• Yes, event permits are mandatory for outdoor wedding ceremonies and/or receptions.
• Over the warmer summer months we generally hold at least one wedding ceremony per weekend in our busy parks.
• For the benefit of our community, we limit the number of weddings we host in our parks. We take consideration of low-impact events. Please contact us with your plan.

As our parks are public shared spaces, you will only be permitted to reserve a designated section/area of the park- you will not be permitted exclusive hire of an entire park.

Popular ceremony locations include:

• Edinburgh Gardens Circle of Trees
• Edinburgh Gardens Rotunda
• Darling Gardens Rotunda
• O'Connell Reserve Rotundas
• Fairfield Amphitheatre

I want to use a different park

While there are many parks in Yarra, not all parks are suitable for weddings.

If you have a preferred location that isn't on the list above, please call us on 9205 5555 to discuss your options.

Or you can check our booking system to view other locations.

More information

We only allow one wedding per designated site per day.

Please note: completing the application form does not guarantee availability or booking of the site or give approval for the event.

Step 1: Read the Conditions of Hire and all relevant information.

• Please ensure that you have read, understood and accepted our Conditions of Hire
• Visit our Events in Public Spaces Permit page.
• Take a look at the online park information and choose your preferred location.
• You may wish to visit the location in person so that you have a clear idea of what would suit your event.

Step 2: Log in or register with our booking system.

Log on to our online booking system to register your interest and secure your space.

If you're a registered user and have booked a venue with us before, you can log on to make a new booking.

Log in to make a booking

If you're a first-time user, please register with us and then make your booking.

Register now

Step 3: Your request is reviewed

We will review your request and, if approved, we will send you the appropriate application form/s and initial invoice of payment.

Step 4: Submit your application

• You need to submit your application forms and pay your invoice by the nominated deadline.
• This will conditionally approve your event and you may send your invitations at this point.
• If we do not receive these items within the nominated timeframe your tentative hold will expire and the site may be booked by another hirer.

Step Five: Provide required documents

Depending on the scope of your event, further permits/details may be required such as:

• Mobile Food Vendor permit
• Minor/Major sound permit
• Place of Public Entertainment Permit (POPE)
• Contact details for your contractor/s (band/DJ, caterer, celebrant, security guards etc)
• Equipment list of items being brought into the park (such as marquees, structures, decorations etc)
• Final payment of your hire fees
• Site plan
• Public liability insurance

More information

If all relevant details are not received by the deadline it may lead to specific items not being approved or cancellation of your event.

You can log into your account to view, change and cancel your event at any time.

Please note that a different process applies for major events.

Please discuss your event timelines with us. We can decline an event application if insufficient notice or information is provided.

Notice required depends on the type of event

Please refer to the table below to get a better idea of how much notice we need in order to process your event application.

Contact us before sending invitations

We recommend that you don't advertise your event or send invitations until you have gained written conditional approval from us that your event can go ahead.

The event fees charged depend on the location and scope of your event.

All fees listed here include GST unless otherwise noted.

* Additional fees apply for Fairfield Amphitheatre and the Burnley Circus Site.

• If you are planning to have music or amplified noise at your event, you will require a minor sound permit (in addition to your event permit.)
• You will be required to submit a separate application form to assess what type of permit is suitable.
• An additional permit fee will apply.
• Most wedding ceremonies with acoustic instruments and minimal music played as you walk down the aisle and before/after the ceremony are covered under a minor sound permit.

Food trucks and other mobile food vendors will require a permit at an additional cost.

We will require a site plan nominating the location of the vehicle, a copy of their insurance certificate of currency and they must hold a valid Streatrader registration.

Yes, you are legally allowed to consume alcohol within the City of Yarra's parks between the hours of 9am-9pm.

No additional permits required unless you are selling alcohol.

Yes, every wedding event held in one of our parks requires public liability insurance.

What if I don't have insurance?

We acknowledge that small family events such as wedding ceremonies and children's parties are organised by individuals who may not have their own insurance policy.

Yarra offers coverage under our community policy for these low-risk events.

See if you are covered under our policy [format as button]

Please note: Our community policy does not apply for any wedding event that involves alcohol or large structures/risks. For these events, individuals must source their own coverage. We can provide company details where individuals can buy their own insurance coverage. Insurance is assessed on a case by case basis.

Use of confetti, glitter, rose petals or rice is not permitted.

• Any signs or decorations that are required must be free-standing and approved by Council.
• No signs or decorations of any description are to be attached by means of nails, staples or similar fasteners.
• All signs or decorations must be removed at the conclusion of the function.
• Please list this within your application form.

• There is limited parking available at our event sites and it is in high demand.
• Permission for vehicle access into the park may be provided in certain circumstances.
• Please get in touch early and ask to speak to an events permit officer about your requirements.
• Requests are assessed on a case by case basis.
• If vehicle access is granted, vehicles are not permitted to remain on the grassed area during the event.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that any access gates are immediately locked after entry or exit, to ensure other members of the public do not gain unauthorised entry into the park.
• Guests must park in public marked car spaces and obey parking signage in all instances.
• Parking infringements will be issued to cars parked illegally.

There are marked paths within most of our parks for disabled/elderly guests.

However, not all areas are not fully accessible - such as Rotundas which may have steps, or the Amphitheatre which has a limited viewing platform.

We encourage you to visit your preferred site prior to applying to your permit to ensure that the location meets your needs.

Yes, wedding photos are permitted within our parks without a reservation/event permit.

We ask that you remain respectful of public shared facilities and other park users.

Event permits are issued with the knowledge that Melbourne's weather can be unpredictable

• If an event permit has been issued and rain or extreme weather is forecast, the Events Permits Officer can try to move you to a shaded Rotunda if suitable.
• If no Rotunda is available or if that is not suitable for your event, you may choose to cancel your event.
• Your bond will be refunded as per standard practise but any permit/event hire fees will be not be refunded.

You may wish to reserve a wet weather alternative such as the Edinburgh Gardens Community Room.

• If so, you will need to follow the normal process for booking this venue.
• If you end up not using the space or cancelling at short notice, you will not be entitled to a refund of hire fees.

It is up to the event organiser to ensure guests are comfortable and safe in warm weather.

We recommend:

• Choose an area with some shade- from trees, a rotunda or a marquee.
• Consider having sunscreen or parasols available for your guests.
• Set up a table with a water fountain and glasses, or provide bottles of water.
• Consider holding your ceremony in a cooler part of the day, eg. morning or later in the afternoon.

• As you have booked a public facility you may find members of the public utilizing the space without a reservation prior to your event.
• We recommend you factor in setup time when making your booking to reduce the impact of this and minimise stress of the day of your event.
• We suggest you show them your event permit and request that they relocate.
• If a member of the public threatens you, you are entitled to call Victoria Police to report unsociable behaviour.

• Our contractors are provided with the schedule of outdoor events and will aim to schedule their routine maintenance/cleaning in accordance with this.
• However, as you are booking a public space, we cannot guarantee that the space will be clear of litter for your event.
• We are unable to schedule emergency mowing/maintenance outside business hours or over the weekend.

• Authorised Yarra City Council Officers patrol our parks and gardens and are provided with a schedule of events.
• They patrol the parks to ensure local laws are being followed and in response to any complaints (such as loud music).
• They may issue infringements if events occur without a valid Event Permit or if you are in breach of the conditions of your Event Permit.