Maria & Riccardo’s Pearl Ballroom Wedding at Ultima Function Centre, Melbourne
Real wedding story published by Ultima Function Centre | Wedding date: 12 January 2025
Maria and Riccardo celebrated their wedding ceremony and reception together in one place at Ultima Function Centre in Keilor East, exchanging vows in an elegant glass-walled ceremony space before dancing the night away in the Pearl Ballroom beneath its signature floral ceiling and 27 crystal chandeliers. From a red Ferrari arrival to a drum-led entrance onto the dance floor, their day was full of energy, family and a love story that started at the gym more than a decade earlier.
At a Glance
- Couple: Maria & Riccardo
- Wedding date: 12 January 2025
- Venue & room: Pearl Ballroom, Ultima Function Centre
- Location: Keilor East, Melbourne’s west
- Ceremony & reception: Both held on-site at Ultima
- How they met: South Pacific Gym, Chadstone, 2015
- Colour palette: Deep green, ivory and blush, with gold accents
- Entrance features: Red Ferrari arrival, live drummers, sparklers
- Pearl Ballroom capacity: Up to 300 guests
- Distance from Melbourne Airport: Approx. 7 minutes
Maria & Riccardo’s Story
How They Met
Maria and Riccardo’s story began back in 2015 at South Pacific gym in Chadstone. With mutual friends in common, the two started chatting and gradually got to know each other on the gym floor. Riccardo was in Australia from Italy at the time, on what began as a holiday and turned into a life-changing experience — he stayed, and the relationship grew from there.
More than a decade on from that first conversation at the gym, Maria and Riccardo were married at Ultima Function Centre on 12 January 2025, surrounded by the friends and family who had watched their relationship grow from a chance meeting into a wedding day.
A Ferrari Arrival at the Pearl Ballroom
Maria and Riccardo made their arrival at Ultima Function Centre in a striking red Ferrari convertible, pulling up right beneath the Pearl Ballroom’s entrance signage. With Maria’s veil catching the breeze, the couple shared a kiss under the portico before heading inside to begin the day properly — a bold, glamorous opening shot that set the tone for the celebration to follow.
An Elegant Ceremony at Ultima
Maria and Riccardo said their vows in one of Ultima’s elegant glass-walled ceremony spaces, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over greenery behind them and soft blue-toned lighting washing over the room as evening set in. A round gold arch dressed in blush pink, white and ivory roses framed the ceremony, its ribbon detailing catching the light. The aisle itself was lined with clusters of flowers and glass-cylinder candles, with guests seated in clear acrylic chairs that kept the focus on the floral styling rather than the furniture.
Maria walked down the aisle holding a bouquet of white roses and baby’s breath, meeting Riccardo — visibly emotional — at the arch.
“My favourite memory from the day was when I saw Riccardo tearing up whilst I walked down the aisle.” — Maria
Vows, Rings & a Ceremonial Crowning Moment
With a celebrant guiding the ceremony, Maria and Riccardo exchanged personal vows into a handheld microphone before placing rings on each other’s hands. Later in the ceremony, a bridesmaid held a pair of ribbon-joined ceremonial crowns above the couple’s heads — a symbolic blessing moment that added a personal, meaningful touch before Maria and Riccardo shared their first kiss as a married couple, applauded by their guests.
Venue Space Used
Maria and Riccardo’s ceremony was held in one of Ultima Function Centre’s indoor, glass-walled ceremony spaces, separate from the Pearl Ballroom used for their reception — meaning guests never had to leave the venue between the two.
A Grand Entrance & a Night in the Pearl Ballroom
Grand Entrance
Maria and Riccardo’s reception entrance was full of energy from the first step. The couple walked in hand in hand through a corridor of indoor sparklers, led by a drummer beating out a rhythm on a large frame drum, before joining a full drum performance out on the Pearl Ballroom dance floor. Guests lined the room waving glow sticks and blowing bubbles as the newlyweds made their way in.
Pearl Ballroom Styling & Colour Palette
The reception was held in Ultima’s Pearl Ballroom, instantly recognisable by its dramatic floral ceiling installation and cascading crystal chandeliers. Maria and Riccardo’s colour palette carried through the room in deep green — worn by the bridesmaids in satin gowns and echoed in the groomsmen’s ties — set against soft ivory, blush and white floral arrangements. Gold accents tied the look together throughout the room: on the cake stand, along the ceremony arch, and inlaid directly into the Pearl Ballroom’s dance floor as a monogram alongside their wedding date.
The Cake
Maria and Riccardo’s wedding cake was a two-tier white creation with a soft, draped fondant texture and hand-crafted sugar flowers cascading down one side — a quiet, elegant centrepiece against the Pearl Ballroom’s ivory and blush floral backdrop.
The Bridal Table
The bridal table was dressed with a long garland of ivory and blush blooms running the length of the table, framed by a two-tone gold arch backdrop and lit by rows of glass-cylinder candles.
First Dance
Maria and Riccardo’s first dance took place beneath the Pearl Ballroom’s floor-to-ceiling floral and crystal installation, flanked by indoor sparks as their guests watched on from surrounding tables set with tall white floral trees.
Entertainment & Guest Experience
Live music and interactive moments ran through Maria and Riccardo’s entire reception. A drummer accompanied the couple’s grand entrance and led a full performance on the dance floor, with two more drummers joining in to circle the newlyweds as they danced. Bubbles and glow sticks were handed out to guests for the entrance, keeping the bridal party and wider guest list actively involved rather than simply watching from their seats.
That same energy carried into the night’s dancing, with indoor sparklers used twice — once for the grand entrance, and again framing the couple’s first dance beneath the Pearl Ballroom’s chandeliers.
What This Means For Your Wedding
Live drum performances, indoor sparklers and bubble machines all need power, floor space and coordination with venue staff on the day. Ultima’s in-house lighting, sound and staging setup in every function room is what made Maria and Riccardo’s entrance possible — worth raising early with the events team if you’re planning something similar.
Portraits Around the Venue
Between the ceremony and reception, Maria and Riccardo took portraits around Ultima’s grounds. Alongside the red Ferrari used for their arrival, the couple also posed on a vintage black Ford Mustang convertible — complete with a Victorian number plate reading “MIPONY”.
Why Maria & Riccardo Chose Ultima Function Centre
Asked why they picked Ultima, Maria and Riccardo said it came down to the team, the value and the convenience:
“The team were absolutely lovely to deal with. Very negotiable and affordable. With everything all in the one location made it so much easier. And the venue was beautiful.” — Maria & Riccardo
For a couple planning a wedding after more than a decade together, that combination mattered: a responsive, easy-to-deal-with events team; pricing that felt fair and open to negotiation; and being able to hold both their ceremony and reception at the same venue — one site visit, one address for guests to travel to, rather than a separate ceremony and reception venue across town.
Ultima Function Centre: A Wedding Venue in Melbourne’s West
Ultima Function Centre is a wedding and events venue in Keilor East, in Melbourne’s west, offering couples a choice of ballrooms and function rooms for ceremonies, receptions, and everything in between. Here’s what couples researching wedding venues in Melbourne should know about the venue that hosted Maria and Riccardo’s celebration.
| Venue name | Ultima Function Centre |
|---|---|
| Room used by Maria & Riccardo | Pearl Ballroom (reception); a separate glass-walled space (ceremony) |
| Pearl Ballroom capacity | Up to 300 guests, with a floral ceiling and 27 chandeliers |
| Total function spaces | 8 rooms, catering to 10–1,350 guests |
| Wedding date | 12 January 2025 |
| Address | 50 Exchange Close, Keilor East, VIC 3033 |
| Distance to Melbourne Airport | Approx. 7 minutes |
| Distance to Melbourne CBD | Approx. 15 minutes |
| Parking | 200+ free on-site car parks |
| Catering | In-house, in partnership with Tandoori Flames Melbourne |
| Google rating | 4.7★ from 1,900+ reviews |
| Phone | 0401 338 005 |
Pearl Ballroom
Ultima’s Pearl Ballroom seats up to 300 guests and is known for its floral ceiling installation and 27 chandeliers — the exact setting for Maria and Riccardo’s reception and first dance.
Ceremony & Reception On-Site
Ultima offers indoor ceremony spaces alongside its ballrooms, letting couples like Maria and Riccardo hold their entire wedding day at the one venue.
Flexible Event Spaces
Across 8 function spaces, Ultima Function Centre caters to weddings of 10 to 1,350 guests, including the MEC Ballroom, Signature Room, Sky Room, Sketch Room and Glass House.
In-House Catering
Catering is delivered in partnership with Tandoori Flames Melbourne, offering Indian, Western and Middle Eastern menus alongside Halal, vegan and kosher-style options.
Dance Floor & AV Facilities
Every function room comes with a dance floor and in-house lighting, sound and staging — the same setup that carried Maria and Riccardo’s drum performance, sparks and first dance.
Accessibility & Parking
Ultima Function Centre offers more than 200 free on-site car parks, with a short, easy walk from the car park to the venue entrance.
Proximity to Melbourne Airport
Located in Keilor East, Ultima Function Centre is just 7 minutes from Melbourne Airport and around 15 minutes from the Melbourne CBD.
Multicultural Wedding Experience
Ultima is Melbourne’s multicultural wedding venue, with an events team experienced in tailoring ceremonies and receptions to each couple’s own background and traditions.
Value & Flexibility on Packages
Maria and Riccardo specifically highlighted the team’s flexibility on pricing — Ultima’s events team works with couples to put together a package that fits their budget.
Wedding Highlights
- Venue & room: Pearl Ballroom, Ultima Function Centre, Keilor East
- Ceremony and reception both held on-site at Ultima
- Couple met at South Pacific Gym, Chadstone, in 2015
- Red Ferrari arrival at the Pearl Ballroom entrance
- Ceremony beneath a round gold floral arch in a glass-walled ceremony space
- A symbolic crowning moment during the ceremony
- Grand entrance led by a live drummer and sparklers
- Full drum performance on the Pearl Ballroom dance floor
- First dance beneath the Pearl Ballroom’s floral ceiling and crystal chandeliers
- Deep green, ivory and blush colour palette with gold accents
- Gold monogram of the couple’s wedding date inlaid into the dance floor
- Two-tier white wedding cake with hand-crafted sugar flowers
- Portraits on a vintage Ford Mustang convertible around the venue
- Wedding date: 12 January 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Maria and Riccardo get married?
Maria and Riccardo held their ceremony and reception at Ultima Function Centre in Keilor East, with the reception in the venue’s Pearl Ballroom.
When did Maria and Riccardo get married?
Maria and Riccardo were married on 12 January 2025 at Ultima Function Centre.
How did Maria and Riccardo meet?
The couple met in 2015 at South Pacific Gym in Chadstone through mutual friends. Riccardo was visiting Australia from Italy at the time and went on to stay, with the relationship growing from there over more than a decade.
Can you have both your ceremony and reception at Ultima Function Centre?
Yes. Like Maria and Riccardo, couples can hold their entire wedding day at Ultima Function Centre, with indoor ceremony spaces alongside the venue’s ballrooms and function rooms.
How many guests does the Pearl Ballroom hold?
The Pearl Ballroom seats up to 300 guests and features a floral ceiling installation with 27 chandeliers.
What made Maria and Riccardo choose Ultima Function Centre?
The couple said the Ultima team were lovely to deal with, very negotiable and affordable, and that having their ceremony and reception in one location made planning much easier.
Does Ultima Function Centre allow special entrances like drummers or sparklers?
Yes. Ultima’s function rooms are set up with in-house lighting, sound and staging to support special entrance elements such as live drum performances and indoor sparklers, as seen in Maria and Riccardo’s reception.
What colours did Maria and Riccardo use for their wedding?
Maria and Riccardo’s wedding featured a deep green, ivory and blush colour palette, worn by the bridal party and echoed in the reception’s floral styling, with gold accents throughout the Pearl Ballroom.
Is Ultima Function Centre close to Melbourne Airport?
Yes. Ultima Function Centre is located in Keilor East, around 7 minutes from Melbourne Airport and 15 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, with more than 200 free on-site car parks.
What catering options are available at Ultima Function Centre?
Catering is provided in partnership with Tandoori Flames Melbourne, offering Indian, Western and Middle Eastern menus, plus Halal, vegan and kosher-style options for buffet or plated service.
How many guests can Ultima Function Centre hold for a wedding?
Ultima Function Centre offers 8 function spaces catering to 10 to 1,350 guests in total, including the MEC Ballroom (up to 600 seated with a dance floor) and the Pearl Ballroom (up to 300 guests).
Does Ultima Function Centre have parking for wedding guests?
Yes. Ultima Function Centre offers more than 200 free on-site car parks, with easy access to the venue entrance.
Is Ultima Function Centre suitable for a multicultural wedding?
Yes. Ultima is Melbourne’s multicultural wedding venue, with an events team experienced in tailoring ceremonies and receptions — including live entertainment, catering and styling — to each couple’s own background and traditions.
Where is Ultima Function Centre located?
Ultima Function Centre is located at 50 Exchange Close, Keilor East, VIC 3033, in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Planning Your Own Wedding at Ultima Function Centre?
Like Maria and Riccardo, hold your ceremony and reception in one beautiful location. Book a private venue tour, check availability, or request a wedding package from the Ultima events team.
0401 338 005 | info@ultimafunction.com.au | 50 Exchange Close, Keilor East, VIC 3033
