4 Tips for Choosing a Gold Coast Wedding Venue

4 Tips for Choosing a Gold Coast Wedding Venue

by Gold Coast Photographer, Jo Lyons of Orange Sunshine Photography

Updated 2021

With so many wonderful options available in our region, choosing a venue has never been easier. Simply do a google search of local wedding venues and you’ll be spoilt for choice. Many couples know instantly if a venue is for them, for others it takes a little time and research to find the right one.

1. KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

In our region we tend to have the option of beach or hinterland in amazing locations from Byron Bay up to the Sunshine Coast.

Byron Bay is a real hot spot at the moment with many country properties open for business, having amazing grounds with amazing weather to take up options like dining under the stars.

Sunshine Coast has the incredible Maleny Manor which has won countless awards including many times as the best wedding venue in Australia.

So how do you choose? Well of course there is the usual ways such as going through a potential venue’s website and social media arms, however another great option is Expos.

There are usually quite a few on throughout the year and they are well worth attending. Many of the prominent wedding venues will be part of the expos and you’ll get a good sense of what they offer and you’ll be able to get a good idea of many venues in one day.

Another point to keep in mind, is there are some great venues that may fly under the radar a bit so if you can’t find what you are looking for, keep searching.

2. KNOW YOURSELF

It’s a good idea to have a think about what sort of person you are so you can choose a place that is you.

For example, we are beach lovers, I love driftwood and the ocean so when I saw the venue I chose with its big worn wood verandas, overlooking one of the best beaches around, I was sold. On another note, I am a travel lover, so I had also been eyeing off a boutique Italian venue with stone walls and vines growing all over it, so often there is more than one option.

Many couples are choosing venues where everything can happen in the one location, that way no one has to drive anywhere after the ceremony which keeps the day very relaxed. On the other hand, it may be important to you, to marry in a church, which means choosing a venue your guests can arrive at for some pre dinner drinks before your grand entrance.

3. KNOW YOUR BUDGET

A popular wedding venue is going to take a major piece of your budget.

If you are after a more budget style of venue, look for community halls or friends (or friends of friends properties), where you can put up a marquee and hire some caterers. This will enable you to buy the alcohol yourself.

We have friends in our local Valley with a large property and they have let couples get married on it before, so try putting a note in a letterbox if you find somewhere you like.

This can work equally as well for options such as tee pees and outdoor festival style weddings. Places like the Kirra Hill Community Hall are great blank canvases to place your own personal stamp on, though you do need to be aware of cut off times regarding noise levels.

With this option you have a blank canvas to hire a stylist or if you are creative, do your own styling.

4. KNOW YOUR STYLE

Wedding styling is a huge part of creating your unique wedding style, that being said, choose a place which will suit styling that is you.

With so many styling options, the hardest thing is choosing a look you can settle on. Trends change every year and after many years photographing weddings, I have seen a few styles come and go, so settle on something that is very you and a bit timeless.

There are many venues which have been around for quite some time who are using some rather old fashioned styling, so some of the latest magazines about weddings to see what sort of styling is popular at the moment.

Happy Wedding Planning!

Jo – Orange Sunshine

Jo Lyons is a Gold Coast based wedding photographer at Orange Sunshine Photography in Queensland.