Picture this – you’ve found THE perfect wedding venue on Instagram, you’re planning your wedding, and you need to book a ceremony and/or reception venue. You know, for things like save the dates, styling and all other organising! The idea of booking without viewing said perfect venue is looking pretty tempting, right? Two of our trusted wedding venues are here to tell you exactly why it is so important to have a wedding venue tour, and how to get the most from this so that you can make the best decision for your day. 

Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa – Header Image & this Image by Silque Photography

The lovely Simone from the glorious Roomba’s at Mt Aitken explains, “It’s always a great idea to book a personal tour with your potential wedding venue!” which we think is a brilliant idea, as this means you’ll have the venue and the team behind the scenes all to yourself to ask any burning questions and to also not feel rushed through any part of the tour process.

Simone also suggests booking this tour when it’s also set up for an upcoming wedding. “This way you get the opportunity to see the venue at its best! This also provides a great personal insight into what suits your style, for example, adding more or less to the styling and hiring elements. It also gives you a chance to have a play with the different centrepieces the venue has on offer.”

Image: Roomba’s at Mt Aiken

If you aren’t able to book a personal tour of the venue, keep an eye on their website or social channels (Instagram and Facebook) for any open day events where the general public can visit the venue to get a feel for the style and vibe for a wedding. Why not try doing both? The more you see a venue, the better equipped you’ll be to decide if it’s the right one for your perfect day.

“Another great idea is to dissect the wedding package provided to you prior to your tour,” explains Simone. “This way you can attend loaded with any questions or concerns you may have. This is great, as this way you know that both you and the venue are on the same page!” Which we agree is the perfect place to be when you want to book your wedding venue.

Image via Roomba’s at Mt Aitken 

The terrific Tarah from beautiful Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa says, “The weddings team and I here at Lake Crackenback absolutely love meeting new couples and getting the chance to drive the golf buggy around, showcasing the beautiful grounds here in the Snowy Mountains! For couples, it can be quite confronting being shown around a venue you have never visited before and being told so much information in a very short tour.”

“Start by bringing along some questions for the wedding coordinator so you don’t forget to ask anything along the tour. No need for a giant folder (unless that’s your style) but a few things saved in your phone’s notes, or a little wedding planning notebook will be perfect! If you haven’t already, it’s great to offload your preferred date, guest numbers, and the style of wedding you’d like to have, this way the coordinator or planner can share details on what will be most relevant to your special day.”

Images of Lake Crackenback by Silque Photography

Tarah also suggests, “The best spots to check out while on-site at the venue are the ceremony areas (always check for a wet weather alternative), post-ceremony drinks locations, and, lastly the reception space if you are planning on having the entire wedding at one venue. Here at Lake Crackenback Resort, we have options across all 3 so there’s no shortage of choice!

“If your venue has accommodation on-site, check with the wedding coordinator if there are any special deals or discounts for you and your guests. Another thing you are going to want to chat about is the fees involved. It’s not the most fun topic but you’ve gotta do it! Most package pricing will be included in your wedding kit, but things such a room hire or additional hire items may not be.”

Image of Lake Crackenback by Glass Slipper Photography

Tarah says once the tour has wrapped up and you’re excited about what’s been shared, the best thing to do is to stay in contact! If there was any extras information given to you during the tour ask for these to be sent through in a follow-up email and in turn, get the ball rolling on locking in your wedding.

Images of Lake Crackenback by Silque Photography

Touring wedding venues doesn’t have to be stressful! With a little pre-planning, it can be exciting and motivating, and the teams from wedding and event venues the country over are incredible. They’re here to help bring your wedding dreams to life!