Here it is, my list of the Top 10 Kickass Yarra Valley Wedding Venues for 2021.

Congratulations on considering the premier region in the state for your wedding.

What could be a nicer backdrop for a ceremony than a sweeping vineyard vista just one hour from Melbourne?

You may have been sold on the destination already just from the idea of having your ceremony among the grapevines and giving your guests an unforgettable weekend away.

However:

There are still many Yarra Valley wedding venues to choose from with differing size requirements, budgets, indoor/outdoor options and customisation flexibility.

Who am I to make this list? Well, I’m a wedding photographer who works almost exclusively in this region and have been a life long resident. I’m a part of wedding days from start to finish in all conditions and all seasons, all over the Yarra Valley. Frankly, I think I’m in the best position to make this list. It’s also why you should check out my Top 10 tips for better wedding photos.

I’ve listed them in alphabetical order. We’re all different and each venue offers its own unique value which can be perfect for you.

Starting off the list is the family-run Acacia Ridge.

The first thing you will notice when meeting Cathy and Lachie, is how incredibly approachable and accommodating they are. If you felt daunted or overwhelmed by meetings at any of your other venues so far, you are going to feel right at home here.

Their setting is, quite frankly, picture-perfect. Set back from the Melba Hwy in Yarra Glen, they benefit from far-reaching views over their vineyard to the mountains beyond.

The ceremony spot sits right at the base of the vines and is overlooked by an 1850’s miner’s hut and their new and ever-improving reception area; a boho-inspired marquee with its open air views over the Yarra Valley.

Acacia Ridge can accommodate up to 140 seated guests or 200 guests for cocktail reception in the barn and 200 seated or 280 cocktail style in the marquee.

The beauty of this is your complete flexibility for catering. You’re not restricted to a dining package, you can bring in food trucks, order pizzas, or, my personal favourite as she has served the best meal I’ve ever had at a wedding, Jessie from Locavore Studio.

I can’t recommend these guys enough if you’re after a down to earth venue with stunning Yarra Valley views and incredible flexibility on catering.

In the company of only a handful of Yarra Valley wedding venues, Balgownie Estate can offer the comprehensive wedding experience of having your ceremony, reception and accommodation all on the one beautiful property with great views and very well maintained premises.

The accommodation here is more moderately priced than Stones and comes with some great facilities like the day spa and tennis court. They also really excel in their organisation of activities at local attractions.

For these reasons, I really recommend Balgownie for wedding parties that are coming to experience the Yarra Valley beyond the wedding.

A  wedding at Balgownie Estate will  come with a lot of inclusions for 80 guests or more (sit-down receptions are capped at 130 guests) such as hire of the Melba room with floor-to-ceiling windows for the reception, the vineyard facing deck or marquee for the ceremony, a tasting menu and even a complimentary spa suite for the bride and groom.

The historical home of one of Australia’s most famous women, Dame Nellie Melba, Coombe Yarra Valley offers unique, heritage buildings inside exquisitely manicured gardens.

They compliment their award winning premises with region leading food and wine and the utmost professional staff. Their menu is carefully curated by one of the Yarra Valley’s finest head chefs, Neil Cunningham.

Walking around their beautiful property, you get a great sense of being inside a secret garden, with boundless photo opportunities at every turn.

If you would like to have your ceremony at Coombe, there are many beautiful options including under the 180 year old oak tree, in the Italian garden or on the lawn in front of Coombe Cottage with a wet-weather option inside the Melba Gallery. Ceremonies give you access to the gardens for your unmissable wedding photos. I particularly love Dame Nellie’s homestead with its vine-covered, outdoor spiral staircase!

Where to even start? Perhaps by stating confidently that you have never been to place like Projekt 3488. There is no comparison. It is in a world of its own.

You won’t find a vineyard or a winery, a brewery, or even paddocks with grassy fields. That’s not what Projekt is.

It’s an experience. One that you and your guests won’t be forgetting any time soon.

As soon as you arrive in an unsuspecting area of Warburton and see the strong double red brick facade of what was once a masonic hall, with monkeys on the walls and coloured lights beaming through the small circular window upstairs, you’ll have an idea what you’re in for.

Owner and creator Mark Fenech and his partner Sandi will take you on the tour of their masterpiece. Mark, like Projekt, is one of a kind. Both charming and disarming, you’ll be shocked at how quickly you’ll find yourself talking so frankly with someone you’ve just met. He is intrinsically linked with the venue as it is not just his creation for a place to gather and celebrate love, but also his home.

You’ll see immediately that it’s impossible to just make a wedding venue like this, it only comes from a lifetime of artfully curating interesting bits of furniture and decor. Mark’s gift, and there’s no other word for it, at creating an atmosphere like this works as a natural magnet for other exceptionally talented artists who have lended their craft to the walls, ceilings and entertainment that makes Projekt 3488 stand alone as the most unique wedding venue I’ve ever seen.

The enchanting reception hall offers incredible versatility to transform from a ceremony space, to a dining hall to a dance floor thanks to Mark’s ingenuity with the invention of a concertina table that’s frankly hard to explain but never fails to gain the awe of guests as they watch the transformation in action. If this were a club, you’d be hard pressed to find a better one in Australia. If an epic dance floor experience is high on your list of priorities, look no further.

The garden at Projekt is yet another extension Mark’s infinite creativity. In the space of just a few years, Mark has transformed a carpark into a secret garden that appeals to all ages. Watch your grandparents and kids kids alike get lost in its wandering pathways, ponds and perfectly placed flora. Your guests will love the hidden seats, the outdoor fire pit and the upstairs deck looking out over the Warbuton mountains. With its proximity to the redwood forest and the Yarra River, there are no shortage of photo locations nearby or get them all done onsite!

Projekt really is a year round venue as it doesn’t rely on the outdoors or weather to give your guests an incredible experience. Nearly all of my favourite nights out in the Yarra Valley have been at winter parties here. This is also a great way to to trial the party atmosphere!

Another great thing about Projekt is it probably won’t leave you on the fence. You likely found this blog by googling Yarra Valley wedding venues and had a vineyard venue in mind. So you’ll either read this and know it’s not the venue for you, or you’ll drop everything to visit it and will be incapable of finding anything else like it. If you want to give your guests the gift of having something to brag about to everyone they encounter, this could be the venue for you.

The Riverstone Estate offers another spectacular natural setting. Perched atop a hill in between Coldstream and Healesville and surrounded by vineyards, it’s one of the few venues that genuinely offers 360degree views, perfect for an outdoor ceremony. This also means a fantastic sunset no matter which time of the year it is. 

They have endless photo locations with that country charm of long grass, weeping willows, pale fences, old dead trees and even the Yarra runs through the property. Tony from Riverstone will see to it that you are transported in comfort in their golf buggy to the best spots on the property when it’s time for your location photos. They also have a stunning bay window in a private room for those gorgeous full body dress photos and is a perfect spot to share a relaxing moment with your new husband/wife during the wedding and just be in each others’ company. 

They also offer a terrific off season rate from May to Sep. Given that you aren’t reliant on vineyards being in season at Riverstone, due to their sensational views all year round, this makes for a great deal if you’re looking to save a bit more on your Yarra Valley wedding venue.

No prizes for guessing this one.

Stones remains the most sought after wedding destination in the Yarra Valley and for good reason.

Between the Stables and the Barn, they cater to both small and large sized weddings.

Ceremonies can either be held in their romantic chapel, out on the lush lawn before the vines or under their massive oak tree.

There is also no secret that one of the prevailing reasons Stones remains at the top is its impeccably curated buildings complimented by delicately landscaped gardens punctuated with majestic old trees. This combination will appeal to anyone and makes for seemingly infinite photo opportunities. From the moment you drive up their oak tree lined driveway, you’ll realise you will run out of time long before you run out of locations.

They provide onsite accommodation at The Farmhouse, a beautifully Tuscan inspired design that fits in perfectly with neighbouring venue Meletos where you can enjoy a sensational breakfast the morning after your wedding. Meletos also hosts its own brewery which makes for a fun spot to grab a few drinks with your bridal party before the festivities of the day begin.

With so many the buildings onsite tastefully covered in Boston ivy, Stones changes its character so colourfully throughout the seasons and I honestly couldn’t tell you which I prefer. You’ll love it here all year round.

Delivering incredible, memorable weddings is the primary purpose of the business.

Not wine, not the restaurant, not the hotel…

Weddings. And it shows.

Yering Station is and has always been a household name in the Yarra Valley and their incredible wines have always waved the flag of the Yarra Valley abroad.

They were, in fact, blazing the trail for the rest of the venues as the first vineyard in the yarra valley way back in 1938 so its no wonder they’ve retained such a warm reputation in the region as the original vineyard destination.

They put the same attention into their events as they do their wines where you know you will get reliable service, great food and wine and Yering’s famous sweeping vistas.

They have ceremony and reception areas to suit anyone’s taste; from their restored Historic Barn to their modern wine bar restaurant, and a wide allowance of guest numbers with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 150.

They also house one of the prettiest barrel halls I’ve seen which provides a unique location for wedding photography.

While they do not have their own on site accommodation, they are right next door to Chateau Yering, close enough to share the same driveway. Though the two are distinctly separate businesses, they certainly compliment one another with what they offer.