Braeside at Gin House Creek Estate

Braeside Estate: Your Quintessential Gold Coast Wedding Destination

Nestled on the banks of Gin House Creek in the heart of Merrimac, Queensland, Braeside Estate at Gin House Creek represents the pinnacle of wedding venue elegance and charm. This award-winning venue is a magical wonderland where timeless elegance meets natural beauty, creating the perfect backdrop for your most cherished moments. Set just moments away from the vibrant Broadbeach area, Braeside offers couples a secluded sanctuary that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle, yet remains conveniently accessible to Gold Coast attractions. With its stunning two-acre manicured grounds, historic features, and thoughtfully designed spaces, Braeside Estate transforms wedding dreams into unforgettable realities.

A Unique Blend of History and Modern Elegance

What sets Braeside Estate apart from other wedding venues is its remarkable combination of historic charm and contemporary sophistication. This uniquely historic property, with roots dating back to 1862, has been carefully restored and reimagined as a premier wedding destination without losing its authentic character. The estate's rich heritage is woven throughout every corner, creating an atmosphere of timeless elegance that photographs beautifully and feels genuinely special.

The venue's transformation was guided by visionary leadership, with careful attention paid to every detail—from acoustic excellence to functional design elements that make hosting events seamless. The owners' decades of experience in event management have resulted in a venue that not only looks stunning but operates with remarkable efficiency, ensuring your day unfolds exactly as you've envisioned it.

The Ceremony Experience: Multiple Stunning Locations

One of Braeside Estate's greatest strengths is the flexibility it offers for ceremony settings. Couples can choose from multiple thoughtfully designed locations, each with its own distinct character and ambiance.

The Chapel

For couples seeking a more traditional or intimate ceremony setting, the on-site Chapel provides an elegant, sheltered space perfect for exchanging vows. This dedicated ceremony space combines classic beauty with practical functionality, ensuring your ceremony feels both romantic and personalized.

The Circle Garden Ceremony

One of the venue's signature ceremony spaces, The Circle offers a garden setting that creates an enchanting, intimate atmosphere. This option allows couples to incorporate the natural beauty of the estate's manicured grounds into their ceremony while maintaining the close connection with guests.

Chapel Lawn

For outdoor ceremony preferences, the Chapel Lawn provides a picturesque garden setting that combines the best of both worlds—the charm of the chapel building as a backdrop with the open-air experience couples desire. This space is ideal for larger ceremonies or those seeking a more expansive outdoor feel.

The Tree

Perhaps the most iconic feature of Braeside Estate, the historic Camphor Laurel Tree stands as a magnificent natural focal point. This 200-year-old tree has witnessed countless celebrations and provides an absolutely stunning ceremonial backdrop. Exchanging vows beneath this ancient, gnarled beauty creates a uniquely memorable moment and serves as a breathtaking photographic element that will be treasured for generations.

Reception Spaces: Flexibility and Elegance Combined

Braeside Estate's reception facilities are equally impressive, offering multiple options to suit different wedding visions and guest counts.

The Reception Pavilion

The elegant Pavilion serves as the primary reception space, designed to accommodate both seated dinners and cocktail-style celebrations. This versatile space can accommodate up to 120 guests for a sit-down reception or 150 guests for a cocktail-style event, providing flexibility for different celebration styles and group sizes.

The Lawn Bar and Shed Bar

These outdoor bar areas add a touch of relaxed sophistication to the reception experience. They provide charming venues for pre-reception drinks, cocktail hours, or additional lounge spaces for guests to mingle and enjoy the beautiful grounds. The outdoor bar settings create wonderful opportunities for candid photography and help create distinct moments throughout your celebration.

Pre-Reception Areas

Multiple outdoor spaces are available for pre-reception gatherings, allowing couples to structure their day with distinct phases. Guests can enjoy welcome drinks and canapés in scenic garden settings before moving to the main reception space, creating a sophisticated flow to your celebration.

Creating Your Perfect Day: Styling and Customization

Braeside Estate embraces a philosophy of "your dream wedding, your way." The venue provides exceptional flexibility in design and styling, allowing couples to work with premium wedding suppliers of their choosing to create a celebration that truly reflects their personalities and vision.

The diverse locations throughout the estate—from intimate garden corners to expansive lawn areas—provide endless possibilities for décor and styling. Whether you envision a romantic garden celebration, an elegant formal affair, or a contemporary chic gathering, the venue's spaces can be transformed to suit your aesthetic.

The venue's guidelines accommodate special touches including confetti and fireworks, adding those magical final moments couples dream about. The management team works collaboratively with couples and their chosen suppliers to ensure every detail aligns with the venue's standards and your vision.

Comprehensive On-Site Coordination

What truly distinguishes Braeside Estate is its commitment to comprehensive on-the-day coordination. The venue's close-knit, experienced team handles the logistics and details, allowing couples and their families to be fully present in the celebration. This full-service approach means that from ceremony start to final send-off, your day flows seamlessly.

The management team's expertise in event coordination—drawing from decades of experience coordinating major events and fashion launches—brings a level of professionalism and attention to detail that makes a tangible difference in how your day unfolds.

Photography and Videography Opportunities

For couples prioritizing photography and videography, Braeside Estate is an absolute dream venue. The diverse settings throughout the two-acre property provide endless opportunities for stunning imagery throughout the day.

The historic Camphor Laurel Tree offers an iconic focal point perfect for family portraits and couple photography. The manicured gardens provide beautiful natural backgrounds for candid moments and formal portraits. The Chapel adds architectural interest, while the outdoor bar areas and pavilion spaces capture the joy and celebration of your reception.

Professional photographers and videographers consistently rate Braeside Estate as one of the Gold Coast's premier venues for capturing wedding imagery. The natural light throughout the grounds, the variety of backgrounds available within walking distance, and the venue's thoughtful design all contribute to the creation of exceptional wedding media.

The venue's focus on acoustic excellence also makes it ideal for videography, ensuring that your vows, speeches, and special moments are captured with crystal-clear audio quality.

Guest Capacity and Flexibility

Braeside Estate accommodates varying celebration styles and guest counts. For couples seeking more intimate affairs, the venue specializes in elopements and micro-weddings, offering all-inclusive packages for celebrations from two to twenty guests. These intimate options are perfect for couples who want to marry with just their nearest and dearest, or for those seeking an elopement experience with the sophistication of a full-service venue.

For larger celebrations, the venue comfortably accommodates up to 120 seated guests or 150 guests for cocktail-style receptions. This range makes Braeside suitable for everything from intimate family celebrations to more substantial wedding parties.

Location and Accessibility

Braeside Estate's location in Merrimac places it conveniently close to Broadbeach, one of the Gold Coast's most vibrant beach precincts, yet in a secluded setting that feels removed from urban bustle. This positioning offers the best of both worlds—easy accessibility for guests traveling from throughout the region and beyond, combined with the peaceful, scenic ambiance couples seek.

The estate's proximity to Gold Coast attractions makes it an excellent choice for destination weddings, allowing interstate and international guests to combine their wedding celebration with a Gold Coast getaway. The venue's appeal as a wedding destination has positively impacted tourism in the region, making it an increasingly popular choice for couples considering a destination wedding experience.

Award-Winning Excellence

Braeside Estate's reputation for excellence is reflected in numerous industry accolades. The venue has consistently ranked among Australia's top wedding destinations, earning recognition as a Top 15 National Ceremony Venue and Top 3 National Reception Venue in 2025. These rankings reflect consistent excellence across multiple years and categories, including ceremony venues, reception venues, and function coordination.

Beyond industry recognition, the true measure of the venue's quality can be found in the glowing testimonials from couples who have celebrated their weddings there. Guests consistently praise the venue's team for creating unforgettable experiences and ensuring their special days exceeded expectations.

Planning Your Braeside Estate Wedding: Tips for Success

To make the most of your Braeside Estate celebration, consider these helpful tips:

• Take advantage of multiple ceremony options: Visit the venue and imagine your ceremony in each space. Consider how different times of day and seasons will affect light and ambiance in each location.

• Plan your day's flow: With multiple distinct spaces available, structure your day to move through different areas, creating distinct moments and keeping the celebration dynamic and engaging.

• Maximize photography opportunities: Work with your photographer to identify multiple locations throughout the grounds for formal portraits and candid captures.

• Incorporate the historic elements: Embrace the venue's heritage by incorporating the Camphor Laurel Tree, the Chapel, and other historic features into your ceremony and celebration design.

• Coordinate closely with the venue team: The management's expertise and commitment to comprehensive coordination is a tremendous asset—utilize their knowledge and experience to enhance your celebration.

• Consider the outdoor spaces for breaks: Plan for guests to move between indoor and outdoor areas throughout your celebration, utilizing the lawn bars and outdoor gathering spaces.

• Time your visits strategically: Visit at similar times of day and seasons to when you're planning to celebrate, ensuring you see the venue in conditions matching your event timing.

Facilities and Amenities

Braeside Estate provides thoughtfully designed facilities to support your celebration. The venue includes a dedicated bridal preparation area, recognizing the importance of providing a beautiful, comfortable space for pre-ceremony moments. Indoor facilities support the reception experience, while the outdoor spaces are designed to take advantage of Queensland's beautiful climate.

For guests traveling from out of town, the venue's location near Broadbeach places it within easy reach of numerous accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment options, making it convenient for those staying overnight or extending their Gold Coast visit around the wedding celebration.

Getting Started: Next Steps

When you're ready to explore Braeside Estate for your celebration, the venue welcomes inquiries from couples at all stages of planning. Whether you're in the early dreaming stages or ready to book, the team invites you to experience the magic of Braeside firsthand. Schedule a venue tour to walk the grounds, envision your ceremony in different locations, and meet the team whose expertise will help bring your vision to life.

For current pricing, package details, and availability, contact Braeside Estate directly. The venue's team is ready to discuss how to create your dream celebration on this Gold Coast gem.

Braeside Estate represents more than just a beautiful location—it's a partner in creating your perfect wedding day, combining historic charm, modern elegance, and professional expertise to ensure your celebration is truly unforgettable.