The Top 12 Queenstown Wedding Venues

Note; this article is a work in progress and I will be adding to it and updating it regularly.  Any questions, shoot me a message, Patrick.

There are A LOT of wedding venues in the Queenstown area - and even more restaurants, pubs, hotels etc that COULD be an option but either aren't marketing themselves as such or don't have any experience as such (or both).

However, if you focus on well-established companies that are experienced, have great reviews and can provide all the services that most weddings require, then the list of candidates is quite short.

And keep in mind that with so many options popping up when you do a quick Google search, being able to quickly and dramatically narrow down your options is actually a good thing as it helps you to focus on the most likely candidates.

Another note - there is nothing to stop you having an outdoor ceremony in Queenstown and it's even easier if you are planning an Elopement or small wedding. There are numerous stunning outdoor locations where you can have your wedding and that is not the focus of this article. I will write another article focused on the best outdoor wedding locations in Queenstown at a later date. If you would like me to email you when I have published that article, please enter your email in the opt-in form below.

Now, I know you are chomping at the bit to dive right in so I'll start off with the Top 10 Queenstown Wedding Venues and their info. But, I'll finish this article with a list of the questions you really want to ask before you book them (and some other tips). So, even if you find your dream Queenstown venue here on this page, do make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom and copy and paste those questions so you don't forget to ask them.

Oh, and maybe start off gently - asking the key questions (like availability and capacity) before you copy and paste three hundred questions into your first email and send it off).

I know that you will be desperate to start researching and booking venues ASAP but you will save yourself a lot of time and heart-ache if you lock down (even roughly) the answers to the following questions BEFORE you start emailing like crazy...

1. Approximately how many guests are you expecting?
2. Are you happy to have ceremony and reception at different spots if needs be?  (This is not unusual in Queenstown. However, if you are expecting more than 70 guests and want to have your Queenstown ceremony & reception at the same place, you will find your options are drastically reduced. Again, reducing your options is not a bad thing as it helps you to laser target the spots that actually meet your requirements).

I recommend not adding every single question you can dig up on Google to your first inquiry email to any venue (or vendor for that matter). This is for a number of reasons;

You will seem like somebody who has no idea what they're doing and just added every question you could find on Google to your email

You will give the impression that you think the venue is going to try and somehow pull the wool over your eyes or provide terrible service

You are making life harder for yourself and the venue when a lot of those questions can be left for later in the process (if the venue passes the first test).

Instead of asking every question under the sun, I recommend that you focus on the most essential questions that will determine wether or not you even need to ask them any more questions. I recommend that in your initial inquiry email you focus on the basics, such as;

1. Is the venue available on your date?
2. Is their maximum capacity (reception/outdoor ceremony/indoor ceremony) enough for your expected guest count?
3. What do their packages start at and what do these packages include?
4. What is the deposit? What is their cancellation and rescheduling policy?

Once they have passed that first test, then you can start hitting them with the rest of your questions...

(Remember, you don't have to ask every single question in one email. It's not a bad thing to take your time with this if they look like potentially a good option for you).

Capacity

1. What's the maximum capacity for indoor ceremonies? What about outdoor ceremonies?
2. What's your maximum capacity for the reception? And does this number still allow room for a band and a dance floor?
   1. How many bathrooms are there? Will we need to rent additional portable restrooms?
   2. Is parking available on-site? How much space is there? Will guests be charged for parking?
   3. Is on-site parking for your number of guests included?

Costs

1. How much is the deposit?
2. How do you structure the payment schedule?
3. What is included in the total? Does it cover service charges, gratuity, and cleaning fees, or are those additional line items?
4. What is the cancellation policy?
5. When is the last possible date to make changes to our reservation?
6. Is there a rental fee? If so, what does it include/exclude?
   1. What are the rates for different days of the week and times (Friday, Saturday, Sunday; morning, afternoon, evening)? What about different seasons?
   2. How many hours are included in the rental of the space? How early can we arrive, and how late can we stay?
7. How much is the deposit, when is it required? When is the full fee due? What's the cancellation policy?
8. Are there any extra fees or customary donations?
9. Do you have an overtime policy?

Food & Beverage

1. Do you have an in-house caterer? If so, are food and beverages included in the rental fee?
2. Do you have a food and beverage minimum? What are the consequences if we don’t meet it?
3. Do we have to purchase liquor through you, or can we source liquor elsewhere?
4. If we can bring our own liquor onto the property, is there a corkage or service fee?

Ceremony vs Reception

1. If you're planning an outdoor ceremony, does your preferred option have a bad weather backup plan?
2. Is the reception space convertible? Ie if you are planning an outdoor ceremony and the weather doesn't play ball, can the reception area be converted to an indoor ceremony area?
3. If so, what is the conversion process?
4. Will they take care of this? How long will it take? Will there be additional costs? Where will the guests be during this time?
5. If they only do receptions, ask them about nearby ceremony options that are popular with their couples. Vice Versa for ceremony only locations.

Accessibility

1. Think about entrances and exits, doorways, space between tables or other furniture, distance to facilities and ease of movement across the floor.

Accommodation

1. Do they offer on-site accommodation?
2. If not, can they recommend any suitable nearby accommodation providers that they have worked with before?

Even if your are planning a local wedding, many of your guests will likely be from out of town and will require accommodation. It's always a good idea to ask if they can provide any accommodation because on-site accommodation is super convenient, means you can kill two birds with one stone and also makes you a more valued customer in their eyes.

Rentals

1. Are rentals (of glassware, crockery, linens, etc.) available?
2. Make sure they have the right quantity for your guest list, that the items are of high quality and in line with your taste/décor plans.
3. Do you have your own sound equipment and speakers, or will those need to be rented or provided by the entertainment?

Vendors & staff

1. Do you have a list of approved or recommended vendors we can use?
2. Do we have to use your approved vendors? If not, are there limitations or guidelines we need to meet when bringing others in?
3. If they don’t require you to use their vendors, ask if there are any they recommend most highly. A vendor who is familiar with your venue will already know the quirks and challenges of the space, which will make your planning process that much easier.
4. What staff will be available to support my event?
5. Will your staff be involved in setting up and breaking down the décor? In what capacity?
6. Who will my point of contact be? (You’ll want to meet with and get to know this person before making your decision.) Will there be an event coordinator? Who will do what on the day? 

Restrictions

1. Are there any restrictions on decorations?
2. Are there any restrictions on alcohol?
3. Are there any restrictions on noise?
4. Are there any restrictions on anything else?
   1. There are any number of other restrictions that they might stipulate, from use of open flames (candles) to insurance to rubbish disposal. It doesn’t hurt to ask about this in an open-ended way

Right, now that we've covered all that, let's look at the 11 best wedding Queenstown Wedding Venues according to yours truly.

(Note, we have deliberately left Wanaka options out of this list but will do another article soon focused on our friends "over the hill").