Your wedding venue is often the first decision you’ll make for your big day. Our Wellington wedding venues...
Wellington's finest wedding venues, photographers, dresses and more.
Wellington's finest wedding venues, photographers, dresses and more.
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The Directory is where you'll find the perfect venue, photographer, dress, suit and so much more for your wedding. Just mouse over the menu tab to see the full range of categories.
Every category is packed with beautiful high resolution images, videos, a detailed business description of what they offer and full contact details including social media links. Shortlist those you love to keep track of notes about them, and use the enquiry form to quickly fire out requests for quotes.
You'll find that your enquiry details will autofill so you can easily request more information from many different vendors with a minimum of effort.
Our Wedding Showcase is a beautifully curated showcase of real Wellington weddings, designed to inspire you as well as giving you a first-hand look at what various venues, photographers and other suppliers can do.
We update the Wedding Showcase quarterly with the city's most beautiful weddings. Every showcase features 50 - 80 gorgeous professionally shot photographs, as well as comprehensive details on every aspect of each wedding - How We Met, Our Wedding Style, The Dress, Hair & Makeup, The Ceremony, The Reception and Advice for Brides To Be.
At the bottom of each showcase, you'll find contact details for all Wellington Weddings vendors featured.
Our Wedding Blog features expert advice from Wellington wedding vendors, such as the best time to have your wedding photo shoot, how to pick your first dance song, tips for bridesmaids much more. All articles are written by Wellington wedding experts for Wellington brides.
We update the blog at least once a week with articles covering everything from budgeting tips, top 10 lists, promotion of upcoming wedding events, competitions and recent trends as well as tips and secrets from the best in the business.
Use the Shortlist to keep all your favourite vendors in one place, and to record all your email and phone conversations with them for easy reference.
To add a vendor to your shortlist, just click the (show icon) icon. You'll need to be logged in to use this feature but if you are not a member already, clicking on the icon will open a register window where you can register with one click.
To review your shortlist, add notes and prices, and record who you have booked for your wedding, just click on My Shortlist, which appears in the menu when you are logged in.
Register to enter weekly competitions, read the latest blog articles, and access the Shortlist.
By Brieonie Jenkins
It’s easy to get caught up in the intense wedding planning experience, but it’s important not to lose sight of the reason your family and friends are coming together - the moment you and your fiancé become husband and wife! The ceremony is the most important part of the day and the reason that all your guests are present. Except for that random uncle who’s only there for the food… You probably have a picture in your mind of the moment you’ll say ‘I do’, but have you thought about the rest of the ceremony? Don’t leave it to the last minute! There’s so much more to think about than the vows and wedding gown.
Image by Sarah McEvoy Photography
What Type of Service?
The two main ceremony options are civil and religious. You might already have an idea of which one you’re leaning towards but with so many variations in between, the answer may not be clear cut. The type of service you choose will form the basis for many of the other ceremony decisions such as the venue and readings. Even if you and your partner have different faiths and don’t plan to merge them in the ceremony, you don’t need to forgo religious elements. A nondenominational ceremony can be the answer for those couples who believe in God but don’t identify with an organised religion or who simply want to engage in the tradition of a religious ceremony. For some, religion is not an active part of their lives, and this is where a civil ceremony comes in. It fulfils all of the requirements for a legal union, without any of the religious traditions.
Think about Your Location
One of the easiest ways to simplify things is to choose a ceremony and reception venue located close to each other. This makes things easier for those guests who may have already travelled long distances to be with you on the day, and it’s also less stressful for you! If travel time is cut to a minimum, you will have more time for photos and socialising with your friends and family. For many brides and grooms, not having the time to mingle with their guests is their biggest regret of the day. Some venues have spaces for both the ceremony and reception; this option will save you time as well as money on transport, photography and sometimes venue hire.
Image by Patina Photography
Get to Know Your Marriage Celebrant
Get to know your marriage celebrant and let them get to know you. The more your celebrant understands you as a couple, the more personal and special your ceremony will be. Exchanging vows can be a nerve wracking and emotional time; it definitely helps having another friendly face up there with you! Some venues, like churches, may have a celebrant that you’re required to use, so it pays to check before you make any personal arrangements.
What Will You Say?
Your vows are your promise to each other and are undoubtedly the most meaningful words you’ll ever say. Whether you decide to stick to traditional vows or write your own is up to you. If you’re stuck, your celebrant can be a great source of advice. They may even be able to help adjust the wording of traditional vows to make them a little more ‘you’. Readings are a great way to share your ideas of marriage with the congregation and a special way to include those close to you in the ceremony. Remember that many people find speaking in front of a group stressful and difficult, so don’t be offended if the person you ask declines. Make sure you’re organised; it’s polite to give those you ask a few weeks to get familiar with the reading.
Image from Sudbury
Be Savvy with Your Décor Arrangements
There’s no need to go all out with your decorations and cover every inch of the ceremony space. The attention of your guests and photographer will be on you, meaning the aisle and altar will also be focused on. Prioritise these areas, and then spend the rest of your ceremony décor budget on the entrance to make an impression on your guests as they arrive.
Take Your Guests’ Comfort into Consideration
If you’re planning a standing ceremony, do you have chairs on hand for older guests? If it’s outdoors, will the ground be firm enough for ladies’ heels? If the service is long, should you place cushions on the pews? Thinking about the weather ahead of time can also save you a lot of stress on the day. Will you need a backup plan in case of rain? On the flipside, a sunny outdoor space can be uncomfortably hot without any shade. If your guests are comfortable and relaxed, they will enjoy themselves and set a great vibe for the rest of the day.
Image by Anna Munro Photography
The Perfect Programme
Most ceremonies have a typical structure that your guests will expect, so don’t feel the need to include absolutely everything in your programme. Stick to the basics. Make sure you include the order of events, the name of those giving readings, and the details of any special traditions included in your ceremony so your guests don’t feel lost. Think beyond classic paper programmes! A chalkboard sign placed outside can be a great way to display all the details for your guests to read as they arrive.
Ceremony Music
The right music will set the tone for your ceremony. The processional and recessional are the two key moments to think about, but it might also be nice to play some background music while your guests arrive. When choosing your music, consider your style and venue. Are you traditional or modern? Is the music appropriate for a church setting? If you’re outdoors or in a public space are there any noise restrictions you need to be aware of?
Image by Patina Photography
Get to the Church on Time!
Being late is stressful for you and waiting is tedious for the guests. Save the worry and make sure you have plenty of time for your ‘pre-wedding’ preparation. Ask your makeup artist and any other professionals who are involved for a realistic time estimate, then add 15 – 30 minutes on top of that as your ‘safety net’. You’ll be happy to have it if something unforeseen occurs, like your Mum misplacing her car keys!
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The Directory is where you'll find the perfect venue, photographer, dress, suit and so much more.
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