City weddings. We love ‘em. Not only are they central and brimming with accommodation options for your guests, but there are plenty of photo ops, too. Today we’re helping kick off your wedding planning journey nice and easy with 16 of our favourite urban wedding venues around Oz and NZ. Foodies can take full advantage of the fab restaurants we’ve included (hey hey Rupert on Rupert looking god damn gorg above!), while those keen to host a blank canvas warehouse party will be spoilt for choice. We’ve got luxe hotels (The Calile we’re looking at you), we’ve got heritage buildings and we’ve got seaside soirees covered off, too (Manly Pav or Moby Dicks anyone?). As for locations, we’ve done our best to sort a little something-something for everyone.
If you’ve already locked in your venue and are now on the hunt for vendors to take your day next-level, be sure to check out our Top 20 Florists, Top 20 Stylists and Top 18 Caterers posts. While you’re at it, why not grab a copy of our Wedding Planner & Notebook to keep all your notes/thoughts/ideas in one tidy and cute spot.
But for now, start your scroll with the best of the best urban wedding venues…
The Calile Hotel
This rather swish architectural specimen is a fave wedding venue of ours due to the sheer multitude of photo ops on offer. City skylines, arched windows and textural backdrops abound (click here for a peek). There are plenty of event spaces on offer to hold both your ceremony and reception including the rooftop, amphitheatre and poolside. Being a five-star hotel, you can also expect all the trimmings if you also choose to snag yourself a room (think spa treatments and top-notch accommodation). Check out Ariella & Ryan’s wedding here and Kate & Matt’s nups here to see how this iconic Brissie venue can provide the perfect backdrop for your big day.
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Post Office Hotel
As far as Melbourne venues go, Post Office Hotel has got the lot. We’re talking capacity for up to 250 guests, a super versatile warehouse-style dining hall (separate from the main pub) with exposed beams and vintage pendant light and even a dedicated wedding coordinator. Best of all, they have an onsite brewery and are more than a little keen to whip you up a personalised brew for the big day. Bec & Jason had plenty of good things to say about this one. Check out their day here and drop the venue a line here if you’re keen to lock in a date.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Milton St Substation
A beautifully restored art deco building with warm exposed brick interior, black stainless steel staircases, timber ceilings and versatile room set-ups, the Milton St Substation in New Zealand’s Christchurch is a blank canvas venue, which offers on-site beverage and furniture hire packages. This epic space, which can host up to 290, consists of an entrance foyer, dancefloor, mezzanine, sun-trap balcony, rear courtyard, powder rooms and facilities for catering, so you can that moodboard into reality.
Location: Christchurch, NZ
The Mint
History lovers will be stoked to learn that Sydney’s iconic The Mint is available for celebrating your big day. The heritage-listed venue provides a sandstone backdrop with the outdoor lawn available for both your ceremony and reception. Wanna take it indoors? The architecturally designed Gold Melting Room is available, too! If you fancy checking out this space in action, take a peek at Jess & Dan’s stunning day.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Rupert on Rupert
There is very good reason why Rupert On Rupert is a favourite among Hello May couples – not only does this inner-city gem tailor inclusive packages to suit your style, but it boasts a rockstar team led by owners Mali and Ric, and serves up incredible food and good booze, all delivered with thoughtful service. What more could you ask for?! Well… how about a plant-filled conservatory which provides the most perf backdrop to say ‘I do’ and photo ops galore, and a main dining hall with cathedral-high ceilings that can hold up to 80 seated or 200 cocktail-style. Wanna check out what a wedding looks like in this unique and wonderful converted warehouse restaurant? Dani & Adam’s and Nic & Odi’s are recent bangers that you should stop what you’re doing and check out now. Then head here to shoot off an enquiry to this standout Melbourne venue.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
The Wool Mill
Blank canvas lovers, this one is for you. The Wool Mill is the hostess with the mostess, offering multiple event spaces set over two levels. The exposed brick walls and soaring ceilings lend themselves to any styling brief you like (check out a few options here). If you’re all about a seamless experience, opt for The Wool Mill’s wedding planning service which covers venue, wedding planner, catering, drinks, music, photographer, flowers, hair & makeup, invitations, celebrant, guest favours and more. Check out two of all-time fave weddings Ash & Nic’s and Helen & Elle’s for a tonne more inspo on how to use this epic space.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
The Calyx
Home to one of the largest green walls in the Southern Hemisphere, The Calyx is a unique, show-stopping venue in the heart of Sydney’s Botanic Gardens. This space is as amazing as they come and can host intimate affairs as well as the grandest of soirees (their capacity is 400!) – your guests are sure to be blown away by this iconic setting.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Ovolo Nishi
Smack bang in the middle of the nation’s capital is Ovolo Nishi – a luxury boutique hotel with event spaces that can cater weddings for 250 peeps and also serves up seriously delish eats. Francheska & Dan hosted their stunner of a day there and say it best: “The two most important factors for us when we were choosing our venue were: the food had to be amazing as we love love love food. And an indoor venue where we could have our ceremony and reception in the same place, with a great aesthetic for wedding photos. The Ovolo Nishi had a huge tick with these two things, and we couldn’t have imagined a better venue.”
Location: Canberra, ACT
Whisky & Wood
These guys may be a blank canvas venue of sorts, but DIY haters don’t stress, as they provide full bar service as well as the option of on-the-day support and coordination to ensure everything runs perfectly, furniture and decor for hire, and a whole host of dream vendors to connect you with. The space itself has tonnes of industrial charm, boasting eight-metre high ceilings and exposed brick walls and is able to accomodate 120 of your closest humans.
Location: Wellington, NZ
Manly Pavillion
Overlooking Manly Harbour is the freshly revamped Manly Pavillion. This heritage space is ideal for couples keen to tie the knot by the sea without travelling far from the city. The surrounding harbour makes for a pretty swish backdrop. Manly Pavillion can host up to 250 guests canapé style and, best of all, you can look forward to an ultra-fresh modern Australian menu.
Location: Sydney, NSW
The Trust
“When Manhattan meets Melbourne” is the catch-cry of this seriously stylish space in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, which can hold up to 350 of you nearest and dearest. You can expect dark polished woods, marble floors, ambient pendant lighting, and a grand bar, as well as ample room for a d-floor, floral installations and long timber tables. In short, you can throw one helluva party at The Trust.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Guildhall
Picture this. You’re celebrating your wedding with a cocktail party for up to 120, or perhaps a sit-down feast for up to 54, in a secluded courtyard under the stars that flows seamlessly through to a full-service bar. Sound good? This is what the versatile Guildhall in WA’s Fremantle has to offer… oh, as well as an absolutely topnotch catering service. “It’s everything we could have asked for and more,” said Ruth & Evan of their venue. Head here to check out their fun and fab day.
Location: North Fremantle, WA
The Button Factory
This dedicated function space – a 1950s converted button factory – is an urban gem where you can host your party from woe to go. Journey from one unique space to the next, starting in the garden oasis where you can say your ‘I Do’s’, then stop by the bar and sip a martini while you graze in The Gallery. When it’s time to dine (and party), the light-filled upstairs Loft hosts up to 200 of your favourite humans. Plus, The Button Factory (part of the Nudo portfolio) has a team of highly recommended vendors who will transform this space to match your wildest dreams. Sound like heaven? You can get in touch with these legends right here.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Moby Dicks
We love a splash of coastal chic and Moby Dicks Whale Beach is brimming with the good stuff. This super fresh beachside venue offers a variety of food and bevvy packages for up to 200 guests. A booking here even includes fresh floral styling! Win! You can expect modern Aussie bites, inspired by the ocean and surrounds. Catch Skye & Nick’s Whale Beach wedding here for a little sneak peek.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Sunnybrae Estate
This heritage-listed estate sits on eight acres and is only 12 minutes from the Adelaide CBD. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and with three separate spaces to host your wedding on-site, you’ll feel far away from the hustle, without actually leaving the city. Win-win! Oh, and did we mention the delish Mediterrean-inspired menu? Maggie & Matt had only rave reviews about the place – check out their day of days here.
Location: Adelaide, SA
Siglo Bar
Primarily a European-inspired bar, but also keen to sort your wedding for you, Siglo is a cool AF open-air rooftop terrace with striking views of old-world Melbourne. You can expect exceptional cocktails, delicious share-style meals, an intimate setting and warm service. To see this venue come to life, check out Michaela & Dan’s wedding here and Emily & Tyson’s here.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
CREDITS Photos (from top) Hey Babe Photography, George Bowden Photography, Kyra Boyer, Nicole Gourley, Hey Babe Photography, Rolan John Photo, Images By Kevin, Caity & Duncan, Auburn Photography, Tales of Romance, Kitty Loves Love, Rolan John Photo, The Boathouse Group, Jacob Jennings, Finder Seeker