An Australian capital with the highest amount of sunshine, a pleasant Mediterranean climate and stunning landscapes, Perth distinguishes itself as a relaxed, somewhat slow-paced urban environment with plenty of outdoor capabilities for weddings. Sure, you can find ballrooms and lavish halls, and Perth is definitely developing into a vibrant environment. Yet, it remains most recognisable for its relaxed atmosphere and distinctive aesthetic, different from the East Coast.
Perth is the capital of Western Australia, a city with pristine beaches, outstanding riverside views and lush garden wedding settings. The peaceful vibe and pleasant weather make outdoor ceremonies in Perth widespread, especially because you can count on the weather more than in other parts (Melbourne and its four-seasons-in-a-day reputation). Beyond formality and opulence, weddings in Perth are more open to natural elements.
Perth's unique feature, the Swan River, meandering through the city suburbs, offers stunning riverfront settings and long beaches at the sparkling Indian Ocean create mesmerising backgrounds for beach wedding ceremonies at Cottesloe, Scarborough, and City Beach. Famous for its bushlands, Perth offers one of the largest inner-city parks globally — Kings Park. In the park, you'll find great views of the city, Darling Scarp and Swan River, stunning nature and multiple ceremony and photo locations. Thanks to the Perth Hills and Darling Scarp, Perth has an abundance of bushland, waterfalls and national parks only a short drive from the CBD, perfect if you're dreaming of a venue beyond the coast and city.
Perth's slightly isolated position from the eastern states created a self-contained wedding industry, and a strong focus on local vendors, resulting in more intimate and personalised celebrations. The industry is growing fast, and still allows for an individual approach, which is a great plus. On top of it, weddings in Perth aren't as expensive as East Coast celebrations, but that isn't always the rule. If you want an extravagant, sumptuous wedding in Perth, you can have it, and the day will cost you more than the average, casual wedding in this city. On average, a wedding in Perth has about 100 guests and costs up to $35,000.
Perth has over 2.3 million residents and an established event industry. Such a dynamic environment leads to excellent diversity in everything wedding-related — from organisations, to vendors and trends. Similar to nationwide trends, most of the ceremonies are civil.
Western Australia's exceptional range of seafood, combined with native agricultural produce, inspires Perth-based caterers to put wedding meals onto a whole new level. Food at weddings in Perth now contributes to the event vibes and atmosphere. Moreover, unique city elements and an interactive approach to catering, create a dynamic food scene.
For example, a typical trendy wedding in Perth can include live oyster shucking stations with freshly shucked oysters from Albany, Rockingham or local agriculture; paired with WA sparkling wine. Oysters are often part of cocktail hour or refreshments after the wedding ceremony, a beautiful way to set the mood for the reception. Pop-Up Seafood Bars are also popular with stations serving grilled Shark Bay prawns, Fremantle sardines or local fish ceviche are a popular way to pay respect to Perth's and WA's marine diversity.
Offerings at these interactive stations aren't limited to seafood. Furthermore, caterers often include grazing tables with Perth-specific pieces, such as Perth Hills artisan breads and seasonal fruits from local orchards. Sunset sip & gaze is a wonderful way to honour Perth's spectacular sunsets, featuring extended cocktail hours, especially attractive at waterfront venues with great views, such as Aloft Perth, offering Sky Terrace, an ideal place for sunset cocktails.
Multi-day celebrations in Perth are now a captivating local escape into the Perth Hills for a multi-day wedding. Starting with a warming-up gathering the day before the wedding and rehearsal dinner in a charming venue, this trend creates a fun, prolonged experience — from the first day through the wedding day to the recovery breakfast, lunch or brunch. The weddings are organised at estates, often with catering, accommodation and various other services. For Perth specifically, an advantage is a range of venues available for multi-day weddings, less than an hour's drive from the CBD.
Perth features a range of unique venues, with distinctive themes, natural features and outstanding atmosphere. Consider Crystal Swan Cruises, a floating venue on the Swan River with 360-degree views of the city skyline and the Swan River. And then, there is The Raft, a venue on an oasis on the Derbarl Yerrigan, which also features a stunning atmosphere and flexible wedding packages based on a minimum beverage spend requirement.
However, if you're looking for something unusual, consider Perth Zoo for a spectacular wedding. You'll get a Zebra car for transport around the venue and plenty of additional elements!
Perth also provides an extraordinary opportunity to get married in a blank canvas space where you can tailor your preferences — the Perth City Farm, a rustic, warm and inviting place.
Don't underestimate Perth's urban features and venues. From restaurants and luxury hotels, deciding on a wedding venue in Perth can get challenging. Start with the Melbourne Hotel, offering beautiful rooftop event space, a dedicated wedding team, and accommodation. Swan River Hotel, on the other hand, is ideal for a relaxed garden ceremony and summer reception. For a convenient combination of romantic beachside setting, culinary excellence and luxury accommodation, choose Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough.
In Perth, even the simplest weddings are nothing less than stylish. If you want a low-key ceremony, exchange your vows in a beautiful heritage-listed building — Perth Marriage Office or stunning Perth Town Hall in the CBD.
Culinary delights, extraordinary views and an elegant setting are available in the Oyster Bar, another rooftop venue with great city skyline views. If you are more for a bushland setting, try Fraser King's Park, an opulent wedding venue in the heart of wonderful Kings Park. Stables, a popular venue in the CBD, at a short distance from the park, has an ideal combination of urban, casual and formal vibes, and beautiful event spaces.
When it comes to wedding expenses, Perth is no different from the rest of the country — the venue accounts for over 40% of the total wedding expenses. Bridebook's insights show that you can pay from $8,000 to over $20,000 for a venue in Perth but most venues will cost around $14,000. Keep in mind that you can budget wisely and choose an affordable wedding venue, host an intimate celebration or use Bridebook's guide and learn how to save money on wedding organisation.
If you are getting married in Perth, don't expect the wedding to magically happen as soon as you want. In the peak season, wedding venues in the CBD and suburbs are booked out from 12 to 18 months.
Most couples dream of getting married in October, November and March in Perth, when the weather is the most comfortable! If you are one of them, keep in mind that most beautiful venues can be completely booked out for Saturday weddings in these months for two years or more. While you'll have enough time to plan your wedding to the last detail, because of inflation, the venue costs may increase when you book that far in advance.
But if you are flexible with dates and seasons, you can easily score an earlier date in your favourite venue for a charming winter wedding! Don't throw out the winter dates, as winter in Perth is lovely. With a bit of creativity, you can have a perfect wedding and save money thanks to the winter wedding discounts. More great news for Perth is that some micro wedding venues can be booked just with a few weeks' notice, and often no longer than 6 months.
With its Mediterranean climate, Perth features an abundance of sunshine and pleasant weather, making it ideal for a relaxed outdoor lifestyle. The city has all four distinctive seasons, which impact wedding planning, venue availability and costs.
Summer (December–February): Perth's typical summer is hot and dry, with the temperature range from 17°C to 32°C (63-90°F); a sea breeze, called the ‘Fremantle Doctor’, creates pleasant refreshment; despite occasional heatwaves, summer is popular wedding season in Perth, because of the reliable weather; beachside resorts such as Cottesloe Beach Hotel are excellent choice for a memorable wedding, but wedding venues and vendors can offer higher pricing.
Autumn (March–May): Warm and sunny autumn days and a slight increase in rainfall make autumn still a pleasant season for weddings; autumn is shoulder season, with most weddings happening in the early season, leading to higher pricing and less flexibility; temperatures range between 10°C and 29°C (50-84°F), but at the beginning of the season, warmer days are possible; garden, parkland and outdoor venues, such as Joondalup Resort, contribute to the enchanting autumn wedding atmosphere.
Winter (June–August): Winter temperatures remain between 8°C and 20°C (46-68°F), with cool nights; Overall, Perth in winter experiences cloudy days, and frequent storms, but snow is unlikely; for weddings, winter is off-peak season, causing venue prices to drop; elegant and cosy spaces, such as Moana Hall, are perfect for winter weddings.
Spring (September–November): The arrival of spring in Perth is marked with temperatures and sunshine increase, vibrant atmosphere and wildflowers blooming; this is the peak season in Western Australia, with high pricing and fast bookings; any wedding venue in Perth will work great for the spring, but waterside venues, such as The Boatshed, have a unique charming ambiance, perfect for spring celebrations!
Perth is the urban hub of Western Australia with an excellent transportation network. So, you can easily navigate throughout the city, and come to and from Perth via car, bus, train or plane. Ferries on the Swan River are an additional transport option. The main ferry route by Transperth operates between Elizabeth Quay in the CBD and Mends Street Jetty in South Perth, a great way to come to Perth Zoo for a wedding, for example!
If you plan on using the road, keep in mind the following:
In the Perth metropolitan area, a convenient way to come from one place to the other is to use trains from Perth Station and Perth Underground in the CBD.
Similar to other Australian cities, there is a free transit zone, a great way to reach the venues in the city centre without cost. The CAT (Central Area Transit) bus network works in four colour-coded routes — Green, Red, Yellow and Blue. These lines are free and connect you to the city's attractions. Fremantle and Joondalup also have these free lines.
Perth Airport (PER) is the fastest way to come to Western Australia from other states and countries. The airport is accessible via Tonkin and Great Eastern Highway, or via the Airport Line Train, connected with the CBD. The airport offers connections to major Australian cities, including Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart, the Gold Coast and Cairns. There is also a range of intrastate flights to regional airports (Albany, Esperance, Exmouth, Busselton and more). International flights include destinations in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand), New Zealand, the Middle East, Europe (London, Paris, Rome) and more.
When you get to Perth, you have plenty of options for an overnight stay after the wedding. Boutique hotels, often the most popular, are dispersed in the CBD and various suburbs. Plus, boutique hotels blend in with the city’s unique atmosphere. Still, there are plenty of luxury hotels and serviced apartments you can book if you are going to the wedding in Perth. Coastal and beachside lodging in Scarborough and Fremantle are other options, and you can choose mid-range hotels and hostels if you want to save some money.
Perth also offers glamping estates, eco-retreats and historic cottages, especially in Perth Hills and nearby Swan Valley.
Perth stands out as a wedding destination due to its stunning landscapes, including pristine beaches and the scenic Swan River. The mild Mediterranean climate ensures pleasant weather, ideal for outdoor ceremonies.
The city's cultural diversity adds a unique flair to your celebration, offering a rich tapestry of culinary and musical experiences. Western Australia's excellent wine regions provide romantic vineyard settings, perfect for intimate wedding venues.
Perth's laid-back atmosphere creates a stress-free environment, allowing couples and guests to enjoy the celebration fully. The city boasts unique venues, from beachfront locations to historic buildings, accommodating various tastes. With a well-connected international airport, Perth ensures accessibility for guests. Moreover, the region offers adventure opportunities, turning your wedding into a gateway for exploring Western Australia's diverse landscapes, from the Pinnacles Desert to Margaret River's natural wonders.
Absolutely, Perth offers an array of luxurious wedding venues to elevate your celebration. From opulent ballrooms with panoramic city views to exclusive beachfront estates, the city caters to various tastes and preferences. Renowned venue hotels like The Ritz-Carlton and
Rendezvous Hotel boast elegant event spaces, providing top-notch amenities and services for a truly upscale experience.
Additionally, historic estates and vineyards, such as Lamont's Bishop House and Sandalford Wines, offer a combination of sophistication and natural beauty. Perth's luxury wedding venues ensure a memorable and lavish setting, perfect for couples seeking opulence and refinement on their special day.
Wedding venue costs in Australia depend a lot on the region and city. In varies based on factors such as location, venue type, and included amenities. On average, couples can expect to spend between $8,000 to $20,000+ for a wedding venue in Perth. Exclusive and luxurious venues, particularly those with waterfront views or historic significance, may have higher price points.
Keep in mind that venue costs often include various services, such as catering, decorations, and sometimes accommodation for the couple or guests. It's essential to carefully review what is covered in the venue package and whether there are additional fees.
For a more accurate estimate, contact specific venues directly and inquire about their pricing packages, taking into account your guest count and any additional services you may require.
Reception venues in Perth vary in size and capacity, offering options for intimate gatherings as well as large celebrations. The maximum number of guests a venue can accommodate depends on factors like the venue's layout, seating arrangements, and whether it is an indoor or outdoor space.
In Perth, you can find reception venues that cater to small and intimate weddings of around 50 guests to grand venues capable of hosting several hundred attendees. Hotel venues, event spaces, and some of the larger wineries or estates may have the capacity to accommodate larger guest counts.
To determine the maximum capacity of a specific venue, it's advisable to directly contact the venue management or review their official information. They can provide details on the venue's capabilities and help you plan accordingly based on your guest list.
Yes, in Perth, you can find wedding venues that offer full-service planning as part of their packages. Many venues collaborate with experienced wedding planners or have in-house event coordinators to assist couples in planning and executing their dream weddings. These services often include assistance with logistics, coordination of vendors, and overall event management.
Luxury hotels, resorts, and some exclusive venues in Perth are more likely to provide comprehensive wedding packages that encompass not only the venue rental but also various services such as catering, decorations, and coordination. These full-service options can help alleviate the stress of wedding planning for couples, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
When exploring potential wedding venues in Perth, inquire about the services they offer, including whether they provide full-service planning or have recommended vendors to assist with different aspects of the wedding.
Perth offers a diverse range of wedding menus to suit various tastes. Many venues showcase modern Australian cuisine, highlighting fresh, local ingredients such as seafood, lamb, and native flavors.
International influences abound, allowing couples to choose from Italian, Asian, Mediterranean, or Middle Eastern-inspired menus. Given Perth's coastal location, seafood extravaganzas featuring prawns and barramundi are popular choices.
Barbecue and grill-style menus provide a more casual option, while venues increasingly cater to dietary preferences with vegetarian and vegan choices. Some venues also emphasize wine pairings, taking advantage of Western Australia's renowned wine regions.
When selecting a venue, inquire about customization options to ensure your wedding menu reflects your culinary preferences and accommodates diverse guest needs.
