If you love the idea of beautiful autumn leaves, a warm toasty fire and some nice quality reds, a winter wedding in Adelaide may be just the thing for you. There are also some great financial reasons to consider a winter wedding – with venues quieter, couples can often take advantage of greater availability with some generous rates.

The Adelaide Hills has to be one of the first areas couples turn to when planning a winter wedding or elopement, and while they have their fair share of stunning winter locations, there are actually plenty of venues dotted across South Australia that offer a warm and cosy atmosphere for a winter celebration!

If this all sounds good then read on because venue selection for a winter wedding is tremendously important, so we’ve put together a list of our favourite winter wedding venues (beyond the Adelaide Hills!).

You might be surprised to hear there are actually quite a few, so we’ve divided our list of favourites by location to make things a little easier!

ADELAIDE & SURROUNDS

The city isn’t the location that you would normally think of when it comes to winter weddings, however Adelaide does in fact have a few great venue options to keep you and your guests warm (and dry!).

1. Chateau Apollo

For chic hipster warehouse vibes, Chateau Apollo is a great choice. They have a year-round indoor ceremony space, along with two open fireplaces in Roxie’s where guests can enjoy pre-dinners fireside.

2. Glanville Hall

Coastal venue Glanville Hall has complete indoor options for a winter wedding (fully heated and no need for extra blankets) as well as marquee options, and they even offer a free indoor backup for ceremonies!

3. Hard Days Night

The funky outdoor space at Hard Days Night is best suited to dry days, so winter weddings can be catered for with outdoor heaters, or in the event of rain, there is a backup ceremony space in their Lennon Lounge and they can fit up to 110 inside the venue space.

4. Hotel Richmond

The classic Hotel Richmond and her art deco features is a beautiful and convenient venue for a winter wedding, and being an indoor venue you’ll never need an inclement weather plan!

5. Jackson Square

A large warehouse venue on the skirts of the city, Jackson Square couldn’t be more ideal for a winter wedding with plenty of space indoors for a backup ceremony area. Alternatively, if the day is going to be dry, their garden courtyard space is the perfect spot for your I do’s.

6. Peter Rabbit

While winter weddings in the city might not be your first choice, trust us when we say places like Peter Rabbit really shine, even on gloomy winter days. This urban venue has plenty of charm and warm fire pits to keep your guests warm.

7. Sfera’s

Head a little further north and you will find Sfera’s, a one-stop winter wedding shop, with spacious grounds, three fully indoor function spaces, a dedicated indoor ceremony space and accommodation as well. The Paradiso Cocktail Bar is perfect for pre-reception drinks, and guests can spread out to the undercover balcony. And for those couple portraits, there is a stunning creek right outside the venue in Civic Park.

8. The Coach House

Glanville Hall’s baby sister space, The Coach House is a stunning rustic indoor space which can double as a great ceremony backup and they have cosy fire pits available for receptions.

9. Winwood Garden

Winwood Garden’s Pavilion fully encloses creating an “indoor” space in their garden and is lined with heaters, creating a really warm space. Dependant on guest numbers, the Pavilion space is a beautiful back up during wet weather. It boasts a beautiful pitched roof, and gable window above our timber french doors. Alternatively, they offer the option to add on a custom marquee to seamlessly join the Pavilion, so you can still enjoy the night sky, or winter sun if a day event.

They have a designated fire pit area amongst the garden and olive trees, with festoons strung above to create an ambient, inviting and warming space to gather during your event. An additional fire pit can be placed in the Plaza space, and they even provide beautiful woven blankets are available to keep guests extra cosy. Their menu is curated from locally sourced suppliers, including their Chef’s own farm, and changes with the seasons, allowing the menu to really shape and compliment your winter experience at Winwood Garden.

ADELAIDE HILLS

10. Al Ru Farm

While Al Ru Farm may have a wonderful garden that is ideal for the warmer months – they also have multiple options for a gorgeous winter hills wedding. The Barn offers a luxurious indoor space for large celebrations, and in the event of inclement weather, The Hayshed is available for ceremonies (which comes complete with a lovely open fireplace).

11. Inglewood Inn

The private grounds of Inglewood Inn provide a beautiful space year-round for ceremonies with the winter vista capturing the enchanting dormant elm trees and lush green hills in the background. Internally, Inglewood offers a beautiful space for receptions. Whilst being fully protected from the weather and in a climate controlled environment,  their floor to ceiling glass windows frame the trademark views over the garden and hills. They also offer some really reasonable winter packages.

12. Paracombe Premium Perry

Paracombe Premium Perry can be utilised either open or enclosed, and this space can also be used as an undercover back up ceremony space in the event of bad weather.

The venue also has a slow combustion wood fire and infrared heating and provides a rustic, cosy winter wedding venue where the outside views can still be admired from the comfort and warmth of inside.

13. The Manor Basket Range

Nestled in the Adelaide Hills, The Manor Basket Range’s beautiful stonework and English gardens optimise the winter wedding look. Lots of slate paving around the property means no mushy ground and wet feet in sight, and plenty of opportunity for pictures outside. They offer beautiful indoor spaces and undercover areas for your ceremony and fully protected indoor reception areas with open fireplaces in both function rooms and the option to use their outdoor firepit.

14. The Summit

If you love the idea of getting married in the clouds, The Summit is located at such a height that sometimes the venue is surrounded by clouds during winter, which at night can clear to reveal the beautiful city lights. 

Receptions and ceremonies at The Summit can be held outside on their forecourt (which is also conveniently marquee friendly), with fire pits available on request, and their cafe is another option for indoor back up ceremony space.

As a 2023 winter special, all VENYU followers are eligible for 10% off the total invoice for their wedding (valid from June to August 2023 only).

BAROSSA

15. The Barns of Freeling

Barns of Freeling is a beautiful and rustic Barossa venue with multiple spaces for both your ceremony and reception, including a secondary barn as an optional wet weather option for your ceremony. The Main Room which is ideal for formal seated receptions features a large fireplace to keep your guests warm on even the coldest Barossa winter day.

CLARE VALLEY

16. Pikes Wines

Pikes is a Clare Valley venue that is worth its weight in winter-wedding gold. Views, generous indoor dining space featuring local stonework, along with an award-winning restaurant and great wines.

FLEURIEU PENINSULA

17. Beach Road Wines

The fun and quirky Beach Road Wines offers couples a great alternative to a standard ‘indoor’ venue, with a bit of an indoor/outdoor feel. The space comes complete with an indoor fire and lots of heaters to keep your guests toasty!

18. Beresford Estate

Beresford Estate’s luxurious property has a range of great spaces for your winter wedding, all with heating, the same great service and some of the best views in McLaren Vale.

19. Blues Restaurant at Middleton Beach Huts

Blues Restaurant at Middleton Beach Huts is a coastal escape that offers the best of both worlds, great during summer but also a fun and quirky winter location (fireplace included!).

20. Bremer Farm

Bremer Farm is a rustic outdoor venue, ideal for dry winter days. That being said, there is plenty of space for a marquee to be set up, which increases the seating area to 140 guests, and there are undercover areas that can be used for the ceremony if the weather is inclement. Fire pits are also available for hire through the venue.

21. Ekhidna

At Ekhidna, winter ceremonies are held in their beautiful McLaren Vale restaurant with floor to ceiling windows showcases the same stunning views as having an outdoor ceremony! Everything can used exactly the same such as arbour, barrels to line the aisle and white Americana chairs. While there is plenty of space available for a marquee, their undercover courtyard area is perfect for chilly winter days. Plus, they offer 50% off all winter wedding rates!

22. Kuitpo Hall

The grand high ceilings and polished timber floors of Kuitpo Hall provides a stunning blank canvas for a winter wedding and what says winter more than a mystical forest backdrop. Offered as a dry-hire facility, this venue allows you the freedom to confirm your own beverages and caterer with a full kitchen and bathrooms on site. They also have a big open fireplace that can be fired up for endless warmth.

23. Lake Breeze

Lake Breeze is a venue that oozes charm and character, ideal for a rustic winter wedding. Offering undercover & indoor options for every aspect of your wedding. Depending on the forecast you can opt for outdoors undercover or indoors for your ceremony, as well as indoors spaces for pre-dinner drinks and a separate indoors space for reception. Their indoor areas including the stunning Barrel Room are temperature controlled and also feature a fireplace for extra ambiance & comfort.

Outside they offer outdoor gas heaters for the terrace space, along with our indoor/outdoor island bar overlooking a sea of vines, and the bonus is they also offer extra flexibility during the cooler months along with a discount for winter weddings.

24. Mt Beare Station

For a totally private dry-hire Fleurieu winter wedding, Mt Beare Station has a historic wool shed, and all the space you could dream of. The huge shed, which can seat up to 180 people, has been lovingly refurbished with meticulous detail and luxury finishes, and features full kitchen facilities for your caterer.

25. Quince Brook

Located on a working farm just outside of Strathalbyn, Quince Brook is one of the best venues for a winter barn wedding. Their converted American barn style shed has all the added features and upgrades you would want for a winter wedding in one space, but all the flexibility of a dry-hire venue.

26. Sabella Vineyards

What more could you want for a winter wedding than a cosy vintage church that can cater for a wedding reception of up to 300 guests, without getting wet! Located right in the heart of McLaren Vale, this space has warmth (plenty of heaters), location and charm.

27. Vine Shed

The luxurious custom-built Vine Shed in McLaren Vale is ideal for a winter wedding, with a fully heated indoor function space, that opens out to a deck area complete with outdoor heaters and fire pit. They also offer special winter rates from June to August 2023 and 2024 – $1000 off venue hire and free use of bridal retreat room, which includes bubbles and chocolates!

28. White Hill Estate

Whitehill Estate is a beautiful combination of Australian country, rustic heritage and modern conveniences. At the centre of the property is the homestead, sleeping up to 16 guests and featuring 6 double bedrooms, it’s packed full of heritage charm, a fully equipped farm kitchen, large dining table, homely living area, heritage library and a wood fire.

The real feature though is The Chaff Shed, built in the 1850’s and now beautifully restored the Chaff Shed is a warm and cosy space for a winter reception.

There’s definitely more than one reason to choose a winter wedding in Adelaide. A winter wedding is a great way to have your dream wedding without the stress of choosing a special date in peak season, not to mention the potential money saved by having it in the low season.

The warm and fuzzies don’t stop there – couples often get amazing photos in the cooler months as the lighting is better. We’re no meteorologists, but it’s a fact that the sun shines at a different angle during winter, just ask your photographer.

Are you planning a winter wedding?

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Header image courtesy of Time with Alex.

*Post updated May 2023*

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