With sweeping vineyard views from the paved terrace bordered by landscaped gardens and the character sandstone barn, family owned and run Golding Wines boasts a wonderfully distinctive and rustic setting for celebrations or just a lazy Sunday afternoon sipping wine at the cellar door (accompanied by a slice or two of their crusty wood oven pizza, of course).

And even though every wedding that I have been a part of there looks like it's been ripped from the pages of a magazine, they also run incredibly smoothly. Their Events Manager, Sarina Jenkins, is in the business of making dreams come true. Sarina and her team's attention to detail (like having a staff member ask the groomsmen to empty their pockets just before the ceremony starts so their mobile phones or keys are not unsightly distractions in the photos) and professionalism week after week is what really sets Golding Wines apart.

Hi Sarina, thanks for taking the time to have a chat with me. So to get us started, what were you doing before Golding and how long have you been here?

“I was working for a corporate events and project management company and I have been at Golding Wines for 3.5 years now.”

And what kind of weddings do you and the team at Golding Wines specialise in?

“Our drive is to create unique and personalised weddings that express the personalities of the couple.”

Many of my favourite ceremonies have been performed at Golding. Do you have any weddings that stand out for you?

“It’s hard to choose just one wedding or ceremony in particular that stands out, as they are all so different."

"Sometimes it’s not always about whose wedding dress was the most stunning or whose ceremony was the most lavish; it’s the connection between the couple that you are honoured to share and experience. The one ceremony that did stand out for me was a couple whom had defied the odds, and survived cancer. It was a simple setup, but perfect weather and the emotion and raw connection you could feel between them was amazing.”

Okay, so what should couples be looking for when they are choosing their wedding venue?

“The venue has to feel ‘right’ and it’s ideal if it gives you goose bumps. I think that it’s important that the venue ‘ticks the boxes’ that you value most highly; for example, wine and service or venue appearance and food. Every venue has their strengths and weaknesses.”

What sort of trends have you noticed?

“Wedding trends have changed a lot over the last 3 years; from vintage bottles, to lavish hanging flower installations. Chair covers are old century (thank God) and hired alternative and stylish furniture is very ‘in’.”

What do think the most common misunderstanding about your job?

“That I have the most exciting and lavish job and it is fun and easy. (laughs) But it can be stressful at times and a lot of hard work - both physically and mentally.”

Would you rather trade it in for life as an accountant?

“Well, I am actually rather good with numbers and budgets, as you do use those skills quite a bit in my job. But I don’t think I would last very long sitting at a desk 24/7, so probably not.”

What do you want couples to know?

“That we know you have been planning and waiting for your wedding for your whole life and we are here to help you, but to please listen to us when it comes to the logistics of the day, timings and staff etc. We have the experience to ensure that the day runs as smoothly as possible. When your special day finally arrives, it can look amazing (and usually does!) but it’s the experience itself that your guests will remember.. and that’s where we excel.”