Some wedding venues are chosen because they’re pretty. Others actually mean something.

For Erin + Rhys, Old Melbourne Gaol made perfect sense.

The two of them met while working in a youth prison, so getting married inside one of Melbourne’s most iconic prison buildings felt less like a gimmick and more like a full-circle moment. Dark, moody, a little chaotic, and completely personal — exactly how alternative weddings should feel.

Not every wedding needs chair covers, round tables, and a strict timeline. If you’re planning something that feels a bit more like you — less traditional, more personal — Melbourne has some seriously good options.

These are some of my favourite alternative and non-traditional wedding venues in Melbourne for couples who want something different.