How to Choose Your Perfect Wedding Venue
Are you recently engaged? If so, congratulations from all of us! January is one of our favourite times of year because so many couples begin their wedding planning journey. And the very first step is often choosing your perfect wedding venue.
Your venue sets the tone for everything that follows: the style of your day, your timeline, your guest experience and, of course, the atmosphere reflected in your photos. So here are our tips to help you confidently choose a wedding venue that feels like “you”.
Start with the practicalities
Before falling in love with a view or a beautifully styled reception space, think about the practical elements that will shape your day.
All-in-one or mix-and-match
Some venues offer everything in one place: getting-ready rooms, ceremony options, reception spaces and accommodation. This creates a calm, seamless day with minimal travel.
Others allow you to build the day in stages: perhaps a garden or beachfront ceremony followed by a completely different reception venue. This can give you variety and a sense of movement throughout the day.
Location and travel time
Consider how far you, your wedding party and your guests will need to travel between locations. Check parking, transport options, and how straightforward the drive is. Travel always takes longer than expected on a wedding day!
Weather planning
Look closely at each venue’s wet weather plan. A good backup shouldn't feel like a compromise, and ideally offers sheltered spaces that still photographs beautifully.
Accessibility
Think about older guests, young children and anyone with mobility needs. Are there steep hills, long gravel paths or lots of stairs? Comfort will influence the flow of your day.
Accommodation and nearby stays
If guests are travelling, or if you’re making a weekend of it, check what accommodation is onsite or nearby.
Food and service style
Look at whether catering is in-house, whether you can bring in external vendors, and what the bar options are.
Vendor and styling restrictions
Some venues have preferred suppliers or limit the use of candles, confetti or certain styling installations. These definitely aren’t dealbreakers, but it’s important to know early.
How do you want your wedding to feel?
This is often the most helpful question you can ask yourselves. Close your eyes and imagine your day from start to finish. Does it feel relaxed and coastal? Romantic and intimate? Elevated and modern? Casual, lively, or somewhere in between?
When you focus on the feeling, the right venue style usually becomes clear.
Venue styles between Byron to Sunshine Coast
Hinterland and Countryside Wedding Venues
Rolling hills, mountain views and lush greenery. These venues are consistently photogenic and offer a romantic, atmospheric backdrop.
Examples:
Beechmont Estate, Scenic Rim
Cowbell Creek, Gold Coast
Elysian Hills, Tweed
Maleny Manor, Sunshine Coast
Plantation House, Tweed
Rosewood Estate, Scenic Rim
Summergrove Estate, Tweed
Tamborine Mountain Glades, Scenic Rim
Tall Trees Tallebudgera, Gold Coast
The Acre, Gold Coast
The Bower Estate, Gold Coast
The Old Dairy, Maleny
The Orchard Estate, Byron
The Valley Estate, Gold Coast
Wynmere Estate, Scenic Rim
Beachfront and Coastal Wedding Venues
Fresh sea breezes, natural light and sunsets that photograph beautifully. Ideal for couples who want relaxed elegance or a casual coastal feel.
Examples:
Ancora, Tweed
Babalou, Tweed
Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast
Pier 33 Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast
Rick Shores, Gold Coast
Restaurants and Unique Spaces for Weddings
Stylish, intimate and often food-led. These suit couples wanting a warm, social, atmosphere-focused celebration.
Examples:
Braeside Estate, Gold Coast
Farm & Co, Tweed
Fig Tree Restaurant, Byron
Frida’s Field, Byron
Gabbinbar, Toowoomba
Kwila Lodge, Gold Coast
Osteria, Tweed
Rainforest Gardens, Brisbane
The Dairy Ravensbourne, Toowoomba
Three Blue Ducks, Byron
Vineyard and Winery Wedding Venues
Set among the vines, these venues blend natural beauty with quiet sophistication. Relaxed, romantic and effortlessly elegant.
Examples:
Albert River Wines, Gold Coast
Kooroomba Lavender Farm, Scenic Rim
Sirromet, Brisbane
City and Modern Wedding Venues
Clean lines, modern design and a more industrial aesthetic. Perfect if you love architecture and chic styling.
Examples:
The Calile, Brisbane
The Mondrian, Gold Coast
The Refinery, Brisbane
Photographer tips to help you choose the perfect wedding venue
As photographers, we spend a huge amount of time observing how venues actually work on a wedding day. Here are a few extra considerations that make a big difference:
Look at real galleries from the venue
Browse multiple weddings photographed at that venue, not just the styled shoots. Real weddings reveal true lighting conditions, portrait options, ceremony angles and the variety of backdrops available.
Consider portrait location options
Check out the variety of options within a short walk: open fields, shaded areas, architectural elements, trees, long grass, verandas, views. Or ask about nearby location options that you can easily organise transport to.
Check the direction of light
Soft afternoon light, shaded ceremony areas and even light during getting-ready moments all influence your photos. Ask the venue where ceremonies usually take place and what the light is like at different times of year.
Think about wet-weather photo options
Covered verandas, indoor spaces with big windows or walls, and sheltered outdoor areas all make for great wet-weather portraits.
Space to move
A ceremony or reception layout with enough space for the amount of guests you’ll have, and your photographer to move freely results in better angles, more candid moments and a more natural flow.
Guest comfort matters in photos
If the ceremony location is extremely hot, windy or exposed, guests can become uncomfortable, which shows in the energy of the images. Comfortable guests = better atmosphere.
A final note
Choose the venue that genuinely feels like you! Everything else will fall into place. When you feel relaxed and connected to your surroundings, it’s reflected in your photos and in the memories you make.
If you're beginning your venue search and would like suggestions based on your style or your vision for the day, we’re always more than happy to help. Get in touch via our contact page and let’s talk!
Did you find this advice helpful? Check out more wedding photography tips and advice on The Figtree Guide.