The first step to the wedding of your dreams is to find a venue that ticks all the boxes. With pictures that are going to last a lifetime, making sure you have a gorgeous venue is a must-do. Who needs an overseas destination wedding when New Zealand has it all? But, of course, you will need to think about the COVID restrictions at Level 2 now being 50 person max indoor so is an outdoor venue a better option?
There are a few questions to ask yourself – do you want beach vibes? Perhaps a bit more rustic? Or maybe even a more traditional venue? There’s also your budget to consider. Will it be more cost-effective to have a venue that can host both your ceremony and reception? Would you like an all-inclusive venue that can provide catering and furniture hire? Remember, planning your wedding for the off-season, April to September, can bring the cost down a bit too!
Budgeting will come into your big day a lot, so let’s take a look at some of the expenses you’ll need to consider.
Budgeting for your big day
Wedding planning involves many different expenses depending on how big or small your dream day is. Here are some of the common things you’ll need to work into your wedding budget:
- Venue hire
- Wedding dress and suits
- Legal & ceremony costs (including marriage license & celebrant)
- Flowers
- Photographer & videographer
- Number of guests
- Food & catering
- Drinks or bar tab
- Furniture hire and decoration
- Music
- Transport
- Wedding rings
- Stationery (think invitations and table pieces)
- Emergency fund (we all need a buffer!)
- Accommodation
- Honeymoon, of course!
The expense of a wedding is a common pain point for many couples. Budgeting can often mean you compromise on what you imagined your big day being like. But MyFinance wants you to have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of – which is why we offer wedding loans! With low-interest rates and repayments that suit you, you can get a helping hand towards the wedding you’ve always dreamed of.
Top 5 New Zealand wedding venues
We’re so lucky to be surrounded by beautiful wedding venues in NZ, but sometimes it means we’re spoilt for choice! To get the wedding inspiration flowing, we’ve pulled together a few picture-perfect locations.
1. Riverside rustic at Black Barn, Hastings
Black Barn Vineyards is home to not just one, but four distinct wedding venues in the stunning Hastings area with something for everyone! The first location, The Olive Shed, is a rustic siding shed along a limestone path ready for your mid-century chic wedding. The River Room is a more modern pavilion venue overlooking the Tuki Tuki River, facing Te Mata Peak – perfect for a modern-rustic dream. The other two wedding spots here – the Riverside Marquee Site and the Bistro – mean you can have your wedding just metres from the river or at a courtyard covered by a canopy of grapevines. Picturesque to say the least!
2. Step into another world at the TreeChurch, Hamilton
The TreeChurch is a unique Hamilton wedding venue in the Ōhaupō region. This ‘living chapel’ was built with an iron framework with five types of trees now covering it to create a truly stunning space. The TreeChurch can seat up to 100 guests inside and also has a covered seated area outside which accommodates up to 60. If a garden ceremony is on your list, TreeChurch is perfect for you and your guests to get lost in.
3. Modern chic at Auckland’s Kauri Bay Boomrock
Just 45 minutes out of the CBD, Kauri Bay Boomrock is one of Auckland’s best wedding venues. Whether you want to go big or keep your guest list down, Boomrock can host anywhere from 10 to 250 guests, with an in-house chef ready to cook up a storm. The 500-acre property overlooks the Hauraki Gulf, so you know your wedding photos will be out-of-this-world!
Boomrock also offers Hen’s and Stag packages so you could take the hassle out of planning and have all three events at the one exceptional location.
4. Take in breath-taking panoramas of Queenstown at NZ High Country
It doesn’t get more Instagram-able than this! NZ High Country is an incredible venue for a Queenstown wedding with four event sites across the property. Two of the sites are ‘land-only’ with distinctive views of the Queenstown mountain ranges, which won’t disappoint! There are also two marquee sites perfect for a more intimate but stunning all-seasons spot. With plenty of room for dining and dancing, this venue ticks all the boxes!
5. Host a historic-inspired barn wedding at Tarureka Estate, Wellington
Not only does this location look stunning, but it has some history too! Standing proudly in Tarureka Estate, the Loft Barn is one of NZ’s largest and oldest barns. Built in 1868, it now caters for up to 120 guests with indoor or outdoor options. The two-storey barn means you can even have space for dining and dancing!
Let’s start planning the wedding of your dreams
Your wedding day should be everything you dream of and more! Any of these fantastic venues will fit the fairy-tale, but there are so many more jaw-dropping venues across NZ too. Getting married is one of the most exciting days of your life, so you shouldn’t have to compromise on your dreams. Chat to the team at MyFinance –a little extra cash as a wedding loan means you can tie the knot with all the bells and whistles! If you are planning on having a marriage, and your near and dear ones are unable to make we do have a piece designed for Making your Wedding available virtually. Plan a quick honeymoon with our list of the best luxury hotels in New Zealand.