If you’ve ever wished you could get married somewhere that feels like Italy — olive groves, rolling hills, wine, late-night feasts, pasta course after course, and that easy-going joie de vivre included — then you’re not alone and this is exactly how I wanted my own wedding day to feel.
One of the first things many couples tell me when they reach out is they want their wedding to feel romantic, intimate, soulful, and yes, Italian in spirit.
That’s exactly why I’m sharing my favourite Italian-style wedding venues in Melbourne and Victoria. These are places that don’t just look Mediterranean, but make you feel like you’re celebrating la dolce vita, all without the long-haul flight to Europe and the expense of a destination wedding in Italy.
In this guide I’ll walk you through:
- What makes an Italian-style wedding venue truly special
- Why each of these venues works beautifully for weddings with Italian atmosphere
- My own notes from a photographers perspective and how couples can make the most of the space
Let’s dive in.
1. Pietro Gallus Estate
If you want Tuscan countryside vibes without an international flight, Pietro Gallus Estate should be top of your list.
Set on rolling hills dotted with olive trees, vineyards, and citrus orchards, this venue feels like a hidden Italian escape but located only 40 mins from Melbourne in Warrandyte South.
Why Pietro Gallus Estate Makes the List
From the moment you step down the cyprus tree-lined driveway, you’re enveloped in rustic, warm elegance.
There’s an alfresco piazza overlooking the olive grove and lemon trees for ceremonies, a sunken garden courtyard perfect for smaller weddings or cocktail hour, and interiors that blend rustic Italian aesthetic with refined finishes.
And of course I must mention how truly authentic and incredible the food is. Everything is Tuscan inspired and many ingredients are grown on-site. The estate is a working distillery, winery and restaurant so you can rest-assured you and your guests will not be left hungry but raving about the incredible food at your wedding for years to come!
What I Love about Pietro Gallus Estate as a Photographer
This venue is made for editorial, timeless wedding photos.
Landscapes, architecture, and beautiful warm sunsets make every angle photograph beautifully. The way the indoor/outdoor spaces connect means we can flow between ceremony, portraits, and reception without scrambling for locations or walking large distances between locations – getting you back to celebrating sooner.
Who It Suits
Couples who love:
- Rustic Italian charm
- Great food and wine woven into the experience
- A relaxed yet stylish day
Insider Tip
The Piazza ceremony site makes for gorgeous aisle photos with views of the olive trees & lemons trees in the background, while the Olivigna restaurant offers an authentic warm Italian cantina style feel with a festoon light chandelier and huge stone fireplace.
Keen to read more about weddings at Pietro Gallus Estate? Check out my full venue guide by clicking here.
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2. Pepe’s Italian & Liquor
Pepe’s Italian & Liquor, situated in the northern part of Melbourne CBD is a venue that truly understands Italian celebration.
With brightly coloured interiors, hand painted mural-walls and black and white checkered floors, it’s the perfect space for a candlelit dinner. I’ve photographed multiple weddings here and can confidently say it’s an iconic choice for couples who are dreaming of a more intimate and warm setting for their wedding.
Why Pepe’s Feels Italian (aside from being in the name!)
Pepe’s blends heritage architecture with Italian-inspired design, resulting in a space that’s dramatic, soulful, and full of character. It’s the perfect backdrop for weddings where food, wine and party energy are front and centre.
My Photographer’s Perspective of Pepe’s Italian & Liquor
This venue just screams editorial & is made for those crisp, flash-portraits that are sexy and fun and oh-so editorial. Picture yourself perched on the bar in Pepe’s main dining room, a glass of Aperol Spritz in hand laughing away with your now-husband who sips a Peroni.
The Amalfi-inspired murals of the main dining room are perfect for bold and bright images that scream romance, and after dark it’s the perfect space for a dancefloor that will be pumping all night long.
The glass rooftop in Pepe’s Parlour on the other hand, offers a beautiful bright space perfect for those long summer evenings.
Who It Suits
- City couples who love culture + style
- Receptions focussed on dancing and feasting
- Intimate ceremonies that want atmosphere. Pepe’s Parlour is also perfect for cocktail-style celebrations.
- Northern Italian-inspired menus and drinks
Insider Tip
The festoon-lit courtyard is perfect for your canape hour and also some tipsy night time portraits.
Keen to read more about weddings at Pepe’s Italian & Liquor? Check out my full venue guide by clicking here.
Real Weddings at Pepe’s Italian & Liquor
Keen for some wedding inspo? Check out these weddings I’ve captured at Pepe’s Italian & Liquor:
Bronte & Shaun – Pepe’s Parlour
Laura & Daniel – Pepe’s Dining Room
3. Sunnyside Estate
Sunnyside Estate is a place where romantic gardens meet Mediterranean coastal ambience. Its gardens, vineyard backdrops, and Mediterranean-inspired piazza create a sense of grand celebration and effortless elegance which is perfect for couples who want a slightly more garden party meets Italian villa feel.
Why Sunnyside Estate Feels Italian
Dramatic ornate gardens complete with a rose-covered arbor, views over Port Philip Bay, a historic mansion, and charming stone pathways give this venue a European feel, but with a modern coastal twist.
The estate also offers an elegant reception space with floor to ceiling windows and soft lighting filtered through S-wave sheer curtains, making it the ideal space for a well-lit reception.
My Photography Notes on Sunnyside Estate
Sunnyside Estate has to have Melbourne’s BEST sunset location hands down. The Manor Gardens face west and with a clear view of the horizon, it truly is the perfect space to create golden, heavenly editorial portraits.
Who It Suits
- Couples who want a garden-romance vibe
- Larger weddings as the reception space caters for up to 200 guests
- Celebrations that feel open, airy and relaxed – the reception hall faces the Mediterranean inspired Piazza & there is the option for an outdoor reception too
Insider Tip
This venue works beautifully when you plan your timeline around the light. I would highly recommend leaving the bulk of your portraits to sunset and instead after the ceremony, go and join your guests in the Piazza whilst they mingle, sip cocktails and enjoy canapes prior to the reception starting. Oh, and a champagne tower pour in the Piazza is a MUST!
Keen to read more about Sunnyside Estate? Check out my full venue guide (including a video tour) by clicking here.
Real Weddings at Sunnyside Estate
Keen for some wedding inspo? Check out these weddings I’ve captured at Sunnyside Estate:
4. Stones of the Yarra Valley
Stones of the Yarra Valley is one of those venues that feels timeless and classic, with an almost European estate sensibility.
Surrounded by vineyards, century-old oak trees, and sweeping green lawns that overlook the Yarra Valley, this venue is a staple for couples who love a refined, couture-calibre wedding day.
Not to mention the perk of extensive onsite accommodation.
Why Stones of the Yarra Valley Feels Italian
While more subtly European than overtly Italian, the vineyard landscapes and the European-inspired architecture lend themselves to a feel that’s at home in Italy’s wine regions — think Tuscany or Piedmont.
My Photography Perspective on Stones of the Yarra Valley
Everything about this venue encourages natural moments from laughter whilst enjoying a wine, golden sunsets streaming in over the chapel, quiet connections between friends and family. It’s a photographer’s dream for candid storytelling against a classic, European backdrop.
Who It Suits
- Couples chasing a renowned Yarra Valley wedding experience
- Love of heritage architecture combined with a modern, neutral palette
- Those who want a strong indoor ceremony option – the chapel at Stones is truly iconic
Insider Tip
Make use of the newest accommodation on site at Stones, The Villa, for your bridal getting ready moments, whilst the groom and his party can book several rooms in The Farmhouse.
5. Feathertop Winery
If you’re after that “wedding-weekend” vibe, then Feathertop Winery is certainly worth adding to your Italian style wedding venue shortlist.
Tucked under the hills of Mount Buffalo in the High Country near Bright, this venue pairs 360-degree mountain and vineyard views with a truly Tuscan-inspired wedding setting that feels both grand and inviting.
Why Feathertop Winery Feels Italian
While set in Victoria’s High Country rather than a Mediterranean hillside, Feathertop’s rolling vineyards, stone terraces, vine-covered courtyard and sweeping landscapes give the feeling of an Italian estate wedding but all under the Australian sun.
A Photographers Perspective on Feathertop Winery
Photographically, this venue is incredible because you have multiple unique spaces: outdoor stone terraces with a sweeping staircase, cyprus trees lining the driveway and vineyard (makes for GREAT sunset photos) and panoramic vineyard views that make every photo feel expansive and cinematic.
Who It Suits
- Couples who want a “wedding weekend” that’s far enough away to warrant an overnight stay, but close enough to drive from Melbourne (approx. a 3 hour drive)
- A rustic Tuscan inspired wedding venue with high quality wine, mountain views and two unique outdoor reception spaces: under the vine covered stone terrace, or on the stone courtyard next to the vineyards
- Those who want their ceremony, reception and accommodation on the estate. There is accommodation for up to 18 guests.
Insider Tip
Feathertop’s weekend-long experiences – brunch the next day, after party at the Porepunkah Pub, pre-drinks the day before on the terrace – make it perfect for couples who want multiple celebration moments, not just a one-day event.
Final Thoughts on Italian-Style Weddings in Melbourne
What unites these venues isn’t just space or scenery, it’s how they help your wedding feel.
Whether that means long tables under festoon lights or a vine-covered terrace, beautiful estate-grown Shiraz, olive groves dotted across rolling hills, or vineyards stretching into the distance, these venues are all about atmosphere, connection, and make for beautiful backdrops to your editorial wedding portraits.
For couples planning an Italian style wedding in Melbourne or Victoria, this list is a strong starting point. Every one of these wedding venues gives you back experience and emotion over checklist boxes.
If you’d love help choosing the right space for you or want guidance on how your photography could look in each of these beautiful Italian vibe venues, just drop me a message 🤍
Planning an Italian-style wedding in Melbourne? I’d Love to Photograph It.
Let’s bring your Italian wedding dreams to life in Melbourne.
Ready to explore dates or see sample timelines?
Click here to get in touch or let’s book a time to chat.
With love,
Emma x
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