Inside Darjon Vineyard
Bridal Party - November Wedding at Darjon
Imagine exchanging vows surrounded by lush grapevines, surrounded by trees that paint the perfect backdrop for your special day. Small vineyards offer a unique and intimate setting for weddings, providing a romantic atmosphere that is both enchanting and serene.
Front of Darjon Vineyard’s main hall
These charming venues like Darjon Vineyard not only host your ceremony and reception but also create an experience filled with character and beauty. Think of rustic elegance—the charming wooden barrels, sun-drenched terraces, and twinkling fairy lights that transform the venue into a magical landscape as the sun sets over the vines.
Things This Article Will Cover
Ceremony and Reception Details
Vendor Insider Notes
Pros and Cons of a Vineyard Wedding Venue
Wedding Photography at Darjon Vineyard
Accommodation in Mandeville Area
Travel Options
Ceremonies and Receptions at Darjon
Darjon Vineyard’s serene setting nestled in the lovely back roads of Mandeville, North Canterbury, where you and your guests will be enchanted by the picturesque surroundings. The reception area can host up to 99 guests, ensuring that your celebration is as intimate or grand as you desire.
They provide multiple ceremony location options
The main grassed area for larger weddings
Under the canopy
You can be looking to spend
$4000.00 for a full day of wedding event hire
$500.00 for an elopement
$1000.00 for a micro wedding
$2000.00 for half day hire
Vendor Inside Notes
Darjon is a unique venue that allows you to bring your own alcohol, providing you with the flexibility to choose your favourite drinks for your special event.
The owners love to use the old “church” bell at the venue. Generally they’ll use this to signal that the bride has arrived and is ready for the ceremony to start. You DO NOT have to do this if you don’t want to!
No one will be allowed inside before the reception or during micro weddings. So please be aware you WILL be standing outside in the weather where there is little to no shelter from the heat or rain.
You can drive all the way around the back instead of having to walk all the way from the front car park.
The front tree has been left untrimmed and as a result, it significantly prevents couples from parking or coming close to the venue for those beautiful, memorable photos. Its growth has become so pronounced that it is now too long to stand under, making it unsuitable for capturing bridal portraits.
Why choose a vineyard venue for your wedding?
Choosing a small vineyard with an inside reception area means personalized service for your wedding, where you can collaborate with passionate owners who are dedicated to making your day unforgettable. Enjoy wine tastings and hand-crafted local delicacies, making your celebration a feast for the senses. Many venues will use and buy local, especially in North Canterbury and other rural areas.
The stunning scenery naturally lends itself to candid and emotive photographs, capturing the essence of your love story against a backdrop of nature’s finest. From the first pitter-patter of the ceremony to the last dance under the stars, small vineyards provide an exquisite canvas for your wedding day—one that reflects your unique style and the love you share.
Pros for using a vineyard for your wedding venue
green lush atmosphere
romantic
many options for styling - more versatile than some venues in regards to what you can do and how.
you won’t need to travel off site for newlywed portraits
Cons
mainly outdoor - sometimes not the best for hot summer months if there is no shelter or hot weather, likewise with rainy and wet winter months.
hay-fever and allergies! There could be a lot of pollen and bees floating around depending on time of year.
sometimes limited alcohol options - check with your venue as a working vineyard may sell only their wines or specific brands of beer. Darjon itself is BYO.
Wedding Photography at Darjon
Having captured many weddings at Darjon now, I (Kathryn Louise Weddings) can provide an extremely helpful outlook not into best wedding photography locations at the North Canterbury venue, but also into how the venue is run and works. These points will help you figure out the best for your day and plan accordingly with the typical venue “quirks”.
There are lots of fantastic options for stunning wedding photographs around the beautiful vineyard and venue. My personal favourite spots include:
Inside the vineyard at the south end, which is conveniently located closest to the guests' car park.
The paddock of long grass that sits beside the guests' car park, providing a romantic spot for sunset photographs.
The picturesque paddock at the north end of the vineyard, perfect for capturing those magical moments.
The front door and the tree used to be amazing spots for bridal photos, but unfortunately, they will not be a great choice until the tree is trimmed back, allowing for a better view of the venue. Ideally, we’ll want to wait for a time when you can stand comfortably under the tree again!
If you’re looking for someone who is communicative, helpful and trustworthy, I’m definitely the Darjon frequent flyer wedding photographer you need to get in touch with!
*please note the photographers mentioned on the Darjon website aren’t either linked properly or potentially not photographing weddings anymore. If you’re searching for someone who has experience with Darjon, I would highly recommend googling “Darjon vineyard wedding photographer” (this will bring up blog posts by photographers or website pages where Darjon is mentioned or tagged) or even “North Canterbury wedding photographers”
Newlywed portraits in the Darjon vineyard - Flowers by Flourish Events
Accommodation Options in the Mandeville area
Finding the perfect accommodation for getting ready on your wedding day is essential, as it sets the tone for those precious moments before the ceremony. Choosing a location that is close to your wedding venue, allows you to minimize travel time - unfortunately there are only a select few in the Mandeville/Ohoka area. Majority of what is available are farm stays and Bed n Breakfasts. These two are my recommendations to check out…
Close to the village - Air BNB with 5 beds/4 bedrooms
Close to Ohoka Township - Bookabach property with 4 beds/4 bedrooms
Otherwise the best option would be to locate one in Rangiora or Christchurch. There is a much bigger selection and variety of styles and sizes.
Travel Options in North Canterbury
Because of where Darjon is located, self organised transport or a private bus for your guests are your best options. As for bridal cars, many of the married couples’ cars I’ve worked with have used friends cars - like the below picture.
However, in the North Canterbury and fuller Canterbury area there are also the following companies offering classic, muscle and fleet vehicles for hire - with a driver!
As for bus hire - I’ve had a lot of couples use Bentley Coachlines. Bentley are a popular and well know bus company based from Christchurch but travel throughout Canterbury for private events.
Self organised private transport for bride
Let the breath-taking beauty of the serene vineyards envelop your special day, creating a magical backdrop for your love story. With Kathryn Louise Weddings by your side, you’ll enjoy a personalized experience that captures the essence of your unique journey together. At the remarkable Darjon Vineyard, we’ll ensure that every moment of joy, laughter, and love is beautifully documented. Don’t wait any longer to start planning your dream vineyard wedding! Reach out today, and let’s make your vision a reality.