A rural wedding venue is a popular choice for many reasons. Large estates offer couples ease with multiple ceremony and reception locations available in one space, many with accommodation up for grabs, too. These country destinations are also a breeze when it comes to scenic backdrops for relaxed portrait sessions. You might not even have to jump in the car all weekend - how good!
When you think about getting married in regional NSW, you're choosing more than just a venue—you're creating an entire experience. The rolling hills, sprawling vineyards, and charming country properties provide a natural canvas for your love story to unfold. Plus, there's something magical about escaping the city bustle and celebrating your special day surrounded by the tranquility of nature.
One of the best things about regional wedding venues is that they offer you and your guests a chance to truly disconnect and be present for the entire celebration. Instead of rushing between locations or worrying about city traffic, everyone can settle in and enjoy the moment. Many venues even offer weekend packages where you can extend your celebrations over multiple days—welcome drinks on Friday, the big day on Saturday, and a recovery brunch on Sunday.
Wondering where to start your search? Think about what speaks to you as a couple. Are you drawn to historic homesteads with manicured gardens? Or perhaps a working farm with rustic charm is more your style? Maybe you're picturing exchanging vows against a backdrop of vineyards at sunset? Regional NSW has it all.
To help make your decision easier, I've rounded up some of the most breathtaking rural wedding venues across New South Wales. Whether you're channeling a romantic garden affair or rolling pastures and rustic barns, these are my favourite rural wedding venues offering it all.
Mona Farm blends the charm of a country wedding destination with the elegance and luxury that a city wedding typically provides. The 124-acre estate is bursting with ceremony and reception locations including a wildflower meadow and sculpture garden. Expect everything to be of a top-tier standard, including Mona’s very own digital wedding portal, exclusive for Mona couples, where you can log appointments, dates, and resources all in one place.
Perfect for: Couples who want an elevated country wedding with all the trimmings.
The Palace of Versailles meets coastal Australian charm at The Merribee. It’s the perfect spot if you’re looking to host a long weekend affair with accommodation for up to 20 people. There are locations aplenty with over 30 dedicated garden spaces including a lavender field and rose garden. The best bit is that you won’t have to go anywhere for anything - morning yoga is even included!
Perfect for: Couples with a garden wedding on their mind.
For a slice of Tuscany without the airfare, it has to be Redleaf. The 10 acres of manicured gardens, peachy Italian-style villa, and expansive grounds set the scene for a wildly romantic day. Whether you fancy setting up an alfresco wedding reception dripping in fairy lights or opt for an intimate soiree in the property's garden room, this is the blank canvas of your dreams.
Perfect for: Couples that would love a destination wedding without the hassle.
This beloved small-batch winery is a blissful spot to tie the knot. Jump in the car and make a wedding research weekend of it by indulging in a wine tasting and cheese platter, before exploring the grounds where you're invited to host your big day. Reception locations are plentiful and include a custom-made pavilion for larger affairs as well as the more intimate Zin House, one of the region's finest hatted restaurants. As for the ceremony? You can't do better than the property's on-site chapel, complete with vintage chandeliers.
Perfect for: The oenophiles amongst us.
This classic French chateaux, nestled on 30 acres in the Byron hinterland, is a world away from the very day. Bursting with exquisite architectural detail, the chateaux itself boasts parquet floors, toile curtains and starry chandeliers. The classic, neutral backdrop is a wedding stylist's dream so expect suppliers all over to swoon when you book this spot.
Perfect for: Couples with a fondness for history and travel.
This heritage home sets the scene for a timeless day. You'll be forgiven for thinking you're in a romantic English novel as you meander up the tree-lined drive on your first visit. Multiple locations allow you to host a seamless event without any driving involved. Tie the knot in woodlands, forest or meadow before moving to canapes in The Palm Court and dinner and dancing in The Garden Room.
Perfect for: A Victorian garden party.
Minutes from the charming coastal town of Kiama, this 200-acre property blends country and coast. The whimsical homestead is an interior lover's dream and the perfect backdrop for a pre-wedding feast amongst other events. Keep your nearest and dearest close at hand with accommodation available for a large group.
Perfect for: those looking to make a weekend out of it.
Consider your dream to get married surrounded by books a reality. This divine estate is just over an hour out of Sydney and combines the joys of a country wedding with luxurious details and options aplenty. Also an expansive bookstore and wine cellar, its as unique as they come. Design your dream day with options ranging from cellar door soirees to custom-built stables complete with cathedral ceilings and chandeliers.
Perfect for: Booklovers.
If you're keen to make a weekend of it, Worrowing could be it. Minutes from Jervis Bay, the property also boasts 12 catered cottages so your guests can enjoy a relaxed weekend, too. There are loads of wet and fair weather ceremony locations alongside the option to host your reception in the refurbished Hereford Shed. Acres of pastures, bushland and manicured gardens allow you to tailor your day to adhere to any theme.
Perfect for: Destination wedding enthusiasts who love the South Coast
This rural retreat offers everything you want from a country wedding from rolling pastures to stacks of accommodation. The 170-acre estate will be yours for three days to host multiple events from the day itself to recovery brunches and catch-ups. With 25 years in the industry, the team is keen to assist with every facet of your day with a selection of suppliers who know the property inside and out.
Perfect for: Couples looking for an all-inclusive experience in a scenic setting.
Nestled among the rolling hills of Orange wine country, Mayfield Vineyard offers a breathtaking backdrop for your special day. The picturesque 100-acre estate boasts panoramic views across meticulously maintained vines, creating a stunning canvas for your ceremony and photos. The elegant cellar door transforms into an intimate reception space, while larger celebrations can take advantage of the purpose-built marquee area overlooking the vineyard.
Perfect for: Wine enthusiasts looking for rustic elegance with spectacular vineyard views.
This Byron Bay hinterland gem is a must if a sun-soaked golden hour soiree is part of your dream day. The hilltop position delivers 180-degree views whilst a restaurant barn caters to large receptions. Fancy dining under the stars? This is the place to do it.
Perfect for: Glittering alfresco feasts and breathtaking backdrops.
This charming boutique farm in the Snowy Mountains combines country warmth with sophisticated styling. The beautifully restored barn features soaring timber beams, crystal chandeliers, and large windows that flood the space with natural light. Outside, the manicured gardens lead to a purpose-built ceremony pavilion overlooking the property's own dam.
Perfect for: Couples seeking a refined yet relaxed farm setting with thoughtful, all-inclusive options.
Set amid nine acres of pine forest, rainforest and landscaped gardens, The Lodge Jamberoo offers a complete wedding destination just 10 minutes from Kiama's beaches. This riverfront resort stands out for its ability to accommodate up to 106 guests across 39 hotel rooms, allowing your entire celebration to stay together onsite. The venue's stunning tree cathedral provides a magical outdoor ceremony space where guests can hear the gentle sounds of running water as you exchange vows.
Perfect for: Couples wanting a complete wedding weekend experience with onsite accommodation and resort amenities for all their guests.
This grand historic estate on the South Coast exudes old-world elegance with its heritage-listed Georgian mansion and formal gardens. Dating back to the 1860s, Terrara House offers various ceremony locations including a magnificent 150-year-old fig tree, a charming garden gazebo, and the estate's original chapel. The immaculately maintained gardens provide a romantic backdrop for photos.
Perfect for: Couples dreaming of a timeless, sophisticated wedding with heritage charm and lush gardens.
This historic farm estate in Oberon offers an authentic yet refined country wedding experience. Set on vast pastoral lands with breathtaking panoramic views, Waldara Farm combines rustic charm with elegant touches. The beautifully restored 100-year-old barn serves as the centerpiece for receptions, featuring exposed wooden beams, vintage chandeliers, and large sliding doors that open to the countryside. Multiple ceremony locations include a picturesque dam with mountain backdrops and a charming garden setting.
Perfect for: Couples seeking an authentic country farm wedding with stylish, rustic elegance and breathtaking rural views.
Scott absolutely blew us away! From the very beginning Scott was so accommodating and completely invested. He brings such a great energy to the day and made us feel totally at ease throughout. Our photo's turned out better than we could have imagined. He captured the day so beautifully and has such a fantastic ability to capture those candid moments.
I cannot recommend Scott enough, he's pure magic!
Scott is so nice, really calm and professional - exactly who you want to spend all day with you on your wedding day. The photos Scott takes are just incredible, he makes you feel so comfortable in front of the camera. We will treasure the photos forever and I can't recommend him enough. Thank you so much Scott.
Scott is a great photographer. Not only does he take beautiful photos, he is professional, a calming presence and an all round great guy. He is responsive and super helpful with his answers to our questions. We knew his work would be great but when we received his photos, we were still in awe at how amazing they were.
Scott is a standout and worth every dollar (and more). You can trust that he will deliver. We are so happy we chose Scott as our wedding photographer and would readily recommend him.
Scott helped made our wedding day so unbelievably special - his photos are amazing, and he was an incredibly kind, calm and funny person to have around on a day which could easily also be overwhelming and stressful. He made us feel totally relaxed, and the quality of photos he produces, as well as the once-in-a-lifetime moments he captures so candidly and discreetly are second to none. We're so happy we went with Scott, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him!!
Most of the popular wedding venues in Sydney will be booked 12 - 18 months in advance, especially on Saturdays in the busier months. These busy months are FEB-APR and SEP-NOV. You may have more luck getting a Saturday in winter. Weekday weddings have become popular and different venues may have deals for a mid week weddings.
Knowing your approximate guest list will help rule out a lot of the venues in Sydney. If your dream venue isn't big enough to cater for a sit down dinner then perhaps consider a cocktail wedding. A smaller guest list will also rule out some of the larger venues as you don't want a space that feels too big.
The ease of having everything all in the one location can't be beat. If you do need to have a different location across Sydney for ceremony and reception, then consider traffic and travel time, and think about organising transport for your guests.
Some Sydney wedding venues won't allow you to have your ceremony before 5pm. This can be a problem outside of daylight savings because it can be dark at 5pm. Have a chat with your photographer about a work around to this problem, but it almost certainly will involve having your photos BEFORE the ceremony.
As soon as possible. The good photographers start getting booked 18 months to 2 years in advance on the popular dates.
Are they set in their ways or are they flexible with changes? You'll get a sense pretty quickly of how accommodating they are during a site visit. My personal pet peeve is when a venue makes you decide on the wet weather back up option 3-6 hours before the actual ceremony.
Yes it does. What I've discovered over the years is that the closer the dance floor and the bar are to each other, the better the party will be. It's just science! The more separation between the bar and dance floor, the emptier your dance floor will be. There used to be a venue in Sydney that made everyone move upstairs for the dancing (bar was very close) and then closed off downstairs and what you got was a guaranteed epic party.