Victoria Wedding Venues

Tucked beneath the Regent Theatre on Collins Street, the Plaza Ballroom is one of Melbourne's most theatrical wedding venues, and one of our favourites to shoot. We are Jay Chubby Wedding, a boutique photography and videography studio, and we recently captured Kira and Nick's reception here. This page shares that day and what makes the Plaza Ballroom such a special place to document a wedding.

The reception itself was unforgettable. Guests were welcomed on a red carpet and photographed in front of a media wall like arrivals at a film festival, complete with short interviews. Each table carried personal touches, including framed posters of Kira and Nick's favourite films. Kira changed into a gold sequined gown for the evening, a nod to the showpiece moment of the night: a fully choreographed first dance that looked like it belonged on a professional stage. With the couple's close friend as MC and Nick's uncle on the decks, the whole evening had the energy of a private gala.

A wedding built for the spotlight

The Plaza Ballroom opened in 1929 and was originally intended as a ballroom beneath the Regent Theatre. After the theatre was saved from demolition, the Marriner Group restored the space and reopened it as a function venue, returning it to its original purpose. It sits at the Paris end of Collins Street, surrounded by some of Melbourne's most iconic heritage buildings and the city's most prestigious shopping strip.

What makes the Plaza Ballroom special for weddings?

• Spanish Rococo architecture with rich, fully wallpapered walls and a strong heritage character in every corner

• Soaring ceilings with enormous chandeliers that create instant atmosphere and give us dramatic, layered frames

• Juliet balconies flanking the stage, perfect for grand entrances. Kira and Nick used the two balconies for a Romeo and Juliet style reveal before their first dance

• A large decorative stage and dance floor that suits weddings with performances, choreography or any theatrical moment

• Candlelit tables that add warmth and a romantic glow to every photograph

• Carpeted floors and a sense of enclosure that make the room feel intimate despite its grand scale

• Professional in-house service, from the wait staff to the lighting and sound crew, all of which kept Kira and Nick's night running seamlessly

For couples planning a wedding here, and for us as photographers and videographers, these are the features that stand out:

Every venue has its own rhythm and challenges, and knowing them in advance is part of what a boutique studio brings to your day.

The Plaza Ballroom is below street level, so it is a low natural light environment. That is not a drawback in skilled hands. We light for the room's mood rather than fighting it, which means warm, cinematic images that hold the candlelit, golden atmosphere the venue is known for. The chandeliers and stage lighting become part of the story rather than something to work around.

Shooting photography and video at the Plaza Ballroom

If you are drawn to grand, glamorous celebrations with a sense of theatre, the Plaza Ballroom is hard to beat. The heritage detail, the staging and the lighting give us so much to work with, and the result is a wedding film and gallery that feel like a story rather than a set of formalities. It is a natural fit for couples planning a black tie reception, a Hollywood or old world glamour theme, or simply a wedding that feels larger than life.

A venue for luxe, characterful weddings

Plaza Ballroom Wedding
Photographer and Videographer

Kira and Nick got ready at their family homes in Kew and Carlton before their ceremony at Xavier Chapel. From there they slipped into the hotel beside the Plaza Ballroom to rest and change for the reception. Before the night began, we took them up to the upper level of the Regent Theatre for their couple portraits, where the historic detail and warm light gave us images that felt genuinely cinematic.

The stage and Juliet balconies open up creative options most Melbourne reception venues simply cannot offer. Grand entrances, balcony reveals and choreographed first dances all read beautifully here, both in photographs and on film. The upper levels of the adjoining Regent Theatre also give us a rare, characterful space for couple portraits without leaving the building, which keeps your timeline relaxed and your guests close.

Because the ballroom sits underground and feels enclosed, we recommend couples who love bright, open, garden-style spaces consider whether the mood suits them. For couples drawn to drama, glamour and a sense of occasion, there are few venues in Melbourne that deliver more.