Real Weddings We Captured At Royal Botanic Gardens

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Complete Guide on Planning Weddings at The Royal Botanic Gardens [2022]

If you are planning a garden styled wedding in Melbourne, then look no further than the Royal Botanic Gardens. Located near the Melbourne CBD, the Royal Botanic Gardens represent as the ultimate all-in-one destination for weddings: with 8 unique wedding ceremony locations and 4 wedding receptions within the garden, couples will also find endless opportunities for stunning Melbourne wedding photography.

But with so many choices and options available, couples may wonder which plan works the best for their wedding at the Royal Botanic Gardens. In this guide, you will find all the info you will need for your upcoming wedding at this amazing Melbourne Garden.

Royal Botanic Gardens Basic Information:
- Address: Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne
- Opening hours: 7:30am – 7:30pm
- Phone: (03) 9252 2300
Before we start, one key information to bear in mind is that in order to plan weddings inside the Royal Botanic Gardens, there are a few documents to be signed by several parties. For instance, a permit is required from the Melbourne city council in order to grant you the right of taking wedding photography as well as holding lawn ceremony inside the Royal Botanic Gardens. And another application from the Blakes Feast is also required as it is the sole supplier that you can choose in terms of all kinds of wedding hire and event setups.

Wedding ceremony locations inside the Royal Botanic Gardens

Set on 38 hectares of natural land and water, there are currently 7 outdoor spots and 1 indoor alternative spot for wedding ceremony locations inside the Royal Botanic Gardens:
- Nymphaea Lake East and West
- Tecoma Pavilion
- Taxodium Lawn
- Rose Pavilion
- Picnic Point
- Princes Lawn
- Tennyson Lawn
- Eastern Transit Room

Nymphaea Lake East and West

Nymphaea lake offers peaceful water features as well as an amazing collection of water lillies, Japanese rirses. Wedding ceremonies can be set on the lawn facing towards the lake and couple will be benefited with a stunning lake backdrop. The East side of the lake offers more expansive views while the west side suits better for those who prefer intimacy.

Tecoma Pavilion

Set on the East side of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Tecoma Pavilion is a spacious gazebo suitable for wedding ceremonies of up to 60 people. The Tecoma Pavilion offers uninterrupted views of the government house and the city skyline, and its shelter means couple’s wedding ceremony will not be interfered by any wet weather situation.

Tecoma Pavilion

Set on the East side of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Tecoma Pavilion is a spacious gazebo suitable for wedding ceremonies of up to 60 people. The Tecoma Pavilion offers uninterrupted views of the government house and the city skyline, and its shelter means couple’s wedding ceremony will not be interfered by any wet weather situation.

Taxodium Lawn

Named after the beautiful taxodium distichum tree beside the ornamental lake, the Taxodium Lawn is located in the heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens. With a beautiful backdrop of the lake and forests, the Taxodium Lawn is one of the most popular wedding ceremony locations within the garden.
See real Taxodium Lawn wedding ceremony photography

Rose Pavilion

Within short walking distance from the ornamental lake, the Rose Pavilion offers a romantic setting for wedding ceremony, especially during the warm season where it will be covered with blooms. The Rose Pavilion allows guest capacity up to 45 people.
See real Rose Pavilion wedding ceremony photography

Rose Pavilion

Within short walking distance from the ornamental lake, the Rose Pavilion offers a romantic setting for wedding ceremony, especially during the warm season where it will be covered with blooms. The Rose Pavilion allows guest capacity up to 45 people.
See real Rose Pavilion wedding ceremony photography

Picnic Point

Located on the opposite side of the Taxodium lawn, the Picnic Point is another popular choice for wedding ceremonies. Set by the lake, it offers idyllic backdrop of the lake, palm trees and the garden. Being a larger lawn area, the Picnic Point also offers more guest capacity than the Taxodium lawn.

Tennyson Lawn

Wedding ceremonies at the Tennyson Lawn are held under the century old tree, surrounded by greeneries and forest, which offer a touch more intimacy and privacy to your garden wedding ceremony. It is also conveniently located close to the B Gate, so the access to this location is one of the earliest.

Tennyson Lawn

Wedding ceremonies at the Tennyson Lawn are held under the century old tree, surrounded by greeneries and forest, which offer a touch more intimacy and privacy to your garden wedding ceremony. It is also conveniently located close to the B Gate, so the access to this location is one of the earliest.

Gardens House

The backyard garden of the wedding venue Gardens House is one of the less known wedding ceremony’s locations. Its location offers privacy and intimacy for wedding ceremonies while the couple can enjoy stunning greeneries there as the ceremony backdrop.
See real Gardens House wedding ceremony photography

Wedding ceremony Package Price at Royal Botanic Gardens

As mentioned before, 2 permits are required for all wedding ceremonies within the Royal Botanic Gardens. One is for ceremony location hire from the City of Melbourne council, another permit is required from Blakes Feast for all of the ceremony hire and setups.
- Nominated ceremony hired time: 3 hours (including the setup and pack up time)
- Wedding ceremony site fees: October to April, $900 for a lawn spot, $1200 for a pavilion; May to September, $500 for a lawn spot, $700 for a pavilion
- Wedding ceremony capacity: up to 350 people for a lawn spot, up to 60 people for pavilion locations
- Marquees and tipis: apply from Blakes Feast
- To Apply for a City of Melbourne wedding ceremony permit: click here
- Blakes Feast wedding ceremony registration form: click here

Top 5 Wedding Photography Locations Within the Royal Botanic Gardens

After your got hitched in this wonderful garden, your Melbourne wedding photographer will then take you and your wedding party on a short stroll around the garden for some natural and candid wedding photography. One of the highlights that set the Royal Botanic Gardens different from the others is apart from the greeneries, you will be benefited with so many unique elements to take photos with. Whether you are a fan of lake view, floral or historic building, the Royal Botanic Gardens has got you covered. Below are the top 5 locations within the garden for stunning wedding photography.
1. Taxodium Lawn
2. The purple flowered tree
3. Tropical Glasshouse
4. Temple of the Winds
5. Nymphaea Lake

Taxodium Lawn

Being the most popular wedding ceremony location within the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Taxodium Lawn is one of the first locations we start for the wedding location photos. Together with the lake, the forests as well as the Melbourne city buildings in the back, the Taxodium Lawn provides an excellent location for natural and candid wedding photography.

The purple flowered tree

5 minutes away from the Taxodium Lawn, you will find the trees with purple blooms. From a Melbourne wedding photographer’s point of view, this is one of the most unique yet stunning natural backdrop that you can find in Melbourne. The tree’s dark foliage and the vivid purple of the blooms form a nice contrast for the backdrop of the wedding photos.

The purple flowered tree

5 minutes away from the Taxodium Lawn, you will find the trees with purple blooms. From a Melbourne wedding photographer’s point of view, this is one of the most unique yet stunning natural backdrop that you can find in Melbourne. The tree’s dark foliage and the vivid purple of the blooms form a nice contrast for the backdrop of the wedding photos.

Tropical Greenhouse

Located near the Gardens House, the tropical greenhouse features a glass building with lots of colourful exotic plants. With the lush green backdrop within the greenhouse, you would find endless opportunities for stunning wedding photography.

Temple of the Wind

Located on the North side highest point of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Temple of the Wind is a domed building that features circular columned bluestone design. Standing inside the Temple of the Wind, you can also appreciate the MCG together with the Melbourne CBD skyline as backdrop for wedding photography.

Temple of the Wind

Located on the North side highest point of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Temple of the Wind is a domed building that features circular columned bluestone design. Standing inside the Temple of the Wind, you can also appreciate the MCG together with the Melbourne CBD skyline as backdrop for wedding photography.

Nymphaea Lake

Featuring water lilies, Japanese irises and lots of other beautiful exotic blooms, the Nymphaea Lake provides an elegant and idyllic backdrop for candid styled wedding photography.

Wedding reception inside the Royal Botanic Gardens

There are three indoor and one marquee outdoor wedding venues set inside the Royal Botanic Garden which each represent different style: The Gardens House is a historic building that embraces the historic feel and elegance. The Terrace with an outdoor deck gives Melbourne bride and groom to celebrate their wedding while enjoying the stunning lakeview at the same time. The Jardin Tan on the other side is an Indo-Chinese restaurant that is perfect for a small and intimate wedding celebration. And lastly, the iconic Botanica marquee set on dog flat lawn is the perfect semi-outdoor wedding venue for grand weddings within the Royal Botanic Gardens.
- Gardens House
- The Terrace
- Jardin Tan
- Botanica Marquee

Gardens House

Managed under the Atlantic Group, the Gardens House features an historic mansion that set amongst its own private garden. Its versatile backyard can either be used as your wedding ceremony space or even just pre-dinner drinks. Celebrating its raw splendour and historic architecture, the Gardens House provides a timeless and classic setting for either formal sitting down dinner or just cocktail styled reception.
More Gardens House wedding photography and pricing insights

The Terrace

Surrounded by lush lawns and tropical plants, the Terrace is the perfect setting for an elegant yet candid garden wedding. Featuring a wonderful deck for pre-dinner drinks and canapes, the interior of the Terrace is only better: its floor-to-ceiling windows invites fresh air and natural light flow through the venue while the guests can truly appreciate the stunning lake view from within. Being one of the biggest wedding venues within the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Terrace can conveniently fit up to 180 guests.
More The Terrace wedding photography and pricing insights

The Terrace

Surrounded by lush lawns and tropical plants, the Terrace is the perfect setting for an elegant yet candid garden wedding. Featuring a wonderful deck for pre-dinner drinks and canapes, the interior of the Terrace is only better: its floor-to-ceiling windows invites fresh air and natural light flow through the venue while the guests can truly appreciate the stunning lake view from within. Being one of the biggest wedding venues within the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Terrace can conveniently fit up to 180 guests.
More The Terrace wedding photography and pricing insights

Jardin Tan

Set conveniently in the Observatory Precinct, Jardin Tan features a small yet trendy setting for medium compact size intimate wedding celebration. The foods at Jardin Tan are inspired by dynamic fusion of French-Indochina flavour and a farm-to-table philosophy.

The Botanica Marquee

The Botanica Marquee features a stunning design which commands awe and wonder from every angle: impressive in its intricacies, its 5.3m curved roof together with the sleek white still profile and glass panels will make sure your night under the marquee will be truly amazing.

The Botanica Marquee

The Botanica Marquee features a stunning design which commands awe and wonder from every angle: impressive in its intricacies, its 5.3m curved roof together with the sleek white still profile and glass panels will make sure your night under the marquee will be truly amazing.

We Love to Throw You Some Ideas

Should you have any questions to plan a wedding or wedding photography at the Royal Botanic Gardens, please do not hesitate to Contact Us for suggestions and information from a Melbourne wedding photographer’s view.
To watch more real weddings and get inspirations: Tree Photography & Video Studio