Mar 27, 2023

Coonawarra Wedding: Heather + Angus

Many of you might recognise us - Heather and Angus, two of the faces behind Whistle Post. We had planned to be one of the first couples to get married here, but life had other plans. With border closures and a new addition to our family, we had to postpone our special day. However, fast forward two years and beautiful baby George later, we finally got to celebrate our love at Whistle Post.

Whistle Post Coonawarra Wedding Invitation — Illustration and Letter Press by Deciduous Press

We feel grateful to our team of suppliers who all went above and beyond and were so accommodating with rescheduling, and to our wonderful team of venue staff who ensured everything ran smoothly behind the scenes while we enjoyed our day as the wedding couple.

We're so happy to share the details of our wedding with you. We hope you'll enjoy reading them and feel inspired to create your own unforgettable day. All photography shared here was taken by our wonderful wedding photographer Tomek Celarek.

Our advice when picking a photographer for your wedding - pick someone whose photo style not only suits what you are after, but more importantly someone you will enjoy spending the day with, someone who will add to your wedding experience. Tomek was exactly this for us.

For the groom's location, we chose the Yalumba Menzies Retreat. We've always been drawn to its stunning architecture and beautiful rammed earth walls. The modern and moody interior provides an excellent space for getting ready, and the vineyard and bush surroundings offer a unique and picturesque backdrop for photos

Yalumba Menzies retreat

The bride's location was the Cloisters of Kalangadoo, a modern church conversion. Its contemporary renovation created open-plan spaces with ample natural light, making it the perfect spot for getting ready. The traditional arches and windows of the church added a classic touch, providing a beautiful backdrop for photos.

Cloisters of Kalangadoo

Our ceremony took place right here on the vineyard lawn, with the backdrop of vineyards and the golden elm tree towering overhead. Floral design was by the talented Blomme Flora.

Our cocktail hour began with a spectacular 5-tiered champagne tower, followed by a relaxing time on the lawn where guests enjoyed lawn games, Whistle Post wines, and delicious canapés provided by St Bees Catering. Adelaide based band The Good Old Fashioned way entertained guests with acoustic music.

The Coonawarra region has so many beautiful locations for photos. For our wedding, we took advantage of the vineyards, open spaces, and old gum trees on the grounds of Whistle Post, as well as multiple other locations in the area including Yalumba Menzies Retreat.

After the cocktail hour, guests made their way to the Barrel Hall for the reception. The Barrel Hall was arranged with banquet-style seating, and the beautiful canopy of fairy and festoon lights illuminated the room. To add to the ambience, floral arrangements were placed along the wine barrels by Blomme Flora.

We love a grand bridal party entrance, and the timber doors of the barrel hall provide the perfect entryway for this.

As the night went on, the Barrel Hall came alive with dinner, dancing, and speeches. Our delicious meal was catered by the fabulous team at St Bees Catering

Our wedding cake deserves its own moment. Sally at Moments to Savour expertly crafted it, painstakingly folding each piece of rice paper into a stunning origami structure.