Situated in Wānaka, just off Cardrona Valley Road, The Venue is a bespoke, one-off space crafted to inspire celebration and reflection with loved ones. The perfect backdrop for weddings – with mountain ranges at your doorstep, The Venue has innumerable striking locations for unforgettable photos and beautiful moments.
Purpose-built with weddings in mind, the venue is completely exclusive and uniquely tailored to each wedding. With a sunny central courtyard connecting the internal Rustic Wing and Garden wing, that flows out to to the lawn, the options for your dream day are limitless.
We speak to owner Sue Reid, about the recent refurbishment and more about this iconic venue…
Tell us a bit about The Venue?
The Venue features stunning alpine vistas, and boasts an iconic mountainous backdrop without having to actually leave town. Location is key, with close proximity to the main township so accommodation for your guests and transportation is easily taken care of.
This ‘rustic-glam’ multi-use venue leaves you spoiled for choice when planning your perfect wedding or big event. With a sunny central courtyard connecting the internal Rustic Wing and Garden wing, spilling out onto a manicured lawn, your vision for your day can be realised.
How was the renovation process? Did you have a specific vision in mind?
We wanted to create areas that connected and flowed. We built a central colourful bar area and opened up to the courtyard creating a relaxed haven with the mountains as the back drop. Planted olive trees and wine barrels gives it a rustic vibe and everyone just loves this magical space.
What makes The Venue stand out?
Two very different wings is key with the rustic wing boasting high ceilings and large timber beams and the garden wing has a warmer feel with timber floors and a gas fire for the cooler months. Having the garden wing as a wet weather option offers peace of mind and the manicured lawn and colourful mature garden makes such a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony or relaxing later on a bean bag playing lawn games. I think having many options and configurations to make the space special and unique to you.
Where do your couples usually come from? Are they mostly local or from across the country?
We have had a real mixture of Wanaka locals, kiwis and some Australian couples also. It’s a bit of an even split so far.
Tell us a little bit about your wedding package in collaboration with Wanaka Wedding Hire?
Together with Wanaka Wedding hire we have brought together a team of amazing Wanaka vendors to create the ultimate one-stop-shop wedding package for couples looking to get married in Wanaka. This is a package suitable for those wanting a small wedding with close friends + family and is inclusive for up to 18 guests. We take the stress out of wedding planning for you, covering everything you need, but there’s also flexibility to add personal touches to make your day uniquely yours.
And what are you looking forward to most about the upcoming wedding season?
I have spent so much time in the gardens and lawns and it’s great to see people wandering around after a ceremony and enjoying the space. Every season looks so different with snow capped mountains to green and luscious landscapes.
I’m love the interaction with the wonderful couples I have met and I get very carried away in all of the excitement and genuinely love spending time with them and help make their dreams a reality. It is very rewarding!
For more visit The Venue, over at the Wild Hearts Vendor Collection here
