The George Ballroom Ethnic Wedding

The George Ballroom ethnic wedding celebrations are truly something special — combining culture, tradition, and timeless style in one of Melbourne’s most iconic venues. This wedding at The George Ballroom perfectly showcased how vibrant and emotional an ethnic wedding can be, with the stunning historic interiors, soaring ceilings, and elegant atmosphere adding to every moment. If you’re dreaming of an unforgettable ethnic wedding in Melbourne, The George Ballroom offers the perfect backdrop for a celebration that’s as beautiful as it is meaningful.

SCROLL DOWN FOR GALLERY

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met at a club called 2 Chambers in Geelong. We caught each others eyes and started dancing. He was trying to teach me dance moves and i was so bad (and didn’t get any better for the wedding). Our first date was at mini golf. We are a dynamic duo! I think we complement each other in every way because we are opposites in most things. E.g he’s more creative and I’m more academic, he stresses easily, but I’m more relaxed. But when it comes to fun we are on the same page. I think that’s what makes it so good.

He lets me be exactly who I am. He’s never once made me feel insecure about a choice, whether it’s fashion, my career, anything. He’s 1000% a supporter of everything I do and I know he’d say the same about me!
This made it really good when it came to wedding planning, because he was there each week at our weekly planning meetings saying YES to everything because he knew it was as important to me. Justin is the most fun, caring, loving supportive talented, strong, persistent person I’ve met and I’m so grateful he’s my husband!!!

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

The architecture! I love historic venues. There’s so much soul in them as opposed to modern designs. I also especially liked the Gothic look of Montsalvat and The George Ballroom which add to the classy Gothic romance vibe I was going for.

Also if you’re on a budget, it means you can spend less on decorations. We just had a really small faux floral arch at the ceremony and that’s it. No decor at the reception except 6 candles and 6 rose stems on each of the three tables.

How many guests did you have?

150 guests! We would’ve had more if the venue’s and our bank account allowed!

What was your budget?

Around $40,000 – $50,000. I’m too scared to calculate it but roughly it was in between that. Thanks to lots of friends and family who offered to help out with things like flowers, MC’ing, hair, makeup etc.

Tell us about your outfits

Naseem –

“Well I’ve always been obsessed with English history – especially the royal family. I really like how the Queen Mother wore a mantilla style veil to hear wedding in the late Edwardian era. I wanted to recreate that look in a modern way.”

Veil –

I bought the Steven Khalil Primrose veil first and decided on my dress later.

Dress –

For the dress, I wanted something simple but still with a bit of flare — nothing too fitted.
Even though I kept reading articles online saying not to wear a mantilla veil with an A-line or ballgown dress, I decided to risk it — and I’m so glad I did!
The dress I chose was Florence by Made With Love.
I only spent one day dress shopping and bought it on the spot. No huge “this is the one” moment — I just liked it and thought, “Let’s go with it.”
The dress is ivory, made from mikado fabric, and had a subtle plunge neckline. Originally, I thought a plunge might not work with a smaller bust, but it actually looked even better than I expected.

Sleeves –

For the sleeves, I had them custom-made by a seamstress using fabric from Made With Love, matching the material of my dress perfectly.
At one point, I considered adding tulle gloves (they’re super popular right now), but I didn’t love the idea of introducing a third texture alongside my lace veil and mikado gown.
Choosing matching sleeves was definitely the right call — it kept everything looking clean, seamless, and elegant.

Shoes –

My shoes are from Bella Belle. I wanted something closed toe, point, and stiletto heel with no detail at the front, and with an ankle strap. It was surprisingly hard to find this.

Hair –

For hair I wanted the classic Hollywood curls. I slicked back my front pieces and which made it so practical – wind was not an issue! We added a lot of volume to the back – like a very low-key version of Priscilla Presley’s hair. I loved the contrast between the modern and edgy dress/hair and the old style veil. It let me have two completely different looks.

Makeup –

My makeup was a classic bridal glam. I wanted to look like myself and do a style that wouldn’t age. My makeup artist nailed it as always!!!! I went back and forth during our million trials about what I wanted but on the morning of the wedding I just said do whatever!!!! And she nailed it.

Jewelry –

My earrings are actually from Lovisa. I’m very ANTI diamonds, even lab grown diamonds, and I didn’t care too much about quality because I was only going to wear them once – so it was the perfect choice. Even the cashier was like “…are you sure?” Yes!!! No shame in Lovisa! Similarly my ring is two moissanite stones. I will always choose moissanite even if I was a billionaire.

Ring –

My ring (again going back to history, this time French history) was a ‘toi et moi’ which Napoleon Bonaparte popularized in the 1700s. I love the idea that each stone symbolizes one of us. So romantic.

Bouquet –

My bouquet was made by my amazing cousin Parisa who is a florist. I’m so happy I went with red. It added a pop of colour and was sexy and romantic. Red isn’t just for V Day! My last inspo was Jane Eyre which is my favourite book. Because it’s a Gothic romance novel, I wanted to incorporate that vibe into the wedding. I think between the architecture, the editorial photos, the deep red flowers and the veil, and the LOVE, we achieved it!

Justin –

My suit was from BK Wolf. Because our bridesmaids and groomsmen were in black, I wanted to stand out too. We thought it’d be cool if my tux is white. I think it made the photos look amazing and you’re not always searching for the groom since nobody else would be wearing white. The bride and groom both deserve to stand out!

Hair –

My hair was by the boys at the Streets Barbershop. I think in particular Vince and Nasir.

Ring –

My ring is tungsten. I originally wanted gold but when we were trying on rings it just didn’t suit for some reason. So tungsten was the next best choice! And I’m really glad by my decision.

The George Ballroom Ethnic Wedding

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

We both really wanted the reception to feel like a huge, fun party — and it absolutely was!
At one point, I thought we needed glow sticks or props to make it even more fun, but Justin was like, “Trust me, we don’t,” — and he was right. It’s all about the vibes, not the props.

We were also super focused on the timeline — we stressed over how every minute would flow.
I’m so grateful for my amazing childhood bestie Monique, who’s an organisation queen and made sure everything ran perfectly.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

As a Baha’i, it was really important for us to recite the Baha’i marriage vows and share a little about what marriage means in our faith.
Music was also a huge part of making the ceremony magical — I highly recommend having live music if you can!

Another tip: choose venues you genuinely love.
One thing that makes a huge difference? High ceilings. Like the ones at our George Ballroom ethnic wedding.
A lot of modern reception spaces have low ceilings, and it can low-key feel like someone’s living room. High ceilings instantly make everything feel more elegant and grand — especially if that’s the vibe you’re going for.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Justin would 100% say: “Get a wedding planner!“ He was stressed right up until I walked down the aisle — poor guy was running on pure adrenaline those last few days.

My advice? Spend as much as you want on your look. Seriously. Don’t go overboard on decorations or wedding favors — invest in how you look and feel. You’re going to show your kids these photos one day, and they’ll be looking at you, not the table settings.
I had four packets of hair extensions (yes, it cost a small fortune) but I know I would’ve regretted not doing it.

Also — work on your posture! If you struggle with posture like I do, part of your wedding prep should be seeing a chiro or physio. It made a huge difference for me, and it’s honestly one of the most important things.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Photography –

The Couples Photographer — Obviously! If you want your wedding photos to be outstanding, there’s no other way to do it. The photos were beyond anything I could have dreamed of — absolutely next level.
Every vendor we chose was a 10/10, and Nick was a huge part of making the day perfect.
@thecouplesphotographer

Makeup –

Harisa Haveric — One of my best friends (and a bridesmaid!), Harisa has been doing my makeup for years — she’s the only one I trust. She always leaves you looking airbrushed, glowing, and absolutely flawless.
I wasn’t even sure what look I wanted for the big day, so I just let her do her thing — and she delivered. Harisa knows exactly what suits different faces and always prioritizes making you look your best, not just what’s trending.
@beauty_byriz

Hair –

Tasnim Dine from Rock Paper Scissors Hair Studio — One of my best friends and bridesmaids, Tasnim styled my hair perfectly for the day. I had glam curls with a slicked-back middle part and it stayed flawless all night long.
She also did a smoothing treatment on my natural curls before the wedding, which made blending my hair and extensions seamless. Plus, she’s a trained curly hair specialist — a rare gem in Geelong!
@tasnim_rokpaperscissors

Florals –

Petals by Parisa — My cousin Parisa created all our wedding flowers and absolutely nailed the vision. I loved the bold red tones and she advised me on every detail, from the type of roses to the floral arches.
The faux flower arches looked so real, and all the bouquets and buttonholes were real flowers that lasted beautifully. Plus, she’s super chill — a dream to work with!
@petalsbyparisa

Spray Tan –

The Sorority spray tans. I had never got a spray tan before and Laura at The Sorority did an amazing job. It looked so natural I’m so glad I booked them. If you’re worried about a patchy or orange tan go to her and you’ll be blown away. @thesororityaus

Live Music –

Double Show Entertainment — Dario played the violin at our ceremony and completely elevated the atmosphere. He can play literally any song, and it sounded unreal paired with a harpist they also provided. One of the highlights was hearing Birds of a Feather as an instrumental, live — such a fresh, romantic surprise!
Dario also offers extras like microphones, smoke machines, and lighting. Highly recommend!
@doubleshowentertainment

Vendors

Photographer: Nick Watson @weddingswithnick | Ceremony Venue: Montsalvat @montsalvatweddings | Reception Venue: The George Ballroom @thegeorgeballroom Florals: Petals By Parisa @petalsbyparisa | Makeup: Harisa @beauty_byriz | Hair: Tasnim @tasnim_rokpaperscissors | Cake: Giggles Bakery @gigglesbakery | Dress: Made With Love Bridal @madewithlovebridal | Veil: Steven Khalil @steven_khalil | Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes @bellabelleshoes | Groom’s attire: B.K. Wolfe @bk_wolfe | Spray Tan: The Sorority Aus @thesororityaus