IT WAS a day of 'firsts' day last Saturday, October 18, when a Tasmanian couple held their wedding reception at Cannonvale's newest function venue, The Palm House, at BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort.

The day marked the first wedding reception for the new venue, the first time the couple had been to the Whitsundays and the first wedding for the mother of three, Shananne Groves.

Shananne, from Launceston, Tasmania, knew she wanted a special beach wedding somewhere in Australia so researched her options online.

Discovering the Whitsundays, a place she and her fiancé Mark Leake had never been before, Shananne decided "it looked beautiful and it suited our needs".

Shananne was also in search of accommodation to suit all of the couple's family and friends, who were coming to the wedding from Tasmania and around Australia.

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort provided everything the couple were looking for, including the brand new function venue right on site.

"We had 41 family and friends and lots of kids so we wanted a location that was family friendly," Shananne said.

"Some of the wedding party drove up from Tasmania last week so have had a wonderful time in the Whitsundays in the lead-up to our wedding on Saturday."

The wedding ceremony took place on Boathaven Beach at 3.30pm before the happy couple and guests headed back to The Palm House for cocktails and the reception party.

Shananne said her beach wedding was exactly as she imagined "with the sparkling aqua waters as a backdrop". "We've had a fantastic time and helped create a special holiday and lifetime memories for all our family and friends as well - I couldn't be happier," she said.

The Palm House caters for wedding receptions for anywhere between 10 and 110 people, and the venue can be configured for other events and conferences, with seating for 170 people or 250 cocktail style. The new Pavilion with its tropical garden setting can be used for ceremonies or pre-dinner drinks.