The good news is that you’re not alone. Around 3 in 4 Australian marriages are first marriages for both partners¹. That means there are a whole lot of couples out there who are scratching their head at the idea of planning a wedding. Before you get into the nitty-gritty details, here are some big-ticket factors that you need to consider.

Budget

The truth of arranging a wedding in Australia is that in can cost upwards of $30K for your wedding day. A survey by Easy Weddings found that Australian couples spend an average of over $38K on their wedding day².

It’s better to know this at the start than find yourself in an awkward position down the line. How can you approach this? Save, budget, and pace yourself.

When making a wedding budget, set aside some money for entertainment at the wedding reception, as they can last for 4+ hours. Once cake cutting and speeches are complete, keep the party going with interactive entertainment like a photo booth.

Venue Vibe

The atmosphere of the wedding and reception venue set the tone for your whole wedding.

Choose a space that reflects your personality, but consider how easily it can be decorated. Venues can be all-inclusive (think décor, cutlery and alcohol), whereas others are a blank canvas and leave it completely to the couple to arrange this.

Whether your wedding reception has country vibes or a dashing city atmosphere, a photo booth is a great addition that stands out for all the right reasons. Shutter Share offers customised virtual photo frames that can be tailored to suit your specific event and add a personal touch. It’s worth noting that photo booths are better suited to an indoor venue, away from wind and potential rain.

Wedding Photo Frame

Guest entertainment

Do you have a bunch of introverted friends? Or extroverts who enjoy partying late into the night? Either way, a photo booth can be a great way of getting guests interacting and mingling with people they might not normally talk to. Shutter Share’s photo booth comes with complimentary prop hire - from silly glasses to cardboard speech bubbles, props get guests laughing and posing for unforgettable photos.

A guest book is also a beautiful keepsake that captures memories for a lifetime. You’ll take home photos and heartfelt notes from everyone who celebrated with you. Check out Shutter Share’s guest book and light up photo peg grid that creates a gallery of memories you can keep for a lifetime.

Wedding Photo Frame

Guest numbers

Even if you don’t know exactly how many people are coming to your wedding, it’s best to sit down as a couple and figure out a rough number of people you might want to attend the wedding. That way, you can choose a wedding venue that best suits your needs – be that an intimate wedding atmosphere, or an energetic party.

Start with an “A-list” of those who you wouldn’t think twice about inviting – this could be immediate family and best friends. Consider using ‘the 1-year rule’ – people you have actively spoken to or spent time with within the last year. Avoid inviting people out of guilt, such as, distant relatives or coworkers you wouldn’t see otherwise. You might also like to consider a no- children policy for your event.

Season

Wedding season in Australia is generally Autumn (March-May) and Spring (September- November). This obviously depends on your region, but for Canberra, spring (October–November) and autumn (March–April) are popular, as it offers mild temperatures and beautiful blooming gardens or autumn foliage.

Some venues offer off-peak, cheaper pricing for weddings outside of these months. This can work out well for you if you don’t mind theming your wedding around a winter wonderland, while saving a few thousand.

The wrap

When planning a wedding, a venue’s atmosphere sets the tone of the day, guiding everything from décor to attire. Setting a budget can help you prioritise what matters most. Ensuring guests are entertained— through thoughtful experiences like a photo booth— keeps the celebration going and gets your guests mingling. Tying it all together is the season, which affects availability, costs, comfort, and vibe, ultimately shaping how smoothly the day unfolds and how it’s remembered.

Planning a wedding is full of making choices but, trust the process and know that at the end of the day, you will have married your fiancé and spent valuable time with some of your closest friends and family. Best wishes from Shutter Share!

References

The information provided in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial advice; you should consider your own objectives, financial situation, and needs, or consult a licensed professional before making any decisions.

Just engaged and not sure how to plan a wedding?