If there\u2019s one thing wine makers treasure above all else, it\u2019s the vines that serve as the lifeblood of their estate.\u00a0So, when they willingly start pulling them out, you can rest assured it\u2019s for a very good reason.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s certainly the case for Rennae and Dean Rackley from Vue on Halcyon<\/a> in the Yarra Valley, who have pulled up hundreds of vines to make way for their new wedding chapel, opening in September.<\/p>\n The husband-and-wife team are among a global band of winemakers who have tapped into the growing popularity of winery weddings, which are already a favourite among the celebrity set.<\/p>\n As the second generation on the family-owned estate, it was their inspiration to open it up to weddings five years ago, and demand has risen ever since.<\/p>\n \u201cA winery is such a wonderful location for a wedding \u2013 just so beautiful and earthy,\u201d Rennae says. \u201cIt gives couples a real connection to nature hidden in among the vines.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s certainly something she can say with authority, since their own wedding was the first held on the estate, some six years ago.<\/p>\n They do admit it\u2019s made them a little biased, but the couple believe the perfect place to marry is on the rolling hills of a winery where \u201cyou can make your wedding toast with wine grown on the very soil on which you stand\u201d.<\/p>\n And hundreds of couples obviously agree, with a steady stream of inquiries about their eagerly anticipated\u00a0wedding chapel<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s another showcase of the popularity of winery weddings. And here are some of\u00a0the reasons why.<\/p>\n Rich dirt, open skies, colourful vines and the heady smell of nature… Mother\u00a0Nature certainly turns on the charm for a winery wedding. And there\u2019s\u00a0something very romantic about saying I Do in the midst of it all.<\/p>\n \u201cFew man-made spaces can compete with the beauty of nature,\u201d Renee says. In fact she\u00a0and Dean were so taken with the surrounds and stunning views across the\u00a0Yarra Valley<\/a> it seemed obvious they had to share them, first with a spectacular outdoor ceremony lawn and now with the chapel, which can seat 130 people\u00a0in pews and cater for 150 comfortably.<\/p>\n So important was it to continue the\u00a0theme, Dean designed the chapel with hardwood timber trusses and floors and\u00a0then added such accents as oak wine barrels and custom hardwood tables.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0nestled among the vines with plenty of natural light, so guests have a great view,\u00a0especially in spring and summertime when they can see the foliage,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the moment that tops all others \u2013 the arrival of the bride. And wineries offer\u00a0myriad ways to make this moment memorable. One common mode of transport\u00a0Rennae sees is luxury cars, however, she has a soft spot for a simple journey\u00a0on foot, where brides travel from the bridal suite down a specially created\u00a0path as anticipation builds. \u201cIt\u2019s such a beautiful moment,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cA bride always looks so stunning against a background of vines and grapes and it really makes for\u00a0beautiful photos. It also gives her a chance for reflection as she walks towards\u00a0her future. It’such an exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Another advantage of a winery wedding, be it at Vue <\/a>or somewhere in the\u00a0Bordeaux, is the chance for guests to simply relax and put their keys away for\u00a0the day. \u201cOne of the things couples find most attractive about winery weddings\u00a0is that they generally offer the full wedding experience,\u201d Rennae says.<\/p>\n It\u2019s about\u00a0keeping the wedding party, and their guests, together for the entire celebration.<\/p>\n \u201cGuests arrive, we have the vows and the beautiful ceremony, and then they\u00a0meander a short distance to drinks and canap\u00e9s on our 2.5m wide verandas\u00a0and cellar door before continuing on to the reception,\u201d<\/p>\n Rennae says. \u201cWith winery weddings, everyone generally remains together in the one spot for the whole celebration.\u201d The single location \u00a0means there is no navigating between reception and ceremony and guests can relax nearby while the couple shoot their wedding photos. Usually, they’re near enough to watch!<\/p>\n It’s something that earns\u00a0praise from guests, and it also adds to the ambiance for the bride and groom. \u201cIt\u00a0helps to highlight the special meaning of their day,\u201d Rennae says. \u201cAnd more than\u00a0anything, that\u2019s about being with family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Shots among the vines are a must-have for any winery wedding, but Renee says\u00a0a working estate offers myriad beautiful backdrops. Think cellar doors and a\u00a0sprawling array of breathtaking nooks and crannies just perfect for photography.<\/p>\n \u201cWe actually encourage couples to make use of the wider property,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s our driveway, which is lined by historic pin oak trees, our beautiful\u00a0grand gates, which have the property\u2019s name on them, lovely ornate lighting and\u00a0lawn areas as well. As you move between them, it\u2019s almost like telling a story.\u201d<\/p>\n And there\u2019s plenty of other ways couples can add inspiration to winery shots\u00a0as well, from using props, such as wellington boots, balloons and buckets, to\u00a0unposed images, where they walk and talk together and the photographer snaps\u00a0them at will.<\/p>\n Wineries often lie in the heart of communities noted for their food, which creates\u00a0a ready-made invitation to factor local produce into wedding menus. This can\u00a0be anything from cheeses, seafood and meats to vegetarian options.<\/p>\n Again,\u00a0it\u2019s something the Rackleys have eagerly embraced, from their roaming-style\u00a0canap\u00e9s to decadent desserts.<\/p>\n As Rennae explains: \u201cWhen it comes to weddings,\u00a0people head to the Yarra Valley as a destination, so our menu is highly driven by\u00a0Yarra Valley<\/a> produce.\u201d It also creates a great excuse to return to the Valley again\u00a0for an extended culinary exploration…<\/p>\n Since you\u2019re directly connected to your earthy surrounds, use the winery as\u00a0inspiration to feature rustic and autumn-inspired tones for your bouquet. Think\u00a0beyond flowers to incorporate such touches as real or artificial vines, which look\u00a0stunning, and also work perfectly as buttonholes for the gents.<\/p>\n What goes perfectly with wine? Cheese of course. And with cheese wheels\u00a0being so popular, a winery wedding is the perfect opportunity to replace, or\u00a0compliment, a more traditional cake with one whose layers boast flavours such\u00a0as brie or cheddar. Again, use vines or even grapes for decoration.<\/p>\n Everyone loves a wedding sign, so draw yours from nature with a series of\u00a0wooden signposts that blend perfectly into nature. These can point people to the\u00a0ceremony and reception, announce the bride\u2019s arrival, flag the dessert table or\u00a0even help direct people towards their assigned seat.<\/p>\n Corks aren’t just practical , they can also serve a pretty purpose. You can use\u00a0them to hold place cards or table numbers, stack them in a vase as a centerpiece,\u00a0arrange them around the levels of a cake or glue them together to form coasters.<\/p>\n \n Last, but most certainly not least, it goes without saying that guests who are\u00a0invited to a winery wedding expect a top drop perfectly matched to each course.\u00a0And it\u2019s a trend that is dear to the heart of Rennae and Dean who, like most\u00a0wineries, exclusively serve their own Halcyon Daze Estate<\/a> wines.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are\u00a0recognised for our boutique range of wines,\u201d Dean says. \u201cThis ranges from\u00a0a robust pinot noir and a handcrafted chardonnay to sparkling wine.\u201d<\/p>\n Other\u00a0popular options, depending on food choices and the time of year, include merlot\u00a0and cabernet sauvignon. And there\u2019s an extra benefit to a winery wedding \u2013 the\u00a0cellar door, which helps to create wonderful memories by allowing guests to take\u00a0home the same wines they\u2019ve been drinking.<\/p>\n \u201cThere really is no better place for a wedding than a winery,\u201d Rennae says.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd\u00a0it\u2019s not just because of the beautiful surrounds; there\u2019s just something very\u00a0special and intangible about forging that earthy connection as you make your\u00a0vows. It really does make for an unforgettable day.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11050,"template":"","au_article_tag":[206,633,448],"class_list":["post-34967","au-article","type-au-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","au_article_category-wedding-news","au_article_tag-rustic","au_article_tag-wine","au_article_tag-winery"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article\/34967"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/au-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article\/34967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"au_article_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_article_tag?post=34967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Mother Nature is your stylist<\/h2>\n
You can make a show-stopping entrance<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s all in a single location<\/h2>\n
There are terrific photo opportunities<\/h2>\n
You can showcase of local flavours<\/h2>\n
Floral fancies<\/h2>\n
Cheese cake<\/h2>\n
Signs of the time<\/h2>\n
Put a cork in it<\/h2>\n
Wine, wine and more wine<\/h2>\n