Charlotte Monis
2024
Hitesh and I were unsure of what we wanted from the venues we were viewing, but we knew we wanted a place that would leave us in awe. Your venue did exactly that.
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but with the right team by your side, it can be a breeze. This was exactly our experience at Abel Estate, where Stephanie, Nikki, and Virginia were instrumental in making our wedding planning journey effortless.
From the moment we set foot on the stunning grounds of Abel Estate, we were greeted with warm smiles and an air of professionalism that instantly put us at ease. They took the time to get to know us as a couple and understand our vision for the day, and then worked tirelessly to bring it to life.
Kelly Sinclair
2024
We recently had the pleasure of hosting our wedding at Abel Estate, and I can't express enough how it exceeded all our expectations. From the moment we stepped onto the grounds on the day, we were blown away by the meticulous maintenance and stunning decor.
Months of planning and envisioning every detail came together flawlessly, creating a picture-perfect setting for our special day. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect backdrop. We highly recommend to any couple looking for a dream wedding venue!
For dinner the 3-course plated meal was simply delish. The food was super fresh and beautifully prepared and plated, big compliments to the chef and the rest of the team in the kitchen. My only regret is not eating more on the day!
We also highly recommend the oyster bar to future brides and grooms who appreciate the finer things in life. The entire culinary experience at our wedding truly exceeded all expectations.
Rebecca Rhodes
2024
I had seen the images of what Abel Estate was going to look like (while it was still Gracehill) and booked it based on those images. It surpassed our expectations! Such a beautiful venue. So many guest commented on how stunning it was, even down to the bathrooms!
It was definitely worth paying for the styling package. We didn’t have to think about a thing and the place looked amazing! The flowers and table settings were perfect. The guests were blown away!
Having the planning spreadsheet to fill in was super helpful, and so were the planning meetings. All the staff went above and beyond to try make everything possible, especially Steph and Nikki.
Carmen Sutherland
2024
The location of the venue was absolutely stunning. Everyone remarked on how beautiful and peaceful it was. We could do everything in one location and didn't have to move off-site. There were so many different places to take photos, and we didn't even get the chance to use half of the space as time ran out! The venue inside was beautiful, and the large open space meant it didn't feel crowded and cramped. It looks very modern inside, and with the large windows overlooking the gardens, one doesn't have to style the inside too much.
All the planning was very stress-free with no hassles. It was lovely that it was just super easy and didn't have to think about it much.
The food was delicious, and there was quite a lot on the plate, which meant guests weren't left hungry. We opted for petit fours for dessert as we found the portion sizes to be too large to finish our main course. We didn't hear a single complaint about any of the food. They accommodated every dietary requirement for all our guests.
Shezhana Jayawickrema
2024
Since we got engaged June 2022 and chose Abel Estate as our wedding venue we have had constant communication and efficient execution of our ideas into reality.
All the team involved were happy to answer all our questions (and we had a few!) right up until the day nearly two years later. The phone calls, video calls and wedding summary all made for a stress-free dream wedding.
Everything was well maintained and put together, the outdoor environment was aesthetically stunning from the sweeping greenery, lookout over the lake to the beautiful swing which was used as a great photo opportunity for many guests as well as the vineyards which completed the look. All this combined with a sunny summers day made for a picture perfect wedding.
Sarah muller
2024
Abel Estate is the dream venue for those couples who want a beautiful fairytale garden wedding. Abel Estate has vast greenery, stunning florals blooming all over the place, an incredible lake with wildlife and gorgeous white features such as the swing chair and the rotunda. Abel Estate looks and feels like you’re stepping into wonderland, it is bright, fun, relaxing and well taken care of. We absolutely could not fault a thing.
Our florals, provided by the venue, were better than I could have ever expected. Our ceremony florals, our reception florals and our bouquets all exceeded my expectations. Our whole wedding was pastel floral inspired so I was nervous that my “Pinterest board of dreams” wouldn’t come to life the way I imagined it to in my head, but it was far better.
Abel Estate offers so many different options for all different dietary requirements. We went for the buffet option and have absolutely no regrets, the food was hot at all times, delicious and excellent quality. Most of our guests came to us and commented that the food was incredible.
Susan Salter
2024
We drove by it one day and thought it was just magical and that it had everything we wanted. We contacted them and came in right away for a viewing and signed up right on the spot!
On the day it was picture perfect. It was everything I pictured and hoped for.
All our guests were amazed and loved it too. Our wedding pictures look incredible and it was so great to have so many spots to shoot from.
The styling was just spot on. So elegant, classic and pretty. Looks amazing in the photos. Meghann did a fabulous job with the flowers.
James Kim
2024
The canapes were so tasty and had so much variety of flavour suitable for everyone! People were clamouring for more! The buffet choice worked well for our guests as well, with braised pork belly being the stand-out dish!
The vineyard suite is a must for the bride and wedding party to get ready! The photo booth was well utilised as well as the outdoor games.
Abel Estate is a classic, modern garden venue with an iconic lake background in the heart of Kumeu. The outdoor setting is outstanding with such diversity which was great for photos!
Anna Maddren
2023
Abel Estate was the first venue we came to view, and we decided not to look further, as everything looked perfect - a beautiful location with a lake and vineyard, a great airy venue for the reception, an experienced team, providing great support with the wedding planning.
Our wedding was very well organised by the Abel Estate team, and every little detail was thought through. We had several meetings with wedding planners, which was super helpful. Thank you to the Abel Estate team for organizing our wedding! It was a pleasure working with you all.
Rachel Brentnall
2023
The menu we were offered was varied and appetising. The chef catered for all dietary needs including making a sensational fruit platter for my diabetic bridesmaid; she was the envy of the whole wedding party! The food was tasty and well presented, and we didn't have any unnecessary wait time. The good quality wine and beer went down well over dinner, and the drinks package was a great option for us. We enjoyed the couples cocktails too - delicious!
Stephanie was an excellent wedding host. She took us through everything we needed to know during the practice a few days prior, and was a great communicator throughout the process. She was able to make decisions in the moment and was very attentive to us as the bride and groom during the ceremony and reception.
Kirsten To
2023
Our vision for our wedding was to have it where there were beautiful and picturesque view around us. We love the concept of having something romantic and magical, and Abel Estate had this. It was really my dream to have my wedding in a lovely garden beside a lake and once again, all of these are in Abel Estate.
My husband and I are working full-time, so having that concierge package made it so much easier for us. We did not get that stressed with planning, especially in the early months. The team at Abel Estate were always helpful and they do not hesitate to answer our million questions, especially that we are from other countries and wedding customs here are a bit different from ours. But they were also so flexible with the crazy ideas that we had for our wedding. They do not take long to respond to our enquiries and suggestions. The team did an excellent job and has a high level of professionalism.
Lidia Sokolova
2023
The wedding was absolutely amazing because Abel Estate made it so easy for us with so many things included that we didn't have to spend time looking around. They recommended an amazing florist who delivered way beyond our expectations. The planning meetings were really super helpful along with the staff that we had the pleasure of working with.
Our wedding coordinator Stephanie was the best and made sure the day was seamless and that we always had a drink in hand. Her amazing personality really made the day so special for us as she definitely went above and beyond for us and our guests. It was awesome that we could have additional bits and pieces on hire like the photo booth and the neon signs along with the table runners.
Breanna Fuller
2023
Abel Estate has a beautiful look. The ceremony space was perfect. The styling by the venue exceeded expectations. More floral styling etc was including with our package than I realised.
There was great service and planning that made the process easier for us.
Jarvis Dams
2023
We really loved the venue and that there was the option to have the ceremony indoors. Our guests often commented how much they loved the space.
The service was great, we were well informed the whole way through the planning process. The hosts on the day were fantastic and really helped make our day special. The food was really great and there was plenty to choose from even for people with dietary requirements.
Rebecca Dennis
2023
We had the best day ever and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Abel Estate.
From our initial planning with the wedding events manager Nikki to the final meetings with wedding day-of coordinator Steph we felt very looked after. All our questions were answered promptly and we were never made to feel like a bother.
Our guests raved about the food that was served. We chose the buffet style and so many guests went up for seconds or thirds. The pork belly was a hot favourite.
Monique Edwards
2023
The venue looked absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. This is something that I think the Abel Estate owners do very well. They know how to make an environment look stunning. As for the flowers by GO Flowers, WOW. They were top-notch. I would highly recommend Meghann and I can see why Abel Estate partners with them.
The food was delicious! I am so pleased! I feel as though there was plenty of food and it was all very tasty. The drinks were great! I wasn't sure if they were going to be cheap and cheerful but I loved how they tasted and our guests seemed very happy too.
Nathan Tavelia-Augustine
2023
We couldn't believe that a place as beautiful as Able Estate could be as affordable as it was. We booked a date and placed a deposit the same day we walked in.
The autumn-themed flowers (Abel Estate flower package) sat beautifully with the linen and wood tables and the warm lighting left a beautiful contrast to the soft wet weather outside. The small neon light (Style package perk) sat between the hanging grass decorations along the walls which made a perfect space for indoor photography. Abel Estate also made full use of every decoration we provided to work in tandem with the styling package of theirs to create the perfect environment for my wedding day.
Friends and family had many compliments to share after the wedding about how the food was decorated as well as how great it all tasted. In fact everyone struggled to eat up the mains as there was no self control over the canapé and starters. Majority of us were full before the mains were served. And even then we ate what we could. The food was simply too good to turn down.
Nicole Van Der Walt
2023
We found Abel Estate online and when we saw the place we thought it was beautiful. The views were amazing.
The reception was beautiful, loved the flowers and layout. The venue styling made the wedding planning easier. The food was yummy and the portions were generous.
Britney Robson-Reeves
2023
We had known that Abel Estate was where we wanted to get married a handful of years ago because of the beautiful location and finally were able to decide on a date at the end of 2022. We confirmed our date and booked it on the same day as our viewing.
Ruth and Stephanie answered any questions I had, no matter how silly I thought they were. With six months to plan we had to work quickly in organising, and the ability to have a decorating package made the planning feel much easier. All of my contact with Stephanie and Ruth was met with kindness, and understanding and never took more than two days for me to receive a response.
Charnny Bun
2023
We loved how beautiful the outdoor setting is at the venue, it provided the perfect backdrop for our special day. The wet weather on the day forced us inside but provided a deeply intimate, personal and beautiful ceremony. Our indoor ceremony looked beautiful thanks to the flowery arch and other decorations provided by the venue. We were also grateful that the venue is set up in a way that allowed us to decorate and tailor our reception to what we envisioned, the staff were very accommodating with this.
The service we received on the day was 10/10 - the staff were efficient and polite, everything was served with a smile.
Kurt Drew
2023
We loved how beautiful the outdoor setting is at the venue, it provided the perfect backdrop for our special day. The wet weather on the day forced us inside but provided a deeply intimate, personal and beautiful ceremony. Our indoor ceremony looked beautiful thanks to the flowery arch and other decorations provided by the venue. We were also grateful that the venue is set up in a way that allowed us to decorate and tailor our reception to what we envisioned, the staff were very accommodating with this.
We found the food on the day was delightfully well presented and delicious, with the dessert canopy options to die for. The open bar selection really worked for us and our guests on the day, with prior special requests being catered.
Alex carleton
2023
Service on the night was great, we felt very taken care of. One of our younger guests (four months old) accidentally broke a plate and apparently the staff were very kind whilst dealing with it. Stephanie was an amazing host. She made us feel like we were more than just another client. She ensured that we were never without food or bubbles to drink.
The canape selection all tasted great and our guests all had a different favourite. The starters and main were both really good, the beef cheek melted in your mouth. The drink selection was good, one of the guests made a special mention that it was great to see some good quality beers available as part of the package. The bubbles and wine went down a treat with everyone else too.
Dimitar kenderov
2023
The venue and styling was of very high standard, we got many compliments from our guests on how beautiful the venue was.
Nikki, Stephanie and everyone else from the team that was involved in the service and planning were all excellent. Food was great.
