Six things to consider when deciding where and when you want to get married.

From hinterland to beach, the Sunshine Coast is home to some of the most breathtaking all-inclusive wedding venues in Queensland. Whether you’re dreaming of a seaside ceremony in Mooloolaba or a reception underneath the Glasshouse Mountains, there’s something here for every bridal couple! The choices are endless and the locations are stunning, keep on reading for all the information you need on deciding when and where to host your special day!

Location - Beach or Country?
What season is best?
Location - Ceremony
Location - Reception
Wet weather plan
Accommodation

Location: Beach or Country?

Dreaming of a beachy ceremony filled with seashells and crystal clear waters? From laidback Caloundra to tourism-hub Mooloolaba, the Sunshine Coast is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches in Australia, perfect for your coastal wedding. Perhaps you’d rather say ‘I do’ a little further away from the coast and opt for a wedding ceremony in Maleny or Montville? The Sunshine Coast Hinterland is the perfect location for those that are looking for a more rustic or elegant wedding.

Here a few tips to help you and your significant other come to a decision!

Have a discussion about what aesthetic you prefer. Peruse Instagram’s Discover page with hashtags such as #sunshinecoastwedding, #sunshinecoastbeachwedding and #sunshinecoasthinterlandwedding to gather inspiration from other local weddings. Which photos do you like best? Which locations make your heart sing?
Browse a few Sunshine Coast wedding venue websites. There’s no need to feel obligated to reach out for their packages and prices, just spend some time with your fiancee looking over the websites and reading reviews to help you decide on location.

Once you’ve decided between hinterland and coast, you can thinking about ideal dates and seasons!

What Season Is Best?

The season in which your date falls is especially important to consider when choosing a venue. Knowing the average temperatures and rainfall statistics for your date’s season and month can make all the difference in planning your wedding!

Spring Weddings are by far the more popular option amongst bridal couples, especially on the Sunshine Coast, and for good reason!

The climate isn’t too hot or cold, perfect for an indoor or outdoor wedding!
More flower species are in bloom, making for tons of options when deciding what flowers you want for your bouquets and arrangements.

Summer Weddings on the Sunshine Coast are great if you love warmer weather, however there are often more cons than pros associated with getting married during the hotter months:

Pleasant evenings for night time receptions.
More tropical, lush flowers are available.

Unfortunately, due to the hotter weather, there are some cons involved as well:

Flowers deteriorate a lot faster in the heat.
Higher temperatures can be uncomfortable for guests.
Not all wedding venues offer air-conditioning.
Summer tends to be the wet season.

Autumn is easily one of the better seasons for weddings. Fall weddings are known for their robust colour palettes, perfect temperatures, and gorgeous sunsets:

Predictable weather patterns and comfortable temperatures make the days perfect for planning and having your wedding.
Autumn afternoons offer softer light than Summer and Spring, meaning you can have your ceremony a little earlier in the afternoon and have plenty of time to take some stunning photos with your photographer.

Winter weddings on the Sunshine Coast are becoming increasingly popular, especially with couples coming from colder climates. The temperature in winter on the Sunshine Coast ranges from 10 - 23 degrees, & sits generally around 20 degrees in the day.

Sunshine Coast is known for having amazing winter’s with clear blue skies, small rainfall and warm weather.
Although the weather is colder and the days are shorter, the sunsets are almost always streaked with beautiful pink, purple, and orange. What more could you want for your wedding photos?

Ceremony Location

Every bridal couple wants their wedding ceremony to be absolutely perfect. What could be better than a picturesque walk down the aisle and an emotional exchanging of vows? There are almost too many options when it comes to planning your ceremony, so what are your choices when it comes to a Sunshine Coast ceremony venue?

Beach weddings are very popular, and for good reason! A ceremony on one of Noosa’s iconic beaches? Yes, please!
If you’re wanting something a little more traditional, there are a few gorgeous chapels and churches on the coast that offer simple elegance for your ceremony.
Botanical gardens are great for nature lovers and those that adore a location with plenty of photo opportunities.
Wedding venues are a popular choice for bridal couples. The stress-free option of having both your ceremony and reception in one place is often very appealing. There are many beautiful Sunshine Coast wedding venues to choose from, whether it be on the coast or in the hinterland.
Private residence and backyard weddings are growing in popularity. These locations are great for customisation and saving money!

Reception Location

Now that we’re done with the formalities surrounding your wedding ceremony, it’s time to move onto the reception, and you want to be sure that you have somewhere beautiful to celebrate, dance, and eat with guests!

Wedding Venues, as previously mentioned, are great for couples that want minimal stress and all the celebrations at one gorgeous location.
There are many Sunshine Coast restaurants and cafes that offer reception packages for bridal couples. Tides Waterfront Restaurant is one of many stunning reception locations with ocean views, a sit-down menu and an elegant, coastal theme.
You can’t go wrong with a reception at a private residence and in a backyard. If you’re wanting an intimate, laidback reception to celebrate then a marquee, food-truck and tons of fairy lights might just be for you!

Wet Weather Plan

Every bridal couple worries about rainy weather on their special day, and although there is no way to avoid light showers or torrential rainfall, there are ways to work around the downpour and use the rain to your advantage:

Always check that your venue and vendors have backup wet-weather plans.
Consider rainfall statistics in your chosen area.
If it’s likely to rain on your chosen date, it might be a good idea to stock some umbrellas and blankets/towels at your venue for the possibility. Soaking wet guests at your reception just wouldn’t do!

Accommodation

Once you’ve decided on a date and venue, it’s a good idea to start thinking about where you and all your guests are going to stay! There are a few things to consider when booking accommodation, and so, so many options for you to choose from!

What kind of accommodation are you wanting for you and your guests? A beachfront resort, such as Rumba Resort? A spacious AirBnB for your intimate wedding? The choices are endless, but you need to keep a few things in mind:

Consider booking bridal suites for the big day. This makes organising everyone, hair and makeup much easier.
It might be a good idea to consider bulk booking a block of hotel rooms for your families. That way everyone is close by and hopefully you won’t have to go looking for Uncle Ralph before the ceremony!

Why not consider turning your wedding into your own honeymoon? Staying at one of the Sunshine Coast’s luxury accommodation locations for a stay-cation is becoming more and more popular. Rumba Resort, although a great accommodation for your family and guests, also offers luxury one-bedroom apartments equipped with stunning views, a two-person spa bath, and it’s all located right across from Bulcock Beach, just near some of Caloundra’s hottest restaurants and shops.

So, it looks like you have some decisions to make. But once these choices are made, it’ll only get easier from here. Having your date & location will make it easy to book in all your other suppliers, but more on that in my next blog. Check out my directory below for my top Sunshine Coast wedding venues.
Happy Wedding Planning!

Finding the best wedding suppliers can be overwhelming. To help plan your wedding on the Sunshine Coast, I have created a wedding directory of my favourite wedding suppliers, vendors, and services that I know will go the extra mile to ensure your wedding is special and unique to you.