One of the most important challenges you face when planning a truly incredible event is choosing a dazzling venue. Once you solve that problem, magically, much of the project management will fall into place.
As a full-time Melbourne wedding celebrant (I’ve married over 500 couples all around Victoria,) my gift to you is my honest feedback on the very best wedding spots!
I love Melbourne and believe it’s the perfect choice for a modern wedding. Melbourne oozes sophistication and culture, wrapping it up with a decent dose of ‘edgy-hipster cool.’
Melbourne is all about ‘world-class’ dining and has become known for it's very own version of ‘stylish-luxe.’ Post covid, the cities wedding venues have once again opened it's doors to exceptional cuisine, sparkling cocktails and celebrations of love!
Listing my favourite wedding venues has been a real challenge. There is no particular order - I love them all! And in terms of other Melbourne wedding vendors, here are some of my favourites.
Pics by Jackson Grant
This is a wedding venue with incredible flair! In fact, Rupert’s impeccably styled interior is certainly it’s most ‘stand-out’ feature. Think ‘Melbourne-edge with a feminine, retro feel,’ the place features quirky vintage furniture, lush indoor plants & stunning oversized floral wallpaper. If you’re lucky enough to get married here, you could save on other styling elements and your photos are sure to ‘Wow!’
And then there are the staff, (on top of the amazing food & drinks.) I’m always amazed at the team’s attention to detail and the fact that Mali & Co. greet every single guest. This place is extraordinary. Book it if you can!
Pics by Black Avenue
A relatively new wedding venue, Half Acre has quickly made a name as one of the best.
It’s luxe. It’s fancy. And with their incredible cuisine and bar serving up the most inspired dishes, a wedding at Half Acre is an absolute treat for your guests.
The whole concept feels original, elegant and rustic in a super modern way; there’s that timber feature wall, high ceilings and an open floor plan which will appeal to couples with a taste for design. Get in quick!
Pics by Danny Milo
POH is one of Melbourne’s best kept wedding secrets. From the outside it gives little away about it’s unique and creative wedding space. One of things I love most about this venue is the team, who are simply incredible. And don’t underestimate the importance of having wonderful people to guide you through this process - both in recommending quality suppliers all the way through to the wedding night itself.
Another great thing about POH is that the ceremony space which has an outdoor / indoor feel and is completely weather-proof. This is vital in Melbourne! POH also have a quality sound system, (an often under looked feature) and their food is sensational. The place has a very creative, fun vibe.
Pics by It's Beautiful Here
Twin wedding venues Glasshaus Inside & Outside will set a tone of mystery for your guests when they arrive. An inner-city nursery by day, the place transforms at night (just like Cinderalla,) into a into a magical and extremely photogenic, green wonderland. Even the air feels fragrantly, clean here. It must be all those beautiful living plants. Not to mention that styling is completely taken care of!
Set in the heart of Richmond this venue partners with top-notch food & beverage suppliers to ensure a completely unique, romantic & surprising wedding experience. Modern romance in a nutshell.
Historic and elegant but with an ultra-modern, luxe vibe!
An event at Quat Quatta is a very special treat for your guests. I love the courtyard which offers up a comfortable, attractive place for your ceremony complete with a stage and a fabulous team who attend to every last detail, ensuring things run smoothly.
At QQ it’s the little things that add up; like the very fancy driveway entrance where it all feels a quite regal, the availability of off-street guest parking and the quiet intimate spaces to sit and chat on the très élégante veranda.
Simply put, weddings at Quat Quatta are magnifique!
I adore the drama, the history and every last detail conjured up inside the walls of The George. A ballroom, in a heritage listed building, in the heart of St Kilda - it’s hard to get more ‘classic-Melbourne’ than this.
This place has wow-factor and stunning window lighting where everyone looks and feels elegant – your photographer’s job just got way easier!
The George’s partnership with Damn Fine Foods ensures a professional Chef & Styling team, whilst the sound system for the ceremony itself is top quality. Weddings at The George are unforgettably classic and dramatic.
Weddings here feel ‘super’ Melbourne; seriously cool, yet fun & exciting. A brewery / distillery & winery in the heart of hipster Collingwood is sure to become the stuff of legends for years among your mates, lucky enough to get an invite!
I love their use of space, sectioning off the main dining area during the ceremony. Plus, their reputation for excellent food and wine is rock solid. Just check out their cheese stations!
Offering up everything perfect about a beach wedding, whilst solving all the problems of a beach wedding: Meaning, you get to enjoy the romance of the salty air (in uber cool St Kilda no-less,) the sunset, photos by the sea and even the ‘sand between your toes,’ BUT you don’t have to stress about weather.
Ask any wedding professional - beach weddings are a nightmare; think gale winds, drizzle, scalding sand & arbours flying! But at stunning Encore, you get the picture-perfect wedding (either indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather,) whilst all your guests can relax, sit back and enjoy themselves in total comfort. Encore have a fantastic sound system and team to ensure your day is perfect.
This list of wedding venues would not be complete without a Melbourne rooftop! The Stolen Gem is the one!
It’s that sensational spot Melbournians whisper about – the one with the unbelievable views and the private club feel. And it’s perfect if you’re trying to create a more of a ‘grown up’ cocktail party-wedding with an uber-cool vibe.
I love the location – you find it on an ordinary city street, then, (welcomed by a friendly bouncer,) you get whisked up a fancy lift to find yourself amongst the city skyline in an uber cool bar. The Stolen Gem is luxe, fun and Oh So Melbourne!
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Kate Morgan is a full time, Melbourne based wedding celebrant.
For more info visit the website
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