5 questions to ask when choosing a Wedding Venue

Planning your wedding is one of life’s most exciting journeys—and choosing the perfect venue is a big piece of that puzzle. With so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start. At Sunnystones, we’ve hosted weddings big and small, casual and elegant, rustic and refined—so we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a venue feel like "the one."

Here are five thoughtful questions to help guide your venue search—and give you a better sense of what really matters to you and your guests.

Close your eyes. Picture the two of you on your wedding day—surrounded by your people, your favourite music playing, good food, warm lights, maybe the crunch of gravel under your feet or the smell of eucalyptus in the air. Does the venue spark that feeling?

A venue should feel like a natural extension of your vibe, not something you need to decorate into submission. If you walk in and say, "This already feels like us," you're in the right place.

Weddings aren’t just about the big moment—they’re about the gathering. Is the space easy to navigate? Are there spots to relax between moments? Can guests stay on site, or do they have to arrange transport?

Some of the most memorable weddings we’ve seen have come down to comfort: bonfires under the stars, kids racing across open fields, shared breakfasts the morning after. Think about what you want your people to remember.

Not every couple wants cookie-cutter. Do you want to bring in your own caterers? Create your own run sheet? Set up a weekend-long celebration rather than one rushed evening?

Ask whether the venue encourages creativity, flexibility, and personality. At Sunnystones, we love seeing weddings with dog ring bearers, food trucks, barefoot dances and handmade signage—it all adds to the magic.

Even the most laid-back weddings benefit from good planning and kind, capable hands on the day. Ask how the venue team supports you—do they offer guidance, site visits, access to trusted suppliers, someone to answer questions along the way?

On the day, it’s priceless to have someone making sure the tables are lit, the music is ready, and the candles haven’t blown out in the wind. Look for a venue team that feels like an extension of your crew.

This one’s hard to explain, but you’ll know it when you feel it.

Some places just stick with you. It could be the view, the quiet, the sense of time slowing down, or the warmth of the people who run it. Ask yourselves: five years from now, will we drive past this place and smile?

Because that’s the kind of venue you deserve—one that doesn’t just hold your wedding, but becomes part of your memory.

Choosing your venue isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about how a place makes you feel. And we hope wherever you end up, it feels exactly like you.