Wandin Valley Estate Wedding, Lovedale: Two Real Weddings

I've photographed a few weddings at Wandin Valley Estate in Lovedale, and two of them have always sat side by side in my head. Both couples danced in the Cricketer's Pavilion and both ended up out on the cricket ground, yet the days felt quite different. One couple said their vows inside the barn among the wine barrels. The other stood under a big old gum tree with the vines and the ranges stretched out behind them.

So rather than tell them separately, I thought I'd walk you through both days together. If you're thinking about Wandin, it's a nice way to see how one estate can suit two very different couples.

A quick note before we start: Wandin is now owned by Doltone House, so wedding enquiries go through the Doltone House team these days.

A white lace wedding dress hanging on a wooden hanger against a white brick wall

The morning

Getting-ready time at both weddings was full of the people each bride loved most. For one couple it was soft lilac bridesmaid dresses, a lace gown hanging on the wall, and the people closest to her helping with the last buttons. The other morning was deep green dresses and red roses. The gown hung in a tree out on the lawn for a few minutes while the bridesmaids popped a bottle of bubbles and raised a glass.

I keep this part of the day quiet and simple. I'm mostly watching for the small things: a hand on a shoulder, a nervous laugh, someone fixing a veil without being asked. Those are often the photos families come back to years later.

One of my favourite moments from either morning came just before the ceremony. One bride was wrapped up in a long, tight hug out on the lawn by one of the most important people in her life, while another stood back and watched, smiling. Nobody had planned it, and nobody needed to.

A man in a navy suit hugging the bride in her gown and veil on a lawn while a woman in navy smiles in the background

Two very different ceremony spots

Wandin gives couples a choice of ceremony settings, and these two weddings used two of them.

The first couple chose the barn. It's an indoor space lined with stacked oak barrels, and there's a crystal chandelier hanging over the front. They had a timber arbour with deep red flowers, the groomsmen lined up along the barrels, and guests sitting close enough to hear every word. It's also the weather-safe option, which takes a lot of worry out of the planning.

A couple holding hands during their ceremony in a barn lined with oak wine barrels, under a crystal chandelier

The second couple went outdoors. Their ceremony sat under a huge gum tree, with a timber arbour draped in soft green fabric and purple flowers, colourful rugs down the aisle and wine barrels dotted around. Behind them were rows of vines and the ranges in the distance. The light changed through the afternoon, from bright sun to soft cloud, which kept things comfortable for everyone.

A wedding ceremony under a large gum tree at Wandin Valley Estate in Lovedale, with a timber arbour, bridesmaids in lilac and guests seated in front of the vineyard

The walk back down the aisle at the second wedding is one of those photos I love. They're both laughing, guests are cheering, there are petals on the grass, and the arbour and the hills are sitting just behind them.

A bride and groom laughing as they walk hand in hand back down the aisle while guests cheer

Portraits among the vines

This is where Wandin really helps me out. There's so much variety within a short walk: rows of vines, open paddocks, timber fences, stands of gums, and that long view out to the ranges.

With the first couple, we wandered through the vines under a big cloudy sky, then along an avenue of trees where her veil caught the breeze. With the second couple, we found a spot on the slope with the vineyard running up the hill and one of the estate's white buildings sitting at the top.

A couple facing each other and smiling among the grapevines under a cloudy sky

A bride and groom standing close in front of the vineyard, with gum trees and a white estate building on the hill behind them

I keep portraits relaxed. I'll give you a spot to stand and something to do, and then mostly let you be yourselves. A lot of the time I'm just asking you to walk, talk or have a quiet moment together, and the photos happen while you're doing that.

A bride holding a bouquet of red roses as her veil trails behind her in a row of trees

Cricket, of course

You can't have a wedding at Wandin without someone suggesting cricket. The estate has its own cricket ground, complete with a scoreboard, and at both weddings guests ended up out there for a hit.

At the second wedding, the bride picked up the bat herself, still in her gown, and took a proper swing while a couple of the groomsmen watched on. It's one of the most "them" photos of the whole day, and it's exactly the kind of thing I hope for: people relaxing, having fun and forgetting there's a camera nearby.

A bride in her wedding dress swinging a cricket bat at a ball on the pitch while two groomsmen watch

Reception in the Cricketer's Pavilion

Both receptions were held in the Cricketer's Pavilion. It's a beautiful room to photograph, with high ceilings, exposed timber trusses, chandeliers and big windows that let in lots of natural light.

The first couple went with long tables, white linen, candles and deep red flowers, plus a big arrangement on the mantel at the head of the room. The second couple's night felt lighter and breezier, with fairy lights overhead and plenty of soft greens and lilacs among the guests.

The Cricketer's Pavilion set for a wedding reception, with long tables, candles, red flowers, chandeliers and exposed timber beams

The first dance at the second wedding was lovely and unfussy. The groom twirled the bride, she laughed, and everyone around the edge had their phones up and big smiles on.

A groom twirling his bride during their first dance as guests watch and smile

For the first couple, we snuck out for a few minutes just as the sun dropped behind the trees. It didn't take long, but those few minutes of golden light gave us some of my favourite photos of the day.

A couple standing on a grassy slope at sunset in the Hunter Valley, with the sun bursting through the trees and her veil lifting in the breeze

Thinking about Wandin?

If you love the idea of vines, big skies and a bit of backyard cricket, Wandin is well worth a look. You'll find more photos from one of these days on my Wandin Valley Estate wedding page.

My packages and prices are all on my wedding photography packages page. If you'd like to check whether I'm free on your date, get in touch with me here. I'd love to hear about your plans.

Wandin Valley Estate wedding FAQs

Where is Wandin Valley Estate?

It's at 12 Wilderness Road, Lovedale, in the Hunter Valley wine country.

Who runs weddings at Wandin now?

Wandin Valley Estate is now owned by Doltone House, and the Doltone House team looks after wedding and event bookings.

Is there a wet-weather ceremony option at Wandin?

Yes. The barn is an indoor ceremony space lined with oak barrels, with a crystal chandelier. It's the spot one of these two couples chose.

Where are receptions held at Wandin?

Receptions are held in the Cricketer's Pavilion, which has high ceilings, chandeliers, exposed timber and floor-to-ceiling glass looking out over the vineyards.

Can guests stay on site?

Yes. Wandin has seven self-contained villas that sleep up to 42 guests, which makes it easy to turn the wedding into a whole weekend.

Is there time for sunset photos?

If the timing works on your day, I always suggest slipping out for 10 minutes or so around sunset. The light over the hills at Wandin is worth it.

Supplier credits

Venue, ceremony and reception: Wandin Valley Estate (Doltone House), Lovedale
Photography: Thierry Boudan Photography