Choosing a wedding venue is probably the toughest decision you’ll make in planning your wedding. But the good news is that once it’s done, everything else seems to fall into place. The task of finding and choosing a wedding venue seems overwhelming at first. However, with a few top tips from Canberra’s expert wedding planners, you’ll be armed and ready to start searching for your perfect Canberra wedding venue.
Yawn. Yeah, we know it’s boring. But there’s no point in traipsing around Canberra and looking at venues with sky-high price tags if you’re operating on a shoestring budget. Sit down and crunch some numbers, even if they’re tentative. And don’t forget that low-cost venue options such as public gardens come with extra costs such as marquee and furniture hire, and catering staff. It’s important to consider the big picture in terms of costs when you compare venue options.
How many peeps are you having to this soiree?? It’s ok, you don’t need to work out the exact guestlist just yet, but you should at least have a ballpark figure in mind. Together with your budget, the size of your guestlist is one of the most important influencers in choosing a wedding venue. And if your budget is lower than you’d like, look on the bright side – you won’t have to invite your weird cousin Rob that no one likes anyway.
It sounds a bit obvious but there’s nothing worse than having your heart set on a particular venue, only to find out it’s booked solid for the next 3 years. Since so many weddings from 2020 had to be rescheduled, venues are now facing increased demand for 2021 and 2022 weddings. The more flexible you can be, the more likely even a popular wedding venue will be able to squeeze you in. Consider a weekday wedding. Not only are you more likely to snag your dream venue, but you’ll also save money since most venues and wedding vendors offer discounts for weekdays!
What kind of couple are you and what spaces do you find most appealing? Rustic, bohemian, industrial chic, old-world glamour…the kind of style you are envisaging for your wedding can help you narrow down venue options.
Choosing a venue with in-house catering means less decision-making for you, which, depending on what kind of person you are, can be a good thing or a bad thing. A good thing if you’re taking a laissez-faire approach to this whole wedding planning schtick. But if you’ve been mooning over Instagram posts of pop-up prosecco carts or taco food trucks, then being constrained by in-house catering might not be the best idea.
Don’t forget to make sure your venue is licensed for you to serve alcohol as some venues might require couples to source their own permit for BYO. No one wants the fuzz confiscating the bubbles due to a simple administration error!
From tables and chairs to audio-visual equipment, crockery, cutlery and glassware there are a lot of little extras that go into throwing a fun party. Make sure you understand exactly what each venue includes so that you can factor any extra event hire costs into your total budget.
If you and your partner are keen to hire a live band for your wedding, check if your preferred venue can accommodate live music and whether there are any noise restrictions in place. Is the lighting and sound equipment up to scratch? Is there room for a dancefloor? You can find wedding entertainment to work in any kind of space but if you have something specific in mind, be sure that the venue can manage it.
Looking at rural or remote venue options? Make sure you take into consideration transportation and access, particularly for guests who don’t drive. No public transport? Maybe think about hiring wedding transportation for guests so they can relax and enjoy the festivities without having to worry about a long drive home in the dark. If you’re hosting an outdoor wedding, consider friends or family with mobility issues, since uneven terrain can pose difficulties for some. And lastly, if you are looking at a destination wedding, ensure there are enough accommodation options nearby for your guests (and perhaps send out a list of options with your wedding invitation or Save-The-Date notice).
Hopefully we’ve helped make the task of choosing a wedding venue seem a little less intimidating. Time to grab yourself a pen and paper and start working out your guestlist and budget (or better yet, create an account and use our handy planning section). Then, start researching options which reflect your style and personalities. Get busy on social media and see how other couple’s weddings have been styled at your preferred venues. Finally, set up a site visit so you can see the venue in person and discuss your specific requirements with the venue manager.
Our final piece of advice is to trust your instinct. If you instantly fall in love with a space and it meets your requirements – book it! You don’t need to see every venue in Canberra to find the right one for you.
