We have a diverse range of wedding ceremony locations at Markovina Estate, all unique in their own way, with 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. In this piece, we will be going through The Barrels.
The Barrels is a large stack of barrels featuring one of the vintage Markovina barrels, previously used to make port and sherry. Nothing says vineyard wedding more than original vineyard barrels. Just think, it’s a hot summer's day, and your guests are seated under the shade of the overhead trees. A refreshing breeze blows through, relieving guests from the heat. The bridal party steps out of the bridal room, tucked around the corner, to walk down the aisle as the ceremony music begins to play. As you say your vows, share your love story, and make that lifelong commitment, you are doing so within the circular backdrop of this large oak barrel, with the bridal party extending down either side of the smaller barrel stack. The ceremony concludes, signalling your introduction as a married couple for the first time, allowing you to enjoy the shaded space and the hot, sunny weather as you mix and mingle with guests. Nothing sounds better than that.
The History
The Barrels ceremony location, just like the barrel waterfall, captures and reflects the past of Markovina Estate. Before becoming one of Auckland’s top wedding venues, the entire estate used to be a vineyard lined with various grape varietals for making wine and a full distillery setup. The large central barrel that makes up The Barrels' backdrop is one of the originals used for sherry and port back when the late Ivan Markovina made wine. Now, along with ten other barrels, it forms this beautiful backdrop, popular as both a ceremony location and a backdrop for group wedding photos.
Seasonal Considerations
The Barrels as a ceremony backdrop doesn’t change all year round. It’s perfect in any season to capture that vineyard wedding ceremony. However, one great benefit of this space is the overhead tree coverage during summer. The large, lush green trees provide ample shade for your guests during a ceremony at The Barrels, meaning no overheating in the direct summer heat. For this reason, this and The Barrel Waterfall are popular choices during summer, as guests are protected and shaded from the harsh summer sun.
Other Considerations
One great benefit of The Barrels is its location on the venue grounds. It’s ideally located near the main reception space, where guests will mix and mingle at the bar during cocktail hour before being invited inside for the formalities. Furthermore, it's close to the bridal room. This means the bridal party can take a moment to unwind and finish any last-minute touch-ups in our air-conditioned room before walking down the aisle.
Another great benefit is that it's very close to the barrel waterfall. While you don’t need multiple ceremony locations, having another picturesque backdrop for group photos with the bride and groom is an added advantage. Located right next to the ceremony and the reception area, it makes it easy to get the right people in the right place for all your wedding photos at our Kumeu wedding venue.
Final Thoughts
The Barrels captures the essence of a vineyard wedding, with the rustic barrels and the rich history of a Markovina original port barrel. The shade coverage makes it a perfect location at Markovina Estate for any couple's ceremony. If you’d like to check out The Barrels and explore all of our other ceremony locations at our Kumeu wedding venue, contact our team to book a viewing at Markovina Estate.
