Best Melbourne CBD Wedding Venues & Entertainment

Thinking of having a city wedding? We have you covered! A Central Melbourne wedding gives you the best of everything – an easily accessible location and the best venues and entertainment options Melbourne have to offer. There is a reason that we’ve lined up five very cool wedding venues, plus some of the best Melbourne wedding entertainment.

Best Melbourne CBD Wedding Venues

Quat Quatta

Let’s begin with what is too often overlooked in a venue – the food! What’s special at Quat Quatta is the delicious fresh and seasonal cuisine that has won accolades. In saying that, you’ll also be blown away by the striking outdoor courtyard with bronze fountain and pop-up bars. This boutique venue offers the most amazing backdrops for those wedding photos you’ve been dreaming of.

This venue has so much to offer with its elegance and stunning architectural details. One thing stays the same regardless, and that’s the amazing dance floor! Set the scene in style with a classic Melbourne acoustic duo or trio who know all your favourite songs (our own Sierra will nail the brief). Then, Hey Jack’s wedding DJs can create the perfect party atmosphere later in the night.

Metropolis

We can list endless reasons why the Metropolis is such a perfect Melbourne CBD wedding venue, but here are some of our favourites. This award-winning venue is highly regarded for its famous and impressive architecture, the venue has 9-metre high windows that give the absolute best natural light for the most stunning photos.

If you’re wanting panoramic views of the entire city then look no further. This venue offers unparalleled panoramic views of Melbourne City and the river. This luxury venue is the all-in-one package, with amazing food and service to accompany the gorgeous views of the city, as well as a space to cater for intimate weddings or those more extravagant ones!

Pair this stunning venue with a live string band to give that elegant and elevated feel to your special day, then leading into the night, optimising the larger space with a DJ hybrid to get the dance floor going.

Sophia at The Prahan Arcade

Nothing screams chic Melbourne CBD wedding like having your wedding in a Melbourne heritage building! This historic venue boasts it’s stunning 19th Century Victorian architecture, featuring a grand ballroom, that hosts up to 150 people and the gallery which hosts up to 350 for cocktail.

The venues interiors match it’s classy and elegant feel, having grand chandeliers fitted throughout and a gorgeous balcony overlooking Chapel Street (which makes for the best pictures). If you’re thinking Old Money vibes for your special day then this is definitely your venue. Every inch of the venue is perfectly detailed.

Not only does this venue have the most unique interior to host your special today, but the attention to detail that the venue provides for catering is next level, with their amazing seasonal menu.

Make the most of this generous space with a live band like our Boston Band followed by a DJ Band into reception.

The Trust

This venue is the epitome of timeless elegance. This venue describes itself as ‘combining historic charm with modern elegance’ and we couldn’t have said it better ourselves. This heritage-listed building has kept its stunning vintage interior, making it the perfect backdrop for those timeless flash photos you have been dreaming of. Not to mention the best natural light (which we all know makes for the best photos).

When hosting your special day at The Trust you have access to the spacious function room area, along with the built-in bar area. This is your all-in-one space, allowing you to move seamlessly from your ceremony to reception. 

Imagine this, the golden natural light is coming through the windows boarding the venue, while you have our Zimi or Mayfair Duo performing an acoustic soul hit. We don’t have to imagine it because we have experienced this, but now it’s your turn!

The Prince

If you’re looking for something stylish, unique and elegant, with a more relaxed feel, then this is the venue for you. The Prince is located in the heart of St Kilda and gives you the best of both worlds, offering views of the bay and the city skyline.

The venue has a gorgeous outdoor timber deck, attached to a private indoor dining space, with vintage modern interior. Arguably the best part about this venue is the boutique guest rooms and suites, making it easy for those guests that have travelled for your special day, to stay the night. This venue has everything all in the same area, making it super convenient, and adding an extra level of comfort and luxury to your wedding experience.

This beautiful contemporary venue would be perfectly paired with an acoustic soloist or duo such as Delilah or our Romy Duo!

Best Melbourne CBD Wedding Bands, Singers & DJs

Our entertainers are sure to add a unique element to your wedding or event. These experienced wedding entertainers cater to a range of styles and genres. From acoustic soloists and duos for your ceremony, to a reception DJ (add a Sax, trust us), we have the best on offer!

Romy – Acoustic RnB Wedding Duo, Melbourne CBD

Romy are a dynamic acoustic wedding duo, providing an extensive repertoire of current and classic cover songs. Romy’s strong, soulful vocals are perfectly accompanied by her guitarist’s solid, melodic playing. This perfect pair will complement your own, taking you back with those songs you know and love on your special day.

Fleur – Wedding Band, Melbourne CBD

Fleur Trio is Hey Jack’s go-to band for high energy wedding reception parties. Specialising in rock music, pop, party classics and everything in-between. Fleur is fronted by two of Melbourne’s most incredible instrumentalists/vocalists (a singing drummer – things don’t get much better than that!). Together these two wedding singers are a dynamic duo, with finesse, incredible showmanship and voices that will blow you away. They can hold the crowd in the palm of their hand and deliver a performance that will ensure your event is impossible to forget.

Let us help you find the perfect entertainment for your city wedding!

Common questions we get asked about choosing a wedding venue in the Melbourne CBD

What are the pros and cons to choosing a wedding venue in Melbourne CBD?

We love CBD wedding venues for multiple reasons: 

  • Convenience: Public transportation or a ride share to central venues is simpler for guests who have to travel from out of town.
  • Urban vibe: City skyline vistas, century-old architecture, streetscapes and dramatic lighting.
  • All-in-one benefits: Many city locations come with catering, infrastructure and lighting already.
  • Photography opportunities: Indoor elegance and outdoor city views offer a variety of photo backdrops. With the beautiful landmarks around the heart of Melbourne, you will always have great photo opportunities.

But, there are a few cons that come with being in the city: 

  • Noise restrictions: A lot of Melbourne CBD wedding venues have curfews and decibel limits for musicians and crowd noise.
  • Parking options: If you have guests that would prefer to drive, parking can be hard to come by and very expensive in the city.
  • Accessibility: Some venues are quite old and the accessibility of some can be limited. If you’ve got loved ones who have trouble getting around, even a few stairs can be the difference between them being able to be at your wedding or not.

What are the top 5 wedding venues in Melbourne CBD?

While we love every venue we get to perform at and capture with film & photo, we do have our favourites: 

  • Quat Quatta — boutique with courtyard, smart interior, good food offering
  • Metropolis — panoramic views of city & river, 11′ ceilings and architectural design
  • Sophia at The Prahan Arcade – heritage architecture, grand ballroom & gallery
  • The Trust — heritage listed with old world character and natural light
  • The Prince (St Kilda/city fringe) — Deb Ball/Got views of bay and skyline; boutique suites, in/outdoor mix

How do I choose the right entertainment for my venue?

For heritage or classic venues like The Trust or Sophia, try string bands, acoustic trios or DJs with a more polished touch. 

For the larger venues with a more modern style, Metropolis is a great choice.  A DJ band or hybrid soloist is a great fit in these spaces as they can project their sound and fill the space with high energy performance.

In more intimate or boutique spaces like Quat Quatta and The Prince, acoustic solos or duos will really add ambience into the room without overwhelming the space. A lot of our acoustic solo acts are hybrid DJ artists so they can DJ your reception too. 

Which Hey Jack entertainment options best suit a city wedding?

Hey Jack provides several kinds of wedding entertainment such as:

  • Acoustic soloists & duos (perfect for ceremony)
  • Trio / String Ensembles (for ceremony or cocktail hour stages)
  • Reception DJs with the unique addition of a DJ + sax hybrid!
  • Full bands – for the loudest dance floors!

How far in advance should I book my wedding venue? 

We recommend booking in your venue around 12-18 months before your wedding so that you’re not limited by availability. 

When should I book my wedding entertainment, film and photo? 

If you’re really set on a specific artist or creative talent, the sooner the better. 10-12 months out is what we would recommend to make sure you get the right talent for your day. 

How do I know if the acoustics will suit the entertainment I choose?

For rooms that have large, open spaces with high ceilings, big windows, you will need a higher-powered sound system to cut through all that empty space. Historic and heritage rooms could have what’s called an acoustic bounce (hard surfaces that reflect sound), so it could make sense to ask the venue these questions.

Do Melbourne CBD venues have noise and curfew restrictions?

Yes, we know, party poopers! But a lot of the venues in the CBD or heritage zones have noise limits, council restrictions on hiring sound equipment and curfews. If you’re going for the kind of music volume that rattles your bones make sure to check with your venue what their individual restrictions are before you book. If you book entertainment with Hey Jack, we’ll check with the venue prior to your wedding day and make sure we’re not breaking any rules so you don’t have to stress about it. 

How much does wedding entertainment in Melbourne CBD cost?

Prices vary greatly based on the type of performer (solo, duo, band), time of performance, equipment needed and travel requirements. Acoustic solos and duos will typically be cheaper than full bands with a DJ. Get in touch with Hey Jack today for more information on wedding entertainment pricing