Venue Hunt - What to Consider

There are some absolutely beautiful venues around New Zealand - but every one of them will not work for you or suit your requirements. It's good to know what you want from your venue and what you have in mind before you do your site visits.

You may walk up to a venue and immediately fall in love, but keep in mind it's more than just a pretty face. Here are some general things you need to have a good idea of before you get started...

Day & Season
What time of year would you like to get married? Do you have a particular day in mind? If not, are you open to having your wedding on a day of the week other than Saturday? The first days of the year to book out are Saturdays in summer...so if you are open to another time of year or another day of the week, your options will open up too. If you have a specific day or a handful of days you'd prefer, then you'd better get cracking. Venues sometimes book out years in advance, so the earlier you start, the lesser your chance of disappointment!

Size
Your numbers will determine the venues you can choose from, as most places have specific restrictions around how many people they can accommodate. Think about the numbers and the environment too - while a hotel ballroom could easily allow up to 200 guests, if you only have 60 on the guest list, it would feel pretty empty with such a small party. Conversely, working out a special exception with a venue to squeeze 80 into a venue that caters for 75 may mean that your guests will be banging elbows at dinner and stepping on each other's toes on the dance floor.

However, you could do it in reverse - the venue will determine how many you can invite. If there's a restaurant that means the world to you both but has one toilet and about six tables, then you need to work around the venue to build the guest list. It's up to you which one - venue or guest list - is more important. 

Budget 
Have a budget in mind before you make your list of venues to visit. Remember that some venue's hire prices may include extras or additional services that other's may not - i.e. linen, staff, catering, and accommodation. It is important that you get quotes from venues and that you make sure there aren't any hidden costs.  

Location & View
This is so important! You need to choose a venue in a location that works for you, your fiancé and your guests. Do you want a destination wedding? If so, you'll need to ensure there is ample guest accommodation in the area. You'll also need to think about providing your guests with information about transport, activities etc. If you're getting married locally or in another location, you need to decide what sort of backdrop you'd like...a cosy restaurant? A dramatic ballroom? A modern function room? A quaint estate?

If a view of the harbour, the skyline or the mountains is important to you, make sure your venue is in the right position to take in the surroundings and that the space has plenty of windows or balconies. If you decide on a place that doesn't overlook anything, make sure the walls and decorum make up for this - shag carpet and paintings of dogs smoking cigars don't scream "romantic", but crystal chandeliers and contemporary photographs of New Zealand landscapes do.

Format
You need to decide if you'll be booking more than one location. Do you want to get married in a church and then have your reception at a nearby restaurant? Do you want to say your vows amongst the roses of the botanical gardens and then pile your guests in buses to head out for a reception in the hall of a remote estate? Or would you rather have your ceremony on the lawns of a homestead, after which guests wander over to the marquee? If you'd like a change of scenery on your wedding day, keep in mind this means you're setting out on a DOUBLE hunt.

Think about whether you'd like a venue that offers full wedding services or one that is rental-based. The full service venues will take care of every last detail, but they also may do things in a particular way or have particular businesses they prefer to work with. If you want full control, you may want to consider a rental-based site. However, you will have to organise everything from the ground up, so be prepared. Remember too - rental-based sites or marquee weddings may seem easier, but they are often much more time consuming and expensive; it's up to you to hire and pay for each individual item and piece of equipment, often at retail price (full service venues usually have special deals and rates with wedding businesses).

Style & Vision
If you envision a modern, black and white wedding, having your reception in a Victorian style ballroom decorated with lush pastel colours and busts probably isn't the way to go. It's important the venue you choose ties in with your style, as the surroundings need to carry on your theme. The site doesn't have to exactly mirror your colours, but the floors, walls, windows and furniture shouldn't clash or conflict with them either.

References & Recommendations
Have you been to a wedding recently or one you can remember where you absolutely LOVED the venue? You may be dead set on trying to find a venue that no one else has had, but they are certainly hard to come by...just remember, every wedding is different - so just because the backdrop is familiar, the flowers, the people, the decorations and the feelings are completely unique.

Also, ask friends and family to recommend venues they've been to that they thought were great or aspects of the locations that they thought worked well.

Privacy
The type of people you are will decide how private you'd like your venue to be. If you're outgoing and laidback, you'll probably have no problem getting married in a public garden where people will stop and stare or mosey on up and kiss you on the cheek! If you're more introverted and reserved, it may be more appropriate to marry at a private estate or in a private hotel ballroom. However, just because you're a bit more private doesn't mean you have to get married in the forest. There are plenty of city venues that will ensure your wedding ceremony and/or reception is secure and private.