If you’ve found your way here, you’re likely starting to plan your wedding and are looking for the best wedding venues in Australia. But not just the best. You’re searching for venues that match your fine-art wedding style: soft, light, romantic, elegant… 

As a fine-art wedding photographer, I know how impactful a venue can be on your images. Finding one with gorgeous natural light and a classic aesthetic is ideal for a fine-art wedding. Fortunately, Australia has a few gems I recommend. 

In this post, I highlight my favourites in the Hunter Valley region – an area popular for wine-growing and chock full of treasures for foodies, nature lovers, and art gallery goers. 

I’ve chosen the following venues for their refined atmosphere, natural lighting (indoor and outdoor), awe-inspiring backdrops, and fine-art elements (open spaces, neutral colours, intentional design).  

So, grab your favourite glass of wine, and let’s take a tour!

Hunter Valley Wedding Venues

Redleaf Wollombi – If you have Italian wanderlust but find yourself within the Australian countryside, Redleaf Wollombi is your dream venue come true. Imagine immaculate gardens, dreamy light, lavender fields, and pencil-pined lawns where you exchange your personal vows. Alfresco dining sets the mood for an elegant reception. And up to 12 guests can stay inside the villa overnight.

See the styled wedding editorial featured on Style Me Pretty for a sample of my work at this beautiful location.

Krinklewood Estate – A unique French-inspired biodynamic estate, a hidden gem in the Hunter Valley. This is one to see in person, If you think the photos are beautiful wait for the feeling that overwhelms your body while you walk around its thoughtfully tendered gardens. With views looking at the brokenback mountain range.

Imagine the day after your wedding, sitting around the pool yard with your nearest and dearest while sipping on your favourite summer cocktail. Krinklewood has it all and is proudly Certified Organic and biodynamic for 17+ years. You can stay on-site in the French colonial-style main house and also utilise their newly built eco-cabins for the ultimate wedding experience. Immerse yourself and your guests in an unforgettable experience.

Greystone Estate – Where modern elegance and luxury meet the country. This spectacular venue hosts an incredible landscape of 10 acres comprising high-end luxury accommodation facilities for up to 32 guests. No need to worry about wet weather. Greyston offers an air pavilion for your ceremony backup plan or choice for your dream ceremony with large cathedral ceilings and white walls for a blank canvas so you can create your dream fine art aesthetic. It’s yours and yours only. With the entire property booked for your wedding, the options are endless for rehearsal dinners and recovery brunches.

Palladio Arcadia – The Palladio is a new venue on the outskirts of the Hunter Valley. It’s the kind of place that you take one look at and fall in love with. The main house is an Italian-inspired villa that sits on acres of lush green. The European gardens beckon newlywed couples for first-look photos. And the Monet lily pond makes for a lovely fine-art backdrop. 

Chapel Ridge – If you’re looking for a unique and secluded venue that’s both luxurious and rustic, Chapel Ridge may be “the one.” This sandstone and glass chapel sits on 130 acres of countryside and was built specifically for special events. When you book the chapel, you have it all to yourself and everything on the grounds – including an Alice in Wonderland hedge maze and lawn chess board. The chapel’s massive glass front and artistic windows add to the fine-art feel. And you can’t beat the light that pours through them! 

Wallalong House – Here we have a historic beauty with many incredible spots for unique photos. Everywhere you look is a feast for the eyes, and the imagination runs wild with possibility. There are lush gardens, an old cobblestone stable, a sandstone cellar, ancient fig trees, antique daybeds, industrial chairs, a poolside marquee lit with chandeliers…the list goes on. Take a look at their gallery for some fine-art inspiration. 

Spicers Guesthouse – The event spaces at Spicers Guesthouse have “bright and airy” written all over them. The Lovedale Pavilion is a beautiful building with large glass doors and windows on either side. The white spaces and clean aesthetics make it simple to work with from a design point of view. Charming outdoor garden areas and the main Mountain View Lawn are perfect places to tie the knot and capture portraits. 

Chateau Elan – The Chateau is a lovely location to host a weekend getaway for all your guests. Everyone can stay onsite, relax, and enjoy the experience. There are several ceremony and reception areas to choose from, each with a European feel. The Carriage House is a charming sandstone building perfect for an indoor ceremony and an al fresco reception. The Founders Room offers spacious, elegant interiors and a dance floor if you want something a little grander. And no matter where you stroll outside, the view is always spectacular. See the wedding I captured for this couple at Chateau Elan.

Dark Horse Vineyard – Dark Horse is a 25-acre private vineyard featuring two beautiful custom-built barns exclusively for events and accommodation. Located in gorgeous Lovedale, it is right in the heart of the Hunter Valley. The Barn House is Exclusively yours over the two nights of your celebrations and sleeps six. Just steps away from The Stables event venue. Dark Horse is perfect for hosting an all-onsite wedding experience for your guests.

Have any of these venues caught your eye? They’re all so wonderful! And they pair perfectly with the fine-art photography style I’m experienced in. I’d be happy to talk to you about your wedding photo goals – and gush about these venues! Contact me, and let’s talk fine art.