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Getting hitched in style
Choosing a reception venue might be the most stressful thing any budding bride has to do - short of choosing her groom, of course. Not only do you want somewhere with decent food and (preferably bottomless) wine, it's also got to have hidden corners for bridal-party mischief and enough room to avoid the groping fingers of drunken Uncle Brian. Oh, and plenty of romantic settings for photo opportunities.
While no bride lacks for well-meant advice on where to hold her special day, from interfering rellies to glossy magazines and equally glossy websites, this is a concise list of some of the places that have been tried, tested and found wedding-worthy.
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Prunier's
Woollahra
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Set amid the mansions of Woollahra (so you can let your groom know the style in which you'd like to be kept), Pruniers is all about old-world glamour. Overlooking Chiswick Park, the happy couple can choose to get hitched in the leafy surrounds of the park or hold the whole thing in the conservatory-like space of the restaurant.
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The Tea Room Gunners' Barracks
Georges Heights
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Though the Tearooms (in the QVB and now at the old Gunners' Barracks at Mosman) have made their reputation with silver-serviced afternoon teas, their modern menus and elegant style makes them ideal for truly glamorous weddings. The Gunners' Barracks edition adds a heritage sandstone building, sparkling harbour views and tranquil gardens to the mix.
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Stones of the Yarra Valley
Coldstream
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This old 1850s barn has been converted into a restaurant and function centre, but hasn't been refurb'd to death - chunky wooden beams and pillars still speak of the building's rural past. Follow the meandering paths and discover the little non-denominational chapel in the grounds. There's no accommodation on-site, but there are plenty of stunning Yarra Valley hotels and B&Bs nearby.
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Grotta Capri Italian & Seafood
Kensington
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Not everyone wants to get married on a hilltop overlooking a vineyard, with a light breeze rustling the sheet music of the string quartet. If it's a totally unique and charmingly kitsch experience you're after, Grotta Capri might be just the ticket. Designed like an underwater grotto, the happy couple can dance by the watery blue light of aquariums.
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Treasury
Melbourne
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There are many things that sell Treasury as a reception venue, but the one that knocks all the others aside has got to be the dramatically glamorous picture you can take of the bride and groom outside the enormous gold doors of the heritage building. Aside from that breathtaking photo opportunity, Treasury offers excellent modern Australian food and the convenience of the hotel upstairs, meaning there's not far to go for wedding night bliss (or mid-celebration shenanigans).
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Fergusson of Yarra Glen
Yarra Glen
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Located in a vineyard, this restaurant and function centre includes an adorable chapel amid the vines, complete with stained glass windows and a winsome porch for photo opportunities. The reception centre continues the old-fashioned charm, with cathedral ceilings and an open fireplace. They're known for their spit roast here, but there's also a menu of contemporary cuisine. Most importantly, you'll never run out of wine with the Fergusson drops flowing freely.
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