Getting married in Melbourne? Here are some of the key points you need to know;
● Photos with your wedding party in the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens
● Dining at superb cafes and restaurants on the banks of the Yarra River
● A relaxing day filled with the cutest animals at Melbourne Zoo before your wedding
● Wedding party at Melbourne's newest waterfront entertainment
Wedding Venues in Melbourne
Melbourne wedding venues come in every type, every style, every size and budget. The city provides so many options that you will find yourself lost between the choices from a small function to cheap, beachside to the rustic, garden to winery weddings. Start planning your special day today by finding the best venues according to your needs and preferences. Decide on your budget; type, style and size of your wedding. We will handle the rest by presenting you with the unique venues.
Different Ceremony and Wedding Reception Types in Melbourne
Melbourne has many different ceremony and reception venue types due to its vast culture and geography. You can find yourself petting an animal at a zoo or riding on the back of a golf cart on your special day. You can even rent private property like houses and land!
Melbourne Garden Weddings
There is a wide variety of fantastic outdoor venues in Melbourne, especially breathtakingly beautiful gardens with colourful flowers and verdant foliage as the backdrop. The most popular ones are situated in the surrounds of Yarra Valley; mainly in little towns, 30-40 minutes drive from Melbourne's central business district such as Coldstream, Warrandyte, Yarra Glen, Dixons Creek and many more. Most of the garden venues are located next to the beautiful lakes so that you can have memorable times with stunning pictures with your loved ones. In case of unfavourable weather conditions, you can move your wedding indoors.
Melbourne Beach Wedding Venues
Whether it’s casual and boho, or modern and luxurious, you can find beachside venues in Melbourne that will suit your unique style. The stunning Port Phillip Bay and the Mornington Peninsula have some of the best beaches in the world. They offer many breathtaking ceremony spots to choose from, including, of course on the beach, gorgeous reception rooms, restaurants with panoramic sea views and many more. You can have your reception at various locations such as piers, yacht clubs, hotels and many other waterfront facilities. Your beachside love story will feel complete with iconic photos that most of the venues include in their packages.
Melbourne Rooftop Wedding Venues
If you are planning to have your wedding under the stars and lights of the city with your friends, do not forget to check hidden rooftop venues in the laneways of Melbourne CBD. Melbourne offers vast options with picturesque landscapes such as an exquisite view of the Port Philip bay together with the city skyline. Most of the rooftops can hold 100 to even 400 guests according to your needs and preferences.
Melbourne Wedding Chapels and Churches
There are a vast amount of churches and chapels in Melbourne that reflect the country's 19th-century history, and many took on English gothic styles. They exhibit striking designs and architecture. It is crucial to book to date as far ahead as possible since many of them will schedule weddings up to a year in advance.
Melbourne Winery Wedding Venues
You can have a perfect weekend away for a winery wedding in some wonderful wine-making regions, including Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, and the Yarra Valley, all of which are less than 2 hours’ drive away from Melbourne CBD. Melbourne winery wedding venues offer delicious food made with local produce, and boutique wines made with love. Wouldn't it be perfect for toasting to a happy future together with your partner with mountains rising in the distance?
Frequently Asked Questions
We have gathered the most popular questions that come from excited couples like you about Melbourne weddings.
What’s the best venue for you in Melbourne?
If you're having a hard time choosing a venue in Melbourne, this answer is perfect for you. First, finalize your guest list roughly since you will choose a facility according to its capacity. Second, you should eliminate all the ones above your budget. This way you won’t lose any time and won’t be disappointed afterwards. Third, you should choose it according to the season that you plan to have your ceremony. For example, if you want to marry in Spring, you should choose a venue that has both indoor and outdoor facilities in case of unfavourable weather conditions.
What is the best time of year for a wedding in Melbourne?
In Melbourne, lots of couples marry every year, and they mostly prefer summer and weekends to marry. Therefore, the demand for Melbourne wedding venues increases at those times. So, marrying in the seasons other than summer and having a reception or ceremony on weekdays costs less and the chance of finding budget venues is higher. If you are strong about marrying in summer at a beautiful beach or other types of reception venues, you should start searching for it at least one year before. Also, you can have discounts by reserving the facility early. If you choose the ones that are relatively far from the city centre, the cost would be lower since many couples prefer popular venues in Melbourne CBD. The other factor is whether or not you want extra services except the ones in the wedding package provided by the facility.
What are the popular wedding styles in Melbourne?
Whether you are decorating with your partner or working with a stylist, the vast style options of Melbourne weddings bring your visual dreams to life. If you are planning a rustic wedding, you can use rustic boutonnieres, get married in a tipi, host your ceremony outside using hay bales or stripped-back wooden chairs for your guests to sit on, stand your cake on a log and many more. You can use barns or wineries for this style. Moreover, you can have a modern rustic ceremony and reception, combining both styles! Versatility and modern vibes blend perfectly with a touch of rustic decor.
Art deco is a massive favourite with everyone, as vintage ideas go. For a fabulous Jazz age reception, you can prefer a geometric ceremony backdrop with floating gold triangles, a gold sequined tablecloth, a mix of vintage and modern candle holders and contrasting hues, velvet details on furniture, a vintage bar cart, a typewriter as your guest book and many more. You can also choose from many art deco reception venues as many of the details will be already worked out for you.
One of the other styles that are preferred by couples is industrial weddings. Melbourne hosts many warehouse venues. You can give a new life to abandoned and neglected converted lofts, old factories, warehouses with details such as peeling paint, exposed bricks, visible pipes and cement floor and many more. Although these details seem unappealing by some, they look splendid with modern decorations. You can use lush blooms, greenery, boho rug, candles, bulbs and neon signs to add a minimalistic chic feeling.
If you are looking for a unique and individual facility tailored to your needs, Melbourne boutique venues are the right choice for you. One of the best advantages of this style is that you and your guest will be able to enjoy on-site accommodation, whether it's in the heart of the city or suburbs. As a decor, you can use fairytale chandeliers, starlit ceilings, lanterns, honeycombs, flower frames and many more. Suppose all of these decorations, themes and styles seem not so important to you and you think that the meaning is more important. In that case, you can always have a simple, casual ceremony with your actual nearest and dearest in small and cheap venues in Melbourne.
Should we consider any wedding venue locations near Melbourne?
The western suburbs of Melbourne distinguish themselves with heritage-listed, historic rustic venues such as farms, vineyards and castles with elegant dining rooms featuring chapels and gazebos. On the other hand, the eastern suburbs offer old factories, gracious Victorian estates, including picturesque gardens with their lakes and restaurants with handcrafted beers and local wines. Whichever part you choose, we guarantee that you'll find cheap wedding venues and lots of small function rooms with lush, evergreen forests, uninterrupted rolling hills views and many more. The popular destinations for couples looking for a venue in the western and eastern suburbs are Docklands, St Kilda, Eltham, Sorrento, Epping, and Essendon. They are close to Melbourne CBD and can be reached easily by car.
How much is a wedding venue in Melbourne?
From the vast options of venues, you can choose the one that is tailored to your budget. First, you have to decide on the size of your special day. Whether you want an intimate, small or huge luxurious one will change the budget a lot. You can find lots of cheap, affordable reception and function venues easily by narrowing your guest list. Moreover, you can choose elopement packages, just like more and more couples do every day. You can say 'I do' to your partner in front of your immediate family and a few of your closest friends. The other thing that affects the cost is the packages provided by the facility. You can check them in-depth and find that many places offer cheap wedding packages under $100 per person. Also, the type of reception affects the cost hugely. For instance, if you want to hold a cocktail wedding, the price will be lower compared to serving food at your reception.
How to find the perfect wedding concept for you and your partner?
Think about the things that you and your partner mutually love. It can be a book, film, song or even an era like Jazz. Wouldn't it be perfect to choose it as the theme of your wedding? You can select extreme themes such as Safari, skydiving ceremonies, or even underwater 'I do's. You can go with more common themes such as Star Wars, Harry Potter-themed weddings or you can throw a fabulous party just like the ones in the Great Gatsby at the best venues. However, whatever theme you choose, you must take into account the features of the place, the season, and your style. The rest will be easy and fun to plan!
How to find the perfect clothes to wear according to the wedding venue?
The couples who prefer classic or traditional venues favour suits, ballgown style dresses, and tuxedos. The wedding dress must be matching with the luxurious environment and therefore, laced; princess cut ones can be chosen. Chic facilities require a formal dress code for the guests as well. Elegant weddings combine traditional ones with a modern twist even though it looks quite formal. You can have your reception at a traditional reception venue in Melbourne yet choose to wear a non-traditional dress. If you want to have an art deco wedding in warehouses or historic buildings, vintage garments, hair and makeup can be preferred. For the Melbourne beachside venues, modest dresses and light-coloured suits would be the ideal choice. A slim A-line, lightweight ballgown, relaxed sheath especially when paired with a breathable fabrication like crepe or tulle would be perfect. Also, wearing sandals or even no shoes can be practical to walk on the sand easily. For garden weddings or other outdoor venues in Melbourne, the choice of the clothes would be up to the ceremony that you have planned. For instance, if you want to have a relaxed environment with games and food trucks, you should wear comfortable clothes. However, if you plan to move to your wedding indoor for a classy dinner reception, going with the formal such as suits and mermaid or trumpet cut dresses would be wiser.
How far in advance should you plan a wedding in Melbourne?
With so many options floating around and many tasks that have to be dealt with, the minimum period should be 3 months when you think about all the details, vendors and invitations etc. However, most couples start planning at least 1 year before their most special day to ensure that everything goes perfectly according to the plan.
What questions should I ask when looking for a wedding venue in Melbourne?
Start with general questions such as “what’s your capacity?” or “can I see the menu options?”. Check availability for your desired date, exclusivity, booking time, licensed room for ceremony and catering. Continue with logistics such as wedding planner, set-up, restrictions etc. Ask as many questions as you can to find your dream venue!
