It’s certainly been a month of venue searches here at Polka Dot Bride and we’ve decided to dedicate the week to helping readers find their ultimate venues! We’ve had so many questions lately that we’ll post one every day and hopefully with our searching and your knowledge we can find a venue that ticks all the boxes!
Our first bride is from Melbourne and looking for a venue close by. The criteria is as follows:
– Rustic DIY theme
– Budget
– 60 people
– Ability to hire in caterers or buffet food
– Open to a property, restaurant or function venue with good outdoor area
– Wants a venue to decorate with clear marquee, fairy lights and lanterns
– Unique and not traditional
Our suggestions?
Providence Gully is located only 5 minutes from Castlemaine, Daylesford and Hepburn Springs in Newstead Victoria. The venue features a historic barn and vine covered terrace on 40 acres of bushland and allows couples to bring in their own chosen vendors- from catering to stylists!
Warrawong Woolshed
Warrawong Woolshed is a 19th century wool shed located in Melton. The venue features beautiful wooden floors, stone walls and can hold 120 guests for a sit down dinner or 200 guests for a cocktail function. The venue allows outside caterers.
The Old Cheese Factory is located in Berwick .There a number of spaces available for weddings including the factory which can seat 120 guests and the historic homestead which can hold up to 60 guests, but a marquee allows up to 400 guests. Couples can use their own suppliers- including caterers.
Collingwood Childrens Farm – The Barn
Let’s head a little close into Melbourne for our next picks! First up ? Collingwood Childrens Farm (catered by Ed Dixon Food Design) can seat 50 or hold 120 for a cocktail function in the barn. There’s options for marquees but the barn itself has a fireplace, exposed beams and a beautiful country atmosphere. Couples can also choose the stables and farm paddock for their ceremony or pre dinner drinks.
Photo by Brent Lukey
Another urban option, Richmond, to be precise is Mountain Goat Brewery. With more of an urban rustic feel than country rustic, the venue has plenty of gorgeous features like exposed brick work, brewing tanks and cement floors. The brewery can hold 150 guests and outside caterers are welcome! There is no marquee option but plenty of room for fairy lights!
Over to you Dotties- what venues do you know of that would suit our bride to be’s requirements?
great venues, great idea to help couples.
great venues, great idea to help couples.
I’m getting married this year at Emu Bottom Homestead in Sunbury – Victoria’s oldest homestead, option of barn or homestead for reception, great outdoor areas, you might be able to have a marquee as they have a big lawn area, lots of options for decorations as well. Definitely worth a look – obviously I love it and I can’t wait to get married there!
Great list! I think The Briars at Mount Martha would also fit the bill – and now with Peninsula Link, you are probably looking at an hour from Melbourne?!
I’m getting married at the Ferny Creek Reserve in the Dandenongs. It fits 100, an old, beautiful high ceiling and weathered timber floor scout hall, like something out of a Wes Anderson flick. Opens out to a big grassy area surrounded by big trees. It’s plain on the inside but this suits us as we’d like to have free reign on the decorations. So cheap to hire and includes tables chairs and use of a recently refurbished kitchen!
Hi Lauren,
I was intrigued by your post but am having no luck finding this venue online. Do you happen to have a link? Would be much appreciated 🙂
Hi Lauren
You can find it at http://www.chateaudore.com.au or http://www.facebook.com.au/chateau.dore – lots of photos on here!
Good luck!
http://www.hallsforhire.com.au/halls-for-hire-hidden?controller=properties&task=detail&id=205
Hi Lauren,
I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about your wedding in Ferny Creek?! If you wouldn’t mind sending me an email so I can ask you directly, that would be amazing!! [email protected]
Fantasy!
Yes, Ferny Creek Reserve is a beautiful “old school” hall that you can completely stamp your own style onto. I have performed a wedding there and it was brilliant!
Other suggestions you may consider are: Gum Gully Farm, Zonzo at Train Trak winery or Seville Hill Winery
Great vintage/rustic photos taken at Chateau Dore Winery in Mandurang (near Bendigo) in Victoria on http://www.sarahjphotography.com.au website – worth a look
Great vintage/rustic photos taken at Chateau Dore Winery in Mandurang (near Bendigo) in Victoria on http://www.sarahjphotography.com.au website – worth a look
Great venue and photos
Hi, is anyone able to assist me with a website or contact for Ferny Creek Reserve in the Dandenongs? Sounds exactly like what I’m looking for!
Thanks
Hi Courtney, I actually had my wedding there in March!! It was PERFECT!! Everyone loved it as a venue too – not just us!! They don’t have a website – they just use Halls for Hire: http://www.hallsforhire.com.au/halls/ferny-creek-recreation-reserve-hall
Hi Shana,
I’m looking at holding my wedding at Ferny Creek Reserve, do you think you could please email me so i can ask you some questions about it? [email protected]. thank you!
Hey guys,
We held our wedding a Byrchendale. Our friends loved the laid back country atmosphere it held. There was an on site rustic barn chapel for the ceremony, a beautiful huge marquee and gorgeous toilets (no portaloos’s that usually come with hiring a marquee!). They also let us choose our caterers and bring our own alcohol which saved us so much money!
Hi,
Just wondering what the cost of hire there was.
Thanks!
The Log Cabin Ranch in Monbulk!
I attended a wedding here in December and it was beautiful. Rustic and very unique.
I’ve also heard Gum Gully is lovely.
Great venues on display here. I think Providence Gully looks amazing! Thanks for posting this, i look forward to reading some more articles, maybe with a bit more images :p