Planning a Wedding in Northern Territory

It's true that Northern Territory is the most sparsely populated division of Australia-but you can still find the pulse of fashion in many of it's towns to plan a wedding that will give you the memories of a lifetime.

Darwin is the largest city of the region, but with about 120,000 people it's still the smallest capital among all the territories and states in Australia.  This allows it to retain a provincial feel to it, and with the average youthfulness of the population as well as cultural diversity, there is a sense of creativity and freedom of expression among its vendors. Expect a warm tropical climate all year long.

The central business district features a wide variety of stores where you can choose a bridal gown, veil, and shoes. Your fiancé can hire a tux.  There are places to look at bomboniere, stationery, floral creations, and wedding reception decorations and supplies.  You'll also find several open-air markets with jewellery and other interesting pieces, many of them fine examples of aboriginal art that you might wish to incorporate into your reception.

If you're assembling only yourselves and immediate family, consider a catamaran charter through the warmth of the Darwin harbour waters.  Take your vows with the expanse of ocean ahead of you where it kisses a vibrant sky.  Arafura Sailing Adventures accommodates parties of up to a dozen people, and you can hire their caterer or bring your own.

For something larger, you can choose the George Darwin Botanic Gardens as your locale.  Within it are the Wesleyan Church, the Coconut Grove, the Heritage or Holt Lawns, and a spectacular fountain.  Park personnel will make this a red-carpet event for you, and imagine arriving there in transport from Darwin Mini Coaches, who offer a silver coach especially for wedding parties.

Decide on an indoor wedding by booking a venue through the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory.  Darwin's rich history leads you to choices like the Fannie Bay Gaol, or the Colin Jack-Hinton Maritime Undercroft, a concrete shelter that overlooks the bay.  There's also Lyons Cottage, a colonial-style bungalow that presents a view of the harbour.

About an hour-and-a-half south of Darwin you'll come to Batchelor, the small town that's the gateway to Litchfield National Park.  This enormous paradise encompasses most of the Tabletop mountain range with its spectacular cliffs.  There are also numerous sites with breathtaking waterfalls and water cascades, especially during the monsoon months of October through May.  You'll bind awe-inspiring backdrops for your wedding vows in these magical places.

Take a jaunt due southeast of Darwin for about four hours to reach the small town of Katherine.  There you'll find the spectacular Nitmiluk National Park, rich in culture and colors, including native rock paintings.  The Katherine Gorge offers solemn, tall rock formations towering over placid blue waters as well as lush rainforest.

All in all, Darwin is the population center of the Northern Territory, although it has many planned outlying communities such as Palmerston and Katherine.  You'll find that the officiates, live music entertainers, wedding DJs, florists, photographers, videographers, and most of the professionals you need to celebrate your wedding will travel to your venue.  In a place pulsating with color, culture, history, youth, and expression, you'll take your first step into a new lifetime.