With stunning lakeside backdrops and a multitude of versatile spaces available, Rotorua is a perfect New Zealand location for your wedding reception and ceremony. Create a memorable and extraordinary start to married life with our guide to the best Rotorua wedding venues.
How to Choose the Best Venue for Your Rotorua Wedding
Theme, View and Location
Your Rotorua wedding is an extremely special occasion for the bride, groom, and everyone involved, so it’s essential to choose a wedding venue that fulfils your vision. Do you want the event to be an elegant indoor affair or against a stunning lake backdrop? Factor in transportation, especially if you’re going between venues for the ceremony and reception.
Number of Guests or Venue Capacity
It’s a good idea to establish how many wedding guests you want to invite before looking at Rotorua venues. As well as the wedding venue itself, many other elements of planning your wedding are dependent on this, such as budget, catering, and entertainment.
Food/ Menu
You can either hire your own specialist catering services or have them included with the venue. Consider how traditional or out-of-the-box you want your menu to be. Some venues don’t allow outside catering services, while others require you to organise the food and drink yourself.
Wedding Photos
Wedding photography is an important factor to consider when choosing the perfect venue. Think about the kinds of photos you want to create. Can a venue host larger group photographs? Is there a natural gathering place? Bear in mind the surrounding Rotorua landscape, lighting, and possible points of interest.
Bridal Party
Location will have an impact on your bridal party experience. Ask if venues have a bridal suite available, as this is an easy option that can eliminate transport costs and logistics. Otherwise, consider choices for hotels and restaurants nearby.
Accommodation and Honeymoon
Organising nearby accommodation is especially important if you have people coming from further afield. Many venues have accommodation attached – remember to book as early as possible to avoid missing out during the summer season. Create your dream start to married life on a Rotorua honeymoon with relaxing thermal hot pools, kayaking beneath glow worms, and luxurious lodges.
Wedding Packages
Many Rotorua venues provide wedding packages, with features like catering, alcohol, and staffing included in the site fees. This can be a convenient option and helps to ensure you don’t leave out any details. Talk to venues for more information on how their team can assist with planning your special day.
Rotorua Wedding Venues
Skyline Hidden Forest
Nestled amongst towering redwood trees, this stunning Rotorua venue offers a rustic twist on a traditional venue. Skyline Hidden Forest can cater for up to 120 guests, offering shared platter or buffet style catering, an open-plan kitchen, and vehicle access. The wedding party can ride the Luge to the wedding or be transported via shuttle van.
Find out more here.
Skyline Stratosfare Restaurant
Serving up locally sourced fresh food year-round, Stratosfare restaurant can double as a centre stage and dining room for your next event. As our premier facility complex, the space caters for up to 350 guests and can be divided into smaller areas to accommodate weddings of all sizes. Enjoy spectacular views of the lake, Rotorua City, and Mt Tarawera.
Contact Skyline to book our Rotorua wedding venues today via phone +64 7 347 0027 or an online enquiry.
Redwood Forest
This unique and majestic location is an innovative wedding venue just a few minute’s drive from Rotorua CBD. It accommodates canopied or open-air weddings and operates in all weather conditions. Redwood Forest can hold up to 220 people for your wedding ceremony and reception.
Moose Lodge Estate
For the ultimate luxury and elegance, look no further than Moose Lodge Estate. Greet your friends and family as you arrive lakeside by boat or helicopter for the perfect wedding. This old-world venue is surrounded by sweeping views of Lake Rotoiti, with prime locations spanning the entire site.
Tironui
Tironui is a blank canvas wedding venue, perfect for creating your specific style and vision. It requires you to hire your own catering and alcohol. Accommodating up to 150 people, this venue boasts various outdoor and indoor ceremony locations, a covered catering area and bar, and an abundance of parking to suit your guests.
Looking for more of Rotorua’s best scenic travel spots, restaurants, and activities for your honeymoon? Whether you’re a guest or part of the wedding party, there’s something for everyone in gorgeous Rotorua. Read more about our city here in the Skyline blog.