Wedding Reception Venues in Balmain

Choosing the Right Wedding Reception Venue

Couples planning a smaller reception in Balmain can compare two very different rooms a few streets apart. The Royal Oak, a two-level College Street pub, has been run by the same family for more than 30 years, and its whole top floor is set aside for functions, wedding receptions included.

Courtyard @ Elliott's sits behind a modern Australian restaurant and bar on Elliott Street: a green, open-air-style space with a custom retractable roof and heaters.

How the two Balmain reception spaces line up:

Seated dinner: about 50 at The Royal Oak, and roughly 72 to 80 at Elliott's with a dance floor, or up to 104 without one
Cocktail-style reception: 140 at The Royal Oak, 110 in the Elliott's courtyard
The feel of the room: timber floors, lounge chairs, a fireplace and a balcony at The Royal Oak; greenery and heaters at Elliott's
Speeches and live music: Elliott's can arrange a stage and AV equipment
Headline pricing: from $75 per person at The Royal Oak, from $90 per person at Elliott's

Both kitchens build menus around the group rather than selling a fixed wedding package, so ask each for a quote once the guest list is settled.

Arrival drinks can spill onto The Royal Oak's outdoor balcony before guests take their seats
The top-floor private bar looks out towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a fitting backdrop for the toasts
At Elliott's, setting the courtyard with a dance floor still leaves room for roughly 72 to 80 at tables
Heaters and the retractable roof mean a winter or showery wedding date needs no backup plan

What the wedding guests will eat

The Royal Oak's seated menu brings shared starters, a choice of mains and dessert for groups of 20 to 40
For a stand-up reception, the same kitchen prices finger food by the piece, with platters such as peking duck pancakes and maki rolls
Elliott's shared chef's menu runs from chicken parfait and trout rillette to pressed short rib and a sorbet dessert
Pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan versions of that menu sit alongside it, and drinks packages are tailored to the wedding

Common Questions About Wedding Reception Venues

What size of seated wedding dinner fits in Balmain?

Courtyard @ Elliott's seats around 82 to 104 without a dance floor, or roughly 72 to 80 with one. The Royal Oak's top floor seats 50, or takes 140 if the reception is cocktail-style.

Are room hire and cakeage extra at The Royal Oak?

Yes. Room hire, cakeage and linen are charged on top of the menu, so ask the team for a full quote covering the wedding cake and table settings.

How do we enquire about the Elliott's courtyard for a reception?

Enquiries go through the function form on the Elliott's website, where you pick the courtyard as your preferred area and add the date and guest numbers.

Can a Balmain reception have a band?

Elliott's will bring in a stage and AV for a band or the toasts, and the venue runs DJs through the week. The Royal Oak's top floor is better suited to a quieter reception around its private bar.

Wedding Reception Venues Balmain