Before You Book the Venue… Read This First

So you just got engaged. You’re riding high, flashing that ring, sipping champagne, maybe even casually dropping “fiancé” in every conversation (as you should). But before you lock in that venue or start panic-buying table runners in bulk… let’s share a few wedding venue booking tips.

Here’s the spicy truth:
Planning a wedding is part celebration, part chaos. It can go from “yay!” to “wtf” real quick if you don’t have a plan—or worse, if you jump in without knowing what you even want.

But don’t stress. We’re not here to tell you what your wedding should look like. We’re just here to help you slay it.

Here’s what to actually think about before you start booking anything:

Vibe Check FIRST. Always.

Before choosing a date or venue, get clear on your vibe.
Are you barefoot on a beach with a taco truck and tequila shots? Or all-black dress code in a moody urban wine bar with a saxophonist playing Rihanna?

Don’t book a vineyard if your dream is disco balls and dive bars.
Slay Rule #1: Book your vibe, not someone else’s Pinterest board.

The Budget Chat = The Big One

We know it’s not sexy, but it’s necessary. You don’t want to be crying into your espresso martini when you realise your dream photographer costs more than your car. Get a rough spend sheet sorted. (Spoiler alert: we’ve got digital tools for that.)

Vendors = Your Wedding Dream Team

Choose vendors who get you. Who you can vibe with, laugh with, trust with your weird ideas and last-minute meltdowns. Slay My Day was literally built so you can find your people.
No weird gatekeeping. No endless Google rabbit holes.
Just top-tier vendors and venues across NZ. You’re welcome.

Don’t DIY the Whole Damn Thing

You can totally hand-make your invites if that brings you joy… but don’t let your wedding become a full-time job. Hire help where it counts. Celebrate your engagement season without burning out on seating charts and signage fonts.

Reuse, Rewear, Recycle

Want to wear that veil once and never again? Or bought 75 candle holders you now regret? We gotchu. List or shop preloved wedding bits in our Recycle My Wedding section. Save the planet (and your sanity).

Most Importantly: Make It So Bloody You

This is YOUR day. Wear the hot pink suit. Have your dog as the flower girl. Walk in to a Kanye song or hire a mariachi band. Whatever feels real and right and unforgettable to you two—that’s the brief.