The couples of RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort

The proposal

On our first-year anniversary, Tony and I decided to go to the RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort for a weekend away. Tony organised weeks prior with the in-house wedding coordinator a surprise proposal in the gazebo with a hidden videographer and photographer. The day was followed by a beautifully set-up picnic by the lake. With a breathtaking backdrop, Tony and I knew we'd look no further to host our wedding right there!

The planning

RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort was the only venue we viewed for our wedding and we knew instantly that we didn't need to look any further. It had everything we were after: spectacular views, beautiful decor, incredible food and the loveliest staff!

We instantly decided to set our wedding date a year after the proposal. Our dream wedding vision was to have our close and intermit family and friends celebrating our love in a beautiful weekend-away location where we could spend as much time with them as possible.

The wedding

Both Tony and I were raised Orthodox, so though we had decided not to get married in a traditional church by a priest, we still incorporated the Orthodox crowning into our civil ceremony to respect our upbringing.

Our wedding day fell on the AFL grand final. As we have lots of footy fans in our family, we decided to have a 1pm ceremony and have a private room organised with food and drinks screening the game to ensure we had their full attention during the times that mattered. It worked well for us as we took the opportunity to take photos on site with golf carts and off site at the Rochford Winery.

Our reception was beautiful, simple and romantic. It was a compilation of good food, speeches that made you laugh and cry, lots of dancing (even the traditional Serbian and Macedonian Kolo) and lots of love!

The details

The story

Scott and Kate Buchanan were married underneath the gazebo at Healesville Country Club on a beautiful sunny day in March. Kate said the day was perfect. "It's meant to be the best day of your life and it really was," Kate said. Scott, who comes from a long line of RACV Club members, picked Healesville for the style as well as happy childhood memories. "I think the building complements the scenery really well. I like modern architecture and nature as well and I think they complement each other."

Kate said Healesville wedding coordinator Nikita King made everything run seamlessly and stress-free. "She made everything easy. She reminded me of anything I hadn't thought of, and answered all my questions in all my emails."

Kate said the guests enjoyed the food, and Scott said he loved the steak and that any guests' dietary requirements were well catered for. The couple had roaming dessert canapés and a tiered cake made from cheese instead of a traditional wedding cake. "That was the best decision ever, it was nice for people who did want to sit after dancing but you weren't forced to sit down," Kate said. "We're not big cake eaters but we like wine and cheese and you like your wedding to reflect who you are," Scott said.

Kate said the florist did an amazing job decorating the room and the staff were attentive. "As soon as you'd ask for something it was there. Before the end of the night everything we asked for was in our room."

Kate and Scott plan to spend time at Healesville for each anniversary. "It's almost like a second home," Kate said.