Posted on April 22 2019
A couple of weekends ago, we ventured to the Midlands Meander for a wedding at Abingdon Wine Estate, and stayed the night at the Natal Midlands Cottages on Inverness farm. Read on to find out more about our stay and the lovely wedding venue!
Inverness farm is a charming location just 80 minutes from Durban. We drove in through their vineyard and were escorted to our cottage (pictured above) that overlooks rolling hills covered in lush green grass, farm-fences, trees changing from green to a vibrant orange with the changing seasons, and the occasional grazing farm animal.
Inverness Farm Cottages have a real home away from home feel!
Our cottage was so lovely! Decorated perfectly for a traditional, quaint farm cottage. It wasn’t huge, but certainly spacious enough with a bathroom ensuite, a TV and plenty of tea, coffee, biscuits, rusks and fresh fruit to help yourself to.
We were welcomed not just by the owner, but also by her 2 lovely dogs. If you’re an animal lover, you will adore these gentle giants, and if not, don’t worry, they’re not allowed inside the cottages and are very well behaved!
You will also love my posts on Blueberry Cafe Midlands Meander, A Misty Midlands Meander Weekend, and Underberg Fields of Gold.
We had a late breakfast when we arrived in the Midlands, so once we were settled in our cottage (pictured below), it was time to get ready for the wedding!
Dressed and ready to go, we headed off to Abingdon Wine Estate which was a short 10 minute drive away.
It was our first visit to this wine estate, and I’ve spent ages trying to think of the perfect way to describe it – I think it is to say that we were taken in by its effortless charm and quiet beauty.
There is nothing flashy or pretentious about Abingdon Wine Estate, it’s welcoming, pretty and seemingly at peace just as it is. Much like my sweet friend who’s wedding it was this gloriously perfect – not a cloud in the sky – sunny Saturday in the middle of April.
It struck me that this was the absolute perfect wedding venue for the marrying couple.
They had the ceremony in the sunshine at noon, the guests sat on hay bales as the bride and groom made their vows.
After the ceremony and congratulations were over, we all headed over to the reception area where long barn style tables were set with simple crockery and beautiful orchids.
The truly happy couple cut their gorgeous cake, and then went off to have their photos taken while the guests enjoyed a slice of cake and some refreshments.
When the time came, we were served course after course of delicious food. First wooden boards of bread, cheese, olives and cold meat, then a palate cleansing watermelon, apple and mint salad. Followed by a broccoli pasta salad, then platters of roast pork and phyllo pastry cups filled with baked salmon. And lastly scrumptious pot pies – chicken or ox-tail.
Speeches took place while we ate, which is an inspired idea, if you ask me. Everything is better when there’s food in your belly. But the speeches were really great too!
The dessert table was piled high with dense, fudgey brownies (my fave!), creme brûlée pots (also my fave!), and I can’t remember what else coz those were the two options that I couldn’t resist. But it all looked amazing!
I couldn’t be happier for our special friends, it was evident that this was one of the best days of their lives, as it should be!
The next day, we had a yum breakfast at Piggly Wiggly, and then headed home.
The Midlands Meander is such a fun and accessible weekend destination, with so many choices of where to stay, where to eat and what to do while you’re there!
I highly recommend checking it out the next time you feel like a weekend (or longer) getaway in Natal.
Or, perhaps you have a wedding to plan, or know someone who does, Abingdon Wine Estate may be worth a look!
- Have you been to either of these places? Or the Midlands Meander in general?
- What’s your favourite place to stay?
- And what’s your favourite restaurant or coffee shop in the Midlands? I want to try them the next time we’re there!!