From harbourside to the hills and from the tropics to town, we’ve rounded up 15 brand new (or beautifully revamped) wedding ceremony and wedding reception venues from right around Australia! Some of these diverse event spaces and locations may even take your fancy as your bridal shower, engagement or buck’s party venue too. P.S. Want more Australian wedding venue ideas? Find more function spaces that we’ve loved forever right here!
1. The Pavillion at Turon Gates Mountain Retreat – Capertee, New South Wales
There’s just so much to love about the new 150 square metre Pavillion event “tent” at the eco-friendly Turon Gates. It’s surrounded by the idyllic bushland of the Blue Mountains. It overlooks a lovely stream. It’s heated for winter weddings and the venue is even pet-friendly! There are also cottages and glamping options available onsite for your guests’ accommodation or even your honeymoon.
Capacity: 100 seated, 120 standing
2. Yallamundi Rooms at the Sydney Opera House – Sydney, NSW
Completing the Opera House’s make-over of their function and event centre, the Yallamundi Rooms means “storyteller” in the local Aboriginal language. And we’re sure many love stories will start their next chapter here. This curved events space enjoys on-trend terrazzo floors, an iconic location and of course panoramic views of the glittering Sydney Harbour.
Capacity: 180 seated, 400 standing
3. Palmyra – Rainbow Flat, NSW
This new bushland homestead captures that destination wedding vibe without being too far from home. The heritage-inspired B&B itself sleeps 12 adults so you could rent the entire place out for a wedding weekend with only your closest friends and family. Otherwise, the sprawling 13-acre grounds can canter to a gala production for hundreds upon hundreds in a pinch. Glamping accom optional!
Capacity: 300+
4. Daydream Island Resort – Whitsundays Islands, Queensland
Many a bride and groom-to-be’s dream wedding (or elopement) destination is finally back! Fully recovered from tropical cyclone Debbie, Daydream Island is now open and taking bookings for tropical weddings, refurbished and better than ever. You can even be married in an underwater observatory as marine life swims all around you!
Capacity: 200 seated, 250 standing
5. Prospect House – Richmond, Tasmania
Just outside Richmond Village, set among the sprawling vineyards of Coal River’s wine region sits the 190-year-old Prospect House. Recently restored to (better than) former glory, this private hotel is styled in the fashion of a Georgian country estate. It’s a truly private wedding venue option that feels both grand and intimate at the same time. When can we move in?
Capacity: 35 seated, 50 standing (and 24 for bed and breakfast)
6. Princess Cruises – Sydney Harbour, New South Wales
Did you know, it’s a myth that all sea captains can marry couples (they actually need to be certified)? But your dream of getting married “at sea” could be a reality as Princess Cruises has just launched harbourside ceremonies on-deck of their superliner while moored in Sydney Harbour. Guests can attend your nautical-but-nice wedding without joining you on a whole cruise. Plus – bonus – as soon as you’re wed, you can sail instantly into your honeymoon!
7. Rivermead Estate – Guanaba, Queensland
Upon entering this country club-esque, 55 acre property, you’d never know you were only a short skip away from the Gold Coast. With a lake, river, macadamia plantation, a day spa, polo field and even horses all on-site, unique wedding ideas abound here! There’s even an actual butler and staff. So, if you want to feel like royalty-on-vacation during your big day (go on, make it a whole weekend), Rivermead might be just the place for you.
Capacity: 200 seated, 500 standing (or up to 7000 on the polo field if you feel extravagant)
8. Hayman Island – Whitsundays Islands, Queensland
Dreamy tropical celebrations have returned to Hayman. Choose from beach, garden, bar, poolside, restaurant, yacht or Coral seaside ceremony and reception locations – both indoors and out. Perhaps, make a grand entrance and arrive by helicopter or sea-plane? You could even take over the entire island for your very own deluxe private getaway.
Capacity: 330 seated or standing
9. City Winery Brisbane – Fortitude Valley, Queensland
Now Brisbanites can capture that winery wedding feeling, without all the pesky travel that usually comes with it. Foodies can choose to celebrate in the farm-to-table style restaurant. Those who want a cosy, intimate reception could opt for the private cellar. And those who simply love good wine might love the barrel room, a working micro-winery by day accented with oak casks.
Capacity: 180 seated, 250 standing
10. Botanic House – Sydney, New South Wales
The former Botanic Gardens Restaurant has been reinvigorated with an in-depth, light-filled makeover and a menu of mod-Asian cuisine by celebrity chef, Luke Nguyen. Based in the heart of Sydney’s lushly manicured Royal Botanic Garden, a wedding here will be filled with foliage, greenery and glimpses of Sydney Harbour.
Capacity: 150 seated, 300 standing
11. R Bar – Southbank, Victoria
If a cocktail wedding is on your mind, the brand new R Bar awaits. Inspired by destination hotel bars from around the world and the golden era of iconic cocktails, this venue embraces old school glamour. Would your guests be impressed by a customised tableside martini service? How about a feast of oysters, caviar and crab cakes all washed down with barrel-aged spirits? Settle in amid plush emerald surroundings, underneath a bubbly light installation, and toast your new life together with a little Australian-flavoured opulence.
Capacity: 110 seated, 300 standing
12. Ivory Tusk – Fortitude Valley, Queensland
From Palm Springs to Tijuana, this new bar hints at exotic, tropical locales. Switch out your Champagne toast for a sip of tequila and have your guests dine on cauliflower tacos and gazpacho shooters. We do adore the idea of using this space a real fiesta of a colourful wedding that goes late into the night but, naturally, those hot pastel interiors make for a memorable bridal shower or hen’s party venue too!
Capacity: 1000 standing
13. El Camino Cantina – Fitzroy, Victoria
This one’s for the couples who just want their wedding or engagement party to be fun and full of vivid colour! Real fiestas can be thrown at the tex-mex flavoured venue of El Camino Cantina. The space is cavernous, with multiple balcony bars and private dining spaces for smaller soirees like buck’s and hen’s parties. A celebration here will leave you dreaming of a honeymoon in Playa del Carmen.
Capacity: 400 seated, 600 standing
14. The Fortitude Music Hall – Fortitude Valley, Queensland
A working concert and performance venue, The Fortitude Music Hall’s claim to fame is as the largest ballroom or theatre-style venue in Australia. If your love story is really more of a love song, this art deco tinged space might be the one for you. If you’ve always dreamed of being a rockstar or don’t mind a little (good) drama in your lives, you could tie the knot on stage surrounded by spotlights, chandeliers and everyone you know and love.
Capacity: 480 seated, 2200 standing
15. The Wool Mill – Brunswick East, Victoria
Nudo are now hosting all-inclusive (ie. way less planning for you!) weddings inside this renovated 1930s warehouse. The Wool Mill features multiple levels and spaces so you can easily make your wedding a transportive experience. The industrial, blank canvas feeling of the space has been retained through versatile concrete floors and whitewashed walls.
Capacity: 200 seated, 200 standing
If you’re still looking for your perfect wedding venue, then here are even more recently opened beauties!
About Ms Fleur De Lys: Aside from being Ms Polka’s Editorial Assistant, Ms Fleur de Lys is also Polka Dot Bride’s Melbourne correspondent so you’ll see her running all over town finding wedding inspiration. As both a lifestyle journalist and cocktail aficionado, Fleur appreciates the power of words whipped up as deftly as a good martini.
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