hour.

There are no hidden charges. A $500 security deposit will be taken, and refunded within 7 days after the event, providing there has been no damages or breakages by your guests.

The ceremony and the reception can be held in the same venue. Please download our wedding package.

The final balance is to be paid in full one month prior to the event. Outstanding costs incurred during the event can be finalised on departure.
Should payment not be received prior to the event, The Garden Bar reserves the right to cancel your event unless specific arrangements have been made otherwise, please contact our events team to make necessary arrangements. Owners and management have the right to debit your credit card for any damages incurred during your event. Should you have excessive glassware or tableware breakages, damages to building and furniture, or noise complaints you may be liable for these damages.

Public liability is included.
Cancellation policy: the deposit is non-refundable. The final confirmation payment one month prior to the event is non-refundable.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances out of our control we will postpone the event.

The deposit is non-refundable. The final confirmation payment one month prior to the event is non-refundable.

A $500 deposit is required to secure the date. This deposit is non-refundable but transferrable to another date.

One month prior the wedding date.

Restaurant (reception) venue hire: $1000
The Old Shed (ceremony) venue hire starting from $500
A minimum spend applies; venue hire costs, optional extras, food & beverage expenses can be attributed to your minimum spend.

This will depend on the incident.

Yes there are packages available, ranging from grazing tables, canapes and alternate drop style. Prices range from $52pp, please see our wedding packages for more information.

Yes, our preferred wedding cake supplier Jackson’s Designer Cakes.

Dessert options available:

Option 1 $15 pp (individual dessert)
Option 2 $7 pp (dessert platter)
Option 3 $4 pp your wedding cake served on a desert platter with fresh cream and seasonal berries.

The restaurant has a fully licensed bar. You may not bring your own alcohol, please see our beverages packages on our wedding brochure.

Once a deposit has been paid a tasting can be booked at the restaurant.

Yes there is fully equipped kitchen.

The minimum bar tab is $25pp. Other drink packages are available, which can be viewed in our wedding package.

Yes, the minimum spend amount is to be met. Otherwise, a higher venue fee will be apply.

All catering for food, drinks and staffing is provided and compulsory. Please see our wedding package for more info.

Food and beverage is provided by the venue.

Music to be organised by the client, either Spotify playlist for background music, band or DJ.

Photographer, florist, videographer, event styling & hire, wedding cake, celebrant, transport to be organised by the client.

The Garden Bar & Kitchen is situated in Frederickton, 5 minutes away from Kempsey on the Macleay River.

• The most optimal way to get here is by road.
• The Port Macquarie Airport is 35 mins away and Coffs Harbour Airport is 60 mins away.
• The Kempsey train station is 8 mins away from us.

Our preferred supplier for transportation is Cavanagh’s Bus & Coach Service.