Whether you're hosting a local celebration or a destination wedding, making sure that you and your guests have somewhere to stay that's both comfortable and convenient is a really important part of the celebrations. Staying onsite can save a lot of travel and stress, especially if you're able to stay the night before your wedding as well as the night of, while staying at home the night before can be a good way to calm nerves. Or maybe a rental with your whole wedding party is the best option for you.
No matter where you choose to stay, you need to put thought into the logistics of it to ensure that your wedding day starts and ends in the ideal place.
for the couple, immediate family & wedding party
Once you've got your wedding venue locked in, it's time to book your accommodation. You should do this asap, as it's something that can be booked far in advance, and if you miss out on accommodation that's close to your venue because you don't book in time it can add a lot of extra costs and stress later on.
You might be lucky enough - or thoughtful enough - to be hosting your wedding at a place that has onsite accommodation available, or maybe even included as part of your package. If the wedding couple can stay on site the night before and the night of the wedding, it is highly recommended to do so. Not only will this allow you time to settle into the space and have some breathing room before the pre-wedding jitters can really hit, it means that you have time to double check you've got everything you've need, unpack and set up things you'll need for getting ready, and it saves you so much time. You'll be able to sleep in a little, or at least try to relax for a little longer, before everyone starts arriving and the rush of the day begins.
If you're staying at a hotel or bed and breakfast, you'll be able to have dinner the night before and breakfast the morning of provided for you, which again saves you time but can also make the eve of your wedding feel like a celebration in its own right, too.
It also means that, if you happen to leave anything in the room, it's not a big deal for someone to run up and grab it - no emergency drives back for the bouquet or rings required.
If you're staying somewhere offsite, it might still be worth staying the night before your wedding as well as the night of, depending on how far your wedding venue is from home. It still starts the celebrations a little earlier, and can still save you some time, if the accommodation is closer to the venue.
If your home is close enough to the venue, you can stay there the night before and maybe even for getting ready. This can provide opportunities for some really beautiful memories and extra personal photos, as you start your wedding day in the home that you've made together. Being somewhere so familiar can also help calm some of the pre-wedding nerves, which is always a good thing.
It also means you might be able to get some photos with your pets, if they're not going to be part of your ceremony and aren't too overwhelmed by the visitors. My husband and I got ready at home before our micro wedding, and some of my favourite portraits from that day are the two of us standing together beaming, our beautiful cat perched on her tower right between us and glaring at the camera.
Wherever you choose to stay, you need to ensure that it has enough room for everyone to get ready. Think about how many people are getting their hair and make up done, where there's space and adequate lighting for the hair stylist and make up artist to set up, and if there's room for people who will be waiting their turn or watching the others.
As most Australian couples live together before marriage now, the tradition of spending the night before the wedding apart is becoming less uncommon - although it does still happen - with the two often getting ready in separate areas of the same building, or in nearby accommodation, before reuniting for a first look or at the ceremony. If the plan is for you and your partner to spend your wedding eve together and get ready in the same building, there's a chance for a lot of people to be in that space in the morning. Your entire wedding party, both of your immediate families, your hair stylist, make up artist, photographer and videographer - it can get squishy quickly.
Even if you're staying separately, you'll still most likely have your own families and sides of the wedding party getting ready with you, so you'll still need plenty of space. It's better to have too much room than not enough, so try to think ahead and make sure everyone know which rooms are for getting ready and which are for relaxing in while they wait their turn, or wait for everyone else to finish up.
A lot of hotels offer 'bridal suites' that are specifically designed to have enough room for wedding parties to get ready, although the dimensions of most hotel rooms and photos that show their layouts are usually available on the booking sites, too, just in case they have their larger rooms listed under a different name.
on site accommodation - hotels, resorts, estates
Perfect options for the ease of having ready and available all in the one spot, and needing minimal transport. They also often come with amenities like breakfast, shuttles, or a bridal suite, which also add to the convenience.
holiday rentals - houses or cabins
Can be ideal for when you want your families and bridal party to be there getting ready with you, or for when you're planning a longer stay. They can offer more privacy, kitchen access, and a homey feel that can help everything stay a little more relaxed.
boutique options - bed and breakfasts, inns
Usually have smaller rooms than hotels or resorts, but offer charm and character. These are great for intimate weddings, often come with amenities like breakfast, and can sometimes include shuttles.
for the guests
In Australia, it's not the norm for the wedding couple to organise specific lodgings for all of their guests, but it is common for them to provide some suggestions and examples. When you're providing accommodation suggestions for your guests, there are a few things to keep in mind. Are most of them local, or will a lot of them be travelling to the wedding? Are you inviting older family members who may need quieter, more accessible options, or is your guest list mainly a younger crowd who are more interested in socialising and just need a bed to crash on? Consider travel distance between the accommodation and wedding venue, and the types of travel available to the places you recommend, and, very importantly, try to include options that are suitable for a range of different budgets, so that none of your guests feel excluded.
The easiest way to share information about accommodation options with your guests is on your wedding website, where you can include a list of options with links to their sites, discount codes if you have any, check in and check out times, and transportation and parking info.
Choosing your wedding accommodation is about more than just booking a room; It's about creating a welcoming, relaxing experience for you and your nearest and dearest. With some thoughtful planning, you can find somewhere that has the right mix of comfort and convenience, and ensure that your wedding day starts and ends in the ideal place.
