QUICK ANSWER To choose the right wedding venue, work through seven things in order: your guest list size, your preferred style and setting, destination vs. city, the perfect fit, what’s included in the package, whether accommodation is available for you and your guests, and your realistic budget. Book a showround before you sign anything – photos rarely tell the whole story.
Start With Your Guest List
Your Guest List decides almost everything else. An exclusive-hire venue built for 40-80 Guests will feel completely different to a hotel ballroom built for 300 and it’s much harder to make a big venue feel intimate than to comfortably grow a small one. Get a realistic number down first.
What Style and Setting Do You Actually Want?
Garden ceremony or grand hall? Rustic barn or historic homestead? Coastal or countryside? Write down three words that describe the wedding you’re picturing, then use them to filter venues before you even look at pricing. This saves you from booking showrounds that were never going to be the right fit. For example, your three words could be “garden wedding”, “fairy lights” and “great food”. Jaspers Berry on the South Coast is renowned for all three!
The Big Question: Destination vs. City
Do you picture a fast-paced city celebration or a relaxed destination wedding? City weddings offer modern, urban energy, while country weddings deliver scenic, intimate escapes. For a destination wedding, investigate distinct pockets like the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley, or the South Coast. Once you choose your region, narrow down your options based on the specific scenery & atmosphere you want for your wedding day and weekend escape for your guests. If you are wanting a lush green garden wedding and a close to Sydney getaway, look no further than the South Coast. Jaspers Berry is ideally located only a 90 minute scenic drive from the Big Smoke!
How do you find the perfect fit?
To find the perfect fit, seek out venues that offer your exact style requirements. If a garden layout with fairy lights is on your wish list, Jaspers Berry on the South Coast perfectly combines lush, green grounds with magical, fairy-lit spaces for both your ceremony and reception.
What’s Actually Included in the Package?
“Exclusive use” can mean very different things from venue to venue. Ask exactly what’s included – catering, styling, furniture, a getting-ready space for the bridal party, a separate space for the groom’s side, sound & lighting – and what’s an extra cost on top. A lower headline price with a long list of add-ons can end up costing more than an all-inclusive package. Jaspers Berry offers all inclusive & exclusive Wedding Packages.
Does the Venue Offer Accommodation?
A venue with accommodation on-site or nearby changes your Wedding Weekend completely. No one needs to drive home, and the celebration can naturally continue the next morning. At Jaspers Berry, the on-site Guest House sleeps up to 18 across eight suites for the Bridal Party and closest family, and Jaspers Meadows, our private sister retreat in the same lane, sleeps a further 10 for overflow Guests or a longer South Coast stay either side of the Wedding.
Set a Realistic Budget – and Ask What’s Not Included
Before you fall in love with a venue, get a clear, itemised quote. Ask what the deposit and payment schedule looks like, and whether prices are guaranteed once you book or subject to change.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
- What’s the maximum and minimum Guest capacity?
- Is the venue exclusive-hire, or will other events be happening on the same day?
- Is there a wet-weather option for outdoor ceremonies?
- What accommodation is available for us and our Guests?
- What’s the cancellation and postponement policy?
- Who is our main point of contact leading up to the day?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should I ask a wedding venue before booking?
Ask about guest capacity, exclusivity, wet-weather backup, what’s included in the package, on-site or nearby accommodation and the cancellation policy, get the answers in writing before you pay a deposit.
How far in advance should I book a wedding venue?
Popular South Coast venues are often booked 12-18 months ahead.
Depending on availability, sometimes dates can be securred with less notice.
What's included in a wedding venue package?
This varies widely, always get an itemised list. At minimum, confirm whether catering, furniture, styling and a getting-ready space are included or charged separately.
Ready to See Jaspers Berry for Yourself?
Every checklist above is easier to answer in person. Book a private showround with Rosi or Sue and walk the Gardens, the Guest House and the Orangery before you decide.