Candice Campbell Photography

Like every bride, memorable wedding photos are probably high on your wish list for the perfect wedding day. Wedding photos should be a jewel box of treasures you can dip into with delight for the rest of your life.

But while many photographers have the ability to take a decent shot, they don’t all have the passion and eye that enables them to create visually striking images that capture special moments as they happen. For that reason, and a few others, we’re delighted to showcase Candice Campbell Photography.

Star for a day

Very few of us are experienced photographic models and standing in front of the camera can feel uncomfortable, especially when we’re not 100% self-confident. You’ve only got to look at any celebrity being hounded by the paparazzi to realise how intrusive it can be to have a photographer snapping your every grimace and gesture.

Even though a wedding photographer only wants to catch the best possible shots, relaxing in front of the camera isn’t easy, and that’s where Candice Campbell stands out. You’ve only to look at some of the romantic moments she has captured to see couples that are relaxed and happy, and letting the love shine through.

Vintage style

As well as outstanding informal shots, Candice specialises in quirky images with a slightly retro or vintage feel. Some of these are just perfect if you’ve ever imagined you and your partner as a glamorous ‘30s or ‘50s Hollywood couple – perhaps in the roles of a tough (but soft-hearted) private eye kissing his femme fatale in the closing scenes of a classic noir movie!

Urban glamour

Candice is skilled at using the changing natural light and sometimes dramatic weather conditions around Newcastle and the Hunter Valley to create stunning images. Aided by a few professional lighting effects, Newcastle’s train station becomes a symbol of the journey of marriage that you’re about to embark on, as well as evoking the romance of luxury train travel.

If it comes on to rain that’s no problem at all. Think yet more glamorous movie star shots, spectacularly backlit under an umbrella. You could almost be looking at stills from Singin’ in the Rain!

Romantic landscapes

Candice really knows the area and makes the most of its diverse natural backdrops. She’ll also accommodate requests to visit local places that hold special memories for you, for example the place where you got engaged.

Shots of a romantic stroll along the beach might be given focus with a dramatic cliff in the background, and a lace of sea foam reaching out in the foreground. Or you could have some ‘Titanic’ style reaching out to embrace the wind shots on the cliff top!

Other beautiful waterside settings include waterfalls and lakes, which Candice uses to create fun group shots as well as idyllic images of a romantic boat trip for two on serene water.

Highly original and creative

Whether she captures you strolling through a meadow, or perhaps leaning over the family farm gate, Candice uncovers the magic behind the apparently ordinary. A stone arch turns into ancient ruins, rusty tin sheds and wrecked cars join in the fun, and a good time is had by all.

Book ahead

You’ll gather that Candice is about much more than the formal wedding group shot (although of course she does those as part of the package) and we forecast that Candice Campbell Photography is going to be increasingly in demand for Newcastle and Hunter Valley weddings. Luckily, you can easily find her through our listings so why not click through to look at some of her amazing photos today? Be sure to check out her blog too!

Restaurant Cuvee, Peterson House

Are you getting married in the Hunter Valley? Lucky you! Although planning a wedding is a big project, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a wedding venue in this fabulous location. However, perhaps we can make life a little easier by recommending one of our favourite Hunter Valley wedding venues – Restaurant Cuvee at Peterson House.

Restaurant Cuvee Peterson House

Multi-award winning Restaurant Cuvee is an integral part of the Peterson House estate. It is beautifully sited amidst landscaped lawns and cottage gardens, which set off its charming sandstone walls and airy ceilings with exposed timber beams. Lanterns strung amongst the trees increase the inviting, intimate atmosphere as twilight falls.

The venue is ideal for an elegant, stylish wedding, with stunning views from the deck over rows of manicured vines for you and your guests to enjoy. The gardens are a treat for the senses too, whatever the season. Should you be getting married in spring, you’ll find the spectacular cherry blossoms are definitely a highlight. With so many settings and backdrops to pose against, your photographer should have little difficulty in creating wedding photographs that will bring a smile to your face every time you look at them in years to come.

Ceremony and reception

Restaurant Cuvee can handle both ceremony and reception for you, and you may have the choice of an outdoor ceremony as well, depending of course on the weather. The venue can accommodate small, intimate weddings and larger celebrations of up to 140 guests.

Dedicated wedding co-ordinator

This iconic venue has its own wedding co-ordinator to help take the strain out of organising your day, and make sure you enjoy a seamless, highly personalised event.

Nothing is left to chance, not even the weather, as there’s always a Plan B, just in case the ceremony needs to move location – which means you can relax, knowing you’re in safe hands.

With so much experience to call on, your co-ordinator knows just who to go to whatever you need, although Restaurant Cuvee can provide themed decorations, chair covers and even a red carpet!

Celebrations with sparkle

Peterson House specialises in producing the finest sparkling wines, so you won’t be short of a bubble or two at this venue! The vision of producing traditionally made sparkling wine grew out of the founder’s desire to celebrate the birth of his first grandchild and the whole ethos of Peterson House is one of celebration, making it just perfect for weddings!

Red, white and blush

The word ‘cuvee’ is a winemaker’s term referring to the way grape varieties and vintages are blended to produce first class wines. Peterson House produces a great range of sparkling wines, including some unusual sparkling whites. You’ll find they have Pinot Noir Chardonnay blends as well as sparkling Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Chambourcin wines.

Cuisine

Naturally the Restaurant Cuvee celebration menus are designed to showcase and complement Peterson House’s wine offer. Featuring fresh, seasonal produce and modern Australian cuisine, the venue recently won Restaurant Wedding Caterer 2012 for northern NSW.

Let’s get started!

Now that you have an idea of what’s on offer, it’s time to find out more about Restaurant Cuvee Peterson House. We’re sure you’ll have a wedding to remember!

Awaba House; Photo by Cupid’s Corner Wedding & Event Hire

Are you looking to organise a beachfront wedding in the Lake Macquarie area? You may want to consider the fabulous deco-style Awaba House. Holding your wedding at Awaba House offers you a number of options for creating a highly distinctive event that you and your guests will enjoy and remember for years to come.

Location

Charming, comfortable and sophisticated, Awaba House nestles amid 15 acres of landscaped parkland on the waterfront by Lake Macquarie. It is an authentic 1920s art deco building, complemented by an intriguing roof, stylish portico and leadlight style windows. In other words, if you hold your wedding here you can look forward to some stunning wedding photographs.

This exclusive waterfront location includes a deep-water jetty, if guests want to access the venue by boat. Or why not consider arriving for your wedding by boat instead of a limousine? That’s sure to start your wedding off in style!

With acres of manicured parkland, including some awesome Port Jackson fig trees surrounding the house, you can choose to hold an outdoor wedding and indoor reception, or any combination of the two. The grounds also contain an art gallery and a sculpture garden, offering plenty of opportunities for innovative photography and for guests to amuse themselves while you are having your photographs taken.

The indoor function room is an elegant glass conservatory with the unique touch of a silk-lined ceiling, for a truly luxurious feel. It also offers unobscured views of the lake and gardens.

Service

Awaba House can accommodate wedding parties of up to 80 for a sit down meal, and provides a varied cocktail-style menu for larger weddings.

Awaba House is known for superb food and exceptional service, delivered with faultless professionalism by staff members who work hard to create the perfect atmosphere of celebration for every event.

History

Recognised as one of the original estates that were established around Lake Macquarie’s prime acres, Awaba House has been owned by several families over its history, and its fortunes have waxed and waned through the years.

The name ‘Awaba’ means ‘flat or plain surface’. It is the name given to Lake Macquarie by the indigenous people of the area. Europeans settled the land from Teralba to Bolton Point between 1822 and 1842, as recorded by a land grant of 500 acres to James Mitchell.

On his death, the property passed to his daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and William Quigley, who built the original Awaba House in 1878. This was located close to the present house, but the Quigleys did not enjoy it for long, as William died in a horse accident and his wife lost her life after fire gutted the house in 1886.

However the very next year William’s brother Daniel Quigley rebuilt, and his family occupied the property until 1913. Records show that one Thomas Braye of Newcastle took over the property and 15 acres immediately around it, forming the estate as it is today. The Braye family owned the property until 1958, during which time they tore down the second Awaba House, building the third and current building in 1927. While the previous buildings may have been rather rough and ready, this third building was elegantly designed by a local architect to reflect the art deco style and tastes of the 1920s, resulting in a charming building full of history and style.

In 1958, the property was taken over by the Hospitals Commission and was occupied by a succession of tenants. Awaba House eventually became in danger of neglect before being rescued by Lake Macquarie City Council, which bought the property outright in 1993, operating it as the city’s art gallery. Now, Awaba House has been reincarnated as the restaurant and venue space that we see today.

Holding your wedding at Awaba House

If you’re ready to take the next step and organise your wedding at Awaba House, all you need to do is click on our listings for wedding venues. We’re confident you won’t be disappointed in the beautiful setting and the service. Awaba House is the ideal wedding venue, full of romance, and a rich history that will be sure to intrigue your guests on the day.

The Wedding Designer

At Hunter Bride, we’re delighted to have connected with The Wedding Designer, an innovative wedding design service covering the Hunter Valley, Newcastle and beyond.

Jess and Emma are creative enthusiasts who live to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, and to add that special touch of personality and flair to any element of your special day.

What can The Wedding Designer do for you?

The Wedding Designer’s philosophy is to help out as much or as little as you need, with the aim of making your wedding the ‘best day ever’. As far as Jess and Emma are concerned, there’s no such thing as ‘one-size fits all’ when it comes to designing beautiful bespoke weddings.

The team excels at transforming spaces into truly beautiful venues, using a combination of quirky, vintage and handmade design elements. Once the decorating is finished, you’ll be wowed by an overall effect that adds up to so much more than an accumulation of individual touches.

The Wedding Designer can help you wave goodbye to all the stress of wondering how to create a unique event designed to reflect a truly personal wedding. A discussion with Jess and Emma might also uncover ideas you never knew you had, and designs you never knew you loved!

What’s more, working with a professional team of creative designers frees up your time to manage your no doubt already busy life. With someone else taking care of the details and chasing suppliers, you can focus on enjoying the lead-up to your wedding day, rather than stressing!

The Wedding Designer also has a superb network of suppliers, and Jess and Emma (and the rest of the team) have an excellent eye for a bargain.

Breath-taking handmade design

From personalised table settings, with quirky vintage glass and picnic settings, to handmade place cards and seating plans, The Wedding Designer team can source custom-designed, fun and highly unusual pieces for your celebration.

The handmade selection extends from fabric banners to bunting, flags and pompoms, and new items are regularly added to the repertoire. Naturally, the team is always happy to discuss your ideas, too.

From single consultation to full service

Jess and Emma are happy to work with you, whether you want a single consultation or a full pre-planning and on-the-day event management service, or something in-between.

If you’re part way through your wedding planning, you might just want some advice on a couple of ways to personalise your reception with really inspirational design. On the other hand, perhaps you have lots of ideas for your wedding and you need a team with the technical know-how to turn them into reality.

Available 24/7

When you want full support, The Wedding Designer team can be available 24/7 to work with you and reassure you that nothing’s been forgotten. This extends from the start of discussions about your wedding theme, right up to behind-the-scenes set-up on the day.

A boutique wedding on a budget

No matter the size of your wedding budget, we know you’ll appreciate Jess and Emma’s belief that a highly personalised wedding needn’t cost the earth. As professional wedding designers, the team can access bulk discounts you simply wouldn’t be offered as an individual bride.

Head this way for a blissful wedding

If you’re ready to find out more about what The Wedding Designer can do for you, click through to their profile page for the service, and get ready to transform your wedding plans!

Music and songs play a big part of your wedding day. Whether it is background music while your guests mingle or a song for walking down the aisle, you will find you are accompanied by music throughout the day.

It is because of this that it is so important to find the right band or DJ to help you, as what service they provide can help make your amazing day all that more special.

It is a tough decision for some brides and grooms on whether to have live music or use a DJ. A lot of people will get around this by having both, but at different times of the day.

Live music for the ceremony lends a very romantic, fairytale feel to the wedding, while a DJ can get the guests up and dancing at the reception after all the official parts of the day are over. Live music can also be great for when guests are having canapés and waiting for the bride and groom to arrive at the reception.

If you are considering having live music for your ceremony, you should speak to the amazing duo Two Play Strings. Dave and Catherine are both tertiary qualified musicians and their experience is evident through their performance.

Dave and Catherine play a violin and cello duo, which means their combined sound make for a romantic atmosphere for the start of your wedding day.

Through the playing of the strings, they will invoke feelings in the guests at each significant part of the ceremony. There will be expectation and calmness as the guests arrive, excitement as the ceremony is about to commence and suspense as the bride is arriving and everyone is trying to catch their first glimpse of her. Of course at the end of it, there will be joy as the bride and groom complete their vows and become husband and wife.

Two Play Strings have a large repertoire of music so you will be sure to find something you like. They can play popular wedding music such as Pachelbel’s Canon and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons but of course their talent doesn’t stop there. They can also play classical, romantic and modern periods as well as jazzy numbers. Every song they play will enhance the emotions of the day.

Two Play Strings cater specifically to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, so they are very familiar with all of the locations of the area already. They can also travel further if need be so make sure you ask about packages outside of these areas.

Imagine a gorgeous church wedding in Newcastle or a romantic vineyard wedding in the Hunter Valley with the strings playing softly as your guests arrive. Being accompanied down the aisle by this beautiful music will heighten the mood of the moment, helping to ensure it is one you will never forget.

North of Sydney, New South Wales has some amazing places for brides and grooms looking for a special waterfront wedding.

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are among those places and both offer some breath-taking areas that will help make your wedding day even more perfect than you imagined.

Newcastle is the second largest city in New South Wales so it’s no surprise that there are so many gorgeous places for you to choose from when searching for that right wedding venue.

Once known as primarily an industrial area, Newcastle has grown into a city of art and culture. The local artists, and there are many, have plenty of places to draw inspiration from. Surrounded by eye-catching surf beaches and dense bushwalking tracks, Newcastle can be a visual delight. A wedding on one of these beaches is very romantic and always impresses bridal parties and guests on the day.

Lake Macquarie offers a different type of waterfront. As the lake spans over 170kms, there is plenty of space along the foreshore to find the perfect location for your day. If you don’t want to hold your ceremony at the same place as your reception, you can find ample amounts of parkland and scenic areas along the waters edge to have a wedding with unparalleled views of the water. The photo opportunities are endless.

As they are both by the water, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are perfect locations for a wedding with sparkling views. So if it is waterfront you desire for your wedding, then you should check out Waterfront Venues Newcastle.

Waterfront Venues Newcastle is a collection of some of the best wedding venues Newcastle has to offer. All of the venues can host not only the reception but the ceremony too. As they have more than 30-years experience in the restaurant, banquet and catering business, you can relax knowing your wedding is in good hands.

No matter which place you choose, you will have a coordinator dedicated to that venue that will help you. With assistance on the food and wine selection, as well as flowers, lighting and music, you will be able to just relax and enjoy the moment!

Choose from one of three gorgeous locations and venues:

Dixon Park Surf Lifesaving Club

Dixon Park Beach is the perfect place for a beachfront ceremony, followed shortly after by a reception that is just a stone’s throw away. Dixon Park Surf Lifesaving Club is the ultimate waterfront destination in Newcastle with its uninterrupted views of the sand and the surf. Treat your guests to a spectacular view up the coastline to Port Stephens and down south to Redhead Beach on the large verandah. Inside, there is room for dinner and drinks and of course space to dance the night away.

Dixon Park Surf Lifesaving Club

Awaba House

If you are looking for a wedding venue that is nothing but pure class and elegance, then look no further than Awaba House. This amazing venue is set amongst 15 acres of parkland that is right on the waterfront of Lake Macquarie. No two weddings at Awaba House are the same as you get to choose where to hold the ceremony from several locations on the grounds. The reception will be held in the Awaba House function room where there is a glass conservatory with a silk lined ceiling, giving it a stunning and romantic marquee feel. Even your arrival will be impressive if you choose to make use of the deep-water jetty and arrive by boat.

Awaba House

Caves Beachside

Just 30 minutes south of Newcastle, the new Caves Beachside Resort is positioned to look over the unspoiled shoreline of Caves Beach in Lake Macquarie. With three function areas within the resort, Caves Beachside can accommodate large weddings, or more intimate ones. Wedding guests can stay in the same location as the wedding meaning you will get an entire weekend of quality time with your guests instead of trying to see them all just on the wedding night. With the amazing view and the new facilities, your wedding will be the talk of the town for months after the event.

Caves Beachside

If you are considering choosing Exclusive Vintage Wedding Cars as your wedding car provider, you are in for a real treat. The classic cars and the old-world charm combine to give you a service on your day that is difficult to match elsewhere.

With an array of vintage cars on offer, you will find each one comes with its own rich history. The individual cars have a name and such an interesting background story you will fall in love with the personality they all have to offer, leaving you hard pressed to decide on the right one for you. Make an appointment to visit Allan, the owner of the cars, and listen to his passionate tales of how he has lovingly restored the vehicles.

The experience doesn’t stop with just the amazing cars on offer, it is also the service on the day – and leading up to the day – that will make this a company you will remember long after the wedding is over. Exclusive Vintage Wedding Cars are genuine people who really do care about making sure the bride and bridal party are having the perfect day.

The drivers are gentlemanly and traditional. From their smart outfits down to their immaculate manners, they will make you feel like royalty on your big day. They are there to help you in and out of the car and no one is left out of the service, as once you arrive at the church or place of ceremony, they will even escort the mother-of-the-bride to her seat before the bridal procession begins.

At the end of the ceremony it is time to relax and celebrate and the drivers will help you kick off by setting up a lovely silver service of champagne and chocolates at a location of your choice. This makes for a great photo opportunity!

And the best part of all is that you are not restricted by time limits. As long as it is within reason, the gentlemen at Exclusive Vintage Wedding Cars will not be watching the clock while you travel from ceremony to reception.

So if you are currently searching for a car service for your wedding day, make sure you speak to Exclusive Vintage Wedding Cars, you won’t regret it!

Exclusive Vintage Wedding Cars

Exclusive Vintage Wedding Cars

Exclusive Vintage Wedding Cars

TLC Design and Events

Planning a wedding is a big job. No matter how much you may be a naturally organised person, there is still a lot of detail to be considered and it can all become quite stressful. If only there was such a thing as a company that already had every contact you need in one place, and the time to do the running around for you … but of course there is! TLC Design and Events to be precise.

The best part of using the help of a company like TLC Design and Events is that you can get as little or as much help as you need. If you are simply looking for some advice and inspiration they can provide this, alternatively they can also assist with the planning of the entire wedding itself. Are you a bit unsure whether you would need a planner to help you? Read our previous article Should You Use a Wedding Planner for the pro’s of having a wedding planner before you make a firm decision either way.

Take one look at the TLC Design and Events website and you will see this company is both classy and elegant. But they have also combined this class with the perfect amount of personality and are very friendly to deal with. Check out their facebook page as a testament to how much they truly care about each couple they work with.

The wedding inspiration section is a delightful showcase of photos and products that will do exactly as the title suggest – give you inspiration. Getting started on planning your wedding will be fun with TLC Design and Events.

As discussed above, TLC can help you with as much or as little as you need for your perfect wedding day. Take a look at the packages they offer which can be found on their website and you will see you can enlist help with just the ceremony if you like or you could have them assist with every detail from budgeting through to actually planning the wedding.

Even if you haven’t decided just how much assistance you are looking for, get in touch with TLC for a free consultation to see what they can do for you. If nothing else, you will be impressed by the individual treatment you will receive and the inspiration they can help provide.

Jade McIntosh Flowers

Search for Jade McIntosh Flowers online and you will find a lot of hype surrounding this company. And there is good reason for it too – Jade McIntosh helps over 100 brides achieve their wedding dreams each year!

After years of experience in a retail florist in Newcastle, Jade McIntosh decided to focus on a love of creating flower arrangements for weddings and functions. In 2006, Jade McIntosh Flowers was created for exactly this purpose, weddings and functions.

The ambition of the florist is to provide convenience to brides, helping take some of the pressure off the wedding planning. Therefore they strive to be flexible with meeting locations and times. Even if you live interstate or far away they can still organise the floral arrangements with minimum meetings in person.

Jade McIntosh Flowers will also liaise with the other suppliers working on your wedding, which is very useful when you are feeling the stresses of the planning.

There are many things to consider when choosing the floral arrangements for your wedding. From the type of bouquet – such as a posy or a shower bouquet – to the colour scheme chosen for the bride and the bridesmaids flowers.

Unsure where to start? Visit the Jade McIntosh Flowers website. Here you will find an extensive list of which flowers are in season by month to help you choose or eliminate various types of blooms up front. Also swing by the Jade McIntosh Flower facebook page where you will find gorgeous photos of past bridal bouquets. There is no better way to find something you like than to see it as part of an actual wedding.

Keep in mind that wedding flowers are not necessarily only for the bridal bouquets. Flower arrangements can be used in weddings for the ceremony, the reception and even the men often require a boutonniere (or button hole).  Jade McIntosh can help with all of these and will only use the very best flowers available. They encourage creativity and the use of natural materials.

If you haven’t already decided on your reception centerpieces, speak to Jade McIntosh Flowers about that too, as they conveniently have vase hire in all shapes and sizes. They even have delivery anywhere and will set up the arrangements for you.

No matter what type of flowers you are looking for, you can rest assured you will be well cared for with the impeccable quality and service at Jade McIntosh Flowers.

The Lakes Walk Rotunda

A trip to the Hunter Valley Gardens is enough to make me want to get married all over again. Walking through the manicured lawns, there are many romantic spots for the perfect garden ceremony and even places to erect a marquee for a true garden wedding.

Ceremony Locations at Hunter Valley Gardens

There are five different garden locations, all with their own unique points of difference.

For a larger, more formal wedding there is the European Formal Garden. The background is amazing with water features along with hundreds of roses. The area is tiered and has plenty of room for guest chairs.

Within the Hunter Valley Gardens is a 10metre waterfall. If you choose to be married in the Sunken Garden this waterfall will be the backdrop to the ceremony.

Alternatively, you can be married at the top of the waterfall with scenic garden views.

If your wedding is slightly smaller, for 70 or less guests, the Oriental Garden is a special area. There is an Oriental Pagoda built over water, which is magical for a ceremony that is a little bit different. One half of the view is the water you are standing over and the other half is the gardens.

There is also a new wedding location at Hunter Valley Gardens and this is the Lakes Walk Rotunda. The elegant white structure, sitting on the waters edge and surrounded by giant weeping willows, looks like it is straight from a scene in a movie.

For those not looking for a garden ceremony, or even as a wet weather backup plan, the Hunter Valley Gardens also has a special chapel onsite created specifically for weddings. It is a non-denominational chapel so anyone can be married here with their own celebrant or priest. The chapel seats up to 150 guests on hand crafted pews and the large glass windows overlook the Brokenback Mountains and surrounding gardens.

Reception Options at Hunter Valley Gardens

For the reception you can be indoors or out. As mentioned before you can choose to erect a marquee in the European Formal Gardens or the Sunken Garden. You could also try something new and opt for an open-air reception.

Alternatively there is the gorgeous Garden Terrace, a room with amazing views over the Oriental Garden. The minimum number of guests is 50, but the venue can hold up to 150 guests for a cocktail style reception.

The largest reception choice is The Barrel Room at Tempus Two Winery. This venue has a guest minimum of 70 and can hold up to 200 people cocktail style.

Offers and Guarantees from Hunter Valley Gardens

It’s not often you will be given guarantees from entertainment venues, but the folks at Hunter Valley Gardens want you to enjoy your special day without worry. Besides the wet weather back up option of moving your garden ceremony indoors to the chapel, you will also have a wet weather guarantee with your photos. This means if it rains on your wedding day, you and your photographer will be invited back another day so you can take your photos free of charge.

There is currently a Winter wedding special running where if you have your wedding in June, July or August you will receive your ceremony for free.

As part of any package you will also have a dedicated wedding coordinator who will not only assist you with your ceremony planning but will also be there on the day to help things run smoothly.

A buggy and wedding host will also be available to drive the bridal party around the grounds for photos for up to 2 hours.

So when looking for a special venue for your Hunter Valley wedding, make sure you drop by the Hunter Valley Gardens for a complimentary site inspection.

Check the Hunter Valley Gardens listing for further details.