Australian Wedding ... at Aussie World

Set in beautiful native Australian gardens on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Aussie World is reminiscent of a traditional Australian fairground, providing a variety of rides, function venues and specialty stores perfect for a true blue, ididjeridoo, fair dinkum, Aussie wedding.

Quirky venue, The Ettamogah (Aboriginal for "place of good drink!") Pub was built in 1989 and is Now one of Queensland's leading tourist attractions.  It stands at an impressive 18m and is a must to visit due to its wonky shape and caricature appearance and most of the furniture inside the pub has been built from trees cleared from the site.  Bluey’s Bar and Grill is situated upstairs in the Ettamogah Pub and dishes up huge servings of fair dinkum Aussie tucker.

The Shed is located behind the Ettamogah Pub and is perfect for an Aussie bush themed soiree.   Think tables adorned with native Australian flora and camp fires to create a cosy outback atmosphere.  The Shed can cater for 600 people seated or 1100 cocktail – it’s a big shed!

FJ's Café is themed in true 50s and 60s rock ‘n roll style fashion and even houses a Juke Box!

The Fairground with 30 rides and attractions can be hired exclusively at night as a unique and memorable experience guaranteed to impress.  The exclusive use of the Fairground encompasses ‘all the fun of the fair' from days gone by including the second largest Ferris Wheel in the southern hemisphere, Stockshed Speedway Dodgems, rollercoasters and much much more.  Think of the photo ops!

Our pick of Australia's online wedding boutiques

Online wedding boutiques are just the thing for a busy bride planning a wedding abroad, so it's just as well there are endless selections of invitations, decorations, favours and gifts all available at your fingertips.

Here's some of our fave online Australian Wedding Boutiques.
Bride to Be Online Shop - Australia's top selling bridal magazine has long featured stylish weddings and now they deliver stunning wedding decorations, favours and styling ideas online too!

Details, Details - A gorgeous party boutique site where you can find everything you need to create the perfect event.  From ribbon and packaging to cards and labels, this website stocks Australia’s largest range of ready-to-write party invitations, modern decorations, party favour packaging and fun tableware or choose from products from Aussie suppliers such as Poppies For Grace, Imprintables and Belles & Whiselles.

Very Special Celebrations - The online store of the Very Special Celebrations boutique in Brisbane is filled with everything from classic to the quirky.  Beautiful lace parasols and sweet cake toppers are their specialities.

Get clicking girls!

Tropical Kiwi Wedding Venue

Landsendt is a tropical resort style wedding venue offering a spectacular backdrop for your special day. 

A garden of national significance set in the picturesque Oratia valley in the foothills of the Waitakere Ranges, just 30 minutes from downtown Auckland, Landsendt is nestled amongst New Zealand's only coconut plantation.

What a fab spot to exchange your vows.

Private Island wedding Down Under

It just doesn't get much better than gazing out on the islands off the coast out onto the open sea; from densely wooded mountain ridges, impressive cliff lines and the deep blue Pacific Ocean over to the neighbouring islands.

Forsyth Island offers all that and more.  Stretching over 706 hectares, the island is completely uninhabited (except for the Island’s caretakers) and is part of a group of islands in one of the most fascinating maritime sceneries on earth - the Marlborough Sounds. 

The exclusive lodge "Te-Paruparu" (meaning "the good one") is located on one of the emerald green mountain plateaus and accommodates up to 8.

Forsyth Island was recently named the best island lodge built on a privately owned island with outstanding price-quality-size ratio and it's not hard to see why.

Top Ten reasons why Brits head down under to wed

1. Location, Location, Location - In Australia and New Zealand there are absolutely no restrictions on your wedding location.  In fact your choices of venues are endless.  Get married on a secluded beach, in your parent's garden, in a theme park, underwater, but in the UK it's illegal to conduct either a religious or civil ceremony outdoors.  This of course also means that marriages cannot take place in your home, parent’s home, or anyone else’s home for that matter.  The building you exchange your vows in must be licensed for weddings.  Fairly restrictive.

2. The weather - The unpredictability of English weather is a main factor all couples consider when planning their big day.  Regardless of whether it’s an indoor or outdoor wedding, no bride wants to have to dash from car to church door clutching a damp skirt hoping her make up wont run and her hair isn’t flat by the time she walks down the aisle.  The weather can also potentially ruin stunning photographic opportunities.  Who wants to have ALL their wedding photos taken inside, especially if your venue is a stately home or by a lake?!

3. Restrictions on officiants - Ever since Joey married Chandler and Monica on ‘Friends’ and Haley married Peyton and Lucas ‘On One Tree Hill’, the idea of having a loved one perform their wedding ceremony appealed to couples the world over. But sadly, this is yet another option Brits do not have.

4. Cost - It is considerably cheaper to marry abroad, especially when the cost of your wedding is in Australian or New Zealand dollars; effectively making it half the cash. Most of your wedding needs are less expensive down under too, for example, stationery and favours are less than half the cost than here in the UK.

5. Package deals - In the UK paying for your wedding is generally done separately.  By that, I mean the venue is a set fee, you pay the catering company a separate fee, the transportation company a set fee etc; whereas in Australia and New Zealand, it is far more common to incorporate most of your wedding costs, especially when it comes to your reception.  Usually you will pay for your venue hire, reception, meals, drinks, décor etc all in one package, which inevitably saves a lot of money.

6. The landscape - Where else in the world can you find hundreds of sparkling beaches, rolling vineyards, sunburnt desert, lush rainforests, snow-capped mountains and cosmopolitan cities all in one?  Australia and New Zealand offer such magnificent landscapes and stunning scenery to suit all tastes and you can be sure your wedding photos will be stunning!

7. Two-in-one wedding & honeymoon - Thousands of Brits ravel to Australia nd New Zealand every year, many of them, in search of sun sand and sea and many for a far and away relaxing honeymoon destination.  So it make sense to want to plan a two-in-one wedding and honeymoon package, saving you time and money, althought it is a long way to expect your guests to travel.

8. The cuisine - Australia and New Zealand have some fabulous chefs popping up at the moment, the Southern Hemisphere really is a culinary wonderland.   Known for laid back dining and world class seafood, it's a good enough reason for any couple to want to spoil their guests with some Aussie game meat and Kiwi tucker!

9. Wine - OK so you can buy it here in the UK but the brilliant wines that Australia and New Zealand produce are obviously far cheaper to consume in their native countries.  As well as that, there are over 50 wine-growing regions in Australia (over 500 wineries in Victoria alone) and 10 in New Zealand so you're spoilt for choice if marrying on a vineyard takes your fancy.

10. See above!! - All this is reason enough to want to start planning your Southern Hemisphere wedding, right?  I think so too!

La Toscane - A little slice of Europe in the Hunter Valley

La Toscane is a such a stunning wedding venue.  Tuscan inspired, full of romance and charm.  It sits at the foot of the historic Sweetwater Vineyard in the Hunter Valley, within close proximity to accommodation and restaurants in Pokolbin, yet  far enough removed to give privacy and a feeling of exclusivity. 

With scenic surrounds and original European fixtures including antique Italian and French chandeliers, this venue is a little slice of Europe in the Hunter Valley.