OVERVIEW
Tucked away in the leafy Melbourne suburb of Eltham, Ballara Receptions is a beautiful Victorian estate and garden wedding venue at the foothills of the Yarra Valley. The grounds at Ballara feature lovely manicured gardens, a picturesque chapel, a gorgeous outdoor gazebo, a lakeside garden, and an enchanting ballroom venue for elegant wedding receptions.
If you're planning a romantic garden wedding and are on the hunt for a gorgeous all-in-one Melbourne wedding venue, Ballara Receptions is an excellent choice. This picturesque estate has six stunning ceremony locations to choose from and an enchanting ballroom that’s perfect for elegant wedding receptions. Ballara also offers exclusive use of the estate for weddings, which means you’ll have unrestricted access to the grounds for your photographs.
Weddings at Ballara are consistently praised for the exceptional service, and you'll be in good hands with their dedicated team. Your dedicated bridal host will also be there on the day to act as a personal assistant and ensure the wedding runs smoothly. They’ll take care of any issues that may arise, allowing you to relax and enjoy your day.
Ballara Receptions’ bespoke wedding packages can be tailored to suit your wedding vision and budget. Depending on your wedding style and guest numbers, choose from their cocktail, sit-down, and grazing menu options. You can even opt for a high tea style wedding if you like that vibe instead. No matter which type of menu you choose, you’ll be blown away by the incredible flavours of each dish.
“My husband and I had our wedding at Ballara Receptions and it was just perfection. From the initial enquiry right up until the big day their communication was outstanding. Our wedding went so smoothly and the food was great, the staff were a huge standout, and they were there for anything we needed. They went above and beyond for us, I cannot recommend Ballara Receptions enough.” - Olivia C.
What you’ll love about your Ballara Receptions wedding:
Choose from 6 locations for your ceremony at Ballara Receptions:
What Ballara Receptions weddings are like:
Here’s what else you need to know about Ballara Receptions weddings:
What do Ballara Receptions provide for weddings?
Ballara Receptions’ comprehensive sit-down wedding packages include a personal function manager, bridal host on the day, private bridal retreat, five-hour beverage package, three-course meal, bridal table with a floral arrangement, lecturn and microphone for speeches, in-house music system, cake table, large central dancefloor, range of linen and centrepiece options, table numbers, and easels.
Packages can be cutsomised further with the option to include in your price per person the: ceremony, wedding cake, fresh floral centrepieces, lawn games and more.
There are also packages for cocktail, grazing or high tea style weddings too!
What’s the capacity for weddings at Ballara Receptions?
The elegant ballroom at Ballara Receptions can accommodate up to 160 wedding guests.
“Ballara is such a magical, special, memorable place to get married. My husband and I are so lucky and thankful we chose this place to make our day come to life. The grounds are well maintained, the food is spectacular, the lighting is beautiful, the workers and wedding planners are amazing. Wow, we can just go on forever. If you are thinking of having your wedding here, STOP THINKING! This is the place to be! My husband and I can't thank the team enough for all the things Ballara has helped us with.” - Tori M.
About
Hello, I'm Christine, the venue manager at Ballara. With over 37 years in Eltham, Ballara has been a cornerstone of unforgettable weddings. I am passionate about events and thoroughly enjoy overseeing them and working with an amazing team. At Ballara, we take pride in bringing couples' visions to life on their special day. Our small team ensures personalised attention and trust as we focus solely on one wedding at a time, taking care of every detail seamlessly.
Christine Taylor
Venue Manager
Virtual Tour
Venue Features
Indoor / Outdoor Ceremony
Min 60 / Max 160 Reception guests
Price per head: Low $145 / High $ 227
Min 1 / Max 160 Ceremony Guests
Time restrictions: 1:00 AM
In-house catering or 3rd Party Catering
5.00 hours Event time included
Additional Hours $10 Per Head
Music must end by 12:30 AM
Easy Weddings Special Offer
Four-Tier Champagne Tower valued at $350
Introducing our stunning four-tier champagne tower—a sparkling showstopper sure to elevate your celebration. Whether kicking off the dancefloor or making a grand entrance, this glamorous feature adds a touch of sophistication and sets the tone for an unforgettable event. Cheers to making memories that sparkle!
Minimum numbers apply. No additional discounts or promotions can be used in conjunction.
For new bookings only. Terms and conditions may apply
To enquire, please call (03) 9431 1503 or fill out an enquiry form mentioning this offer!
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FAQ
At Ballara we can seat up to 160-170 guests in our Ballroom.
Yes! You can get married in our gorgeous chapel or in the beautiful grounds - so its just a matter of which backdrop you prefer!
The authentic chapel seats 100 people and has standing room to up to 160-170, it comes decorated and has a built in sound system and microphone to make it nice and easy plus it has heating and air-conditioning for year round comfort!
Alternatively the gazebo and lake make for a breathtaking setting, 60 white garden americana chairs are provided along with plenty more standing space. Sound system and microphones plus your decorations are all taken care of again!
There is accommodation just across the road, plus another one just down the road so rooms are plentiful in the area!
Definitely not! Ballara is specifically designed for weddings! We have spent a lot of time designing the gardens to ensure they are immaculate and that they give a multitude of spots to capture amazing shots - from the gazebo, swing, love seats, jetty, waterfall, fairylight garden, giant LOVE letters, rustic deck and more, there is just no need for you to have to spend the time and money on the day rushing around to other places. Ballara truly is a one-stop-shop, as you can hold your ceremony, photos and reception all in the one place!
No way! At Ballara we give you our undivided attention! The venue and grounds are exclusively yours for your time with us so that you and your guests can enjoy everything and not feel rushed or mixed up with another crowd.
April 2024
November 2023
Ballara Receptions
Thank you for your review! We're thrilled that you had such a memorable experience at Ballara and to hear you enjoyed your time with us. It was a magical day, from the stunning red tea ceremony dress and lovely princess white dress to your hubby's sharp tuxedo. Your heartfelt vows under the sunny sky created a touching moment for all. We're delighted that your guests from interstate and regional Victoria could join in the celebration and that everyone had a fantastic time dancing the night away. Your kind words about our customer service mean a lot to us. We strive to provide excellent service, and we're glad that you found us accommodating, easy to communicate with, and professional throughout the planning process. Thank you for recommending Ballara Receptions, and we wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness!
September 2023
January 2024
October 2023
Expert Advice
As a wedding professional, Ballara Receptions offers expert advice to help couples plan their perfect day. Ask a question or read their expert advice.
Get Expert AdviceAny cute chapels in victoria to get married in?
Ballara Receptions
Here at Ballara we have a gorgeous chapel on-site for your ceremony! We can seat 100-110 within the seats and then up to 160 with the standing room at the back too. We have decorations, signing table & chairs, microphones & sound system plus air con/heating to keep you and your guests comfortable no matter what weather Melbourne decides to give you on the day! You have a function co-ordinator to make sure everything runs smoothly and as per your wishes on the day and we have beautiful gardens to then take all your photos in - your choice if you would like to hold the reception here too or head off to another location. Happy wedding planning!
How many people classifies a wedding as a large wedding?
Ballara Receptions
Hi there :) It is honestly relative to the venue. Some venues can only host intimate weddings of 50, some venues host very big groups of 350-500+! On average we find most people tend to have around 100-140 people at our venue and we can seat up to 170. Good luck!
Why doesn't any wedding venues/reception website state how much it is per head food wise?
I have looked at so many sites to potentially book for my wedding and none have provided the cost per head... I dont understand why even If the can offer different type like for example cocktail menu, buffet etc.... why they cant even give a rough idea?
Ballara Receptions
Hi there :) We honestly find that every couple is looking for something slightly different. It can be quite hard to label just a rough price as this can sometimes include way too many things that some couples don't want (so then they can rule out a place that actually is in their budget) or on the flip slide can not be covering enough for other couples (so then they are shocked when they realise the extra bits and pieces are missing). We try to give people a price range straight off the bat, but then we customise quotes and packages to suit couples from there. You also might find that some venues dont offer certain types of package e.g. buffet or self cater/venue hire etc. And another factor can be guest numbers e.g. a minimum spend or discounts once you hit a certain number of poeple.
I'd suggest touching base with a few places you like the look of and ask for a rough price based on when you are looking at (as the year, month and day of the week can massively change the price per person e.g. by $50+), and also let them know what kind of catering you are after (sit down, cocktail etc) and the number of people. As these few dot points can definitely help to get the ball rolling...Good Luck!
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Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience at Ballara! We're thrilled to hear that Popy and the team made your wedding planning process smooth and stress-free. It's fantastic to know that you fully immersed yourselves in the joy of your special day while Popy and Ella took care of everything behind the scenes. We're delighted that you found Ballara a beautiful venue with plenty of photo opportunities and spaces for your guests. Your kind words about our team mean the world to us, and we're so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your wedding day memories. We'll be sure to pass along your manager's comments from the night to our team. It was truly magical, filled with beautiful moments and unforgettable touches. The shot of vodka, the joyful tradition of tossing the 'sugar' glass, and your brother's saxophone skills—all incredible moments. Once again, thank you for choosing Ballara, and we wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness together!