Wedding Venues in Gold Coast, Australia

All About Getting Married in the Gold Coast

Dreaming of a sophisticated wedding with a stunning natural backdrop and all possible modern amenities? Upon your first arrival on the Gold Coast, you are drawn into its vibrant energy and relaxed glamour and mesmerised by the golden coastline stretching endlessly under a beautiful blue sky. 

For most of the year, the weather remains warm and clear, making the inviting beaches and lush hinterland a spectacular place to get married. 

The Gold Coast is a major coastal city in Queensland, located south of the state capital. But the beaches are just one of the outstanding perks of the city. A combination of lush rainforests and inviting beaches, arguably unseen anywhere else in Australia, creates a distinct vibe of a permanent holiday. This translates into unpretentious, naturally celebratory vibes for weddings, which, paired with modern coastal luxury, make weddings in the Gold Coast spectacular. 

Year-round outdoor parties are possible thanks to the reliable sunshine (the Gold Coast has over 300 sunny days per year ) and mild temperatures. Additionally, the Gold Coast is a modern destination with all the necessary logistics and vendors to make your dream wedding a reality, whether you envision a casual, beachside wedding ceremony or a large-scale, sophisticated celebration. The Gold Coast boasts some of Australia's most iconic photo backdrops, including Burleigh Headland with its city skyline, Currumbin Alley, which showcases surf breaks and natural rock formations, as well as stunning waterfalls in Springbrook National Park and rolling vineyards in Mount Tamborine.

The city also offers excellent pre and post-wedding activities to enhance the Gold Coast experience, such as surfing lessons, theme park days, spa days and hinterland wine tours. 

Gold Coast is the second-largest city in Queensland, after Brisbane, and accounts for a large portion of the state's marriages. It is also the most popular wedding destination in Queensland, facing strong competition from the Whitsundays and Sunshine Coast. That impacts the wedding prices, which are generally mid to high, though still more affordable weddings are available on the East Coast cities, like Sydney and Melbourne. The range of costs for weddings here is wide, as the city offers a variety of choices, wedding venues, vendors and experiences. For a typical wedding with 120 guests, you can pay between $33,000 and $60,000.

Popular Themes & Trends for Weddings in Gold Coast

No one in Gold Coast wants a so-called ‘cookie-cutter’ wedding anymore! Sure, you can borrow a few ideas from the weddings you like (like a pop-up outdoor post-ceremony bar). But now, it's all about personalised experiences and one-of-a-kind events. 

In Gold Coast, couples plan their weddings as a reflection of their love story. They can include details from their relationship, for example, host a wedding ceremony in twilight with ocean views since they met on the beach, pick ocean-inspired décor and colour palette. Custom mocktails with ocean-inspired names are a fun addition! If the couple met on the plane, they can choose SkyPoint Observation Deck for the wedding in the clouds! Personalisation is a key right now and many venues offer customisable menus, where you can focus on unique flavours and scents, tailored to your preferences. Plus, for a vivid atmosphere, most Gold Coast wedding professionals prefer interactive food stations over classic dining.

Another trend that is promising to stay is: weekday weddings, a trend that has been partially influenced by a massive backlog after the pandemic and growing flexibility in couples. Saturdays remain a sought-after day for weddings, but more and more couples choose a weekday for their Gold Coast wedding for several reasons. The venues are more available (and more affordable), the atmosphere seems more intimate and relaxed, and you can plan an extended celebration, especially if you choose Thursday or Friday.

Gold Coast is one of the best options for these extended weddings, thanks to its unique perks. Most couples preferring quality over quantity (another hot trend across the entire country, not only Gold Coast) are ready to invest more into a more meaningful wedding with wonderful guest experiences. The couple's logic is wise: instead of paying for a standard meal for 150+ or even 200+, 250+ guests, they now choose to invest in a stunning experience for their smaller group of people. From surfing lessons on Surfers Paradise Beach, picnics on Burleigh Heads, paddleboards on Currumbin Alley and water sports, cruises, theme parks (Sea World Resort is a great venue for this), national parks explorations and nightlife — Gold Coast doesn't lack activities for your chosen group of friends and family.

Popular Wedding Venues in Gold Coast & Average Wedding Venue costs

From sun-kissed beaches to luxury hotels, ballrooms and multi-purpose function centres, hinterland estates — the list of wedding venues in Gold Coast goes on and on. Did you know that a venue is a crucial factor for the overall tone of a wedding?

If you seek a secluded atmosphere, old-world romance and a dash of country vibes, focus on Hinterland estate venues, such as Cedar Creek Estate Winery. This one features a picturesque setting, scenic views and an inviting atmosphere. The venue with a more distinctive rustic vibe and historic barn, The Acre Boomerang Farm, is close to the airport; plus, Glenrock Farm provides a unique opportunity for a country wedding in the heart of the city!

Couples dreaming of a more intimate, boutique wedding will love the Evergreen Garden Venue, leaning towards garden elegance, showcasing stone archways, iron gates, meandering laneways and stunning flowering arbours.

For a lavish celebration with a typical Gold Coast vacation vibe, try Q1 Resort and Spa or JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa for your mid-size or large wedding. Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Gold Coast is suited for more intimate celebrations.

The list of popular venues in Gold Coast doesn’t end here. Try private estates, such as Coolibah Downs Private Estate, a venue with a traditional chapel and chic garden space. Similarly, Austinvilla Estate, a true gem of the Gold Coast hinterland, features a sophisticated setting and a wide range of services.

But that’s not all! The Gold Coast offers a few unique options for getting married. Mobile Barber Shop Depot, for example, is a one-of-a-kind venue, a barber shop during the day and an eclectic event space at night! Pacific Beach Function Centre, part of the Pacific Beach Surf Life Saving Club, is a dry-hire venue with a beachfront manicured lawn and excellent flexibility, allowing you to plan the wedding of your dreams!

Thanks to the array of venue types in the city, the price range is also wide, and you can easily find something to fit your budget. As Bridebook’s insights from the real-world couples reveal, for most mid-size and large wedding venues, hiring is the biggest expense. In Gold Coast, the numbers for wedding venues typically range from $5,000 for dry-hire venues or intimate spaces to over $20,000 for all-inclusive, larger venues. Luxury, all-inclusive venues with accommodation, decoration, catering, and all other wedding-related services can charge $40,000 for a mid-size wedding in Gold Coast.

Average Booking Lead Times for Wedding Venues in Gold Coast

Gold Coast is a very popular wedding destination, so get ready for waiting and compromises, especially if you have a particular wedding venue in mind. Sure, sometimes someone cancels and you can get in sooner than expected, but such a scenario is rare. On average, for most venues in Gold Coast, booking lead time is between one year and 18 months. This gives you enough dates and available venues to choose from, research, book other vendors and plan every detail.

But, if you have a particular date (let's say anniversary of your first kiss) or a venue (you can't imagine getting married anywhere else but there), expect a longer timeframe, closer to two years. Plus, mid-size and large venues are often booked out for two years for Saturdays in peak seasons. But, you can get a weekday date in winter or summer sooner. In this case, a realistic timeframe is six months to a year.

Keep in mind that these are only the averages. How much you'll wait for your wedding in a certain venue in Gold Coast truly depends on the venue's features (e.g. larger venues book out faster), popularity, season, and sometimes luck! Who knows, you might be the one to book the last peak season Saturday in the next few months in your preferred venue!

Weather & Seasonality in Gold Coast

You can't go wrong with Gold Coast as your wedding destination year-round! Spring and autumn are the most attractive, bringing higher prices, but winter and summer are also awesome options. Gold Coast has a humid, subtropical climate, with the Pacific Ocean moderating temperatures and rainfall patterns.

Summer (December–February): This is the wettest season in Gold Coast, also characterised by high humidity, frequent tropical thunderstorms and hot temperatures; temperature range is between 20∘C and 29∘C (68–84∘F), but often goes higher. The ocean is warm with frequent sea breezes, making this popular season for tourists and surfers. Long daylight hours and vibrant holiday atmosphere make summer popular for weddings. Despite thunderstorms, evening receptions are wonderful, especially if you host an outdoor twilight ceremony.

Autumn (March–May): As autumn arrives in Gold Coast, humidity drops, making outdoor ceremonies and receptions more comfortable. The lighting is stunning and all venues are in high demand. For example, RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast, with its romantic outdoor ceremony sites and a range of outdoor and indoor spaces, is an excellent choice for couples seeking flexibility, full-service and on-site accommodation. Autumn temperatures remain between 14∘C and 26∘C (57–79∘F) with less rainfall as the season progresses.

Winter (June–August): Mild Gold Coast temperatures are charming, with generally dry and sunny days. Winter is prime whale-watching season in Gold Coast, and many surfers love it because of the consistent weather. Ocean temperatures are lower but still swimmable. This is the most reliable season for outdoor wedding ceremonies without a backup plan. Days are comfortable and the sky is clear. Winter temperature range is between 9∘C and 22∘C (48–71.5∘F). For winter Gold Coast weddings, choose venues with indoor-outdoor flow and include attractive lighting since days are shorter. Think venues such as InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort with cosy indoor reception areas, huge tropical garden and top-notch service.

Spring (September–November): Gold Coast in spring is mesmerising, thanks to the vibrant colours, crisp weather and long daylight hours. Spring is warm and pleasant, with highest demand for wedding venues and vendors due to ideal conditions for both indoor and outdoor parties because temperatures stay from 12∘C to 27∘C (53.5–80.5∘F). Days are dry and somewhat windy, but more rain comes as summer approaches! Beach resorts, estates and chic venues — all are in high demand with potentially higher prices than in other seasons.

Travel & Accommodation in Gold Coast

If you're travelling to Gold Coast for a wedding (or hosting one), don't worry, the city is easily accessible from different directions and has a well-established public transport system. Major road routes are the Pacific Motorway and Gold Coast Highway. The Pacific Motorway connects the city with Brisbane to the north, and extends south all the way to New South Wales. The most scenic ride waits for you at Gold Coast Highway, an iconic route parallel to the coastline, connecting suburbs to the beaches, from one end to the other. You can reach Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads, Surfers Paradise, Southport, Labrador and other gems on the Gold Coast. Plus, there are several internal arterial routes, such as Nerang-Broadbeach Road (linking the central coast to the hinterland), Bermuda Street (a key north-south route), and Smith Street Motorway (providing access to Southport and connecting to the Pacific Motorway.

Gold Coast Railway Line (Heavy Rail) goes from Varsity Lakes northwards with several Gold Coast stations, such as Robina, Nerang, Helensvale, Coomera and others, extending to the Brisbane Airport. If you want to rely on the public transport system in Gold Coast, good call. The system consists of G:link Light Rail — light rail, Queensland Rail Citytrain — heavy rail, bus network (Kinetic Gold Coast) and the ferry service Hopo. The G:link Light Rail is 20 kilometres long and goes from Broadbeach South to Helensvale Station in the north, servicing key precincts. Buses cover suburbs, major residential areas, attractions, and retail centres, connecting seamlessly with other public transport options. 

Finally, the Hopo ferry is an iconic transportation system connecting major destinations along the Broadwater, including Surfers Paradise, HOTA (Home of the Arts), Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands and Sea World.

The closest airport to the city is Gold Coast Airport (OOL), formerly known as Coolangatta Airport, with frequent flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Cairns, Perth and Hobart. Other common destinations are New Zealand and Indonesia. There are no direct flights to Europe, North America and Asian Hubs. These typically require transit from other Australian capitals.

The Gold Coast truly shines in its range of accommodation, offering a room for every budget and preference in charming suburbs. Most high-rise hotels and self-contained holiday homes are located in Surfers Paradise. They are accessible via the G:link. Broadbeach also offers a variety of high-end and mid-range hotels, and is an excellent option for family stays. If you seek boutique accommodation with a distinct character, consider staying in Burleigh Heads. Resorts are primarily located at Main Beach, while Palm Beach and Currumbin contain more relaxed apartments. 

Coolangatta has a more affordable range of accommodation, including motels and beachfront apartments. Further in Gold Coast hinterland, you can find luxury retreats, eco lodges and luxury guesthouses.