2024 has seen a rise in weddings once again. This has opened up more opportunities for new venues to come forward to meet the growing demand. Couples are seeking alternative, yet beautiful rustic places. In the past few years I am seeing more backyard weddings hitting the ball out of the park for venue perfection. The ability to work with pop-up businesses such as mobile event hire, furniture, marquees and decorating companies has opened up new opportunities for property owners to jump onboard and make some additional money while there is still the demand for rustic venues. However there are some things to consider before starting up.

Key Features for a wedding venue

Somewhere with enough space to fit a Ceremony and Reception
An alternative location from the elements if there is a sudden storm
Dance Floor
Hero Photos and asthetically pleasing location
Clear and clutter free - minimal ready for the B&G to decorate
Ample parking, vendor setting up room, room to turn limos and busses
Toilets
Bridal Powder Room
Power
If you don’t have it, then bring in the pop-up businesses
If it's further out, the ability to camp or glamp and even better a bridal cottage for getting ready.

What are you offering?
Before starting this new venture, really plan what it is you are prepared to offer. You will need to be prepared to listen to advice and open minded to change your approach - this is not your ideal wedding, this is the couples once in a lifetime event. This doesn’t mean spending $$ on new assets, but it might mean being realistic on your approach, and stepping stone upgrades. The saying Less is More is on point with wedding venues, and don’t over-complicate it.

You will need to work out are you going to be the full event organisers too and have all in one inclusive packages, or just hiring a large paddock with a view and completely DIY with vendors and suppliers come in. Or somewhere in-between.

Be realistic - Is your property really suitable for a wedding, or just a large party? They do not want a party in your home amongst your belongings so you need to have separated areas. Weddings are a formal event and whilst more couples are becoming relaxed on venue choices and thinking outside the box, it still needs to be realistic and tick a few boxes.

Can you utilise existing assets or do you need to hire everything in?
Do you have adequate room for a ceremony and reception?
Is there space for dancing and a dance floor? It’s not a B&S, couples invest time and money into learning how to do their celebratory dance, so they want a clean area to do spins and twirls before boogying the night away. Dance floors can be hired in.
How many guests and workers can the property handle?
Do you have room for parking and setting up? Can the property handle guests, caterers and other vendors? Can other vendors get access? Food trucks, dj’s and musicians, lighting?
Do you have adequate clean toilets, and a powder room big enough for a wedding or a bridal party. Or is there a hire portable toilet company near by for bigger guests numbers?
How close are you to additional vendors to style, decorate, and cater the wedding? As travel fees for vendors is a factor.
Is there enough power onsite or do you need to bring in generators?
Can you legally host weddings on your property or do you need to apply for permits and licenses? Are there noise restrictions in your area?
If the venue is a long way from accomodation can guests sleep or camp on the premise?

Numbers
Do your numbers. I can’t stress this enough! Really work out the cost of what it will take to set up your property as a venue and keep it maintained. You don’t need it manicured like a golf resort or install new structures, but with large quantity of guests there will be wear and tear and repairs on the property, and having it maintained is essential. This might mean investing in upgrading existing structures. You may need to hire additional staff to help maintain the property leading up to the wedding or staff on the night. You also need to be realistic with pricing. Do check out the going rates near by, but you need to take into account what they are offering and accept you might not be in the same league.

Research
Do your research before starting. Really understand what couples need and want from a wedding. Where are couples spending their money. What is important to them. Attend expos in your area to get ideas. Get other vendors in and ask them for advice. It might mean a few small changes or investing in other areas of your property for a world of difference.

Ceremony & Reception Areas
Having dedicated areas for a ceremony and reception. You can think outside the box, but these spaces need to be clutter free from personal items and available so event stylists can come in and set up the venue.

Layout & Access
Good street signage or markings that is easy to spot on approach so guests can find the place easily. It doesn’t need to be a neon glowing sign but Google maps isn’t always accurate in rural areas. There is nothing worse than suppliers getting lost and the bride and groom having to wait on guests who are late and lost with minimal phone reception. Have good internal roads, wide access ways and parking spaces for your vendors, caterers, limos, buses, small trucks and furnishing companies to come in. Tight squeezes and difficult parking can quickly turn off your suppliers from coming back and not recommending you to future couples.

All Weather Venue
Couples usually prefer the Spring and Autumn times for weddings, when weather is mild and less chance of wild weather. Whilst couples might be coming to you for your perfect daytime weather, the reality is on the day it could be windy, wet, hot or a sudden storm open up just before the ceremony. You will need an alternative option for guests to come out of the elements such as a renovated old barn. If you don’t have any structures you might need to look into hiring something such as a marquee. Some of my favourite spaces have been a clear marquee in the middle of a paddock. Simple and effective.

Photo Opportunities
Yes I said it! In 10 years time the wedding will be a distant memory, however the photos will still go on and passed onto the next generation. Couples invest a lot of money into capturing the memories on the day and will work their entire timeline around the photographer for the best photographic opportunities. It is worth making this a priority, providing ample opportunity for the photographer is vital to running a successful venue, that photographers will recommend again and again.

What does a photographer look for in a venue? As a busy photographer who works on location we are used to getting pretty creative with out spaces, however there are a few pointers for successful photos.

Clutter free spaces so that we can work our magic with. Also you don’t want your personal items broken or cause injury, so its best to have them far away from guests.
Not looking into the neighbours homes.
Having a hero photo of your location, something unique that defines your space. It will need to be a fairly decent area to take the photo, although it could be feature wall as long as it can fit the entire bridal party in, and enough room for the photographer to move around and step backwards. 20-30m room to take the photo. It is printed large so that the couple can hang on the wall.
As a photographer we need to fill up an album, so a few different locations on the property of interest and variety such as - old barns, doorways, fences, gardens, trees or open spaces, driveways, jetties on dams, a line of trees. The more variety the more we will love your venue.

Network
Get to know your local vendors and suppliers. Do a mock wedding so you can get good photos and video of the venue to promote and get your venue out there to the world. Have wedding open days, bring in multiple vendors to help promote and create excitement.

Keep it real
Don’t oversell promises if you don’t want to fulfil them.

Some tips to consider before starting up a new Wedding Venue

REBECCA DE VRIES PHOTOGRAPHY

Some tips to consider before starting up a new Wedding Venue

Trigg Beach Wedding

Cybersickness

REBECCA DE VRIES PHOTOGRAPHY