A Day Down South: A McLaren Vale Wedding Destination
Ella & Ethan’s wedding day was located in the picturesque region in McLaren Vale, South Australia. This article speaks about my experience as a wedding photographer, capturing the wedding day activity from morning to night. You’ll see a collection of the best pictures, taken from the gorgeous cliffs of the sandy beaches in South Australia, to the beautiful venue that is Simon Hackett Winery in the renowned McLaren Vale Wine Region.
First on the agenda that day was the pre-wedding photoshoot. The bridal party and groomsmen joined us to take some beautiful snapshots before the big event. Because the wedding was based in the McLaren Vale, we ensured the different locations on the day were not too far apart.
I met Ella and Ethan in a beautiful, picturesque spot at Blanche Point, near Port Noarlunga. Being quite a popular spot, we had to navigate other couples taking engagement photos too! However it is popular for a reason, as the photos we got were absolutely stunning.
Surrounded by loved ones, we created some great group photos with the bridal and groomsmen parties. The colour palette chosen for the females in particular, matched especially well with the backdrop of the sandy cliffs – whether it was intentional or not, I’m not sure but it certainly looked good!
It was a beautiful, clear morning and the sun was shining down in the southern parts of SA, as you can see in the images.
The first look photoshoots always produce beautiful photographs. These are the ones that will last a lifetime, sitting framed on the living room shelf. I feel so lucky to be a part of such a momentous occasion!
Now moving onto the second location, the ceremony took place at Simon Hackett Winery, in the McLaren Vale wine region along the Fleurieu Peninsula. The ceremony venue was conveniently only a short drive from the beach photoshoot location taken place in the morning. Even still, it is only 40 minutes away from the CBD despite the feeling of being in a faraway dreamy place such as Tuscany…
Stone walls, clay work and large archway glass doors at Simon Hackett Winery, make the beautiful venue stand out and give a dated-romantic feel to the photographs.
After such a sunny morning, it rained in the afternoon just as the ceremonial parts concluded. We quickly grabbed some umbrellas, and made the most of the moment. I absolutely love the use of umbrellas in image below! It added something unique and fun to their moment of marriage, and the smiles could not be wiped off their faces.
Moving inside, the reception was held indoors at Simon Hackett Winery, remaining nice and close within the McLaren Vale region. The fairy lights adorned the entry way, whilst individual vintage style lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling, lit up the main room.
Below we see the bride had changed into her night-time reception outfit, a white mini paired with a red lip – matching the cherry on the cake.
Simon Hackett Winery seats up to 160 people for weddings and receptions, with the capacity rising to 220 if standing. This exclusively-wedding-only venue looks to be quite the gem in McLaren Vale – freshly renovated and new to the wedding industry. If you’re looking for wedding location ideas, the repurposed ‘Simon Hackett Wines’ labelled stone clad building and surrounding vineyards, with the picturesque rolling hills of McLaren Vale in sight, is for sure one to add to your wedding venue list!
Congratulations again on your beautiful marriage, Ella and Ethan.
It was an absolute joy shooting this wedding day for the beautiful couple here down South in the Fleurieu Peninsula, McLaren Vale wine region. I would love to do it all again – so if you’re looking to do something similar, don’t hesitate to reach out.
– Sabrina x
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