Now, we don’t want to overwhelm you, good people, but selecting your wedding venue is a bit of a biggie. The location, decor and inclusions will determine the all-important vibe (and budget!) for your big day. As always, we’d love to lend a helping hand. Hopefully, by the end of this article, we will have boosted your confidence, you will know what you’re after and you’ll have some fab suggestions to get you started.
Covering off all bases, we have included a couple ‘o’ coastal/country venues, a handful of wineries and a few DIY style spaces that make for the perfect blank canvas. We’ve got country luxe (hey hey Gabbinbar Homestead and Greyleigh, Kiama) and historic properties, including the iconic Audley Dance Hall, too.
Why country, you ask? Well, with the benefit of loads of space, this category of venues offer up a heap of extra bonuses including heritage-listed buildings, vineyards, photo ops in abundance and the opportunity to host your day in multiple event spaces. Keen to add a few more venues to your shortlist? Be sure to take a peek at our Top 15 Urban Wedding Venues post and our Top 15 Coastal Wedding Venues round up.
But for now, sit down with a cuppa and the one you love most and take a scroll…
Byron View Farm
If you’re umming and ahhing, trying to decide between a country and coastal wedding venue, then scooch Byron View Farm to the top of your list. We’re talking 360-degree views right out to the coast and 40 glorious acres to play on (all just a ten minny drive to Byron Bay!) The resident alpacas love a photobomb (exhibit A, above), the venue is also dog friendly and there are plenty of fab inclusions including furniture! Opt to host an intimate soiree on the wraparound balcony of the property’s classic cottage (like Steph & Luke did) or set some tables up under the stars, just like Eilish & Nella did here. The farm has a nice and round 60 guest capacity.
Location: Byron Bay, NSW
Lakehouse Daylesford
Lake House is one of those venues that wants for nothing. You’ve got the choice of multiple locations for your ceremony and drinks, an in-house team of stylists and a two-hatted restaurant at your disposal. No need to cut the guest list either as this venue can cater for up to 150 guests. Lake House is also one of the region’s dreamiest hotels so you’re sorted for accom. This gorgeous venue best suits couples after a relaxing lead up and a luxurious day. Check out Sarah & Jodie’s wedding here for some lush Lakehouse styling inspo.
Location: Daylesford, VIC
Gabbinbar Homestead
Gabbinbar is a rare gem of a venue that has every single desirable covered off. Gorgeous heritage-listed homestead? Tick! Phenomenal head chef? Tick! Multiple ceremony locations, 13 acres of heavenly gardens and exclusive use of the entire property! Tick, tick, tick! We love that Gabbinbar’s wood and cream features lend perfectly to any colour palette. Feel your full Cinderella fantasy whilst you dance the night away in the venue’s onsite ballroom. Check out Megan & Todd’s wedding here to catch this beauty in action.
Location: Toowoomba, QLD
Two Triple Four
Wine lovers, roll up, because Two Triple Four has you sorted on the venue front. Outdoorsy folk are welcome to host a long lunch in the vineyards whilst those keen to create a moody vibe can opt for a dinner in the barrel room. Expect seasonal and local produce alongside top-notch guidance by the venue’s in-house wedding coordinator. Best of all, you can pop by the venue’s delicious restaurant for a bite to eat, or enjoy a picnic in the vines prior to the day, all in the name of wedding research!
Location: Port Macquarie, NSW
Butterfly Red Hill
If you’re keen to curate your very own dream team of vendors and just need a super schmick venue to play host, check out Butterfly Red Hill. They’ve got four beaut acres for you to explore with up to 150 guests and ceremony and reception sites scattered throughout. These guys are dog friendly and have onsite accom for up to ten guests. Wins for days!
Location: Mornington Peninsula, VIC
Black Brewing Co
Now peeps, venues don’t get much better than this, alright? Black Brewing Co is a winery, brewery AND micro-distillery. Yep, and they’re willing to host your big day, too! Executive chef Hayden Vink has you covered with seasonal noms, whilst the beverages are well and truly sorted by the venue’s very own prods. If you fancy hosting your event outdoors, you can enjoy the venue’s picturesque vineyards or you can pop on into the super-swell open-plan restaurant. Take a peep at Emma & Alex’s wedding here for more inspo. Got a huge guest list? No worries! These guys can cater for up to a whopping 400 peeps.
Location: Margaret River, WA
Audley Dance Hall
Audley Dance Hall & Cafe is hands down Sydney’s most glorious hidden gem. Nestled in the Royal National Park, this heritage-listed dance floor gazes out over the Hacking River and can cater to up to 200 seated guests. You’re sure as heck sorted for lush ceremony backdrops and photo ops. And just wait till you get a load of their scrummy home-style menu. Take a gander at Meera & Alex’s Sydney wedding here for beaut scenery galore and be sure to plan a day trip or a bushwalk and come check it out for yourself!
Location: Sydney, NSW
Immerse Winery
A vineyard in Yarra Valley – who wouldn’t want to get married here?! This family-owned and run winery boasts 49 acres of rose gardens, wisteria archways and, of course, vines and it’s pretty bloody picturesque! But the good views don’t stop there. On top of their paddock, Immerse offer up both their open-air chapel and snazzy vineyard chapel as ceremony options. Their scummy onsite restaurant and large reception area (that can seat up to a whopping 220 guests) has you sorted for noms, too!
Location: Yarra Valley, VIC
Spring Bay Mill
Hold onto you hats, readers, because this venue has pizzazz. Once home to the world’s largest wood chip mill, Spring Bay Mill is now one of the coolest wedding venues around. You’ll find plenty of jazzed up momentos from the venue’s past alongside some super-swish architecture, all topped off with waterside views. There are a swathe of spaces available from The Tin Shed to the Sawtooth Terrace, with the venue’s largest space, The Amphitheatre, able to cater up to 400 guests. Opt to utilise a few or just settle down in one. Your call! We recently shared Georga & Calan’s big day and they had plenty of good things to say about their epic venue. Check it out here.
Location: East Coast, TAS
Greyleigh, Kiama
There’s a reason Kiama is a dream holiday destination for plenty of folks. Making use of the picturesque surrounds is Greyleigh, Kiama. This 200-acre property is ideal for a long table dinner under the stars but is capable of so much more. Choose to host your ceremony and reception in the secret garden, the orchard, upon the lawns or inside the refurbished heritage gables. They’ve got plenty of space so can host up to 200 guests. Greyleigh offers some super luxe accommodation options too, so you’re sorted for the night before AND after.
Location: South Coast, NSW
The Burrow
Family-run and owned, The Burrow offers a warm, easy and bespoke experience from the get-go. Nestled in Wombat State Forrest, the property serves up photo ops and ceremony spots for days. As for the reception space, the beaut contemporary barn can host up to 170 guests and boasts lovely cathedral ceilings, exposed hardwood and a stone fireplace, making it a blank canvas for any styling brief. Take a squiz at Erin & Justin’s wedding here to catch it all styled up.
Location: Daylesford, VIC
Beresford
Channelling something a lil bit spesh for your big day? Beresford is serving glam on glam and we like what we see. Think luxury accommodation meets world-class winery meets the wedding venue of your dreams. They have multiple event spaces suitable to a varied number of guests so prepare for you and up to 200 of your nearest and dearest to be spoilt for choice. Get in contact here if you’d like to chat.
Location: McLaren Vale, SA
Worrowing Jervis Bay
We’ve seen many a Worrowing wedding in our day and we still catch our breath each and every time at the way the space can be transformed to suit any couple’s vibe (check out Milly & Vin’s gorgeous day here). Being a DIY venue, you are able to curate your very own team to execute your vision whilst the homestead, barn and gardens of this 241-acre private estate provide the ultimate blank canvas. With Jervis Bay’s sandy white beaches just a few minutes away, we recommend making a weekend of it as Worrowing have a range of fun accommodation options for up to 41 guests. Whoop whoop!
Location: South Coast, NSW
Mewburn Park
If you’re feeling a bit of a historical backdrop to your day then you’ll do well to pop on over to Mewburn Park to take a squiz. This super spacious property has a homestead and stables dating back to the 1850s and is as charming as it gets. They also have a gorgeous clear marquee on-site that can fit up to 190 of your fave humans. The gardens are a great space for snaps and outdoor ceremony options but it’s their gorgeous heritage listed stables, strung with festoon lights, that has our vote.
Location: Gippsland, VIC
The Ridge Estate
One of the very many reasons we love The Ridge Estate is that they are all for all-inclusive pricing and have a fab range of decor and furniture for couples to utilise included in the venue price. They’ve also got onsite acomm for ten so you can make a weekend of it! Suitable for up to 120 guests, The Ridge Estate is perfect for couples looking to host an outdoor soiree with festival vibes. The team are super-duper helpful and lovely too, so be sure to drop them a line here should you have any quezzies.
Location: Central Coast, NSW
CREDITS Photos (from top) Glen Nicholls, Anamundi Weddings, I Got You Babe Weddings, Matthew Gillam Photography, Gui Jorge Photography, Glen Nicholls, Keeper Creative, Translucent Photography, Rick Liston, Sophie Sullivan Photography, Amourd Photo, The Mann Project, Silas Chau, Supplied by Beresford House, Israel Baldago Photography, Ripple Weddings, Samantha Elizabeth Photography, Susannah Johnson Photography.