Merridale Cidery & Distillery, a Vancouver Island Wedding Venue

Merridale Cidery & Distillery is a gorgeous and rustic orchard wedding venue located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. It’s open air dining area overlooks the fields of apples and is in perfect view for watching the sun set. You can stay in one of their two beautiful Yurts, drink their home-made ciders and craft spirits, walk among the apple orchards and wildflowers, check out their distillery and enjoy the relaxed country feel. With a fully equipped kitchen in house, you can look forward to the appies and dinner at your wedding from their farm-to-table menu. Merridale’s hardworking team is passionate and devoted to sustainable and quality farming practices, and ensuring that every event is a success at their 20 acre slice of heaven.

Merridale Cidery History

In the early 1980’s, Al Piggot planted the orchard on the 20 acre parcel of land in Cobble Hill and procured an estate winery licence in the 90’s.  In 1999, Janet Docherty and Rick Pipes purchased the property with big dreams. Their vision to turn their farm into an experience destination would come to fruition. They renovated by added multiple structures and features to the farm including a gazebo, pond, two yurts, a distillery and cidery, vinegar shack, brick oven bakery, and of course the al fresco eatery. With the addition of the gazebo and yurts, the farm became friendlier for accommodating weddings. It is now a sought-after wedding destination on Vancouver Island.

Weddings at Merridale Cidery and Distillery

Weddings at Merridale Cidery and Distillery are available year-round. In the summer season (mid-April through October), the venue can accommodate 50-150 guests as you have access to the open-air dining area. During the winter season (November through Mid-April) your wedding guest list can be up to 65 or 125 guests using their indoor covered and heated farmhouse deck. The two yurts are only available in the summer season, and are a photographer’s delight to capture your getting ready details in. Can you imagine yourself soaking in that claw-foot tub the morning after your wedding day? Relaxing indeed.

Wedding Photo Locations Galore!

Merridale Cidery and Distillery is a photographers dream. There are so many great locations to take wedding photos you can practically shoot anywhere and it’s going to be amazing. For your formal portraits, there is the apple orchard and forest trails, the meadow and pond, and a few rustic barn-like buildings to use as backgrounds. The open air dining room where the reception and dinner usually take place is so beautiful. There is gorgeous light pouring in from all of the open sides, making for some beautiful natural light images well into the evening until the sun sets. The Edison lights strung around the building make for some dreamy twinkle lighting too.

I highly recommend checking out Merridale if you’re looking for a laid-back, farm-with-flair kind of wedding venue. Please check out their informative website here; https://www.merridale.ca/weddings

Photographs taken while second shooting for Jade Mutter of Jades Photography!