How to Find the Perfect Wedding Venue
If there’s one decision that shapes the entire feel of your wedding, it’s the venue. It sets the tone for your entire day, influences your guest count, shapes your styling, and determines how the whole celebration flows. It’s also likely one of the biggest line items in your budget. No pressure, right?
But finding the right venue doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
With a bit of clarity on what matters most to you, and a willingness to trust your instincts, finding the right venue can actually be one of the most exciting parts of the planning process.
We asked our venue partners what they see couples get right (and wrong) when searching for their perfect space. Here’s what we learned.
Determine your parameters before you begin.
It sounds obvious, but many of our venues shared with us that quite often, couples begin venue hunting before they’ve had the important conversations.
The first may be location. Is there a country, state or region that you are narrowing down your hunt to? Or, are you more interested in finding a particular style of venue, regardless of location? The answers to these questions will help you begin your initial search.
Pro tip: If you’ve no idea yet, it may be worth considering areas or places that are special to you as a couple.
Perhaps it’s your favourite date night restaurant, or maybe a beachside location you visit on your family holidays?
The winery you got engaged at, or a dream destination you both love?
Often, if a place has special meaning, couples find the style aesthetic unfolds easily as they’ve begun with a foundation that is already personal and representative of them.
Once you’ve narrowed down locations or regions, look to create a secondary list of important considerations.
Consider:
- How many guests do we want?
- What’s our budget?
- Do we care more about food, location, or aesthetic?
- Is indoor or outdoor important to us?
- Are we happy to DIY, or do we want a venue that handles everything?
- What is our style? Do we love modern, classic, heritage or gardens? A combination?
Pro tip: Think outside the box. Love visiting art galleries together? Enquire if your favourite hosts events. Or begin the search for wedding venues + art galleries (Mitchelton could be ideal!).
Love to surf? A beachside venue that allows a recovery beach party and surf with your guests could be your style. (We love The Dunes Ocean Grove).
Or maybe your favourite local bar is opening to host your post-ceremony drinks, or even the whole celebration. (check out Emily and Josh’s Melbourne micro-wedding for inspo).
Getting aligned on these questions first will save you time and stop you from falling in love with somewhere that was never going to work for you.
Make a shortlist.
Once you have your priorities and parameters in place, begin your research. Directories are a great place to start, as are expos. Local guides to the area, like Geelong Wedding Guide, or our regional venue recommendations, can be super helpful at this stage.
Pin or list anything you feel fits your criteria, then narrow the list down to a manageable amount to visit. Most venues have comprehensive wedding packages that outline costs and conditions, so you can see what will and won’t work for you, even before you visit.
Trust your instincts, but back it up with data.
There’s a reason so many couples describe finding their venue as a “just knew” moment. That instinctive feeling of connection matters.
The team at Coombe Yarra Valley sees it often:
“Selecting your wedding venue is one of the most meaningful decisions you’ll make during the planning journey. It’s more than just a backdrop for your day- it should feel like an extension of who you are as a couple.
Every couple has a story, and your venue should reflect it. For some, that means a sun-kissed beach or a modern city space. For others, it’s a romantic garden estate steeped in history- a place where every corner feels timeless and full of character. At Coombe Yarra Valley, we see this magic happen often. Couples walk through the gates, wander the gardens, and instantly feel that quiet, certain “this is so us” moment.”
But instinct alone isn’t enough. Our venue partners recommend digging deeper with practical questions:
- Food: What are the menu options? Can you do a tasting? How flexible are they with dietary requirements or cuisine styles? Is a beautiful dining experience a priority for this venue?
- Service: How involved is the venue team in the lead-up and on the day? Will they provide guidance throughout the process?
- Aesthetic: Does the space suit your vision as-is, or will you need significant styling to make it feel like “you”?
- Logistics: What’s the wet weather plan? Is there accommodation nearby? What time does the music need to stop?
The experienced Coombe Yarra Valley team advise that you know which elements you’re willing to be flexible on, and which are essential to your day.
It’ll help you stay clear-headed when you’re standing in a beautiful garden, being swept up in the moment.
Think about how your guests will experience the day.
It’s easy to get caught up in how the venue looks in photos, but don’t forget to consider how it feels to be there, both from your perspective and that of your guests.
Is it easy to get to? Is there parking, or will you need to arrange transport? Can elderly relatives or guests with mobility needs move around comfortably? Will people be too hot, too cold, or too squished? Does the venue have support or plans in place for extreme weather?
As Coombe Yarra Valley puts it: “Ultimately, your venue sets the tone for how your guests will experience your wedding. You want them to feel the warmth, personality, and joy that mirror your relationship.”
Pro tip: Consider your own needs, too. Are you a couple that needs to take moments during the day to breathe and process? If so, having a quiet outdoor space or bridal suite that feels comfortable may be important to you.
Or perhaps you want to ensure you don’t have to leave the party for long for photographs. Ensure there’s the perfect range of settings to take all the shots you want on-site.
Maybe it’s important to you that your dog is there for part of the day. Ensure the venues you shortlist are pet-friendly.
Don’t minimise these needs or wants – it’s your day, and you want to feel enabled to enjoy it.
Let it be exciting
Yes, it’s a big decision. But it should also be fun.
“Choosing a venue is a big decision, but it should also be exciting,” says the team at Coombe Yarra Valley. “Whether you’re dreaming of a lush garden ceremony, an elegant historic setting, or a celebration surrounded by Yarra Valley charm, we’re here to help you create a day that feels beautifully, unmistakably yours.”
This sentiment was echoed by our venue partners. The reason they work in the professions they do is that they love weddings, they get the ultimate buzz seeing you enjoying your dream celebrations, and they will do everything they can to make this happen for you.
Shortlist a venue you can trust, through our Directory.
Take your time. Work out what’s most important to you. Visit a few options. Sleep on it. But when you find the one that makes you both light up – trust that.
Demi & Renn at Provenance, photo – Monica Berry.
