Best Wedding Venues for LGBTQIA+ Couples

Winter is here, which means across the country couples are finalising the details for their upcoming spring weddings. From table settings to floral arrangements to the wedding band, every detail needs to be perfect. While nothing is as important as celebrating with the ones you love, a close second just might be the location of the event. The question of where to host the ceremony and reception is a crucial part of the wedding planning process, and is usually first up on pre-wedding checklists. It can hold even more weight for an LGBTQIA+ couple. Here are some of our favourite queer-friendly wedding venues across Australia.

Secrets on the Lake - Montville, QLD

Winner of the 2023 Wedding Industry Award for boutique wedding venues on the Sunshine Coast, Secrets on the Lake is a stunning venue suitable for small weddings, from intimate elopements to gatherings with forty guests. Secrets on the Lake offers self-contained luxury treehouse retreats, with each cabin featuring unique, hand-carved decor. Located amongst lush rainforest on the shore of Lake Baroon, this boutique accommodation showcases the natural beauty of the region to create the perfect romantic setting. Just forty minutes from the Sunshine Coast Airport, this is an ideal wedding venue for couples with family and friends flying in from around Australia.

Secrets on the Lake is owned and operated by George and Aldy, a couple celebrating 55 years of marriage. If anyone knows how to make dreams come true, it’s these two. With the help of Molly, the wedding planner, and Sarah, the wedding coordinator, George and Aldy ensure that each wedding is curated specifically for the spouses-to-be. They are well equipped to plan and host the entire wedding experience, from ceremony to reception to honeymoon, or you can pick and choose. If you have an intimate ceremony planned elsewhere but need a reception location, Secrets on the Lake is the perfect place. If you have a wild reception party planned, but want a more romantic reception, Secrets on the Lake can accommodate.

There are multiple locations to choose from within the Secrets on the Lake property, including the lakeside Peninsula, the Lakehouse, and the Dining on the Deck restaurant. Wedding packages with Secrets on the Lake can include everything from floral services to photographers to celebrant services, meaning once the location is set, the finer details easily fall into place.

Kingfisher Bay Resort - K’Gari (Fraser Island), QLD

Kingfisher Bay Resort has been named the Best Resort Reception Venue in Queensland five years running by the Australian Bridal Industry Academy. A leading resort in ecotourism, this wedding destination is perfect for anyone who is environmentally conscious and wants to incorporate sustainable practices into their wedding planning. With standard resort rooms and self contained villas, Kingfisher Bay Resort has accommodation options perfect for wedding guests who want to stay overnight and for newlyweds who want to honeymoon on the island.

Kingfisher Bay Resort proudly says yes to love, and offers a Rainbow Love wedding package for LGBTQIA+ couples. This package includes accommodation, a celebrant, flowers for the ceremony, and transportation on the day of the wedding. The package also includes the services of either a stylist prepared to groom two grooms, or a hair and makeup artist ready to pamper two brides.

There are three wedding destinations to choose from within Kingfisher Bay Resort. The first is Sunset Beach, which can host up to 120 guests. This venue is perfect for your dream beach wedding, with panoramic views of the ocean and picture-perfect sunsets. The second location is the Secret Garden, perfect for smaller weddings of up to 16 guests. For nature enthusiasts, this location allows you to say “I do” in a World Heritage site. Finally, the third location is The Atrium, an indoor venue for up to 70 guests. In this location, you can enjoy the picturesque scenery without having to worry about unpredictable weather.

Trawool Estate - Trawool, VIC

The Trawool Estate was voted the best hotel wedding venue in Victoria at the 2022 Australian Bridal Industry Awards. Located in Victoria’s wine country, The Trawool Estate is a perfect location for a sophisticated and luxurious wedding. A fantastic location for foodies as well as wine connoisseurs, the Trawool Estate has three separate restaurants serving farm to table meals, Asian cuisine with Australian native ingredients, and Italian pizza and gelato.

This destination is perfect for couples who enjoy an active lifestyle, with a solar heated pool, tennis courts, and access to the Great Victorian Rail Trail. You can even make a grand entrance to your wedding week and arrive by helicopter. The Estate features modern and elegant rooms which have been recently renovated to provide a space for indulgent relaxation.

Make your wedding especially exclusive by booking out The Mansion, giving you and up to 66 guests free reign of the estate for two days. This option includes the ceremony and reception (with a bar tab, snacks, and security) as well as food and beverage packages. The Trawool Estate has indoor and outdoor reception venues, including The Anglesey – perfect for sit-down receptions with space for a dance floor – and The Dome – an intimate space with a glass dome providing natural light.

Choosing a wedding venue is a crucial step in planning you and your partner’s special day - and it's one of the first steps on any good wedding planning checklist. If you want something more unique and out of the box for your wedding, stay tuned for the next instalment of this wedding series, where we’ll share our favourite non-traditional locations to get married.