Which wedding venue is right for us?

Weddings are like real estate: “It’s all about location, location, location.”

Many aspects of your wedding depend on your choice of venue. For example, garden weddings are usually more pleasant in the summer than in the winter, and if you have a wedding on a nudist beach, some of your guests might feel uncomfortable.

Especially if you already have specific ideas for your wedding, it’s important to choose a wedding venue that suits you and your vision. We’ve put together a summary here of which types of venues work best with which wedding concepts and what advantages they offer. But before you rush to scroll down: The nudist beach didn’t make the list—not yet, anyway.

1. Castle Wedding

Oh yes, castles… even before Disney brought its animated films into our childhoods, they were the epitome of a fairytale wedding—and rightly so: the timelessly beautiful architecture, the glamorous splendor, and a touch of nobility. Castle weddings are ideal for all those couples who want to give the most beautiful day of their lives the reverence it deserves.

While the days when a wedding could reshape the global political landscape are long gone, this wedding will change your world—and that’s all that matters.

Here you’ll find ideas and venues for a castle wedding.

2. Getting Married on a Farm

If you’d like to get married surrounded by nature—far away from the noise of traffic and the city—then a farm wedding might be just the thing for you. A farm is an especially good choice for couples who know there will be many children among the guests—after all, many farms come with plenty of playmates in the form of little horses, bunnies, cats, and dogs.

These venues typically offer large open spaces that allow parts of the celebration to take place outdoors. This not only creates a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere but also serves as a wonderful backdrop for your wedding photo shoot: As the sun gradually approaches the horizon and you stroll barefoot through the meadow, the photos capture a moment where you can almost smell the scent of fresh hay.

3. Partying at a Hotel

They’re the classic choices for wedding venues, and there are good reasons for that: A hotel provides many of the things a wedding needs right out of the gate. For example, they usually have both a kitchen and staff on hand, which saves you the trouble of searching for a good caterer. Plus, hotels already have experience hosting events and can therefore offer you support with many of your questions.

A hotel also gives off a bit of that vacation vibe, and your guests have the option to stay right on site. This saves couples from having to figure out who should be the designated driver. And singles benefit from having a room nearby—especially if, thanks to your brilliantly planned guest list, they have the chance to change their relationship status.

Here you’ll find ideas and venues for a hotel wedding.

4. A Wedding by the Lake

Few venues can rival the romantic atmosphere of a wedding by the water. Compared to the cliché-ridden beach weddings that Hollywood seems to serve up in every other romantic comedy, local lakes aren’t just an eco-friendly alternative—they’re simply the better choice in many ways. For one thing, you don’t have to worry about tides when planning, and your wedding vows won’t be drowned out by the sound of the waves and the wind.

Lakes have their own—a tranquil—soundscape. This is especially evident in the evening, when first the setting sun and later the moon are reflected on the lake’s surface, while the crackling of the campfire blends with the peaceful lapping of the gently rippling water.

Here you’ll find ideas and venues for a wedding by the water.

5. Urban Wedding

Not all couples are drawn to nature. There are also street kids who have truly embraced big-city life—those who know every corner of the city and cherish it like a dear friend. These couples appreciate good cocktails and know that nowhere else in the world are parties as legendary as those in the world’s major cities.

Imagine, on your wedding day, standing on the terrace of a rooftop bar late into the night. The city lights adorn the skyline like stars in a dark canopy of sky. You gaze at the twinkling lights, and it dawns on you: Among all the people here searching for their happiness, and amidst all the places you could be right now, you’ve found each other and are standing right here, right now, together, as a married couple.

Here you'll find ideas and venues for a city wedding.

6. Wedding Ceremony at a Winery

Couples who aren't from a wine-growing region often don't even realize that many wineries can also be used as wedding venues. That's a shame—after all, very few venues combine pleasure and tradition quite so skillfully.

The rolling hills of the vineyards are perfect for romantic picnics and as photo locations. Many celebrations have been held in the often historic vaulted cellars. Not all of them have gone down in history, but yours will definitely become a wonderful chapter in your story.

Here you’ll find ideas and venues for a wedding at a vineyard.

7. Cultural Sites as Wedding Venues

If you're looking for an extraordinary wedding venue, why not try a cultural venue? You don't even have to have met on ElitePartner—there's a wide variety of options to choose from: from museums and art galleries to clubs and theaters, you'll find an immense variety of possibilities.

All of these venues offer wonderfully unique backdrops that you and your guests will remember long after the wedding. Depending on the type of cultural venue, the furnishings, kitchen, and staff may already be provided; otherwise, you’ll find what you need in our directory of service providers.

8. Barn Wedding

There’s a good reason why weddings in rustic barns are becoming more and more popular. The cozy atmosphere and unique charm of a barn are perfect for the happiest day of your life. With the right decorations, floral arrangements, and lighting, a simple barn can be transformed in the blink of an eye into an elegant wedding paradise that exudes a certain magic.

Here you’ll find ideas and venues for a barn wedding.

9. Bonus: Tell Me What You Want

Of course, there are other types of wedding venues as well, such as inns, villas, mountain huts, and much more. Even though they didn’t make it into this blog post, many of them are absolutely stunning venues. If you’d like to discover more venues, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in our overview of wedding venues in Austria.

The important thing is this: Remember, it’s your wedding, and you can plan it however and wherever you want. If you’d like to have a rockabilly wedding at a castle, then by all means, go for it. If you have very specific requirements for a venue, a wedding planner can definitely help you out—even if that nudist beach is still on your mind.