We have a diverse range of wedding ceremony locations at Markovina Estate, each with its unique charm and various benefits and reasons why they are so popular. Each of them feels like its own world, despite being all contained within our 10-acre Auckland wedding venue. Furthermore, we have won several wedding awards for the diversity of these stunning ceremony locations. However, with so much choice, it can be challenging to decide which ceremony location to make that lifelong commitment. In this blog series, we go through each location one by one and highlight their main features, seasonal changes, as well as the rich history behind the venue and each ceremony space. This piece will go through The Stone Fireplace, the perfect indoor wedding venue option.
The Stone Fireplace is our indoor ceremony choice, perfect for winter weddings and wet summer days. Just envision it: walking down the long atrium towards our Otago schist fireplace. Your guests stand up as you walk under the fairy light chandelier towards your partner. The numerous floor-to-ceiling glass panels bring nature into our atrium, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens, while seated in the warmth of the indoor fireplace.
Better yet, after the ceremony concludes, the area is transformed into a cozy lounge setting, allowing guests to mix and mingle around the fireplace and share moments of your romantic journey leading to your wedding day. While being the wet weather backup for our couples, some even opt for the Stone Fireplace as their first choice ceremony location, and it’s no surprise why.
The History
As one of our more recent ceremony locations, the Stone Fireplace was built to replace our previous indoor ceremony setting. Before its completion, our previous space had the backdrop of stacked wine barrels, which have now been moved outside to create The Barrels ceremony location. Instead of a smaller transitional indoor/outdoor space, there was a need to expand the indoor seating capacity, meaning greater flexibility for all wedding party sizes in any weather conditions. As a result, the entire space was expanded, with floor-to-ceiling glass installed to allow as much of the garden wedding venue's beauty to be visible from the comfort of the indoor fireplace.
Seasonal Considerations
The Stone Fireplace is our indoor ceremony space, so the seasons have no impact. At Markovina Estate, we understand that many couples prefer to get married at one of our outdoor garden wedding locations. As a result, couples don’t need to lock in their preferred location weeks in advance; instead, we plan as though the weather will be stunning. If the weather takes a turn, we can switch on the day and move the ceremony to our beautiful Stone Fireplace.
Other Considerations
Being located within our indoor space, the ceremony at the Stone Fireplace makes it easy for guests to travel from the ceremony to the reception space, especially for guests with mobility impairments. Furthermore, while our grounds are wheelchair accessible, the indoor fireplace offers a smooth concrete floor, making it easy for these guests to move around comfortably.
With the bridal room attached to the side of our reception space, the bridal party can go straight from the bridal room down the aisle. To keep the bride hidden, we close the curtains at the end of the atrium and slightly open them for each bridesmaid one at a time until it's time for the bride to walk down the aisle.
Final Thoughts
With our Otago schist fireplace and the surrounding gardens all in view of guests, the Stone Fireplace brings elegance and beauty to your wedding ceremony. It’s no wonder some couples opt for it as their first choice. Even if you don’t choose the fireplace for your ceremony, your guests will be sure to lounge and mingle by the fire with a drink in hand. If you’d like to check out The Stone Fireplace and explore all of our other ceremony locations at our Kumeu wedding venue, contact our team to book a viewing at Markovina Estate.
