Dark Horse Vineyard · Lovedale
Dark Horse Vineyard Weddings, Catered by EXP.
A vineyard wedding in Lovedale, with a two-hatted kitchen cooking for you. EXP. Restaurant is the exclusive wedding caterer at Dark Horse Vineyard, one of the Hunter Valley's most loved vineyard and barn wedding venues, for weddings of 40 guests or more.
Dark Horse Weddings & Events
A Lovedale wedding venue among the vines
Dark Horse Vineyard is a private estate on Wilderness Road, Lovedale, and one of the most loved Hunter Valley wedding venues. Say your vows on the estate, gather on the lawn for canapés, then move into the barn for dinner: a vineyard wedding in the Hunter Valley and a barn wedding venue in one place.
EXP. is the exclusive caterer at Dark Horse under a three-year partnership, so your Hunter Valley wedding catering comes from a two-hatted kitchen: Two Chef Hats and Regional Restaurant of the Year, SMH Good Food Guide 2026. Unlike most wedding caterers in the Hunter Valley, we cook modern Australian, seasonal food built on long relationships with local producers including Redgate Farm, Binnie Beef, Hungerford Meats, Nebo Farm and Newcastle Greens.
Planning from the city? Many of our couples come from Newcastle and across NSW. If you have been looking at wedding catering in Newcastle, NSW, Lovedale is an easy drive away, with the same two-hatted team cooking on the day.
Because most couples stay on the estate for the weekend, we can look after the whole stay: a welcome or rehearsal dinner the night before, grazing while you get ready, the wedding itself and a recovery brunch the morning after.
At a glance
- Dark Horse Vineyard, Wilderness Road, Lovedale
- Weddings of 40 guests or more
- Shared, plated and cocktail menus from $105 pp
- Cutlery, plateware and white linen napkins included
- Drinks supplied by Dark Horse, served by our RSA-certified bar team
- One dedicated contact, with replies within 48 hours on business days
- Complimentary group menu tasting before your wedding
2026–2027 wedding packages
Wedding packages in the Hunter Valley, at Dark Horse Vineyard
Every wedding day package includes a canapé hour (3 varieties), EXP. signature sourdough with cultured butter, your wedding cake cut and served on platters, and cutlery, plateware and white linen napkins.
Shared & cocktail
Shared menus: 2 entrées, 2 proteins and 3 sides. The three-course menu adds a dessert grazing station.
Plated
The whole weekend
Beverages are supplied by Dark Horse Vineyard. Bar service includes RSA-certified staff, table service, glassware and ice.
Upgrades include oyster, raw and charcuterie bars, petit fours and late-night snacks. Minimum 40 guests; a $1,000 deposit secures your date. Pricing applies to weddings in 2026–2027.
Planning with EXP.
How our Hunter Valley wedding catering works
01 · Choose your food format
Shared, plated or cocktail, each with a canapé hour and EXP. signature sourdough.
02 · Add upgrades
Oyster and raw bars, charcuterie, petit fours, late-night snacks and the weekend catering.
03 · Drinks & bar service
Choose your beverages with Dark Horse, and our RSA-certified team looks after the bar and table service.
Dark Horse wedding FAQs
Who caters weddings at Dark Horse Vineyard?
EXP. Restaurant is the exclusive caterer at Dark Horse Vineyard in Lovedale, Hunter Valley, under a three-year partnership.
How much does wedding catering at Dark Horse Vineyard cost?
For 2026–27, menus start from $105 per person for a cocktail reception, $120 for a two-course shared menu and $140 for a three-course shared menu or a two-course plated menu. Every package includes cutlery, plateware, white linen napkins and your wedding cake cut and served on platters.
Who supplies the drinks at a Dark Horse wedding?
All beverages are supplied by Dark Horse Vineyard, including packages featuring Dark Horse wines. EXP. provides the bar service: RSA-certified bar staff, table service, glassware and ice.
Do you offer a wedding menu tasting?
Yes. Complimentary group tastings are held before your wedding, and we'll contact you with the dates. If none suit, a private tasting can be arranged for $400.
What is the minimum guest number for a Dark Horse wedding?
The minimum is 40 guests, and a $1,000 deposit secures your date. For celebrations of up to 30 guests, our Pokolbin restaurant is available for exclusive use.
Can EXP. cater the whole wedding weekend?
Yes. We can cater a welcome dinner the night before, grazing while the bridal party gets ready, and a recovery brunch the morning after.
Can you cater a rehearsal dinner in the Hunter Valley?
Yes. We can cater a welcome or rehearsal dinner at Dark Horse the night before your wedding. For a smaller rehearsal dinner, our Pokolbin restaurant can host up to 30 guests.
Under 40 guests?
Micro weddings in the Hunter Valley, at EXP. Pokolbin
For a smaller celebration, our two-hatted restaurant is one of the most intimate small wedding venues in the Hunter Valley, with exclusive use for micro weddings, elopements and wedding dinners for up to 30 guests.
See small weddings & private eventsEnquire about your Dark Horse wedding
Tell us your date, guest numbers and the menu format you're considering. We'll come back to you within 48 hours on business days with availability and the full 2026–27 wedding package.