Choosing a rustic wedding venue in Sydney (or at least within a 2-hour drive of Sydney) isn’t an easy task. Why, I hear you ask? Well, the answer’s a fun one – there are just so many good options to choose from! When you find yourself spinning out on locations, it can be difficult to focus on anything else. After all, your chosen venue is going to live forever as the backdrop in your wedding photos.
Are you going to choose indoor, outdoor, or a bit of both? Are you looking for a simplistic venue where you can add personal touches? Or something that delivers the ‘wow’ factor with very little work from you? There are so many factors to consider when scouring wedding venues near Sydney for your big day. The good news is that as a wedding photographer in Sydney, I’ve seen all of the beautiful rustic wedding venues NSW has to offer.
Here are the 10 most impressive I’ve seen that are within easy driving distance of Sydney. Enjoy!
Belgenny Farm
Camden’s Belgenny Farm screams rustic beauty. The property is over 200 years old, making it the oldest farm building collection in Australia. This versatile option allows you to add a touch of your own country-style elegance to your big day.
It has plenty of character everywhere you look which makes for amazing wedding photography if you want that country old world vibe.
Their resident event organiser, Peter Rowland, offers wedding packages for both large and small ceremonies. They accommodate 180 to 300 guests in the Granary Function Room and 50 to 80 in the Community Hall.
To make things easier, Belgenny Farms also has all-inclusive wedding packages. Leave everything to them and just show up ready for your big day ready to rock and/or roll, depending on preference 🙂
Growwild
Nothing says tranquil elegance like a field of wildflowers, and that is exactly what you’ll get at Growwild Wildflower Farm. This is one of the best barn and farm wedding venues the Southern Highlands has to offer. Couples can explore the unique and intimate landscape and find a ceremony site that suits your own personal aesthetic.
You could choose to have your wedding ceremony in the Amphitheatre which they have built or you could use the really awesome barn which they have if your wedding party is small enough to fit everyone in.
With such a picturesque backdrop, not only will your guests love it – your Sydney wedding photographer will be able to create absolutely stunning visual memories of the day.
If you’re looking for an intimate wedding of 50 or fewer guests, the Barn on the property is your go-to. If you’re inviting the entire group of family and friends, the Marquee is the way to go as it boasts capacity for up to 160 guests.
Centennial Vineyards
Rustic intimacy meets fine wine at Centennial Vineyards. The venue accommodates all-weather nuptials. So, whether you want to get married on the hottest or coldest day of the year, you can do it at Centennial Vineyards.
There is the lovely courtyard behind the venue if you prefer an outdoor ceremony or if you prefer a nice wam cozy fireplace in winter then you can have it in the main reception hall too. Not many venues have a wet weather backup option that could also be your first choice!
The main draw at Centennial is owner-chef, Robin Murray, who uses personalization and dedication to create a menu experience unlike any other. I was lucky enough to try the three-course meal with wine and all I can say it is nothing short of amazeballs!
To make your wedding stress-free and magical, the staff can take care of everything, making Centennial Vineyards one of the best country-style wedding venues NSW has to offer.
Seclusions Blue Mountains
Animal lovers rejoice! Seclusions Blue Mountains are home to several ‘Highland Coos’ and couples can get their farm wedding photographer to capture special moments with the animals. Along with their furry friends, the venue offers 20 acres of rolling countryside. The on-site cabins make your stay a breeze, while the Pavilion can host up to 150 people.
Their wedding packages take care of every detail, so you can enjoy the day stress-free. Wood fire heating and the vast countryside offer a boho chic vibe. It really is perfect for you if you want to have the barn and farm wedding of your dreams.
Gledswood Homestead
Fine wine meets country chic at Gledswood Homestead. The unique history gives this venue a more-than-meets-the-eye appeal, as couples can choose from three separate spaces for their nuptials. Up to 450 guests can take part in your big day – but if you want to keep things intimate, they have a space for you too!
The indoor and outdoor space of their Cellar Door room offers great views and an open fire. Luxury and elegance go hand in hand with this barn and country-style wedding venue.
Bendooley Estate
Bendooley Estate is arguably the Southern Highlands premier wedding venue that boasts majestic grounds in which couples and guests can celebrate country style. Literature lovers can enjoy the pristine and romantic Book Barn, which houses book-lined walls, beautiful wooden floorboards and tall ceilings. It is a one of a kind venue that is so unique and has that WOW factor attached to it.
Couples can choose from various ceremony locations across the grounds, and their meticulous planners help organise the wedding of your dreams. From the scenery to the menu, everything’s covered by the wedding planning team – all you have to do is kick back and pose for your bespoke wedding photographer with an idyllic backdrop.
The sunsets by the lake are pretty epic too, so make sure you remind your photographer to go out during golden hour and get those pretty sunset photos you’ve always wanted.
Bendooley Estate also have a sister property called The Stables, which is only a few years old if you want something rural glam and sophisticated. Make sure to check that out when searching for your perfect Southern Highlands wedding venue.
Wildwood Kangaroo Valley
Wildwood Kangaroo Valley is one of the best rustic wedding venues the Kangaroo Valley has to offer. The 100-acre subtropical rainforest is a little piece of paradise. The venue itself sits atop a sandstone bluff overlooking a lower valley, with this unique location offering breathtaking views of the elegance Mother Nature provides.
The ceremony location is perched right ontop of a cliff overlooking the entire valley which is absolutely stunning, and is perfect for that intimate wedding you have always dreamed of.
Wildwood Kangaroo Valley can host small and intimate or big and luxurious events. Their wedding planners understand that even the happiest time of your life has the potential to be stressful, so they’ve created an all-inclusive wedding package in which they take care of everything so that you can enjoy the time as you’re meant to.
Allview Escape
Allview Escape offers pristine landscaped grounds and magical views of the Grose Valley. Intimacy is the name of their game at this beautiful location and it’s one of the best country-style wedding venues NSW has to offer.
With the Allview Escape you get just that. A stunning backdrop to have your wedding day, but you will need to organise pretty much everything yourself. If you are happy to DIY everything from catering, ceremony styling then you will be rewarded with the most amazing day that is exactly how you’ve wanted it.
Of course, Malina the venue owner will have some great suppliers to help you plan your wedding so it’s not too difficult to manage!
Stay in one of their luxury cottages the night before the wedding to make sure you start your day with one of the most beautiful views in the country.
Parklands Country Gardens Blackheath
Couples looking for a full-service venue should look into Parklands Country Gardens Blackheath. The 28-acre secluded retreat offers couples a set-and-forget approach. With various wedding packages to choose from, you won’t have a thing to worry about (as long as your partner’s cousin doesn’t commandeer the decks at the reception…this happens more often than you’d think. Always watch out for the cousins!).
The picturesque grounds make for memorable wedding photos and even the best wedding photographers in Sydney will be blown away by this effortless backdrop.
The wedding coordinators work with you to create your dream wedding, giving you the creative freedom to make the celebration as unique as you are.
Collits Inn
At the base of Mt York lies Collits Inn. This 50-acre property boasts mountain views and paradisal forest settings. The attentive wedding planning staff makes the planning process seamless. Their rustic barn offers the capability to host up to 100 guests plus a bridal party of 12.
Their no-fuss wedding package includes everything you’ll need. Food, drinks, an on-site ceremony, and decorations are available to truly make the day your own. Accommodation for the night before your big day (as well as the night of) is also included in their package. Luxury meets rustic charm at Collits Inn in the best way possible.
And there we have it! If you want to have a country wedding in NSW that’s not too far from Sydney, then you’ve got more than enough to choose from. I’m here to help you select the right one for you, so let me know when you’re ready to rock and we’ll start planning the MOST FUN TIME EVER!
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