Best Small Wedding Venues
We love small weddings! We always feel like we’re part of the family when we play at them. There are some fantastic small wedding venues in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Here are our favourite intimate wedding spaces.
(Updated October 2024)
The Estate Trentham
If you’re planning a DIY wedding in country Victoria, The Estate in Trentham is a must-see. Tucked away at the back of town, on the road to Daylesford, this quaint historic cottage has several outdoor and indoor spaces you can use for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. There’s plenty of room inside the house to get ready, along with a functional kitchen for catering. When we played here the ceremony was held in the garden around the side of the house, cocktails out the front, first half of reception in the backyard, after which everyone moved into the barn where the dance floor was set up. Best time to book your wedding is October to April, as this venue is suited best to an outdoor wedding and it gets very cold in Trentham over winter.
Lake House Daylesford
Lake House has a couple of rooms suitable for intimate weddings of up to 40 guests, as well as a larger space that can seat 150. The shores of the pretty lake are a popular place to get married, after which it’s just a short walk up the steps to the reception spaces. Exceptional food and service completes the package.
Lawson Lodge Country Estate
Lawson Lodge is an excellent choice if you’re having a small wedding, need accommodation (there’s plenty), and want a blank canvas you can decorate yourself. With both indoor and outdoor spaces and a handy partition between the two, it can cater to any weather. It has a real family vibe and the staff are super friendly. For the golfers there’s also a stunning 9 hole course, and for the wildlife enthusiasts or international visitors keep your eyes out for the local kangaroos that drop in towards dusk. It’s just five minutes off the Calder Freeway, and within an hour’s drive of Melbourne.
The Acres of Tooborac
The Acres of Tooborac is an historic colonial homestead set in the rolling hills of the Macedon Ranges just North of Lancefield, and is one of the most beautiful venues in country Victoria. It’s a great spot for a small, relaxed wedding, and is more of a DIY venue – a blank canvas for you to do your own thing with. The staff are friendly and easygoing, and nothing is too much trouble.
Arc One Gallery
Arc One operates as an art gallery, but the adjoining fine-dining restaurant Cumulus Inc also uses the space to host events like weddings. The room is essentially a blank template, which is great for couples who have something specific in mind for the decor. The food, provided by Cumulus, is superb.
Sir Henry Barkly Hotel
This pub is located in the heart of bustling Heidelberg in Melbourne’s north-east. The Sir Henry Barkly Hotel (or Barklys for short) has a warm atmosphere, great no-fuss pub food, friendly, helpful staff, and a perfect-sized function room for cocktail-style events of under 100 people, with attached outdoor terrace / beer garden, and plenty of comfortable seating. Also perfect for corporate events, engagement parties, and birthdays.
Eureka 89
There are views, then there are views. Eureka 89, on the 89th floor of Eureka Tower in Southbank, is a spectacular venue on every level. The food and service are first-class and the lighting, decor, and acoustics are superb. Sit-down or cocktail options, as well as two different-sized spaces to choose from (or hire both if you need to). For those who would rather have a small wedding with the best of everything, than a big one on a budget.
Looking for a wedding ceremony venue? Check out this article.