Are you ready for a fun and sunny wedding in Queensland?
Queensland is packed with breathtaking landscapes: we're talking tropical rainforests, coral reefs, white sandy beaches, mountain ranges, deserts and savannas.
Home to five of Australia's World Natural Heritage areas, as well as developed urban hubs, Queensland has every setting for your wedding day — from tropical paradise on K'Gari (former Fraser Island) to contemporary venues in the heart of Brisbane, eco retreats, barns and more. On top of it, Tropical North Queensland is a fantastic location for weddings where the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics meet, making this region the only place on the planet with two UNESCO World Heritage sites. State-wide, 22,299 couples tied the knot in 2024, hosting their special day at dazzling Queensland sites.
This large and full-of-character Australian state, known as the Sunshine State, is home to over 20% of the entire Australian population — 5.6 million people, with most of them living around Brisbane.
Nearby vibrant coastal cities, such as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, are popular with tourists looking for a combination of fun and natural wonders. For example, Gold Coast alone injects over $8 billion into the state economy. A significant chunk of it comes from wedding-based travel.
Sunshine Coast is a paradise for everything wedding-related. It offers a win-win situation for everyone - happy couples have their dream wedding, vendors profit greatly, and the community also enjoys the benefits.
Sunshine Coast Council recognised this potential, so they launched a wedding strategy to help couples take advantage of all region perks and increase the market share in the industry country-wide. According to the strategy, a typical Sunshine Coast wedding has an average of 100 attendees. Some guests prefer to stick around for a few days to eat, drink, explore nature and relax, supporting local businesses.
But for Queensland couples, a wedding is a significant expense. Couples in this state spend an average of $30,000 on their special day. The price includes catering, florists, venue, photos, gowns and other services. In tourist regions, hotel wedding venues, for example, are quite popular, with an average cost range between $11,000 and $14,000, depending on where you are and what's included.
Once again, the boho aesthetic is a big thing for weddings. Queensland brides, especially ones around the Sunshine Coast and Whitsundays mix relaxed beach elements with boho vibes and include ambient fairy lights, scatter cushions, earthy tones, macramé, linen, rattan — you name it, all the hallmarks from boho style. When mixed with the serene vibe of coastal Queensland, the boho aesthetic creates a wonderful setting for your wedding. If you don't resonate with boho vibes, a bold colour palette is also in style at the moment.
Nation-wide, personalisation is growing among couples trying to move away from generic wedding themes and organisations. For Queensland couples, personalisation can be as simple as adding signature cocktails, which now go beyond his and hers! The signature cocktails for Queensland weddings are based on the abundance of Queensland tropical fruits and include mango, pineapple, passionfruit, and natives, such as Davidson Plum or Finger Lime. Go for local distillery collaborations to create a more authentic Queensland wedding experience.
For Brisbane, it is great to partner with a local craft brewery from an inner-city suburb to create a custom-labelled brew or order a special batch on tap for a unique touch.
Personalised drinks, local catering, one-of-a-kind décor — all of that is becoming more popular in Queensland. Creative couples can include storytelling elements in decoration, their vows, and speeches or create a mini-documentary to leave a lasting impression on their guests. Such dedication to individual needs and preferences increases spending, so you'll need to pay extra for these aspects.
Queensland wedding market is part of the global wedding market, now loving the luxury wedding destinations and resorts, such as Elysian Luxury Eco Island Retreat, an oasis for the couple and a handful of closest friends and family. According to Grand View Research, the experts suggest a 12.7% rise in the wedding market, with the largest contribution coming from bespoke service trends and extravagant destination weddings!
Starting from Brisbane, the bustling capital, Queensland is truly sensational. The list of classic, modern, and unique wedding venues in Queensland contains hidden gems and established businesses.
In Brisbane alone, you can choose from rooftops, gardens, historic venues, and contemporary spaces. Take Factory 51, for example, a stunning venue featuring just the right amount of industrial chic, romance and rustic details, ideal for a character-filled ceremony and reception. If you prefer weddings in nature, as opposed to urban city areas, the Events in Tents company provides marquees at your chosen location in Brisbane and beyond. To ensure everything goes smoothly, Bridebook offers a handy guide on all things marquee for weddings.
If you are more of a traditionalist at your heart, the Broadway Chapel is perfect for a classic ceremony.
While Brisbane offers beautiful riverfront views and urban settings, it might not be every couple's ideal backdrop. Luckily, Queensland has it all! For example, Surfers Paradise SkyPoint Observation Deck features spectacular views of the Queensland coastline, an elegant interior and exceptional service.
The dazzling Scenic Rim region, an hour from Brisbane, packs a punch with full-service venues. For example, Albert River Wines in Tamborine adapts to your needs thanks to its flexible thoughtful packages.
If you seek a tropical oasis in Queensland, don't go past the Whitsunday region. Coral Sea Marina Resort in Airlie Beach hosts dreamy beach wedding ceremonies and lush seafood feasts and provides luxury accommodations.
Couples needing to add special effects to their beach wedding love the Sea World Resort in Gold Coast, a unique theme park. On the opposite side of the state, in Cairns, you can experience both tropical and casual vibes at Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf.
Queensland isn't all city and tropical vibes. If you love the ambience of a country wedding, Queensland has venues to select from, including the Woolshed at Jondaryan in the Toowoomba region.
Couples seeking mountain settings and great views will enjoy the surroundings of the Maleny Retreat and its vistas of the Glasshouse Mountains and Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Queensland is also diverse in wedding venue pricing, not just settings. According to Bridebook's insights, the range couples spend on a venue is between $5,000 and $22,000, with an average cost of $13,000, slightly below the national range ($14,000 – $17,000) as explained in Bridebook's Australian budget guide. Overall, it costs less to get married in Queensland than in NSW and Victoria, but it doesn't mean you must settle on something you don't like.
Traditional chapels and places of worship are on the lower end, while luxury resorts are on the high-end side.
If you have a specific season or date in mind for your wedding, start your quest for Queensland wedding venues early. On average, popular venues book 12 to 18 months in advance, but this isn't always the case. Venues around Brisbane and scenic spaces on the Gold Coast book so fast that sometimes you have to wait up to 18 months or two years for the wedding.
Peak seasons in Queensland are spring and autumn, with Saturdays being especially busy. Summer holidays at the end of December and the beginning of January are also busy and fill out fast.
Sunday and midweek dates are less popular. Therefore, if you are flexible with days and seasons, you can secure your venue sooner and book three to six months in advance.
Finally, a smaller guest list allows you to book a venue with shorter notice for several reasons: you can consider more venues for your party because you're not limited to the capacity. For example, Fleay's Events and Café organises elopements and micro-weddings seven days a week and is available on shorter notice.
The mixed Queensland climate, weather and pin on the map can seriously mess up your wedding day. Even though the Sunshine State has around 300 sunny days per year, you need to know about wet seasons, expected storms and climate zones to prevent the rain from ruining your mood or the wedding.
Spring (September–November): This is the peak season for weddings in Queensland, featuring ideal temperatures between 25 and 28°C (77-82°F); humidity is mild, and the blooming season creates stunning bursts of colour at Queensland's outdoor venues; just a heads up for the late November weddings at Tropical North Queensland - sudden storms are normal so get a backup plan for outdoor events; venues like Mercure Hotel in Townsville, offering indoor and outdoor function areas, are a fantastic year-round choice.
Summer (December–February): Hot and humid Queensland summers have an average temperature between 30 and 32°C (86-90°F); heavy rains are common, especially around Cairns and Whitsundays, so tropical venues might lower their prices due to the wet season; spaces, such as Fitzroy Island Resort, deliver great value for the money as destination wedding venues and have flexible bridal and guest accommodation packages and outdoor/indoor spaces for every case scenario.
Autumn (March–May): What a lovely season autumn is in Queensland, especially in the subtropical south where outdoor venues, such as Cedar Creek Lodges, are in high demand; plus, expect gorgeous natural light for your wedding photo session; humidity and rainfall drop while the temperatures stay between 18°C (64°F) and 25°C (79°F).
Winter (June–August): Winter in Queensland is mild, dry and sunny, so it is ideal for outdoor weddings; temperatures are between 9°C (48°F) and 26°C (79°F), with differences between Subtropical Southeast and Tropical North Queensland; choose a heated indoor venue for winter weddings inland, such as Gabbinbar Homestead in Toowoomba, setting a cosy atmosphere with fireplaces and central heating.
Queensland offers various air traffic options, an extensive road network and scenic rides, ferries and a well-developed railway as potential ways to reach the Queensland destination.
The busiest state airport is Brisbane Airport (BNE), ideal for international and long-distance trips. Gold Coast Region is served by Gold Coast Airport (OOL), known as Coolangatta Airport. Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) is handy for guests flying to coastal areas and the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Next, the Cairns Airport (CNS) is a gateway to Tropical North Queensland and the scenic Great Barrier Reef.
But that isn't all — 14 regional airports (Mackay, Townsville, Whitsunday Coast, Rockhampton, and more) fly guests even closer to their chosen Queensland wedding destination.
If your guests are coming from nearby areas, they will most likely enjoy a scenic car ride. Three major road networks in Queensland are the Pacific Motorway (M1), connecting Brisbane and Gold Coast, Bruce Highway to Cairns and Warrego Highway for areas west of Brisbane.
Hop on a ferry to reach Moreton Island, K'gari, Whitsunday region and North Stradbroke Island and have a memorable trip. In Brisbane, ferries CityCats and KittyCats are fantastic ways to navigate the Brisbane River. Plus, some resorts provide private boat rentals for transport to and from the resort.
Extensive railway network, especially the Southeast Queensland (SEQ) Network, connects Brisbane and areas south to the Gold Coast. Queensland Rail Travel offers long-distance trips from Brisbane and regional centres: Cairns, Longreach, Mount Isa, and Charleville. Don't forget the iconic lines — the Kuranda Scenic Railway (Cairns to Kuranda) and The Gulflander (Normanton to Croydon).
When your guests arrive at the destination, they can choose their type of lodging: luxury hotels and resorts, self-contained apartments, camping or caravan parks, tropical resorts, holiday houses, country-style accommodations and retreats, such as Shambala Eco Retreat and boutique accommodations like Austinvilla Estate.
