In this blog post, you'll discover some useful tips for planning a stunning wedding on the picturesque Phillip Island. Positioned just 90 minutes away from Melbourne, this location boasts an array of remarkable attractions, making it the ideal weekend wedding destination. From dealing with weather conditions to securing your suppliers well in advance, I will cover all the essentials needed for an unforgettable Phillip Island wedding. Plus, I'll share the amazing wedding story of Gemma and Rahul's recent wedding on the island, highlighting their invaluable team of suppliers to assist you in planning your own Phillip Island wedding!

Plan for the weather - Phillip Island's weather can be unpredictable, so make sure to have a backup plan for any outdoor elements, such as the ceremony or reception. Make sure you love your indoor backup weather plan and that it works logistically for your amount of guests. It can be a little windy too so just be mindful if you’re having an outdoor ceremony and wearing a veil.
Book early - If you plan on getting married during the peak season, it's important to book your vendors and venue early to avoid disappointment. This is not just for Phillip Island weddings but for all Melbourne wedding planning.
Consider dates - keep in mind local activities that may affect traffic and also the costs of accommodation. Obviously, in summer you will see a lot more traffic and people on the Island so be mindful of this when allowing time to travel. Also, think Moto GP, the annual Ocean Sounds Music Festival dates, this will see an increase in costs of accommodation.
Book local - secure local vendors that have experience on the Island especially consider this for anything that needs to be delivered or set up as travel costs can increase if they need to come in from Melbourne. Gemma and Rahul booked in a lot of local suppliers for their wedding day take a look below for some inspiration including their florist, Morrie & Maisie and cake maker, Elaine’s cakes.
Consider accommodation options - There are many accommodation options on the island for you and your guests, so make sure to research and book early to get the best rates and availability. There are a number of group booking options as well as stunning Air BnB options. I’ve listed 5 below but there are plenty more.
Hire a Wedding Planner - A Wedding Planner can help you navigate the island's vendors and venues, as well as provide insider knowledge of the area. I’ve spent my summers here and my family use to live in Cowes for a few years so it’s a pretty special place to me personally. I’ve also helped coordinate Gemma & Rahul’s Wedding at Trenavin Chapel and their reception at Phillip Island Winery featured below. I’m now in the process of planning another wedding there in 2024.
Take advantage of the island's natural beauty - With its stunning beaches and coastline, Phillip Island offers a stunning backdrop for wedding photos. Make sure to plan your photo locations ahead of time and have this in your timeline for your photographer. If you want to have beach photos, work out the logistics of how you will get there on the day. Berry Beach is only a few km away in fact 3 minutes from the Phillip Island winery so I recommend planning in your timeline sunset photos there with your photographer and videographer. It also gives you a nice chance to share some one on one time together.
Plan for transportation - If you have guests travelling around the Island, consider providing transportation options to make it easier for them and allow your day to be seamless. Gemma and Rahul engaged South Coast Buses to help get their guests to their accommodation after their wedding reception.
Make a weekend of it- With so many things to do and enjoy on the Island, make a wedding website with local attractions that your guests can check out before the wedding and make a weekend of it. Or consider a post-wedding recovery brunch and lunch to celebrate further with your guests.

6 Accommodation options

Ramada Resort
Silverwater Resort
Five acres - luxury coastal cabins - I’ve personally got this one on my list and my bride, Gemma got ready here and the light oh, it’s a photographer’s dream!
Air bnb options
The Waves Apartments
Phillip Island Apartments

5 wedding locations

Phillip Island Winery
Trevanin Chapel - for ceremonies
Island Bay Ranch
The Shearing Shed*
Saltwater*

*I’ve personally not executed a wedding at these venues yet!

Gemma & Rahul’s Phillip Island Wedding

Images provided by - Single Soul Photography

Gemma & Rahul said "I do" outside Trenavin Chapel with the stunning Island as their backdrop. They had some gorgeous photos with their wedding party and witnesses inside the chapel post ceremony where their certificates were officially signed ✍️

This lovely couple were featured in Gippsland's Sentimental newspaper for a Valentine’s day special about Phillip Island Weddings.

Their family and friends celebrated with them at their reception at the Phillip Island Winery, and let's just say it was definitely a day full of love and laughter! Every little detail was perfect and the surprises along the way were unforgettable including the chicken that wanted to walk down the aisle. It was so great to watch all of their planning come together on the day.

Working with an amazing team of suppliers, we helped bring their vision to life. See below for their full supplier team.

Thanks, Gemma and Rahul for allowing us to be a part of your day!

How did they feel about my Coordination Service?

I always ask my couples what’s the main reason for hiring me to be on their wedding team to make sure I deliver, this was their why:

We wanted to have some extra help on the day, to aid in setting up and packing up our decor, moving things between our venues, liaising with vendors, and helping with creating our wedding day timeline.

This is how they felt about the Coordination service delivered:

“Emma, thank you so much! We are so happy that we made the decision to engage you as our on-the-day coordinator. Your advice, timeline skills & supplier coordination in the lead-up to the day was so incredibly helpful and made the final stages of the planning process that much easier. Having you there on the day to liaise with our vendors, and help with set-up (of two venues!), timing, and little problems that arose was invaluable. It meant that we could enjoy our day without issue. Thank you for everything!”

— Gemma and Rahul