Circa 1876 The Convent Wedding

Circa 1876 The Convent wedding of Ebony & Jared was an amazing event at one of my favourite wedding venues in the Hunter Valley.

They both got ready at the same property. A huge Tuscan style house, out at Broke called Talits Estate, which is an stunning place to get ready before the wedding. And is actually place I have photographed weddings at previously. There are a few levels to the house, so the boys got ready up one the top level, while the girls got ready on the ground floors. So they managed to still not see each other till they walked down the aisle.

The wedding ceremony and reception were held at Circa 1876 which is such a beautiful place for a wedding. I have lost count of how many weddings I have photographed there. But I never get tired of photographing weddings there, the venue and the staff are just wonderful!

The ceremony was held out in the garden behind the restaurant. For the ceremony, Ebony & Jared brought their ‘furbaby’, their boy Chase. I always say to couples, that dogs at weddings are awesome! If you have a dog and you consider them to be part of the family, then you should definitely bring them along.

So enjoy this amazing Circa 1876 The Convent wedding. It was a pretty epic day with an incredible couple!!

Circa 1876 Hunter Valley Weddings

Circa 1876 is one of the Hunter Valley’s most distinctive wedding venues, located on The Convent estate in Pokolbin. Set inside a historic cottage and surrounded by vineyards, established gardens and beautiful old trees, it has a romantic country feel while still being right in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country.

The venue works particularly well for couples who want their ceremony, wedding photos, reception and accommodation all close together. The wider estate includes The Convent, Circa 1876 and Pepper Tree Winery, giving couples plenty of variety without needing to spend a large part of the wedding day travelling between locations.

Wedding Ceremonies at Circa 1876

Couples can hold their ceremony in the Circa 1876 Gardens, surrounded by the established gardens and vineyard setting. Another option on the estate is the Convent Fountain, giving couples a choice of different ceremony styles while still keeping everything within the same property.

The gardens are one of the things that make weddings here feel quite different from many other Pokolbin venues. Instead of being surrounded only by vineyards, there are tree-lined driveways, garden paths, mature trees and historic buildings that give the property plenty of character.

There is also a wet-weather backup included with the venue’s ceremony offering, which is always something worth considering when comparing Hunter Valley wedding venues.

Circa 1876 Wedding Receptions

The main Circa 1876 reception room is inside the property’s historic cottage. Exposed timber beams, chandeliers and rustic details give the room plenty of atmosphere without needing huge amounts of additional styling. The adjoining Champagne Lounge also features an open fireplace and provides another space for guests during the celebration.

For smaller weddings, there is also Circa 1876 Alfresco, an enclosed space overlooking the vineyards and kitchen gardens. This gives couples another option if they love the property but are planning something more intimate.

Food is naturally an important part of a Circa 1876 wedding. The estate focuses heavily on local and seasonal produce, with ingredients sourced from its onsite kitchen gardens and a strong emphasis on Hunter Valley food and wine.

Wedding Photos at Circa 1876

From a photography point of view, Circa 1876 is one of those Hunter Valley venues where you really don’t need to leave the property for photos.

There is a great mix of vineyards, gardens, tree-lined paths, the historic cottage, The Convent and plenty of open countryside. That variety means we can move between completely different backgrounds in a relatively short amount of time rather than taking the couple away from their guests for a long portrait session.

The gardens are particularly beautiful for softer, more romantic photos, while the vineyards and open areas give you the classic Hunter Valley look. Later in the afternoon, the light through the trees and vines can be beautiful, so it is often worth allowing a short window around sunset for a few extra portraits.

Accommodation at The Convent

One of the other advantages of a Circa 1876 wedding is having accommodation available at The Convent Hunter Valley, only a short walk from the reception. This can make things much easier for the couple and close family, particularly if everyone is travelling to Pokolbin for the wedding.

Couples can also turn the wedding into more of a weekend away, with the estate offering options for additional celebrations such as a welcome dinner or post-wedding breakfast alongside accommodation.

Is Circa 1876 a Good Hunter Valley Wedding Venue?

Circa 1876 is particularly worth considering if you want a Hunter Valley wedding venue with plenty of character rather than a modern function-centre feel. The combination of the historic cottage, vineyards, established gardens, great food and onsite accommodation at The Convent makes it especially suited to couples wanting an elegant but relaxed Hunter Valley wedding.

It is also a great venue from a photography perspective because there is so much variety within walking distance. You can have your ceremony, portraits and reception in the one location while still ending up with photographs that look like they were taken in several completely different places.

If you’re currently researching venues, you can also check out my guide to Hunter Valley wedding venues for more wedding locations throughout Pokolbin and the surrounding wine region.

And if you’re planning a wedding at Circa 1876 and looking for a Hunter Valley wedding photographer, you can see more of my Hunter Valley weddings, photography information and approach on that page.