Just south of Adelaide, you’ll find one of South Australia’s most beautiful wine regions — McLaren Vale. With serene vineyards, stunning landscapes and rolling hills, and boutique spaces, there are lots of wedding venues in McLaren Vale that cater so well to smaller ceremonies or elopements. Plus, you’re only minutes from the coast, so for something unique, you could elope on the beach and then host your reception at a local winery.
Getting married in McLaren Vale is ideal for couples who value local cuisine and wine, love spending time outdoors, and are seeking a smaller, bespoke venue that they can personalise. Here’s why this stunning locale is ideal for small weddings —- plus, some of the best McLaren Vale wineries wedding venues to consider!
Why planning a wedding in McLaren Vale is ideal for intimate, meaningful celebrations
Some of Australia’s famous wine regions tend to cater to large, traditional weddings, as they’re home to huge cellar doors, but McLaren Vale is also home to many smaller, more boutique wineries.
With locally owned wineries that are ideal for a small ceremony and fun add-ons like food truck receptions, your wedding will be packed with rustic charm. McLaren Vale seriously delivers if you’re seeking a fun summer wedding destination that’s all about good wine and quality time with loved ones. However, many of these venues can book out over a year in advance, so plan as far in advance as you can so you can lock in your preferred space.
You’ll also find cute hotel and B&B options here. McLaren Value is less than an hour from Adelaide, which is convenient if you have guests coming from out of town. You can also tailor unique experiences for you and your guests, such as private winery tastings, a pre-wedding brunch at a local cafe, or a fun adventure activity like cycling or wine blending workshops.
These are my top choices for intimate wedding locations in McLaren Vale.
1. Simon Hackett Winery
@simonhackettwinery
One of the best things about a Simon Hackett Winery wedding is that they are McLaren Vale’s only winery that is solely dedicated to weddings! Without a restaurant or cellar door open to the public, your celebration will be all about you and your guests, and this beautiful venue always knocks it out of the park with intimate celebrations! Their wedding packages make it easy to plan, with fun and unique add-ons like cocktail-style pizza servings and a champagne tower.
Friday and Saturday weddings here have a minimum per person spend of 60 and 80, respectively, but they consider intimate weddings on request. So, if you’re flexible on your date, this is a great option!
This dreamy location is so bright and airy, with the venue’s ceremony spot right on the edge of a scenic vineyard, framed by rolling hills and bright blue sky, paired with a reception hall that can be easily customised, thanks to its whitewashed walls and exposed beam ceilings.
Wedding images at Simon Hackett Winery capture the idyllic beauty of the landscapes here, and we have a range of areas where we can shoot. I love the exterior of the main reception venue, with stucco and gorgeous archways, plus spacious vineyards and bushland where we can take gorgeous portraits, immersed in the natural beauty of South Australia.
2. White Hill Estate
@whitehillestate
If you’re searching for McLaren Vale wedding reception venues steeped in history, you just might fall in love with White Hill Estate. This family-owned winery dates all the way back to the 1840s and has a stunning heritage homestead that can sleep up to 16 guests, lush greenery (providing shade on those hot summer days!), and a casual, rustic vibe.
Say your vows outside, next to a natural spring, as ancient gum trees rustle in the breeze. Then your guests can enjoy cocktails on the lawn (with repurposed wine barrels as tables!), while we take your photos. With historic brickwork, lush green lawns, and classic rolling hills and vineyards, wedding photos at While Hill Estate are so romantic and memorable.
There are also a number of heritage buildings and structures on the property, which offer such unique backdrops for your wedding photography.
You can host your reception in the Chaff Shed, a red brick space dating to the 1850s and formerly part of the stables — with large windows, vaulted ceilings and twinkling fairy lights, this space is so fun and would be easy to personalise to your aesthetic. This space can host up to 80 guests for a seated dinner, making it a top choice for small to medium-sized celebrations, surrounded by history and nature.
White Hill Estate specifically caters to small weddings by offering bespoke packages for celebrations with fewer than 50 guests, so reach out directly to them for pricing and more details to find out more or to book a tour.
3. Mitolo Wines
@mitolowines
A Mitolo Wines elopement is always so romantic — and delicious! The Mitolo family migrated to McLaren Vale from Italy’s Abruzzo region in the 1950s and have grown this gorgeous winery into a top destination for Italian-style wines and cuisine.
With mountain views and an idyllic creek running through the property, Mitolo Wines is an amazing choice for a small wedding that offers elegance and style. They can host between 50-175 for a seated dinner, enjoying fine dining courtesy of one of the winery’s on-site Italian restaurants including Little Wolf Osteria, a popular local restaurant with a fresh, seasonal menu and complementary wine pairings.
There’s a gorgeous meadow just next to the vineyards for your outdoor ceremony, with gorgeous rolling hills behind you as your guests look on. This space also benefits from soft golden light in the late afternoons, so we can take your family or couples’ portraits after the ceremony and create images you’ll fall in love with!
The reception venue is a striking pavilion with floor-to-ceiling windows and glossy hardwood, rich in natural light and offering views of the Mount Lofty Ranges in the distance. Or, enjoy an open-air reception under an outdoor terrace, ideal for the warmer months.
With contemporary style and lots of natural beauty, Mitolo Wines wedding photography is chic, romantic, and elevated, capturing every beautiful moment as it unfolds.
4. Oxenberry Farm
@oxenberryfarm
One of the oldest settlements in McLaren Vale, Oxenberry Farm is a delightful property with rustic charm, beautiful lawns and gardens, and delicious farm-to-table cuisine. There are also three bed and breakfasts on site, with amazing hospitality and lux amenities — one was even awarded ‘Luxury Guest House of the Year for 2023’ in South Australia’s Hospitality and Tourism Awards.
As a wedding photographer, I think this venue is so dreamy and romantic, with several gorgeous choices for your ceremony. I love The Willow Tree, a lush green meadow where you can say your vows under the draping branches of a soaring willow. Or, the Daringa Garden space, next to a historic cottage, is a popular choice for smaller weddings.
Oxenberry Farm also is unique in that it offers ceremony-only packages, for couples seeking a gorgeous outdoor location and are planning a reception elsewhere. This package also includes time in the gardens and vineyards for your wedding photos, which I love.
There are tons of beautiful vistas for wedding photos at Oxenberry Farm, including historic stone cottages, which add a wonderful heritage feel to your photos, and Pedler Creek Lake, a serene waterfront locale framed by tall trees and bushland.
For the reception, both the Daringa Garden and the Winemakers Hall can host up to 50 guests, so I encourage you to book a venue tour and check out their range of spaces for yourself!
5. Barn 1890
@barn1890
If you’re curious about alternatives to wineries, Barn 1890 is such a beautifully unique McLaren Vale wedding venue. Barn 1890 is a heritage stone barn built in 1890 (of course!) but was hand restored a few years ago by a local couple for their own wedding, which is so sweet and romantic.
From a beautiful outdoor ceremony under the rustling gum trees to the soft pastel sunsets over the barn, your day here will be so magical, from beginning to end. And the barn itself is such a stunning space, inside and out, offering a trendy mix of rustic and modern style- imagine thousands of twinkling fairy lights, wine barrel cocktail tables, and a grand stone fireplace that’s so cosy on cooler nights.
Just outside the barn is a casual terrace space, with fun mismatched outdoor furniture, a great choice for your afternoon cocktail hour offering panoramic countryside views.
Barn 1890 wedding photos capture all the natural beauty of this spacious venue. The intricate textures of the multicoloured stones, towering trees, and beautiful blue skies will photograph so beautifully, creating quintessential South Australian images!
They can cater to smaller weddings well, with personalised plans that partner with local wine and catering vendors.
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I’m so excited to hear about your wedding plans! As an elopement and wedding photographer in South Australia, I know the gorgeous rolling hills of McLaren Vale well and would love to help plan your intentional, romantic wedding photography. Get in touch!
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