Kath + Mitch | Dark Horse Vineyard | Kevin Lue Photography
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My favourite Hunter Valley Wedding of 2023 was at Dark Horse Vineyard
Hands down, my FAVOURITE wedding of 2023! 🎉 I try not to pick favourites, but this one at Dark Horse Vineyard stole the show.
My first time at Dark Horse, and WOW – I instantly knew it deserved a prime spot on my ‘Best Wedding Venues in the Hunter Valley’ blog. This place is something else!
The wedding planning by the couple was utterly flawless. Kath + Mitch had style for days, high attention to detail and curated a top tier team of vendors. I joined forces with Sydney dream team: photographer Kevin Lue and videographer Alexander Li– absolute legends. World-class talents that left everyone in awe of their creativity and execution.
But here’s the real magic: the way the guests responded to my meticulously crafted ceremony was next level. They clung to my every word, even in the sweltering heat (major shout-out to those fans – lifesavers!). I was in my element, rocking the top of my game, surprising and delighting the crowd. (maybe that pre-ceremony whiskey gave me the edge 😉
I’d really connected with the couple, put in the hours to get to know them, and crafted a ceremony that was like a bespoke suit – tailored to perfection. And you know what? It all seamlessly came together on the big day.
I know it’s not cool to blow your own trumpet 🎺 but I’m bursting with pride for the role I played in their epic wedding.
Every magical moment from that day is etched in my memory, and I’m willing to bet the couple and the guests feel the same way.
Wedding Ceremony Rituals
Kath + Mitch were living in a world of blissful ignorance about ‘wedding ceremony rituals’ until our planning meeting. Some couples think they are a bit corny. But guess what? Not me! When done right, these rituals add a whole new layer to the ceremony, plus a dash of crowd participation.
The only hiccup? Kath + Mitch got so pumped about them that they wanted to throw in every single one. Hold your horses! While these rituals are a sweet bonus, they shouldn’t overshadow the main event: the love story.
So, we sat down and hashed out their laundry list. Back and forth we went – I love that kind of healthy debate with a couple. They were cool with me using my experience to help them prioritise. In the end, their ceremony had more rituals than any wedding I’ve ever done, but we nailed it. With some clever wording and strategic placement, it didn’t feel overwhelming.
Kath + Mitch wanted to shout out their parents, so we surprised them with heartfelt words and gave the moms a rose. Cue the touching reactions – it was heartwarming, to say the least.
Kath + Mitch, loving their guests equally, refused to choose just one person as their ring bearer. Instead, I hid the rings nearby, fun ensued and fate (and their mate Trung) took over.
Vows and a bottle of wine, sealed for a year. On their first anniversary, they’ll crack it open, get a bit tipsy, relive their vows, and reminisce about the epic wedding and first year of married life.
Mid-signing, we threw in a curveball – shots for everyone! A toast to seal the deal.
During the Group Photo, I led everyone in a ‘Pledge to Enjoy.’ A promise to feel the love, chat with strangers, make new friends, snap a funny pic, and use the #kathgetsmitched. Oh, and of course, to cheer during the speeches, dance ’til their feet hurt, and not complain about Mitch’s questionable playlist.
Kath + Mitch’s wedding was a ritual-filled rollercoaster that left everyone with memories to last a lifetime.
The Highland Cows at Dark Horse Vineyard are the Icing on the Cake
OMG, I can’t even handle how insanely fabulous this wedding was! Seriously, it was off the charts amazing! From the jaw-dropping venue to the mind-blowing florals and styling, everything about this Dark Horse Vineyard wedding was on point.
And let’s not forget the icing on the cake – the highland cows! They are the cutest, fluffiest creatures ever, adding an extra dose of charm to the whole affair. I mean, who can resist those adorable faces?
The bride was a total goddess in her drop-dead gorgeous gown. And the groom was looking so handsome in his tux. The love in the air was so thick, you could practically taste it.
This wedding was like a fairytale come to life, and I’m totally obsessed. I’m still drooling over all the pics! Can’t get enough of it, and I’m sure you can’t get enough either!
Vendors: Kevin Lue Photography | Alexander Li Films | Dark Horse | THDR | Kyha Studios | Food Thrills | Hunter Valley Bouquets | Sally Studio | Mane Events
Review from Kath and Mitch:
Julie was a fantastic celebrant for our wedding at Dark Horse Vineyard in the Hunter Valley! We wanted a celebrant that would help guide us through the process, make the entire thing as stress-free as possible and who we knew would smash it on the day – we had seen some celebrants of our friends mispronounce/forget the names of friends and family and were looking for the antithesis of that!
We also wanted someone we knew would be professional but still fun, down-to-earth and easy to work with. Julie fit the bill entirely – she was super organised, really detail-oriented and just goes the extra mile to make sure that you’re happy with the ceremony and that everything goes as smoothly as possible on the big day (with Plan B’s up her sleeve that you don’t even realise)! What we especially loved is that she helped give us non-traditional ideas to make our ceremony really unique and “us”. She was so great to work with and we would recommend her in a heartbeat! Thank you so much Julie!
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