Better Shared at ALBA
ALBA By Kuruvita is in the business of bringing people together. Georgia Beard speaks with Karen Kuruvita to discover the venue’s event repertoire, including the recent launch of their wedding packages.
Since Peter Kuruvita opened his private, paradise-like venue just over a year ago, we’ve swept into ALBA for many a social gathering. The perfect intersection of sprawling lawns, cosy mingling spaces and banquet-style seating makes this venue an events destination like no other.
ALBA’s true sense of seclusion redirects our attention to the people around us, whether we’re meeting over the bar for cocktails or settling into long tables for multi-course lunches. The secret ingredient is connection – a simple, sweet and familiar aftertaste.
This year, ALBA served up a spread of corporate and charity functions, including the sold-out Vine & Dine event for the American Express delicious. Month Out Long Lunch Series.
A month later, the inaugural Katie Rose Cottage Hospice Forget-Me-Not Gala raised funds for hospice operations with canapés and cocktails under lawn marquees, live and silent auctions and live music with spaces for dancing.
The New South Wales Wild Caught Abalone Association chose ALBA and Peter Kuruvita to showcase their delicious, sustainable product in a evening of decadence and delight and when race day arrived, we partnered with the venue to host an opulent Lexus Melbourne Cup Lunch.
Luxury Lexus models rolled onto the lawn for display, Fashion Editor Carlie Wacker judged the vibrant winners of Fashions on the Field and large screens broadcast the race served with a three-course feast.
An undercurrent of connection can be found at every event. As ALBA draws us through the feature entrance to the sunlit restaurant space and out into the gardens, friends and strangers come together to share in comfort, cuisine and entertainment.
Co-owner and Marketing Manager Karen Kuruvita knows the right blend of environment and experience is crucial for guests to connect with one another.
She says the success of ALBA’s events depends on “listening to our clients’ wishes, working well with third-party suppliers such as florists, stylists, event planners, cross-marketing with partners such as .delicious Magazine and Amex in social media and suggesting quality local suppliers to interstate partners.”
When the event planning turns to the plate, clients can choose between a standard menu of crowd favourites or a bespoke menu curated by the Chef.
“Peter speaks with clients to understand their preferences, looks at the beverage package they have chosen and curates to these guidelines, working with seasonally-available local produce,” Karen says.
Culinary events aren’t the only settings where guests can enjoy each other’s company. They can also bond over a kitchen bench of ingredients as they create their own feast!
Recently, ALBA hosted Social Tap’s annual team strategy function, where the agency met for breakfast and coffee before gathering in the Chef’s Kitchen for a hands-on cooking class with Peter.
“Having an activity to focus on breaks down social barriers,” Karen says.
“Working as small bench-based teams inspires camaraderie and relationships and having a relaxed and entertaining teacher and host keeps things moving along smoothly with humour and fun.”
When these Team Bonding sessions wrap up, teams get to celebrate by dining on the meals they dish up!
After honing their approach to social gatherings and classes, Peter, Karen and the team are inviting guests to explore new kinds of connection as they embrace ALBA’s potential as a wedding venue.
“With a shortage of wedding venues in the popular wedding destination of Noosa, and the perfect wedding set-up and options ALBA offers, we are working alongside quality wedding planners and stylists to create a range of wedding packages,” Karen says.
“We have a beautifully designed venue with a neutral palette, surrounded by space, light and greenery. We know this would be a great asset for wedding planners and brides to work with.
“Our recent photoshoot with Simply Style Co., Willow Bud Wedding Flowers and Shae Estella Photo showed us the magic our space could create for the ultimate wedding.”
Karen says the venue is lush with indoor and outdoor spaces to create an ideal, comprehensive wedding set-up.
“You can host a ceremony on the lawn and make a seamless transition from ceremony to reception.
“We also have space to erect an outdoor marquee lounge area for after-ceremony drinks and canapés while the bridal party has their photoshoot in any number of nearby locations, and a large sweeping dining room with wired AV for speeches and room for the band and dancefloor.”
From industry events and charity fundraisers to teambuilding functions and celebrations among family and friends, ALBA knows experiences are better shared.
With another event offering now in their repertoire, we can’t wait to see the white tables more crowded than ever!
