Many visitors to the Hunter Valley have driven past the picturesque little white church on Lovedale Road and wondered about the story behind it.

The Lovedale Wedding Chapel was built in 2004 by Bob Carmichael in the style of an old country church. It is available for both civil and religious ceremonies and the chapel can be decorated in any style to suit the bride and groom.

The inside of the chapel is simple, with beautiful handcrafted pews which can seat up to 108 people.

Over 800 ceremonies have been conducted in the chapel and the Lovedale Chapel Wedding Co-ordinator, Ashlee Stobbart, says that every ceremony is different:

“We have had brides who have arrived on their own horses! Other brides had used the local Horse & Carriage service and this is always a nice entrance. Another exciting way for the wedding party to arrive is via helicopter, as it can land right next to the chapel. The helicopter can drop off the Groom & Groomsmen and then pick up the Bride & Bridesmaids up from the top paddock, before landing back at the chapel again.”

The Chapel has a beautiful setting surrounded by a number of Hunter Valley vineyards. In July 2014, a reception venue was added to the property. It has been a welcome addition, as it has enabled the entire wedding to take place all in the one place. All catering can be organized through the specially selected caterer “Eden Catering”, who provide a range of different styled menus, from a buffet style, table share menu, to two courses-three courses.

The Bride & Groom can supply their own beverages, which are served by the RSA staff and this aspect alone can save the Bride and Groom many thousands of dollars.

The Lovedale Wedding Chapel and Reception Venue is run by owner Bob Carmichael with Ashlee, as the Manager. Bob and Ashlee were work colleagues for five years and when Bob decided to build the reception centre, he did this after consulting with Ashlee and asking her to come on board as his manager and help set up the business. Their aim has been to provide high quality weddings in a venue which gives the bridal couple freedom to design their wedding with their own personal touch, without the high price tag of Sydney.

And the final touch? The property also offer three on-site cottages for the perfect accommodation for the wedding party, friends or family.

Weddings are often booked up to one year to 18 months in advance. Ashlee recommends early booking to secure your preferred date.

Packages and venue hire information are available from lovedaleweddings@gmail.com. Ashlee is always available via phone and can arrange to post out requested information if preferred. Or you can find out more at the Lovedale Chapel website.