Free and Cheap Wedding Venues

We all know the cost of weddings can blow out. The cost of venues particularly, can run into the thousands - but there are alternatives.

Check out local and city public gardens. Even the beautiful gardens such as Treasury and Fitzroy gardens in the city may not need a permit if there are less than 50 guests and no structures are erected. Melton Willows historic Park is one of my favourites and is a free location. They also have an undercover contingency plan and kitchen facilities to heat your own food. The kitchen has a small hire fee. Queens Park in Essendon has gazebos and is free. Always check the local guidelines for fees and requirements.

Look into botanic gardens. These usually have small fees. For eg Geelong botanic, Dandenong ranges and Williamstown Gardens are beautiful and around a few hundred dollars fee. They all have lovely trees to get married under.

Some of the new housing estates have free shared community facilities that you can book, for example Lifestyle in Pt Cook.These are usually limited to local resident usage.

On the Water settings, such as Warburton Redwood Forest, Griffith Park in Eltham and Badger Creek. Please note that these are shared spaces so if you want to avoid crowds think about the time and date for your wedding.

Golf courses often have a private space for events at reasonable prices, especially for members. For example, Yarrambat golf course serves a lovely cocktail menu for weddings.

If you are an animal lover, you could consider the zoos. The Healesville sanctuary includes entry for all guests in their wedding package and food at a reasonable price.

You could try approaching your local cafes. Some of them will close to the public for your wedding and you may be able to choose off. the menu. Shillinglaw cottage is one example. King Henry’s cafe in Dandenong also host weddings.

Beach settings can sometimes be free but check with the council just in case. A permit might be needed.

Country pubs will sometimes host weddings in their gardens and then you can buy a pub meal afterwards or hire an event room. For example, I like Trentham hotel and Panton Hill Hotel.

If you have the knack and time for decorating, consider hiring, local sports, school or community Halls. Check what the cleaning requirements are.

I offer an undercover venue in a bush setting for small weddings. Ask about the small set up & pack up fee.

Please remember

Whenever you book outdoor venues, you need to have a contingency plan for rain, extreme wind and heat.
Fees, permits and conditions change over time. Always check with the relevant people.

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