NAT’s TOP WEDDING VENUES- MELBOURNE and SURROUNDS.
Rupert on Rupert- by Finder Seeker.
When you’re planning your wedding, your venue will be the first thing you decide on.
The components that will guide your choice come down to:
Budget- Obvs.
Geography- City or Valley/ Ranges/ Ninch etc.
Capacity- Better to have less space than too much IMO.
Management- I wouldn’t even consider somewhere without a dedicated events team, who are experienced in weddings.
Vibe- What ‘feeling’ are you trying to achieve?
Food and drinks- Quality, quantity etc.
Also consider.. sound restrictions! Some urban venues have reaaaallly restrictive rules that personally wouldn’t suit me.
Annnd wet weather backup- You must be happy with the plan b. Don’t assume you won’t have to use it.
Glasshaus Brücke- by Sarah Godenzi.
NAT’S FAVE VENUE PICKS (CITY)
Rupert on Rupert (Collingwood) - Classy with personality, Beautifully styled and expertly run. Excellent food and drinks. Lots of greenery so doesn’t need much. A very ‘Melbourne’ experience. Toasty in winter.
Glasshaus Brücke (Richmond)- Downstairs for ceremony, upstairs for reception. Having two separated spaces works well. Beautifully kitted out, also with a tonne of greenery. Large capacity.
Panama Dining Room (Fitzroy)- Melbourne institution, bougie warehouse style with iconic arch windows overlooking the plane trees. Beautiful in any season. Excellent food and drinks.
Oliva Social (Preston)- New kid on the block. Gorgeous space, excellent food and drinks and tightly run by a team who couldn’t do more for you. Currently adding an outdoor option for summer.
Old Palm Liquor (Brunswick)- As Northside as you like, bougie wine bar vibes. Cosy winter option, incredible inventive food and excellent wine and cocktails.
NAT’S FAVE VENUE PICKS (OUTSIDE MELBOURNE)
Projekt 3488 (Warburton)- One of a kind. A truly unique space that has been carefully curated by it’s onsite owners. Amazing party space with a large deck surrounded by gum trees and native gardens. Stunning ceiling decor over the dancefloor with a special surprise. Catering brought in but bar managed by Projekt.
Polperro(Red Hill)- Gorgeous space surrounded by rolling green vineyards and lines of majestic gums. Exceedingly well run. Excellent food and wine, as you’d expect.
Churchill (Taradale)- Lovingly restored 1858 church in the Macedon Ranges. Truly beautiful for photos and exceptionally well run by the very experienced Prunella team.
St Agnes(Kyneton)- Country estate vibes with a homestead, surrounded by vineyards and gardens. Also run by Prunella.
The Burrow (Denver)- Modern barn style in Wombat State Forest. Multiple useable spaces for guests to hang in or have a quiet moment. The paddock area on a summer’s day with live music is absolute perfection for pre reception drinks.
Projekt 3488- by Dan Brannan
NAT’S FAVE SMALL WEDDING VENUES
Aunty Kim’s (Collingwood)- Warehouse vines with class; concrete walls softened by velvet curtaining and chandeliers. A beautiful space with excellent food (they are owned by the Rice Paper Scissors team) so expect delicious Asian fusion, incredible wine and cocktails.
Old Palm Liquor (Brunswick)- Whether it’s a long bougie lunch or a cozy winter wedding in front of the fireplace, you cannot go wrong. Food and drinks 11/10 here.
Marion (Fitzroy)- Classy wine bar vibes on a laneway. As Melbourne as it gets. Amazing food and drinks enjoyed surrounded by exposed brick and banquette seating.
Glasshaus Inside (Cremorne)- A truly beautiful little space that feels like an indoor nursery. Quite quirky and literally heaving with plants so you can do absolutely nothing with styling and get away with it.
Aunty Kim’s- by Hey Jack
For more on choosing a venue, see this blog