For those dreaming of a romantic wedding reception, look no further than Peterson’s Champagne House in Pokolbin. From the bubbles to the view, this place is the picture of romance, all the way down to the story of how it came to be. Local Hunter Valley winemaker, Ian Peterson, created the house after the champagne he had made to honour the birth of his first granddaughter was so successful. It is stories like this, mixed with the beauty of the house and the surrounding grounds that make Peterson’s Champagne House an ideal place for a wedding.

Inside the building is Restaurant Cuvee, an amazing venue with exposed wooden beams and ironwork throughout, and with a view of the vineyards and the cottage gardens. The restaurant is open to the public for both breakfast and lunch and is well worth a visit next time you are in the Hunter region. The breakfast specialty of course, is a champagne breakfast complete with all the trimmings, including some chocolates to finish off. For dinner, a private appointment can be made for group bookings.

For wedding planning, you can hold your ceremony on the grounds of the venue. Surrounding the house are vineyards, cottage gardens, a pond and jetty with hills as a backdrop.

The large verandah’s make an ideal place for your guests to enjoy drinks and canapés whilst you and your bridal party have photos taken in the gardens. In Spring you can have beautiful photos taken in among the Cherry Blossoms. But no matter what the season, the building and surrounding gardens are a beautiful setting for any type of wedding.

Peterson’s Champagne House can cater for up to 100 guests, seated comfortably and formally within Restaurant Cuvee. There are also packages available for a more intimate wedding with just your closest friends and family. Contact Naomi Pridue, the Weddings and Events Manager, to discuss the wedding package for your specific needs. Naomi, and Peterson’s House, understands that each wedding is a special and important event, and that each bride-to-be has a different idea of what will make her day perfect.

Peterson’s are currently offering special mid-week and winter wedding packages, visit the website today for more information.

So if you’re planning a wedding that is big or small, in summer or in winter, give Peterson’s Champagne House a visit. While you are there try stopping for a bite to eat and enjoy the delicious surrounds. And always remember the Peterson’s motto – Life’s Flat without Bubbles.

Port Stephens Romantic Getaways

To say that Port Stephens is great for couples into aquatic adventure is an understatement, though there is so much more to do at this region than just being a destination for beach lovers. Dubbed as “blue water paradise”, Port Stephens boasts crystal-blue waters surrounded by a variety of scenic natural beauty. Not only does it give a prime aqua-themed backdrop to any Port Stephens Wedding, it is also home to many romantic activities – the perfect couple getaway for a warm-relaxing honeymoon.

A Dinner Cruise Sail

An evening of sailing on the peaceful waters and under the starry skies spells of complete romance. Couples on their honeymoon, or even those looking for something different for their wedding reception venue, can choose to have a nice dinner celebration on deck. It’s a romantic dinner cruise that will definitely make all hearts flutter! You and your partner can also go on an adventure kayak trip and watch the dolphins jump in and out of the waters or opt for a whale and dolphin watch cruise during appropriate months of the year.

A Horse-Riding Experience

With the pristine white sand coastlines of Port Stephens, you can enjoy a fun horse-riding trip. Your guide can even personalise the ride for you both. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned horse-rider or a first timer, you will definitely savour the leisurely ride as you trek through the bushes and the coastlines. You can also go for something a little different, like a camel ride along the beach.

A Para-sail Adventure for Two

If you want to take a break from the water, then it’s time to take on the skies and go on a tandem parasailing adventure! For the couples who love extreme sports, experience what it’s like to fly at 150 meters by parachute supported by a high speed boat. From the skies, you will have a bird’s-eye view of Port Stephens. Witness its majestic beauty high above the ground!

A Sunset Tour along a Historical Shipwreck

Experience a touch of history as you and your loved one discover the remains of a shipwreck on Stockton Beach. In 1974, the Sygna was blown ashore by the wind during its maiden voyage. Visit the area at sunset and be amazed by the display of colours of this historical masterpiece.

A Time to do the “Bride Walk”

The waterfront stroll along Nelson Bay to Corlette Point is known as the “Bride Walk” because of its sweet, romantic feel. The area is rich in natural beauty and of course the blue-haven beach that makes the stroll magical beyond words.

Any bride will fall in love with a Port Stephens Wedding once she discovers the beauty of the region plus the wonderful activities suited for a romantic honeymoon. If you and your partner wish to treat your wedding guests to an extended vacation, Port Stephens is the place to be for fun, relaxation, and romance.

Hunter Bride features wedding suppliers and services in Port Stephens to bring out the perfect wedding in blue-water paradise.

Should You Use a Wedding Planner?

Are wedding planners a luxury? Or a necessity?

Perhaps they are a little bit of both.

These days we get help with all aspects of our lives – a cleaner for our house, a personal trainer for our body, a dog-walker for our pet – so why not use someone to help with planning your wedding? It could be the thing that helps make your important day a little less stressful.

Not convinced? Here are some points you might want to consider while trying to decide:

Time saving – Planning a wedding is very time consuming and on average takes about a year of preparation. If you are working, studying or looking after kids it can be quite difficult to find the time you need to get the details in order. A wedding planner is a one-stop shop to organising your special day. Let the right planner do the groundwork for you while you continue with your daily life and don’t worry, you still get complete control over the outcome.

It’s all in the detail – Sure you’ve just got engaged and you can’t wait to start trying on wedding dresses. You might even be excited about cake tasting. But what about all of the details that you just don’t have time for? There are flowers, seat covers, photographers and cars. And there are also the things you can’t see, such as liaising with the reception venue on timings and the running of the actual day to stay on schedule. A planner helps keep your mind at ease so you can focus on the important parts of the day, such as having fun.

Expertise – A wedding planner has been a part of many weddings. They have seen most themes, decorations and trends played out on the big day. They know what works and what has gone wrong in the past. And best of all, they have all of the contacts at their finger tip for pretty much anything you require. If you are getting married in the Hunter but don’t live near there, it is also helpful to have a wedding planner that is familiar with the area. They can give you some great local insights and save you a few weekend trips.

The type of wedding – If you are having a wedding at a venue that offers a wedding co-ordinator on the day, you may feel you don’t need to pay another person to do the planning in the lead up. You might feel comfortable doing it all yourself and just having someone there on the day to help make everything run smoothly. But if you are having a wedding where there are a lot of people to co-ordinate, and no venue person to help – such as a marquee set within a vineyard – a wedding planner could be worth their weight in gold in the lead up to the event as well as on the day.

You might have dreamed of this day for years and be perfectly happy to set everything in motion yourself, or you might be more than willing to hand it all over to an expert and only have to worry about making the final decisions. All in all, it’s a personal choice and one you and your partner should talk about together once you are ready to start planning for the big day. Talking to a wedding planner does not mean you will lose any control over the wedding, in fact, with the time and space you get back you may find you are more in control than ever!

Just remember that a wedding planner is there to help and they will do as little or as much as you want them to, and it is still all in your hands.