Sunshine Coast’s most exquisite and hidden wedding destinations

Hidden chapels, a pop-up tattoo parlour, a secret island and leafy country estates are just some of the places brides and grooms can celebrate their love on the Sunshine Coast. SEE THE PHOTOS.

Sunshine Coast's hidden wedding locations. Photos: contributed

Wedding season at the Sunshine Coast has arrived as some of the most breathtaking locations prepare for brides and grooms to spend their most memorable day at their venue.

From a working cattle farm to chapels, families have dedicated time, love and care to give couples a magical experience for their wedding.

Maleny in particular has become a hotspot for hinterland weddings due to stunning mountain views and tranquil farm stays.

See the Sunshine Coast’s hidden gems:

Maleny Manor

Starting out as a bed and breakfast in 1988, Maleny Manor has been hosting weddings for more than 30 years and holds more than 150 ceremonies every year.

The three-storey manor offers onsite accommodation, house chefs, catering and wedding co-ordinators.

Couples can invite up to 120 guests for ceremonies and receptions.

The venue is owned by Geoffrey Thomas.

General manager Felicity Sharwood said one of their most memorable weddings was hosted in 2020 after a couple waited six months for the venue to reopen due to pandemic restrictions.

After operating as a bed and breakfast, the property became a prize home which was secured by a Maleny resident. The venue was then purchased by current owner Geoffrey Thomas, who invested in the property as a bed and breakfast and began hosting weddings several years later.

Ms Sharwood said Saturdays were usually booked out up to a year in advance and the venue’s busiest time was autumn and spring.

Tiffany’s Maleny

With a stunning view of the Glass House Mountains, Tiffany’s Maleny boasts a neutral backdrop for couples who wish to create their own themes, styles and experience for a memorable wedding.

The venue’s packages offer all-inclusive services and wedding industry professionals to help couples with their special day.

General manager Ben Jones said their “wonderful” staff contributed to the venue’s great ratings.

“Naturally, our views and stunning venue are captivating, however our team at Tiffany’s bring the warmth and magic to each and every event, they genuinely love what they do,” he said.

Owners Kelly and David Tilse discovered the venue when they provided flowers for a ceremony.

They jumped at the opportunity to take over the business in 2011.

Their sons Jack and Harry, who were four and two years old when they bought the business, now work in the business.

Jack, now 18, works behind the bar and Harry has lined up for his chef’s apprenticeship.

The Queenslander on site was established between 40 and 50 years ago for an art gallery and teahouse named Malcom’s, after the first owner Jim Malcom Carseldine.

The couple hosted their first wedding in 2012 after building Tiffany’s Chapel, which has become a backdrop for more than 150 weddings each year.

The most sought-after wedding seasons are booked up to 18 months in advance and off-peak season can still have a waiting time of up to nine months.

Little White Wedding Church

Little White Wedding Church owners Catherine and Richard Muldoon have run Vivid Photography since 1997 and first saw the venue during a wedding.

Ms Muldoon said she was looking for properties months later and saw the chapel for sale.

“We moved to Maleny in October, 2016, and have loved every minute of living in Maleny and hosting beautiful weddings in our stunning chapel,” she said.

The “elegant” chapel features crystal chandeliers and tiffany chairs, with opportunities for couples to add their own touch of style, and holds up to 120 guests.

“Landscaped gardens, rolling hills and nearby Glass House Mountains views provide an exquisite country setting for your wedding day,” she said.

The chapel is close to other accommodation and reception venues.

Ms Muldoon said they celebrated the chapel’s 70th birthday in 2019.

The church was in Redcliffe as a Lutheran Church and was then moved to Maleny to be used as an art studio before it was restored into a chapel.

Spicers Clovelly Estate

Spicers Clovelly Estate boasts a view of Lake Baroon to welcome its guests, offering lake decks, beautiful gardens as well as dinner and even breakfast for overnight stays.

Events co-ordinator Sharayah McIntyre said the property was used as a pineapple plantation and then an orchard from the 1950s and was subdivided by property owners for retirement.

“Midway through 2009, David Assef joined Clovelly Estate as the new manager to set up and open the establishment,” Ms McIntyre said.

The European-inspired country retreat is most popular in autumn and spring, with romantic fireplace settings and their pool’s cocktail station to enjoy in winter and summer.

Spicers Tamarind Retreat

Spicers Tamarind Retreat features a private forest-inspired 14-villa hideaway near Gardner Falls in Maleny and is paired with award-winning restaurant The Tamarind.

Wedding co-ordinator Cas Dillon said the venue had overnight accommodation for up to 44 guests, and could host group breakfasts.

The retreat was built in 2000 by Paul Blain as a five-bedroom villa with a small restaurant and cooking school before Jude and Graham Turner bought the property in 2008.

The venue evolved over the years through renovations and construction of new villas, a swimming pool and spa and even conference facilities.

The couple then sold the retreat to Salther Brothers Hospitality group in April last year.

Yabbaloumba Retreat

Barb and Lloyd Campbell run Yabbaloumba Retreat in Cabroom, which offers panoramic views of farming country as well as an island ceremony location.

The couple bought the property as a rundown yabby farm in 2002 and started the clean-up to transform the space into a venue.

“We got the idea from travelling through England watching our son play football, seeing how they had renovated old country farm houses to venues,” Ms Campbell said.

Since launching the farm retreat, the couple has installed four cabins for accommodation as well as The Shed — their wedding and events venue — which they designed using recycled material from Kenilworth.

These include pieces soured from the former timber mill, Kenilworth Dairies and the Kenilworth Hotel and doors from hinterland train stations and fire stations.

One of their most memorable ceremonies featured a helicopter pilot marrying his partner, which had several helicopters land close to their island location for the special day.

Yabbaloumba Retreat has been working with L&L co. Events since 2015 to host weddings, charity events and even commercial and television shoots.

“We even have a sunflower field, which flowers two times a year so brides in late spring and summer are lucky enough to have photos on their wedding day,” Ms Campbell said.

“We also have cows, sheep, horses, ponies, pigs, geese, guinea fowl and a host of animals for couples to use in background for photos on their wedding day.”

The venue’s busiest seasons are autumn and spring, and their most popular dates are booked between 12 and 18 months in advance.

The Old Dairy

Jo and Ari Jelekainen bought The Old Dairy as a “permanent reminder of their love” 20 years ago after Mr Jelekainen proposed on Mt Beerwah in 2006.

Ms Jelekainen said the venue had modern and rustic charm with the Glass House Mountains and sunsets in full view from most parts of the property.

The property was still a working farm with a rundown farmhouse and the couple cared for the cattle until they were moved.

“The first wedding we held was of Ari’s sister and that was the beginning of The Old Dairy Maleny wedding venue and since then we have grown leaps and bounds with 2024 being the biggest year to date,” Ms Jelekainen said.

The couple has hosted many unique weddings including some with bouncy castles, pop-up tattoo parlours, fireworks and even horses.

The Old Dairy even had a special visit from MasterChef Australia in 2019 to film their immunity challenge.

May and September are the first months to get booked out for the venue.

The Predeaux Estate

Joe and Nik Prideaux bought the Ilkley venue AnnaBella the Wedding Chapel in 2023 and have since renamed the estate.

The couple married in 2018 and considered the “special” elements which had been missing from their experience, thus beginning the search for their own perfect venue to host “truly special” wedding experiences, their website stated.

Alongside the chapel, the 14ha property features a duck pond for romantic boat rides and a jetty with a handcrafted double wooden swing.

Mango Hill Farm

Mango Hill Farm in Peachester hosts various events including weddings and elopements for couples who visit the farmstay.

The property has a pristine white gazebo for ceremonies with a jacaranda tree on the cottage lawn as well as a carefully manicured kitchen garden with veggies and herbs to sample.

Guests can pay a special visit to alpacas, goats, sheep and other animals on the farm and the century-old cottage veranda offers a beautiful sunset view.

Maleny Orchard

Owners of the Maleny Orchard have taken an environmental approach to managing the venue, focusing on restoring the ecosystem and the rainforest that once stood lush on the property.

The farmhouse was built in the 1980s, with a vision to fill the pasture with native plants and its legacy has been continued by planting a tree on the estate for every wedding held on the property.

Maleny Orchard has taken a DIY approach to the venue, giving guests complete creative freedom from catering, chefs and food trucks down to each and every decorative touch.

Yandina Station

Yandina Station has created a “luxury country estate” as a backdrop for couples celebrating their special day.

The working cattle farm was first established in 1853 and has been hosting weddings and other events since 1996.

Yandina Station has three cottages to accommodate wedding parties and offers a barn venue, wedding packages and a menu for the full experience.