Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DO I MAKE A BOOKING?
Get in touch via the 'Contact' link and fill out the form with as much information as possible.
Please allow 2-3 business days for a response.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
After an enquiry is made, we will gather all the information required for your event and send you a quote for your picnic. From there, if you'd like to proceed, the deposit info will be emailed and the date will be placed on hold for 48hrs until the deposit has been made.
If any catering has been ordered, you will receive a separate quote and invoice from the team. All invoices will be sent out 7 days prior to your booking.
On the day, you will be sent a pinpoint location and image of the area for approval before we begin setting up (via text so keep your phone handy). This is usually sent out anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours prior to your booking depending on the size of your picnic. Please arrive to your booking on time and allow extra time to find a park.
We will arrive back when your picnic session is over and begin packing up. Please ensure that you do not leave the picnic unattended otherwise any stolen or damaged picnic equipment by the public will need to be charged or taken off your bond. If you'd like to leave early, please let us know in advance (minimum 1 hour notice) and we will confirm if it is possible depending on our schedule on the day.
No cleaning or rubbish removal is required.
DO YOU OFFER CATERING WITH YOUR PACKAGES?
Yes, we do offer catering however we don't include this in the package pricing since some people prefer to organise their own catering. You can view the Catering Menu here. If you would prefer to bring your own catering and would like it to fit in with the rest of the picnic decor, you'll be able to find a list of catering props under ‘packages’ then ‘additional props’.
HOW MUCH NOTICE DO YOU NEED FOR A BOOKING?
Minimum 1-2 weeks is required to process larger bookings, however we welcome last minute bookings with minimum 5 days notice. Please get in touch to check last minute availability. Bookings including catering must be placed 1-2 weeks in advance.
DO I NEED TO PAY A DEPOSIT ON MY BOOKING?
Yes, a deposit will need to be placed to secure your booking. We can hold the date and time slot for 24-48 hours however after this period, it will be opened up again for customers to book in. The only time you won't be required to pay a deposit is if your booking is made within 1-2 weeks of the picnic. In this case, an invoice will be sent out within the week.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S LAST MINUTE CANCELLATIONS?
Final RSVP's must be emailed 7 days prior (deadline is 12pm) to your booking. Any last minute cancellations from guests must be covered by the person booking the picnic. No adjustments can be made to invoices once it's been sent out.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO RESCHEDULE MY BOOKING?
If due to unforeseen circumstances, the booking can be moved to another date. This includes rainy weather if no back up locations are available. You will not lose your deposit.
If you're wanting to reschedule (within 48 hours of the picnic) due to change of mind AFTER the deposit has been placed, you will need to forfeit the deposit and pay a separate deposit on the new date you would like to move it to.
If you're wanting to reschedule (prior to the 48hr window of your picnic) due to change of mind AFTER the deposit has been placed, your deposit can be credited and used within 12 months for another picnic booking.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT WISH TO RESCHEDULE AND WOULD LIKE TO CANCEL MY BOOKING? DO YOU OFFER REFUNDS?
No. We do not offer refunds however we're very understanding and flexible if life gets in the way and you would like credit to use within 12 months.
Please refer to the question above.
WHY HAVE I BEEN CHARGED A BOND FEE?
A bond between $50-$100 (depending on the size of the picnic) will be included in the invoice to ensure all our items come back in its original condition. This charge will be refunded between 24-48 hours post picnic once all the inventory has been counted/cleaned and no damage has occured. Please be aware that during peak seasons, this may take a little longer than expected. Your patience is highly appreciated since this is done manually on our end. You will be responsible for providing the bank details via email so we can process the refund as soon as possible.
DO YOU HIRE OUT INDIVIDUAL ITEMS?
Yes we offer individual hire of our plates, glassware, cutlery and other table props. At this stage, the rugs, cushions and other picnic items can only be hired as a picnic package. You can also select 'Custom' when making an enquiry and list the items that are needed for your event.
DO YOU ALLOW OVERNIGHT HIRES?
We only offer overnight equipment hire of our individual/additional prop hire. All other equipment must be returned at the end of the booking.
DO WE NEED TO ORGANISE A PERMIT OURSELVES?
Yes. If a permit is needed, you will need to contact the council and fill in the application form yourself. Please keep in mind that most councils require minimum 2-4 weeks notice.
WHEN WILL PERMITS BE REQUIRED?
Each council is different. For example, Port Phillip Council (St Kilda, Elwood, Albert Park etc) will require a permit fee for over 20 guests. Yarra Council and City of Melbourne parks only require a permit if it is over 50 guests. The royal botanical gardens will require a permit regardless of how many guests attend since they're considered a private garden and commercial use of this space is prohibited.
CAN I LEGALLY CONSUME ALCOHOL IN THE PARK?
It's legal to BYO alcohol in City of Melbourne parks if the event is for under 50 people. Always best to double check with your council if you're planning on having a picnic in a smaller local park.
DO WE HAVE TO STAY FOR THE FULL FOUR HOURS?
No you can request for a shorter picnic session when submitting your booking enquiry. If you're wanting to leave early on the day of the picnic, this must be communicated in person and cannot always be guaranteed if there's multiple bookings that day. Pricing will not be adjusted for a shorter session.
T&C’s
Picnics are charged per person. This means you will need to book in for the exact number of guests attending the picnic to ensure the appropriate amount of time is allocated for staff to clean up after your event.
We cannot process refunds for bookings due to change of mind. Please consider your booking carefully before placing a deposit and/or paying for the final invoice. We're happy to provide you with credit for you to use anytime within the next 12 months. Please have a read through our FAQ above which has further information on rescheduling/cancelling bookings.
Please arrive to your picnic on time. We schedule in our picnic bookings back to back which means we must charge a fee if you're over 30 minutes late. If you're 30-60 minutes late a $30 fee will be taken out of your bond. If you're over 60 minutes late, a $50 fee will be taken out of your bond. We understand if something unexpected happens, however you must communicate this with us as soon as possible so we can notify our other bookings. Late fees may be waived in special circumstances.
If you would like to depart the picnic early, this must be organised in advance. Please do not leave the picnic hire items before we arrive. If any of the hire items are destroyed or stolen by the public, the cost of these items must be covered by the customer (if the customer decides to leave early without notifying us).
Please respect the beautiful parks and gardens in Melbourne/regional Victoria. Please ensure you're not littering while enjoying our picnics. Recycle, general waste and compost bins will always be provided with picnics over two people.
We are extremely understanding if little spills occur during the picnic. We do our best to get stains out however please be aware if excessive damage and stains occur during the picnic, you will either lose 100% of the bond or just a portion of the bond.
Please try and be as environmentally conscious as possible. The owner of The Melbourne Picnic Girl began this company to bring her vision of beautiful and sustainable events to life. We provide everything you need to limit the amount of disposable items and single use plastics you throw into landfill (eg: Plastic plates, plastic cutlery, small plastic bottles of water etc.) Water is always provided with every picnic.