Ballara Receptions
OVERVIEW
If you’re planning a romantic garden wedding and searching for an elegant all-in-one Melbourne wedding venue, Ballara Receptions is the perfect choice. Set at the foothills of the Yarra Valley, this picturesque estate features six stunning ceremony locations and an enchanting ballroom for unforgettable receptions. With exclusive use of the property, exceptional service, and endless photo opportunities, Ballara Receptions provides everything you need for a seamless and truly magical wedding day.
From the moment you arrive, you’ll be surrounded by the charm and beauty of Ballara Receptions. The estate is home to tranquil lakes, weeping willows, and manicured English gardens that create a breathtaking backdrop for your ceremony and photographs. Choose from six ceremony locations, including a romantic Victorian gazebo, a peaceful lakeside jetty, or the elegant on-site chapel.
Inside the grand ballroom, floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the gardens, while chandeliers cast a soft glow over the dance floor. Whether you’re planning a formal sit-down dinner, a relaxed grazing reception, or a charming high tea celebration, Ballara’s talented team will tailor your package to suit your style, guest numbers, and budget. You’ll also have a dedicated bridal host on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly, allowing you to relax and enjoy every moment.
"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, the food was fantastic, and the staff went above and beyond for us. I cannot recommend Ballara Receptions enough." — Olivia C.
What You’ll Love About Working with Ballara Receptions for your wedding:
Highlights of Working with Ballara Receptions:
"Ballara is such a magical, memorable place to get married. The grounds are stunning, the food was spectacular, and the staff and planners were amazing. Everything ran so smoothly, and we can’t thank the team enough for bringing our day to life." — 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 Ceremony
Min 60 / Max 160 Reception guests
Price per head: Low $190 / High $ 227
Min 1 / Max 160 Ceremony Guests
Time restrictions: 1:00 AM
In-house 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
Enquire to claim offer Enquire to claim offerVideos
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.
Reviews
Review Summary
September 2025
June 2025
Ballara Receptions
Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful review! We are overjoyed to hear that your wedding day at Ballara was everything you dreamed of and more. Our team takes pride in looking after all the little details so you can simply relax and enjoy every moment. It’s wonderful to know this helped ease your stress from start to finish. We’re so glad your guests loved the food and that you and your bridal table felt well taken care of throughout the celebration. It was truly our pleasure to be by your side in the lead up and on the day itself, making sure everything flowed smoothly. Wishing you both a lifetime filled with love and happiness, and thank you again for letting us be part of such a special chapter in your lives!
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!
October 2025
September 2025
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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Ballara Receptions
Thank you so much for your beautiful review! Everything came together perfectly, from your heartfelt vows to your magical first dance with fireworks, dry ice and that incredible lift by Jake, what a moment! And Zoe, both of your dresses were just stunning - such a showstopper! We are so happy to hear that your experience with Ballara was everything you hoped for on your special day! It was an absolute pleasure working with you to bring your wedding vision to life, and we are so glad we could help make the planning process stress-free. We’re so pleased everyone enjoyed the food, service and stunning gardens and that you now have so many wonderful memories (and photos!) to treasure. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness together, and thank you again for allowing us to be part of your special day! 💕