Meet Sarah and Rihannan our in-house wedding planners

Hello and welcome!

I’m Sarah, owner and one of the in-house wedding planners here at Pioneer Country. Alongside me is Rihannan, who shares the wedding planning role, so you’ll have the opportunity to work with both of us throughout your journey.

Pioneer Country isn’t just a Gold Coast wedding venue to me. It’s home.

The Sullivan family has proudly cared for this property since 1892, and hospitality has been part of our story since 1976 when my family opened the much-loved Smokehouse Steakhouse on the farm. In 1994, our beautiful chapel was built for my own wedding to Bruce, who travelled all the way from Yorkshire to call Australia home.

As a fourth-generation Sullivan, I’ve grown up surrounded by this landscape and the people who make it so special. I spent my childhood in the old dairy cottage, which is now home to my brother and his family. Today, several generations of our family continue to care for the property and welcome couples to Pioneer Country.

Before returning to the family business, I built my career in marketing, project management and event management, working throughout Brisbane, Melbourne, London and Shanghai. Those experiences taught me how to manage complex projects, solve problems calmly under pressure and deliver exceptional customer service. Today, I bring those same skills to every wedding we host.

Rihannan brings her own wealth of experience to our team. She has spent many years working in hospitality and events, developing an exceptional eye for detail and a calm, organised approach that couples quickly come to appreciate. Like me, Pioneer Country is also part of her own love story, having celebrated her wedding here in a wonderfully non-traditional style. She understands first-hand what it’s like to plan a wedding that reflects your own personality rather than following a set formula.

Whether you’re working with Sarah or Rihannan, you’ll receive the same friendly service, honest advice and commitment to making your wedding planning experience enjoyable and stress-free. We work closely together behind the scenes, sharing information and supporting one another, so you can feel confident that every detail is looked after.

At Pioneer Country, we only host one wedding at a time. That means our entire team can focus solely on you, your family and your guests, delivering the personalised experience we’re known for.

Food is another part of our story that we’re incredibly passionate about. Wherever possible, we source fresh produce from local farmers and producers throughout the Tweed Valley and Northern Rivers. Our paddock-to-plate philosophy allows us to showcase the incredible flavours of our region while supporting local businesses.

Our Gold Coast wedding venue offers the best of both worlds. Surrounded by rolling countryside, we’re just 10 minutes from Gold Coast Airport, beaches and a wide range of accommodation, making it easy for local and interstate guests to celebrate together.

More than anything, we want every couple to feel relaxed, supported and excited throughout the planning process. From your first inspection through to your last dance, our team is here to ensure everything runs seamlessly so you can focus on celebrating with the people you love.

We’d love to welcome you to Pioneer Country and show you why so many couples choose our private Gold Coast wedding venue for one of life’s most important celebrations.

Talk soon

Sarah & Rihannan