Ōrākei Bay couples enjoying their first course.
Think about the best weddings you've been to.
Chances are, the food is part of the story. The long shared table, the first round of drinks, the point in the night when everyone's sat down, glass in hand, and the conversation really starts.
For us, food is the heart of the day. So we didn't want our couples to wait until their wedding to find out what that feels like. That's why we created Palate.
What is Palate?
Palate is our wedding menu tasting evening at Ōrākei Bay, on the water in Remuera, Auckland. On Sunday 11 October, we hosted the first one: a night of delicious food and wine looking out over the bay, for couples who'd booked with us and couples still deciding on their venue.
Kai with care, the main course served as family style sharing plates.
A chance to try it before committing
Most of us choose a venue from a sample menu, an Instagram grid and a quick walkthrough on a weekday afternoon. It's a big decision to make on so little information.
Palate gave couples the real thing. They sat at the table, ate what their guests will eat, and watched the evening light come in over the basin. For those still comparing wedding venues in Auckland, it was a great way to work out if Ōrākei Bay was the right fit for them.
Everyone brought their favourite people
Planning a wedding is a group effort, so couples came with parents, best friends and bridal parties in tow. For many, it was the first time everyone had sat around one table and started to picture the day together.
The room was set the way a wedding here would (or could) be. Candles glowed down the tables, the trees outside were lit up as the sun went down, and live music carried through the evening.
What was on the menu
A drink on arrival
Canapés
A family-style dinner, shared down the table
Petit fours and tiramisu to finish
Everything was cooked by the amazing Collective Hospitality, the team behind the food at every Ōrākei Bay wedding.
Meeting the team behind the day
Great food is only one part of it. The rest comes down to the people serving it, looking after guests and keeping the day running so the couple doesn't have to think about it.
Palate gave our couples time to get to know them over dinner, talk through dietary requirements, and meet the people they'll be trusting with their day.
Thank you
To every couple, family member and friend who joined us, thank you for making the first Palate such a special night.
If you'd like to experience Ōrākei Bay for yourself, book a viewing with us, we’d love to show you around!
The vendors
Photographer: I Do Photography
Entertainment: Aaron Bloomfield
Florals: The Floral Stylist
Furniture: Lucy's Events
Tree uplighting: Edwards Sound
Furniture & equipment: Insphire
Candles: The Sand Candles
Catering: Collective Hospitality
Venue: Ōrākei Bay
Ōrākei Bay waterside lawn, as the sun goes down.
