Hotel Wedding Venues:
Everything You Need to Know
There are countless resort and hotel wedding venues around the country, which makes them an easy go-to for couples looking for a great place to get married. A wedding hotel or a large resort wedding venue scores points for both ease and versatility. And when it comes to guest count, a hotel or resort wedding can range from intimate elopements to massive ballroom affairs. If you’re wondering, “What are the best hotel wedding venues near me?” our searchable directory of wedding venues can help. Filter your search to find resort wedding and hotel wedding reception venues in your area, and see exactly how other couples made each space their own. Then, curate your dream wedding vendor team by noting exactly which local pros made each event come to life. When you’re ready to tour and learn more about hotel wedding packages, the resort wedding cost, and beyond, navigate directly to their website to get in touch.
Why are hotel wedding venues so popular?
A wedding hotel venue is beloved by many couples for a myriad of reasons. First, wedding hotel venues (or a resort wedding venue) are convenient. At both a hotel wedding and a resort wedding, you’ll have the convenience of built-in infrastructure that you don’t have to source yourself. Hotel wedding venues have kitchens, restrooms, climate control, staff, and other necessities. In addition, if you choose a wedding hotel, you may be able to secure accommodations for your guests—and deliver special wedding hotel gift bags to each and every one.
Wedding hotel venues tend to provide extra services as well: Hotel wedding venues offer packages that often include catering, rentals, and even day-of coordinators. This demystifies the planning process when you choose hotel and resort wedding venues and makes the entire day more stress-free. Be sure to ask any potential venues you are considering about hotel wedding packages.
Because hotel wedding venues can be quite spacious, there’s often enough room for both your ceremony and reception. A hotel wedding ceremony and reception means fewer transportation worries—and costs. You can even have your hotel wedding after-party in the same place. And most of the time, each event can be in a separate, distinct space within your wedding hotel. Another benefit of having a hotel wedding is that you and your wedding party can get ready for your big day on-site. The same goes for resort wedding venues.
Guests will enjoy hotel wedding reception venues because of the convenience of being able to play where they sleep—plus you can’t beat the unforgettable start to a celebratory weekend of receiving wedding hotel welcome bags.
Whether you’re having 20 or 200 guests, wedding hotel venues are accommodating for parties of just about any size and can suit just about every style as well. Some couples might be looking for a hotel ballroom rental. Others want resort wedding venues that have outdoor space for the ceremony or reception. See why we think a hotel wedding is a great option for all couples? You can even have a wedding hotel elopement that will be special and unforgettable.
Some couples choose a wedding hotel venue because of the ability to host a farewell brunch the day after. Since most wedding hotel guests stay onsite, transportation is unnecessary. If you have a resort wedding, you’ll have the same opportunity.
Hotel venues are most appealing for couples having a destination wedding because they can often check several boxes at once, similar to resort wedding venues. Since so many venues offer hotel wedding packages, you don’t have to worry about researching vendors in an area you may be unfamiliar with. In addition, typically hotel wedding reception venues will include catering, so you won’t have to source an independent wedding caterer on your own. Many of the best all inclusive wedding resorts will find local pros for everything you need, including flowers and photography. A resort wedding package is extremely appealing for out-of-towners because you have the hotel wedding planners’ help sourcing each and every vendor.
How much do hotel wedding venues cost?
Hotel wedding prices are impacted by season, location, and guest count. On average, wedding hotel or resort wedding venue prices range from $5,021 to $73,014—which is quite a big range! On average, couples allocate $12,343 and $14,006 for hotel or resort wedding venues.
Some couples opt for hotel wedding packages to ease the stress—and expense—of planning. Wedding hotel venues do most of the heavy lifting of coordinating, so it’s easier on the couple. This works best if you want your hotel wedding ceremony and reception in one place.
Most venues combine the services available into hotel wedding packages that include things like catering, furniture rentals, exclusive use of certain spaces, and can even include florists, musicians, and photographers for destination venues. Hotel wedding packages might cost more upfront, but add up to lower hotel wedding ceremony and reception costs later.
If you are considering a far-away destination wedding at a resort, your most stress-free option will be a venue that offers a resort wedding package. The best all inclusive wedding resorts have years of experience creating couples’ dream days, so you’re in good hands. In order to keep your resort wedding cost within your budget, consider off-season dates, especially for destination weddings (who knew a resort wedding package in Mexico is often less costly than a hotel wedding in the US?) Because a resort wedding package includes virtually everything, the price you pay upfront is worth it for the convenience of not having to research and hire each individual vendor. Remember: whether you choose hotel wedding reception venues or the best all inclusive wedding resorts, be sure to account for gratuity. And for any extras that fall outside the scope of the venue, like invitations or wedding hotel gift bags, those are additional costs you should allocate for as well.
At the end of the day, your wedding hotel venue cost will be about 45% of your overall wedding budget. However, this percentage will be higher if you search for “hotel wedding packages near me,” and live in a city with higher-priced hotels like New York.
How do you decorate a hotel wedding venue?
There’s no standard answer for how to decorate hotel wedding reception venues, because it depends on what you want! What you need to source will also depend on what your wedding hotel venue has. Some hotel wedding venues feature gorgeous interior design, like an ornate hotel ballroom rental, that only requires florals as a supplement. Or you can choose to transform any hotel wedding space by bringing in lighting, hanging installations, unique furniture, and drapery. Hotel wedding decor can be overwhelming, so enlisting the help of a wedding designer is highly recommended for more elaborate designs. Typically a wedding hotel will offer basic furniture (i.e. chairs and tables for your hotel wedding ceremony and reception). But you can always rent special furniture for your hotel wedding decor to better establish the aesthetic you are going for. Similarly, you might choose to rent specialty lighting, even if your wedding hotel venue already has built-in lighting. This is especially relevant for those who want to transform their hotel ballroom rental into something unique. Additional lighting, like string lights or washes of color, doesn’t just serve their purpose as hotel wedding decor, they can transform your photography as well. At any hotel or resort wedding, most of the personality will be added by tablescapes, flowers, unique escort card ideas, and installations. If you want to keep the decor rentals to a minimum, look for a hotel or resort wedding venue with its own personality, which enables you to spend money elsewhere (like on guests’ wedding hotel welcome bags).
Of course the decor your wedding hotel venue requires depends on your theme too, like an indoor secret garden theme that will require a multitude of unique decorations. Some couples enjoy being creative and working with their designer to create a dreamy wedding hotel venue that’s extremely unique, and others will take more of a backseat. Whether you are looking for a hotel ballroom rental that can accommodate a modern, minimalist wedding vibe, or an oceanfront resort wedding venue for a beachy big day, the options are limitless.
Can you elope at a hotel wedding venue?
Want to say “I do” at a wedding hotel but keep it extremely intimate? We love the idea of hotel or resort wedding venues for elopements and micro weddings too. This of course will mean lower hotel wedding prices, and you’ll enjoy a luxurious experience without the larger resort wedding cost. The most pricey suite at a luxury hotel will likely still cost less than the site fee for a large event, which is reason enough to consider a micro wedding or elopement at your ideal hotel wedding venue. If you’re considering a wedding hotel elopement, you can absolutely still make it a special event. Don’t forget about hotel wedding decor, catering, and fresh flowers for your private suite! It’s a traditional hotel wedding day, just on a smaller scale.
How do you start to plan a hotel wedding?
If you’re wondering, “Where can I find the best hotel wedding packages near me?”’ Or “Which hotel wedding venues near me are in my budget?”And “Is there even a hotel ballroom near me?” All of those questions are easy to answer with our searchable directory, where you can browse hotel wedding venues in your area—or at far-away destinations. Then, reach out to the venues and vendor teams behind your favorites to craft your dream wedding.